The Art of Traditional Photography: Embracing Imperfection

Photographing in its essence is probably a shamanic act.

I was a commercial photographer until 2015. Then I preferred to devote myself to my own personal photographic projects but above all I continue to use traditional camera and films.

In a few years, digital cameras have integrated the entire professional photographic knowledge into their software.

The dominance of the algorithm or rather of AI is increasingly restricting individual photographer freedom and creativity marked by imperfection, error, randomness, impermanence, towards a submission to perfection and to the computational choices desired by Capital. In the analogue photographic processes you are still in the freedom sphere.

So now I’m working with 120, large format negative format films, pinhole and several traditional cameras considering that any camera has its special philosophy. I try to use the traditional photo error, blur, double exposures, out of focus , like my personal expressive code.

I use one old 6×6 folding Ikon, Holga, pinhole Agfaclack 6×9, sx70 polaroid and instax films, Rolleiflex 6×6, Sinar 4×5 and some large format pinhole homemade cameras.

On others side it needs a slow and meditative way to photograph. I like to be involved, to contemplate the objects and the environment.

I love landscapes. I enjoy walking alone in countryside, natural parks, city parks or city suburbs. I also like wondering looking for social panorama and track situationist and detournemont ideas.

These is a visual approach dictated by the oriental philosophical thought of impermanence of all things. I try to get a personal pathos ( more no aware) of the subjects with zen spirit. I like to collect my b-w prints in album and photo-box or homemade artist photo-books .

On others side I’m always shooting social and social street reportage images with Leica camera and films and digital camera….

You can see my work at:

https://www.pressenza.com/it/author/cesare-dagliana

https://www.instagram.com/cesare.dagliana_art/

and Video Art at:

https://www.youtube.com/@cesaredagliana1950

Artworks
Pinhole
Landscape-Nature: mono no aware
Social street reportage

Florence Italy.

All rights reserved 2025.