35 mm Slide Challenge and Festival -- Presenters

The purpose of this event is to encourage those who have never used slide film before to give it a try – and for those who use it regularly to have some fun with it, and for all of us to learn from the experience.

You can think of this event as parallel to the Digital Image Festival of April 23, but with analogue slides. At the same time, slide film presents unique challenges that make using it quite a different experience from shooting digitally – and even from shooting 35 mm negative (print) film.

First of all, with slide film, “what you see is what you get” – because there is no printing, as with negative film, you can’t adjust your density, or do any dodging or burning; nor can you crop your image. And you can’t post-process, as you can with digital (well, you could if you scanned your slide – but that’s not what this event is about). Of course, all of these things could be seen as limitations – but it may also encourage the photographer to think carefully about the image they’re trying to achieve at the moment of shooting.

On the plus side, a projected slide is automatically far bigger than any print you’re likely to produce – so all that rich detail can come to life. (Some people feel that a good projected slide achieves far more impact than any other presentation system.) Essentially, this event is about taking advantage of slide film “as slide film” – that is, using it and enjoying it for its unique properties.

Please shoot at least 1 roll of slide film, & prepare 5 - 7 images for presentation. Be prepared to give a 5 - 7 minute talk about your images.

Please try to meet the following criteria:

Photo #1. Detail: Select an image that you feel “works especially well as a slide” as compared with a print, due to the detail you’ve captured on the image.
Photo #2. Light and shadow: Select an image that you feel takes advantage of the presentation medium: Projection in a darkened theatre.
Photo #3. your best “took lots of planning” slide
Photo #4. your best “lucky accident” slide
Photo #5 - (max) 7 -- any slides you wish -- so long as you have something to say about them!

For images 1 & 2, please try to use slides taken in 2006 specifially for this event; for the others, it’s fine if you dip into your archives. (Of course, this is just my suggestion; it will not be strictly enforced! :)

Bring your slides to the Theatre on the day of the event; David has empty carousels.