The Joy of Analogue Photography: Sensational Old-Fashioned Portraits, 1955-1995

Practising her lines … Marilyn Monroe in the Nevada desert for the film The Misfits, 1960. Photograph- Eve Arnold:Magnum Photos

Marilyn Monroe in the Nevada desert for the film The Misfits, 1960 by Eve Arnold:Magnum Photos

As part of London PhotoMonth, Wonderland celebrates The Joy of Analogue: Portraits from 1955-1995. In testament to the skill of analogue photography, the show incudes polaroids and platinum and silver gelatin prints by the likes of Mary Ellen Mark, Sandra Lousada, Brian Griffin, David Bailey, Herb Ritts, John Claridge, Joel-Peter Witkin and Eve Arnold.

In a time dominated by digital technology, an old-fashioned roll of film invites attention and care. It can be slow, frustrating and fiddly. You have to wait and to see what you captured. And when you rediscover the truth, and if you don’t get it right, those imperfections became part of the story. The process becomes part of the picture. No instant digital tints and filters – these pictures run on brainpower and are rooted in reality. The analogue photograph doesn’t just show you something, it represents it. A great analogue picture is reward for skill and patience. And here are some fabulous examples of the art form.

 

Brigitte Bardot on the set of Les Petroleuses, Spain, 1971

Brigitte Bardot on the set of Les Petroleuses, Spain, 1971

 

Ram Prakash Singh with his elephant Shyama, Great Golden Circus, Ahmedabad, India, 1990

Ram Prakash Singh with his elephant Shyama, Great Golden Circus, Ahmedabad, India, 1990

David Byrne, New York,1982

David Byrne, New York,1982

Chet Baker, 1986

Chet Baker, 1986

French painter Françoise Gilot, Rossetti Studios, Chelsea, 1967

French painter Françoise Gilot, Rossetti Studios, Chelsea, 1967

Lynn Chadwick for Tatler, 1961

Lynn Chadwick for Tatler, 1961

Celia Hammond, 1962

Celia Hammond, 1962

Wilf Mannion, Middlesbrough and England football player, 1995

Wilf Mannion, Middlesbrough and England football player, 1995

Carol and Pete Jolly, Jolly’s Mini Circus, Fishguard, 1974

Carol and Pete Jolly, Jolly’s Mini Circus, Fishguard, 1974

Jasper, Ladbroke Grove, 1977
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Jasper, Ladbroke Grove, 1977

First communion, Brazil, 1981

First communion, Brazil, 1981

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