Could you tell me your name?
Ed Hirschfield
Where are you from?
New Jersey, but have been in the DC area since 1975.
How did you get into photography as an art medium (as opposed to casual or professional use)?
My degree is in Photography (The George Washington University), and I’ve always been interested in it as art medium.
Which alternative processes do you practice?
Hand coated emulsions, Cyanotypes, Cliché Verre
What attracted you to alternative processes in general?
The potential for unique images.
What drew you to the specific media you practice?
The introduction of serendipity into the creation of the images.
How does the choice of media influence your choice of subject matter (or vice versa)?
For the images accepted in this show, I was going for a painterly effect, and the nude lends itself to this.
In today’s mobile, electronic world of instant communication and virtual sharing of images, how important is it to you to create hand-made images?
Extremely important. There’s a fleeting aspect to the new way to share photographs. A physical image has more staying power.
Is your choice to practice alternative, hand-made photography a reaction to, a complement to, or not influenced by the world of digital media?
To a degree, it is a reaction, for the reasons stated above. However, without being influenced by the fleeting nature, and “perfection”/repeatability of digital, I’m not sure if I would have been as open to creating work which is so prone to flaws, chance, and experimentation. I’d like to think I would, but I have noticed a change in my work, since the advent of digital.
Do you incorporate digital media into your alternative process work?
No.
If so, how do you incorporate it? Is it limited to mechanical reproduction technique, or does it inform/shape/influence the content of your work?
N/A
What role do you see for hand-made/alternative process work in the art world of today? Where do you see yourself in that world?
I think this is a great time for photographers pursuing alternative processes. In a world obsessed with instant gratification, the time, and passion, required to create unique images is a great antidote. I also see a greater appreciation, among the public, for the craftsmanship inherent in alternative processes. As for my place in this world, it’s not something I think about. I just want to continue my work, and continue to create photographs.
