Close to where I had camped, I hiked a bush track through karri forest with glimpses of the inlet
Large Format Film Landscape Photography
Alex Bond is a film based photographer from Perth Western Australia. His landscape photography is created while bush-walking with his large format 4×5 field camera.
He continues to use sheet film for its slower pace, because it’s tactile, and for its inherent aesthetics. Alex practices traditional darkroom printmaking using
Alex Bond is a print exhibitor, workshop educator, and a publisher of more than 25 years.
“Alex Bond knows when not to take a photograph. His approach to capturing the WA landscape on film is based on patience and attunement. The results have found a worldwide audience.”
While everyone else had a real job I spent more than 25 years hiking and camping in southwest Western Australia. With my trusty wooden field camera and a few sheets of film, you can find me out on the coast, in the bush or exploring some peak.
I enjoy going for long walks. It gives me time to become immersed in my surroundings. In my backpack, I carry my field camera, film, tripod and sometimes a tent and food.
I find landscapes inspiring, whether it be a grand scene or an intimate detail. The West has a unique and ancient landscape. Our quality of light is as hard as it is voluminous. It provides me with a continual challenge to reproduce that quality within the limitations of a photograph.
Film cameras and light sensitive photographic paper
My introduction to large format film landscape photography was in the era of film cameras and light-sensitive photographic paper. Film cameras such as my field camera are very simple and robust. I am frequently working outdoors in rain, dusty or salty conditions. My wooden 4×5 film camera does not require any batteries and is lighter than a digital SLR.
Hand Crafted Silver Gelatin Photographic Prints
I develop my film in a tank and print my photographs in a traditional wet darkroom. By today’s standards, it is neither fast nor easy. But it is a process I maintain to this day. It works alongside my digital workflow.
Printmaking by hand is the final and possibly most important act in this creative cycle. This level of involvement gives an unquestioning intention and authenticity to a photographer’s works.
