JESSICA EATON

I wish I had 5×7 proof books of every frame I ever shot (other than the negatives that demand they and all reproductions be destroyed). That would be amazing. Instead I have paper boxes of negatives, most without contact sheets. Pictures I haven’t seen in years - I would like to look at them. So I am trying to work my way through scanning an archive. Slowly.

2000-2003 I was into trying to construct narratives and 35mm snap shooting.

girl at bar with broken heart and glenlivet, 2001 © jessica eaton

This was my first 4×5 shoot. I had to wrangle the camera because I didn’t have access. Having never touched the thing and basing my knowledge of use on what I could get out of an Ansel Adams book I was terrified. Over the years I have learned of a great number of things that can go wrong in large format photography. As I scanned these today thoughts were more of it being a miracle there are pictures on this film than I can bother to think critically of whatever I thought I was doing making the pictures in the first place.