Analog photography is still alive and does not want to go away. The latest analog news is the resurgence of old-time photo booths that still use developing chemicals and provide a black-and-white photo strip of four different poses. A company in New York called Classic Photo Booth salvages old booths and restores them. There is also a different company in Europe that refurbishes them.
Apparently, they are a big hit and people are lining up to use them. It is another sign that people are looking for other options besides digital. I am certainly trying to do my best to keep analog alive. I still use 35mm, medium format and 8×10 large format film in my photographic work.
There are now digital “photo booths” that mimic the old-time booths. I attended a wedding where a digital “photo booth” was in operation. Actually, there is no booth involved but just a table, a backdrop, a camera, a printer, some props and an operator. A photo strip of three poses was provided. The digital booth lacked some of the spontaneity of the old-time booth where there was no operator and you enter the booth and close a curtain for some privacy. The photos took minutes to develop, wash, and dry before a strip of images dropped into a slot for pick up.
Photo booths were also used by artists in their creations. Probably the most famous was Andy Warhol and his work with portraits and self-portraits in the 1960’s which he used to produce silk screen prints.
In 2025, the photo booth is 100 years old. Let’s hope analog photography can survive another century.
Photo shot with black and white film using a vintage Olympus Stylus Epic camera. All images are copyrighted.
Sleeping Mind Photography 