I don’t consider myself a technical photographer. However, I have always been fascinated by the evolution of cameras. I often find myself trying to learn more about the origins of photography. I sense something magical when I look at photos from the 1800s, not just the subjects but the way they feel, especially daguerreotypes. They seem to be a blend between paintings and modern photography. This semester I am taking two courses which satiate these desires. The first is called ‘The Ascetic History of Photography’, which is in essence a study of all the first methods in photography from before the 1900s. The second is a large format photography course. The camera alone is beautiful. In order to focus the image, I need to put a hood over my head. Above is the first photo I’ve taken with the camera, I’m not sure how I feel about it. The images and the landscapes become so grand. I’m excited moving forward because I feel that my style will compliment the technique. The only downside I found so far is that the camera is large and takes a while to set up, so I will not be able to get the snapshots I do with my 35mm. Also, developing the negatives is an incredibly delicate process.