Davie, John

Raised in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, John started making photographs 40 years ago. His fascination with photography began at an early age, from looking at the family’s copy of The Best of LIFE. He taught himself how to take photographs after getting his first camera, and learned how to develop and print B+W by reading the instructions which came with the developing tank.

An early job taking production photos for the Dalhousie University Theatre Department found John emulating one of his early heroes: the dance and theatre photographer Martha Swope. He continued making and printing B+W photographs until the advent of digital made darkrooms difficult to find. Two things brought back him back to the joy of using black and white film after years of shooting digital: Learning that instant coffee and washing powder can be used as an alternative developing agent, and finding a medium-format film camera in the basement.  He now divides his time between B+W film and Digital colour.

His work is in the Dalhousie University Archives, was exhibited at ECPHORE, can be seen on walls around Halifax, and has been featured in several local publications.

Artist’s Statement

My attitude toward making photographs is best summed up by Sibylle Bergemann: ‘…I press the button in order to see what I have seen.’

I switched from Analog to Digital about 20 years ago, but always missed the craft of developing film. A few years ago, I found an old medium format camera in our basement, and simultaneously discovered that B&W film can be developed using a mixture of instant coffee and vitamin C powder. Suddenly, I began to shoot on film again.

These photos were all made on the Yashica medium format camera I found. I purposely use it to make images of objects and places which lean away from Digital and toward an Analogue world. The time and care which Analog dictates be put into making images has made me look more closely at the images I am making, and puts me more in touch with the creative process.

Shooting and developing film is like performing a magic trick, but one in which the mystery begins before the trick is done.