XReel series. One interpretation.
Using slide film (positive transparency) is one way to record an arguably unique and “finished” image right out of the camera. Click the shutter and your capture is waiting to be chemically processed into a small unaltered picture; no doging and burning, no contrast or color corrections, no Photoshop. Done.
Using digital media and processes, an image might never be “finished.” Once downloaded to your computer, it’s likely to go through iterations of interpretations. From the RAW converter’s initial settings, into simple cropping, and onto the infinite possibilities of Photoshop or some other image editor. Multiple copies are created and disseminated, often to destinations unknown. End viewers will see your images in any number of sizes, websites, and monitor-dependent color variations.
So, when is a picture at it’s final, finished state? When do you call it done and say, THIS is what I intend to be the finished work? I used to worry about that. It almost seems like if an artist can’t proclaim a piece has reached its final form, then they haven’t actually finished at all. There is no piece, just a bunch of attempts at one.
But, maybe I should have looked at this differently all along. Maybe a source (negative, digital file, yes, even a slide) can be the start of several finished variations. Sure, along the way, there will be a few failed attempts. But who’s to say, one source image or idea can’t lead to several artist-approved finished works?
There are at least five officially released audio versions of The Beatles’ “Get Back.” It seems they were always working on it. Always changing it. There’s no one official version. And why should there be?
XReel series. Another interpretation.
