I followed the tutorial I found on how to add light leaks to 120 film.
I did a quick test film using this technique and it worked perfectly, there were variations in the amount of light leak throughout the film but this works well because i may decide to add more or less defects to a certain person to add to the message.
Jon also introduced me to a photographer called Daido Moriyama who also used manipulation in his images to turn beautiful Japanese scenes like cherry blossom trees what looks like a nuclear explosion.
He used a range of techniques like when developing the film he would use boiling water to affect the emulsion.
He wouldn’t look after his negatives, some have footprints on from where they have been kicked around his darkroom.
His manipulation shows his resentment to the disasters of Japan and he has done this by defying the rules of traditional photography.
“Cherry Blossoms” doesn’t show any sky at all; the whole frame is filled with the blossoms which seem to explode out from the tree, against a black background which dims at the edges. It’s the most aggressive cherry blossom tree I’ve ever seen” Eve Tushnet The American Conservative
This got me thinking about his manipulation. He put his film through all the things it’s not meant to suffer to create something different. In a similar way homeless people are put through things, we as a human being, are not meant to. Like extreme temperatures, all weather conditions, no food, no shelter.
If i was to boil film, not look after it etc, this would represent this quite well, by ignoring the rules of film photography this shows what is happening to these people on the street.
Something else to think about. I am still going to leave my film outside, exposed to all weather conditions etc.
Alice Riddy 