In the contemporary landscape of photography, where the emergence of artificial intelligence is reshaping our perception of imagery and digital platforms are revolutionising the art of visual storytelling, United Kingdom fine art photographer, Paul Cooklin stands as a testament to tradition. Eschewing the allure of modern conveniences, Paul continues to uphold the fundamental principles of photography — capturing light through an aperture, preserving it in layers of silver halide crystals exposed through a gelatinous layer that is fixed and hardened through processing, to achieve enduring imagery.

The tactile experience of processing film or prints in a darkroom is like no other. What’s not to love about a darkroom, along with the dramatic red light, smell of the chemicals, the sound of running water, together with the allure of all the toys you get to play with, like enlargers, easels, timers, thermometers, trays, tongs, can make for a profound experience and one that formed many photographers’ critical and creative thoughts about how to create photography throughout history. It is an art form that has found a breath of life recently with many community darkrooms opening, giving photographers an opportunity to keep analogue alive and carry it into the future.

Paul started his journey as a digital photographer, working multilayered abstracted digital images to conceptualise and define his frames. Often exploration and experimentation lead to new discoveries and create new paths of critically seeing and thinking. Paul found the distinct tonal qualities and grain of the silver hardened crystals inherent in analog film hard to reproduce in digital photography. Soon Paul began exploring old methods to provide a new platform for his visual storytelling. He found mastering silver gelatin printing to be key in how he dictates the narratives of the stories he tells, creating a subversive atmosphere for the viewer to become saturated in the experience. For Paul the extensive and rich history expanding over two centuries, now moving into its third, combined with the infinitive artistic potential it inspires, will continue to entice process driven visual storytellers back into the darkroom.

In an essay about black and white photography, Paul has embraced the removal of colour focusing on the basic elements in photographs he feels can get lost in the saturation of colour. He explores light, shadow, scale, space, texture, and pure geometry in its simplest form without any distraction. This allows him to achieve a depth and clarity in his photography, which he finds special to this medium. Paul plays with contrast to establish emotional connections in his visual stories creating drama and impact, or like a dense fog, he allows for the subtlety of the greyscale to create the nuance. For Paul he tells his visual stories not only through his camera, but much of the narrative is formed in properties and values of analogue film, and the printing processes that nurture and further the narrative creating a powerful statement and connection and understanding of the story.

With a diverse body of work spanning various photographic genres, Paul’s portfolio is as eclectic as it is captivating. His images have graced the pages of prestigious publications such as TIME Magazine and Italian Vogue and have been featured on television. Additionally, he has participated in numerous global exhibitions, further solidifying his imprint on the world of analogue photography.

We have the privilege of gaining insight into the mind of an artist whose work transcends the boundaries of time and medium. From his early days as a digital artist to his current mastery of analogue photography, Paul Cooklin's journey is a testament to his unwavering passion for the craft. Join us as we uncover the inspiration, technique, and vision behind his captivating images.