mahabis photography // double exposure on film, by brandon kidwell

before digital cameras made photography about fast clicks and photoshop, a lot of the magic of photography was done in the darkroom. life lessons by brandon kidwell is a modern take on those slower, more thoughtful and more artful times.

life lessons is based around the technique of double exposures and superimposing, it reminds us of the golden days of experimental photographers in the 1920s and 1930s, with artists including man ray and lee miller.

with just a handful of shots - each expensive and fiddly to set up- the photos are then hand developed in a dark room using paper and chemicals. the images reveal themselves ever so slowly. it seems so personal and carefully curated compared to the digital age. 

in the photo above, two hands make up the silhouette of a face. there are ears, shoulders and blank space filled with photographic noise. much of the beauty is in the imperfection.

other exposures are more obvious, blending images into a story and a sense.

kidwell says this photo essay was inspired by personal experiences and lessons he'd learned from his children, what we love is the openness of the expression and breaking of rules. it prompts you to think of the 'how' and not just the 'what' or the 'why'.

he is as contradictory as his photographs, a financial analyst by day and visual storyteller by night. he lives on a miniature farm in jacksonville florida with his wife and three kids.

for more about brandon kidwell and his techniques check out his website brandonkidwell.com.