Lean back, grab a cup of tea and get ready for a nerdy article about vinyl. What does that have to do with photography? Much more than you might think. As more and more people are publicly sharing their love for something that was almost extinct several decades ago, it's clear that there's a growing audience for it (again). As a photographer with a strong relationship with music, I want to share my rediscovered love for vinyl with you. In another future article, I'll delve deeper into the relationship between music and photography, but for now, let's get this record spinning.
vinyl from the start
Let's travel back in time to 1978. 3-year-old me - for reasons unknown - is introduced to “YMCA” by the band the Village People. It's not something I would listen to now, but well, find a 3 years old with great taste in music. Visuals were important to me even at a young age, and I couldn't resist the costumes displayed in their act. Nowadays this probably would not feel appropriate, but we are in the late 70s and the boy that is me, finds the cowboy and police man dancing and singing cool. So the 7” single of “YMCA” was the first record I ever held in my hand, thanks to my parents.
As I grew older, I became more and more drawn to the music played on my parents' radio, records, and music TV, that was starting out. Eventually, at 9 years old, I bought my first record, the 12” of Madonna’s “Like a virgin”. Although I was more into tapes back then, I wanted to have it as a present for a girl from school, whose birthday party I was invited to. So I went to buy that record together with my Mom to have it as a present. Little did I know about the song´s lyrics, nor did I understand them (and to push the nerd factor here: I liked the song “angel” from Madonna much more). It did not matter if the lyrics were inappropriate because the party ended up getting cancelled, but the record stayed with me. …these small stories in life.
In the years following my first record, I mainly listened to cassettes and recorded my favorite songs from the radio. But here and there a record landed in my hands and slowly started forming a small collection. In the 1990s, I fully transitioned to CDs. I believe “but seriously” by Phil Collins was the last record I bought. After that it was all cds and my taste in music changed to rock and metal. I amassed at least around 300-400 CDs over the years.
When my favourite bands put out new albums, I made sure to go to the record stores (which hardly sold any records any more but didn’t opt to rename ‘cd stores’) on the day of release to pick up the new CDs right after the doors opened. It took me almost an hour via public transportation to get back home, eagerly waiting to hear the album. The excitement of studying the booklet before hearing the first sound was incredible. A joy created out of scarcity. A joy that's unknown to today's younger generations. (I may sound like a boomer here. But rest assured, per definition I am not. I am generation X. So, don’t worry, little do I know.) It was the 90s. I listened to alternative rock and metal. And I formed a band together with friends. Music was everything.
a small but ever growing collection of records
from convenience to randomness
Then came Mini Disc (remember that?), followed by MP3 and file sharing, and later streaming services like Spotify. I started my Spotify subscription in 2011 or 2012 and slowly stopped buying new CDs because I had access to all the music while streaming. Music had been a constant companion for me since I was 9 or 10: when going to school, using public transportation, working out, and everywhere in between. I've used many different devices, from Walkmen to Mini Disc Players, mp3 players, an iPod and eventually smartphones, not counting the amount of headphones I used up. Availability and mobility of music was key. How cool was it to have access to all the music in the world and discover so many new artists easily?! However, I remember at one point some years ago I was standing in front of my CD collection at home, wondering what to put on and thinking "Ah, f... it, I'm just going to stream some stuff" because I was too lazy to grab a CD and the ever present Spotify was just so convenient.
What slowly slipped away though was the appreciation for real albums. The feeling that an album of a band really grew on me. Hence the name ‘grower’. If I had invested my hard earned money into an album, then I gave it several rounds of listening even if it didn't immediately catch my attention. And how satisfying it was, to have an album grow on me, to explore its songs and to really get lost into it back in the day. While I loved discovering new songs and bands with the help of streaming services' admittedly great algorithms, I slowly realized that I was listening to the app's playlists more than full albums of the bands.
What had happened? The way I listened to music had slipped away from me. My relationship with music had changed. I was increasingly treating it as background sound, and as I became busier and busier with job and family life, I had less time to truly listen and allow my thoughts to wander. I rushed and consumed music more, rather than really immersing myself in it fully, like I did in the past. Instead of using those idle moments to listen to music, I killed it by “let me just check my Instagram real quick”.
the need for slowing down
Finally, let's talk about how photography relates to this. As music becomes an endless stream of sound, diminishing itself to bits and bytes for consumption, it's similar to the hundreds or even thousands of digital folders on our hard drives filled with photos from trips past. Both music and photography being a stream of new content, being flipped through and double-tapped in the fraction of a second (the latter seems to become an antic feature of itself on Social Media) but forgotten as soon as we close the app. Wow, where have we rushed into?
It's no surprise that many people are starting to feel exhausted and taking time outs. I haven't opted out myself, yet, but I have consciously slowed down and started to appreciate and cherish a slower pace whenever possible.
I want to emphasize that I am fully capable of thoroughly and consciously enjoying things: the taste of delicious food, the smell and taste of a great bottle of wine, the feel of a table crafted from 100% natural wood, the design and smoothness of my MacBook and of course being outside in nature, experiencing my surroundings with all my senses. All of this is lively joy for me and is reflected in my work as an artist. On a more personal level, what fills me with joy and at times even overwhelming emotions is when I can become one with my creative process, whether it be sound or visual. These Zen-like moments when I am relaxed, at ease, yet completely focused and in the zone. When I am all by myself and nothing else matters but the tune I am listening to or the image I am capturing while being out in the field. With my mind joyfully racing at a harmonious pace.
At some point, I realized that I wanted to bring back those moments when I truly listened to music and give myself time to immerse in it. So, I started looking for a record player. And in early 2022, I got a new turntable, my first in over 30 years. I bought "Vitalogy" by Pearl Jam, one of my favorite albums, which I already owned on CDs (the original release and the remaster many years later). Putting the new record on felt great. It filled my senses and was like having the first sip of a freshly opened bottle of fantastic wine. It required attention, relaxation, and slowing down. And oh boy, I needed that slowing down.
playing ‘Bon Iver’, the 10th Anniversary ltd. edit. (white vinyl)
an experience
Just like photographing landscapes, listening to music on vinyl needs slowing down and an open mind. Pulling a record out of the shelf, releasing the inner sleeve, pulling out the black vinyl (or other colours of limited pressings), carefully placing it on the turntable and dropping the needle requires time and attention. It is a deliberate, immersive and tactile experience compared to streaming music digitally. And I love it, even though I don't always find the time and space for it in my busy life. But I cherish the fact that I can enjoy slowing down every now and then. The haptic sensation of holding the music in my hands, touching the cover artwork and all that comes with a record. Creating a moment of intimacy and providing a sense of "real" that is similar to being outside in nature. All of this creating an experience. And that is what photography is to me: an experience. Which in essence is what we all live for, right? To have an experience!
And with all the benefits digital art and digital music have, having an actual, unique experience is unparalleled and especially valuable for people with all of their to do lists and deadlines. For me, it certainly is. And that is also why it's something that I want to provide to people when they book a workshop, a speech or training with me, or even when they hang one of my prints. The feeling of "this is more" and "this is real and enriching".
Here is a good dozen of my favorite albums in my record collection (in no particular order):
- Radiohead - Kid A
- The Cure - Disintegration
- Tool - Fear inoculum
- Pearl Jam - Vitalogy
- Pianos Become the teeth - Wait for love
- Miles Davis - Kind of blue
- Olafur Arnalds - Re:member
- Bon Iver - Bon Iver
- The Beatles - White album
- U2 - Achtung Baby
- Kate Bush - Hounds of love
- Tears for Fears - Songs from the big chair
patience and intentionality
Returning to vinyl has made me appreciate the many benefits of the format: the physicality and the sense of "owning" the music. I can touch it and fully appreciate the artwork as it was intended. It's similar to having your images printed instead of just viewing them on a computer screen.
Additionally, I believe that more of the money goes to the artist with vinyl compared to mere crumbs earned through digital streaming. Having some of my band’s music online myself, I know that very little to no income is generated through streaming, making it practically impossible for small bands to survive. While the cost of vinyl is significantly higher, more of the money goes directly to the artist, where it should be. This is similar to purchasing a book or print from your favorite photography artists.
‘Pornography’ by The Cure, limited edition picture disc, 40th Anniversary on my X1turntable
What listening to vinyl also provides, or in this case requires is a bit of patience and getting a feel for the accompanying tracks. Since it's harder to skip a track while the record is spinning, you get to listen to the album’s entirety. Which is a different approach than skipping your way through an album to jump to your favourite songs: listening to interludes, non-hits and experiencing the running order of an album as it was intended by the artist. Given it is one of those artists who actually care about it and not only put tracks together to have them played as tracks on the radio or TikTok.
If you are into these things you get to appreciate ‘breathers’ or gaps between the songs that make standout songs hit even harder. Just like certain images do when accompanied by bridging "lead-in" images, which wouldn't have the power to be of strong impact themselves, but help another image shine even brighter. If you would like to see how this works in perfection, I recommend checking out the new book of my friend Sandra Bartocha “rhythm of nature”. Or go visiting a carefully curated gallery. It requires a basic level of attention, ultimately making the experience even more rewarding.
the gear - best of both worlds
As much as I love the analog experience, I do not dislike digital. After all, I photograph entirely in digital. And why not have the best of both worlds? As there is just one world with both in it, really. My photography gear is for digital images, while my sound system combines digital and analog. I have a record player with a phone preamp (including tubes), and a DAC/Streamer/Amp that brings together the analog and digital.
And since I know this will be asked, here is my current hifi system:
A look at my amplifier and speaker. And an old Les Paul guitar of mine.
Streamer / DAC / Integrated Amplifier: Atoll Electronique SDA200 Signature
Turntable: Pro-Ject X1
Phono Pre-Amp: Pro-Ject Audio Tube Box S2
Speakers: Kef LS50 META
My preferred streaming provider is Tidal, because of the lossless files and fairer share for the artists.
I prioritize the music itself over equipment and sound. But, I cannot deny the enjoyment of listening to a great tune through a high-quality sound system. With gear certainly providing an experience, too: in sound and also design.
what is better?
So, what can be concluded from all this? Is vinyl better than, say, a CD? Technically a CD can have a higher dynamic range than a record. Vinyl is more prone to potential distortion than digital uncompressed files. And, like all analog music, it can degrade over time. BUT: many people argue that the softer and warmer representation of music on vinyl is preferable, an unmatched immersive experience. Therefore, judging the quality is subjective (as it always is).
one of my favourite albums: ‘Kid A’ from Radiohead. …and I remember I didn’t like it much, when it came out.
This analogy can also be applied to photography. We photographers often obsess over sharper lenses, higher resolution, better low light performance, and visual noise handling. But it does not necessarily make for a subjectively better image. It is the feel and emotion, the EXPERIENCE, that moves and resonates with people. It does in music and it does in photography. This does not mean one should neglect technical accuracy while taking photos, but it emphasizes the emotional impact of imagery as being superior over high end, technical accuracy. Ideally you succeed in both!
Like I mentioned at the beginning of this article, this is a bit of a nerdy piece of writing. But if you've made it this far, I would like to thank you for your time, first of all, and I encourage you to put on your favourite vinyl (or consider getting a record player). Maybe put on some headphones, turn on a lovely tune, close your eyes, and enjoy the fact that you are giving your mind and yourself a little island of rest and enjoyment. I encourage you to take the time to slow down, listen to your favorite music on vinyl, and truly immerse yourself in the experience, no matter whether you are a seasoned vinyl collector or a newcomer to the world of analog music.
Thanks for reading and caring! Enjoy the experience.