you only have one shot
why going analogue has never felt better
I’m Tuğba, a Turkish-Greek artist living in Berlin - as slow as possible is a newsletter exploring the in-between spaces of our lives that we see but often do not notice. Interested in reading more of my work?
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“I’m tired of predictability and instant gratification. What I really crave is the excitement of surprise and the thrill of not knowing the outcome!” I said to my friend.
My friend was utterly puzzled. “But with a digital camera, you can instantly see how your photo turned out and take another if you don’t like it. It’s way more efficient and fast!”
“But what if I crave more slowness, more surprise, and above all, more patience?” I shoot back with haste.
I’ve repeatedly had this conversation with several friends over the past few months, whenever I pulled out my analogue camera! Many people can’t grasp why anyone would not want the speed and efficiency that technology offers us nowadays.
It never ceases to amaze me how everything in today’s society must be streamlined and optimised. Productivity is considered the ultimate measure of success, dictating the worth of every endeavour. The relentless pursuit of speed has been ingrained in us by capitalism, leading us to believe that anything lacking productivity is not worth our time. Yet, I firmly believe that the creation of art does not adhere to such constraints. And anyway, does everything in life really need to have a defined purpose or lead somewhere?! Sometimes, it's perfectly fine to simply indulge in the joy of doing something just for the fun of it.
I read a Statista report recently that stated that 41% of online shoppers worldwide expect to receive their purchases within a day. This expectation that would have seemed unrealistic long ago, has now become the norm. We have developed an obsession with the fast-paced - whether it’s fast food, fast fashion, fast art or fast <whatever>. This emphasis on speed however, is also making us less patient. Believe it or not, TikTok users typically spend only 3.33 seconds watching videos, completing just 22.2% of the video before moving on to the next. Wild!
Over the past year, I've experimented with three disposable cameras to dip my toes into analogue photography. When I finally got my developed photos, I was struck by a sense of wonder. Without any dates on them, I couldn’t recall when I had taken some shots. Most of them captured macro details or abstract elements from my surroundings, some of which I couldn’t even recognise. The mystery and intrigue behind these photos have truly captivated me.
I’m not here to demand that we completely rid ourselves of instant gratification. I’m not even sure if it would be possible in our society, but finding a balance is key. I’ve recognised this within myself when making art—I often catch myself envisioning the final outcome, striving to be more efficient and finish as quickly as possible so I can move on to the next project.
Balancing the hustle of my work week at a tech company with my desire to immerse myself in the slow, intentional process of creating art is a constant challenge. Disconnecting from the rapid pace of corporate life and the constant distractions of my phone to fully dedicate myself to writing or working on my ceramic pieces requires a mindful and deliberate shift in mindset.
I thoroughly enjoyed the entire process of taking these photos over the past 12 months. The mystery of not knowing whether the photos would turn out well or not and having enough time pass that I emotionally detached from the outcome and stopped caring if they looked good or not was especially exciting. Letting go of the need to immediately share the photos on social media was liberating. Despite being an inherently impatient person, I savoured the anticipation of waiting to fill up three disposable cameras before eagerly handing them over to the store for development. The extended wait for the developed photos only added to the charm of the entire experience.
When I decided to purchase a disposable camera, I never expected it to lead to so many profound insights. My original intention was to lessen my reliance on my phone and capture moments in my surroundings. Little did I know that this choice would offer me countless opportunities for reflection. Embracing the process meant giving up a degree of control, but now months later, I find myself excited by the delightful imperfections in the photos. They deviated from my initial vision but unveiled a unique kind of beauty. Embracing the art of patience, delayed gratification, and savouring the process rather than fixating on results has infused my life with a newfound richness.
I envision my life like those old-school scales. You can still see them in the vibrant markets of Turkey and Greece – they are truly fascinating! Living in equilibrium is not easy in today’s fast-paced world, but I’ve come to accept that it’s part of the human experience. Like adjusting a tilted scale, I strive to counterbalance the aspects of my life that veer too far in one direction. Whether it’s managing screen time, social media, rest, healthy eating, physical activity, or even the process of making art, I’ve discovered that even good pursuits can weigh us down if we don’t approach them with awareness. While I revel in exploring new ideas, I’ve also learned the importance of creating space and allowing myself the time to process all these experiences.
I would love to hear if you have any practices to help keep your life more balanced. Have you tried any other creative endeavours that have given you similar insights?
Take care!
Your friend Tuğba
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Beautiful photos, and thoughtful piece as always.
I am currently reading Jenny Odell's "Saving Time" which deals with similar topics – the productivity myth, the deeply engrained "time is money" ethos, Western protestant work ethic, and how white privilege enables a shallow idea of 'slowness' and 'wellness' on platforms like Instagram.
She is also trying to explore ideas of experiencing time differently, more in line with our pre-capitalist ancestors. I'm not all the way through yet, but I'm heavily recommending that book.
This is great. So agree. Everything is about faster and efficient. Great... to a degree. But it's making a world of constant noise, no surprises, no rest, just go... go.. go. Then we wonder why kids mental health rates are so high
Why so many adults are dissatisfied
And everyone is being lured into phone addiction by amazingly clever neuroscientists who program the apps. Or is just me?