365 Photo Fund

I am Atsuko Morita. I am one in a diminishing group of photographers still working with traditional photography. Just as there is a quality difference between music recorded on LP records and music recorded on compressed CDs, just as there is a difference between handmade sweaters and mass-produced, machine-made sweaters, there is a difference between digital photography and film photography. For this reason, keeping traditional photography alive means so much to me.


Fewer and fewer universities are teaching traditional photography. As a result, demand for classic photography is decreasing, many films are being discontinued, and we are losing traditional techniques. I believe that current photography builds off these traditional techniques. To lose touch with these original, analog techniques is to lose touch with our photographic identity.


Digital photography and ink jet printers are important staples of photography, but I believe digital and traditional photography should co-exist, side by side, each complimenting the other. We can't let the original photographic processes die. We can keep film alive by shooting film, exhibiting darkroom prints and teaching traditional photography to the next generation.


I have been producing projects for years using traditional film photography. In addition, I have made my own pinhole cameras (camera obscure) for many of my projects. With the exposed film, I use traditional darkroom techniques to print my photographs. I choose to spend my time and energy photographing and printing this way because the results are beautiful continuous tone color (chromogenic) prints. There is an elegant preciousness to traditional photography because analog mimics life.


I have earned a coveted opportunity to print my latest series, titled 365, in the labs at Rayko Photo Center in San Francisco. I need your help to ready the series for exhibition. This campaign will raise the funds necessary to print, mount, and frame 24 large format (30"x40") prints. 

365 is now over two years in the making. Using a pinhole camera I crafted specifically for this project, I have captured one moment from each day in my life. The photos are clustered by month, with a small portion of the negative exposed for each calendar day.

With your support you will both help me finally finish a long, ongoing project and keep traditional photography alive! 

Atsuko Morita: Project 365
POSTED ON 2016-09-16 - BY ANN JASTRAB

Atsuko Morita: Project 365 POSTED ON 2016-09-16 - BY ANN JASTRAB






Biography of Atsuko Morita


 BORN          1972, Osaka, Japan


EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

2010        Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA, Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree

2008        Crown Point Press, San Francisco, CA, Photogravure Workshop

2003         Kyoto University of Art and Design, Kyoto, Japan, Advanced Gelatin Silver Workshop


EXHIBITIONS

 2015-2016   Photoplace Gallery, Middlebury, VT, Alternative Camera: Pinholes to Plastic, Juried Exhibition

2014                  Sue Tallon Photography Studio, San Francisco, CA, Art to Benefit AIDS LIFECYCLE

2013-2014    RayKo Photo Center, San Francisco, CA, Crafted at Rayko, Group Exhibition

2013                  RayKo Photo Center, San Francisco, CA, 4th Annual Juried Pinhole Show, Honorable mention

2013                   SOMArts Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA, DIAL COLLECT/Residency Exhibition

2012                   Nodo Galeria, Tijuana, B.C, Mexico,Nueva Alternativa/EYE 94 Group Exhibition

2012                   Book & job Gallery, San Francisco, CA,  Dust Mag #3 Exhibition/Group Exhibition

2012                    Make Hang Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Everything Changes/ Duo Exhibition

2011                     Cabrillo Gallery, Aptos, CA, TASTY/ Juried exhibition

2011                      Southern Exposure, San Francisco,CA, PROOF/ Juried exhibition

2011                       Space Gallery, San Francisco, CA,  A Trace of Evidence/EYE94 Group Exhibition

2011                       The Center for Fine Art Photography,   Fort Collins, CO,  Food/International juried exhibition

2011                       Rayko Photo Center, San Francisco, CA, Open Show #13, Cells/Featured presenter

2011                       Space Gallery, San Francisco, CA , Hope/Group Exhibition/Organizer

2011                       410 Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Cosmos, Solo Exhibition

2010                       Space Gallery, San Francisco, CA , Grain Over Noise/Group Exhibition

2010                       SF Camerawork, San Francisco, CA, Roll Call/Group Exhibition

2010                       Space Gallery, San Francisco,CA, Communication/EYE94 Group Exhibition

2010                        Academy of Art University, San   Francisco, CA, Annual Spring Show/Honorable mention, portfolio

2010                        RayKo Photo Center, San Francisco, CA, 3rd Annual Juried Pinhole Show/Featured artist    

2010                       79 New Montgomery Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Humanics/Group Exhibition

2009                       Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA, Group Salon Exhibition

2009                       Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA, Annual Spring show/3rd Place, Portraiture
 
2008                       Rayko Photo Center, San Francisco, CA, 2nd Juried Pinhole Photography/Group Exhibition

2004                       Maronie Gallery, Kyoto, Japan, 9th Annual How Are You PHOTOGRAPHY? /Group Exhibition

2002                       Ississ Gallery, Kyoto, Japan,7th Annual How Are You PHOTOGRAPHY? /Group Exhibition

 PUBLICATIONS

 2009　　　     Magical Secrets About Chine Colle, Crown Point Press, San Francisco, CA


 2010　　　      Roll Call, SF Camerawork, San Francisco, CA