Love for Neon, Love for Night
MARCH 2021 ● JOURNAL
In the dark of the night, neon signs pave the way for travelers, signify landmarks, and breathe life into words, designs, and pieces of art. The high-voltage currents run through glass tubes and radiate warmth, producing fluorescent, hypnotizing auras after the day’s natural light has vanished. To me, neon is captivating. Each sign or work of art is unique in its craftsmanship and in what it projects out into the world. To get technical, electric currents make contact with metal electrodes within the glass tubes of these neon signs. Electrons flow through the inert gas, causing its atoms to glow. While neon was first discovered in 1898, commercial usage began to gain popularity in Paris, France and the United States in the first quarter of the 20th century. Travelers wrote that “the blaze of crimson light from the tube told its own story and was a sight to dwell upon and never forget" (Discovery of the Elements; Weeks, Mary Elvira 287). Almost 100 years later, I still share that same sentiment. I would even say that neon may be my favorite color. And while it may not in fact actually be a “color,” who’s going to stop me?
Neon has also been referred to as “liquid fire” - or that was at least a popular way of describing it in the 1920s. But think about it. Before neon and all of the other technological advancements that came before it with the rise of electricity in the 1800s, what was there to light up the night sky? Stars? Fire? Candles and oil lamps? Sure, there were elementary lightbulbs. But there was nothing like neon - and there existed nothing quite as enthralling or grand. When the sun falls past the horizon and the world seems to come to a standstill, the glow from neon signs illuminate the sky and their surrounding areas, preserving life, activity, and excitement. Nightcrawlers thrive as they seek out places offering entertainment, which are generally indicated by these signs and works of art. Neon signs are of course used as generic advertisements for everyday businesses as well, and these applications don’t exactly draw attention from those seeking out the buzz of nightlife, but they do still add character and brilliance to the areas around them.
In the past couple of months, I have become infatuated with capturing images of these signs. I generally load up some CineStill 800T and head out, cruising along Colfax, Broadway, or cutting into alleyways searching for a rare find. CineStill 800T is a relatively high-speed film, perfect for night photography and produces stunning atmospheres of halation and vibrance. I’ve found that pushing the film one stop can also exaggerate the radiating auras. And I will admit - each film stock has their own unique qualities and characteristics. If you take a shot of a neon sign in the middle of the night with CineStill and then snap the same image with another type of film, say Portra 800, you’ll get different results. What I’m trying to convey is that while our naked eyes may visualize scenes as they truly exist in the world - deprived of the abundance of luminance or tonal elements produced by film - certain film stocks can help capture the essence of these scenes. They help portray the moods and the spirit of the moments that were seen by the naked eye. In this way, film can almost be described as a sort of translator, helping to interpret the moment to others. Shooting film shouldn’t be some sort of rigid, formulaic process (experimentation and surprises are all part of the thrill), but I do think it is important to employ the appropriate type of film when seeking out your desired captures - or in my case, liquid fire.
This article is featured in the third issue of the Y35 Mag. Check it out here.