the danish testament

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Silver gelatin photographs taken with a Leica from 1963

THE MAGIC OF INHERITANCE

Hi there, Camelia Elias here, carrying the torch. When I inherited a Leica camera from 1963 from legendary historian and collector of esoteric art, K. Frank Jensen, I returned to the darkroom, an experience I never forgot after just one week in school when I was 10. In my 50s now, I think of the magic of silver and what I can do with it as a matter of stumbling into grace.

The path less travelled

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Infinite conversations

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The Old Ones

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MY WORK PROCESS

I'm not interested in perfect pictures, forced and contrived through the manipulation of color and composition. I'm interested in chance and how it forms my darkroom processing. My mantra is this: 'If it happens, it happens, and if it doesn't, it doesn't.' I want to see where a negative takes me, in whatever form it presents itself from the outset: as overexposed, underexposed, suffering from bromide drag, or scratches. I embrace it all, and value the place it takes me to.

4 JAPANESE MASTERS IN A DREAM AND A CAMERA

BEING BESIDES MYSELF


Currently I'm working on a series of photographs under the heading BEING BESIDES MYSELF. 


This work is inspired by a simple, yet powerful question that I encounter frequently in my work with divination and fortunetelling with cards: DOES HE LOVE ME? I want to apply this question from the heart to my eyes through the lens of my camera. I'm curious to see if I can capture in the silver halides some of the anxiety, longing, dreams, fears, and wishes that I see represented in oracular settings, when I fling the cards across the table to the lovers' astonishment.


When women ask my cards: 'Does he love me?' or when men ask my cards, 'does she love me?,' I often find that this question comes from a fascinating type of positioning. When people are besides themselves in love, they are also beyond time.


I have selected 33 gelatin silver prints to accompany written reflections on how an image can cast a spell on words intended to have a performative function. and how these words in turn can enchant an image. 30 pictures are based on my own negatives, and 3 are based on K. Frank Jensen's photography. The result is my book, Being Besides Myself, published by EyeCorner Press (June 2020). Hear me read a fragment aloud. 

WHAT THEY SAY

Truly unique and intriguing. Beautifully haunting, magical photographs. A step onto the road less traveled in today's digital world. – CINDY GREGO, photographer

Camelia, I love them. The prints are beautiful. Thank you – AITZIE OLAECHEA, art collector

EXPLORE ON INSTAGRAM

the.danish.testament

Camelia Elias
Shadow walk. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphoto Shadow walk. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector #huski
Ear to the ground. #cameliaelias #photography #fil Ear to the ground. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector #huski
Between the worlds. #cameliaelias #photography #fi Between the worlds. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector #huski
Meaningful conversations. #cameliaelias #photograp Meaningful conversations. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector
The writing on the wall. #cameliaelias #photograph The writing on the wall. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector
The haiku session. #cameliaelias #photography #fil The haiku session. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector
Two of a kind. #cameliaelias #photography #filmpho Two of a kind. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector
A winter story. #cameliaelias #gelatinsilver #bary A winter story. #cameliaelias #gelatinsilver #baryta #thedanishtestament #winter #analogphotography #leica #leicam2 #darkroom #magic
Artwork in the mail accompanied by a strip of gela Artwork in the mail accompanied by a strip of gelatin silver print on baryta, featuring stairs to heaven and a totem. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector
Life force as a sigil. #cameliaelias #photography Life force as a sigil. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector #sigil #talisman
Moon and Mirrors. #cameliaelias #photography #film Moon and Mirrors. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector #moon
Moon and Star. #cameliaelias #photography #filmpho Moon and Star. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector #moon
My new photo book, ‘Being Besides Myself’ is a My new photo book, ‘Being Besides Myself’ is a powerful thing. But then that was the idea, to create it as a spell, a grimoire, with words making the images salt, and in the process eliminate any chance of identification with concepts, identity, love, war, and trite beliefs. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector #magic #spell #grimoire #photobook #literature #philosophy #identity #love
More reshuffling of my gelatin silver prints. This More reshuffling of my gelatin silver prints. This one on the kitchen wall, rather than among the books. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector
I framed one of my small gelatin silver prints in I framed one of my small gelatin silver prints in a bulky wooden frame, and then hid it among books. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector #books
Viewed from one angle, a howl; from another, Mona Viewed from one angle, a howl; from another, Mona Lisa. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector #husky
I don’t like scanning film and post processing i I don’t like scanning film and post processing in apps. I prefer a straight gelatin silver print on fiber, framed, and up on a wall so it reflects all sorts of other things in the room. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector #shadow
Some light, some dark, some royally black. #cameli Some light, some dark, some royally black. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector #husky #nature
The weird shape coming up. #cameliaelias #photogra The weird shape coming up. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector
Joyful encounters. #cameliaelias #photography #fil Joyful encounters. #cameliaelias #photography #filmphotography #analogphotography #darkroom #magic #gelatinsilver #silvergelatin #silvergelatinprint #gelatinsilverprint #fomabrom111 #thedanishtestament #bw #blackandwhitephotography #leicam2 #leica #leicaphotography #35mm #kodaktrix400 #rodinal #darkroomprint #darkroomphotography #collector #artcollector
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the danish testament

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Hand-printed gelatin silver photographs on baryta paper. I perform darkroom work using my own negatives, and on occasion, those of K. Frank Jensen. Camelia Elias retains copyrights for both.

Latest News

  • Infinite conversations June 7, 2019
  • Contrived pictures May 11, 2019

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