Analogue Image
A Dedication to Analogue Machines and Technologies
As AI (Artificial Intelligence) sidles up to us like an unknown relative at a family do, so AI (Analogue Image) is working in technologies that have defined human beings for many, many years. Why? Well, there’s a sense of a looming identity crisis for human kind. We may no longer be the smartest show in town. What does this mean and what should be done?
What we can do is continue to explore and innovate with what we’ve done for thousands of years. Pick up tools and create amazing objects that speak of and involve a direct physical experience. This site is dedicated to continued innovation in three areas of analogue technology: Sound, Vision and Time. It’s the rumination and work of Edmund Ward, founder of Analogue Image Ltd (also trading as On8mil). A successful motion picture lab and specialist analogue film company based in Wood Green, London, UK.
Explore What We Do
Focussing on three core fascinations in analogue technologies – for no better reason than these are what we love the most…
Revolutions
What. to say about the continuing appeal of the vinyl record? On paper it makes no sense. Why would one pay in excess of £30 for an album of music when you can get it for pennies on a streaming platform? Clearly we place some value in this format.
The LP record is an object that reproduces sound from its surface via an oscillating gem stone, some magnets, coils, bearings, weights and amplification. Is it by chance that we would cherish a fragile format that demands such care? We believe It’s because it demands care and requires a tactile, tangible playback method, that we love it. We can both observe and hear its beauty. Not so with digital sound. The latter is profoundly secretive about how it’s converting those zeros and ones into sound and as a result it’s a tad dull.
We have set about designing turntables that both look beautiful and sound incredible. Audiophile turntables have become expensive and as a result, somewhat exclusive. We want to introduce beautiful vinyl reproduction to a young audience – in other words our aim is to make both affordable and high end audiophile turntables, leveraging modern manufacturing techniques with an eye to innovation and an undying love for the LP format.
The Eye of the Beholder
Analogue photography and analogue film making are fast becoming unique art forms in their own right. The clarity that digital imaging systems have brought to the table has paradoxically also allowed us to see analogue photography in a new light. Not only have digital imaging systems allowed for ever more accurate scans of analogue materials, but the clarity of digital imaging has also prompted some film makers and photographers to question what makes for a good colour grade or photographic image.
As digital film making has become the norm in motion pictures, we see how important a colour grade becomes to the overall narrative, because in the absence of the photo chemical nuances and motion artefacts that analogue film inherently brought, the job of the colourist has become paramount in order for the footage to not be lack lustre. Often grain will be added in post or a DOP may even choose to shoot with vintage lenses on a modern digital motion picture camera, thus creating some visual aberrations on the otherwise pristine digital image.
Above all – we find from our experience of creating and running On8mil that our customer base are predominantly in their 20s and 30s. A curious phenomenon. It would seem that despite having grown up in a time of camcorders, digital cameras and smart phones that there is an allure to shoot with a mechanical means of image capture – one that has an element of challenge, unpredictability and a very finite number of exposures or running time. Once again, as with vinyl, the desire to interact with a tangible mechanical technology is as much a part of the journey as the resulting output.
We’ve been working on a number of motion picture technologies including upgrading and modernising spring driven 16mm cameras, improving power supplies for out dated camera batteries and a brand new super 8 cartridge – one that is reloadable (instead of the single use plastic cartridge sold by Kodak). Take a look through our ‘projects’ section of this site and in our shop to see what we’re up to.
About Time
Time keeping is an old, old technology, with the first mechanical clock believed to have been made in England circa 1275. The world’s oldest surviving working clock is the faceless clock dating from 1386, or possibly earlier, at Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire, UK. The first wearable timepieces came much later in the early 16th century and are attributed to a German clock maker named Peter Henlein. The first wrist watches however, emerged in the late 19th century.
The fact that Mechanical clocks and watches are still made in 21st century is both wonderful and a clear affirmation of the overarching philosophy of this website. The skill that goes into making a high quality time piece is exceptional and whilst automation and computer controlled machining have made manufacturing such delicate instruments easier (as it has in numerous other industries), there is still a deep sense awe in observing the fine mechanical tolerances within the humble wrist watch movement. Watches of course range ludicrously in price, and whilst it is true that you get what you pay for, the high end of the market iis sadly exclusive to the wealthy.
With this in mind we’ve researched and tested a sizeable range of lovely quality time pieces that won’t require a small mortgage to obtain. Most of them are from the emerging Chinese market, some with Chinese movements and some hjghly regarded Japanese movements. Many of them are homages to some very popular Swiss designs – but (we hasten to add) not clones. In the months and years to come we will also be releasing our own very limited edition watches.
Explore affordable, beautifully made analogue watches. All watches are selected for their aesthetic appeal, affordability, quality of build and reliability of their movements. All time pieces are also tested over a one month period to ensure accurate time keeping. No drop-shipping – we purchase all pieces, test, admire – then sell directly from our London shop . We have carefully selected a collection of mechanical watches that bring us lots of joy – we hope they do the same for you.
