Costica Acsinte- Photographer Extraordinaire

Photo: Costica Acsinte

The ever evolving digital revolution is constantly innovating and improvising new and unique ways to increase the immediacy and plasticity of the photographic medium. One of the things that has seemingly been lost in the process is what photography has done best since its very inception, the very reason it was created; and no matter how fast we disseminate, publish or transform it- the very power of the camera is to capture the present, and that of the photograph (particularly in print), to preserve the past. Digital and the electronic medium has reduced the relevancy of the latter as we glancingly peruse and readily dismiss more and more photographically produced images which each succeeding day. 

 

On increasingly rare occasions however, we are ever so rudely and joyously thrown aback and awakened from our digitally induced stupor when images that are so obviously disconnected from the digital time frenzy are suddenly thrust upon us, demanding not only to be seen, but to be fully savored and contemplated. That is exactly what I encountered upon seeing the work of Costica Acsinte, photography not only from another era, but from a whole other way of looking at and appreciating photography at length. These photographs demand the luxury of your time, the great ones always do....

Photo: Costica Acsinte

This guy was one busy bee, and despite his workmanlike approach, he still managed to somehow produce works that range from the quietly monumental to the outright ephemeral. Unfortunately, many of the images have already been ravaged by improper storage and the effects of time- amazingly, some have actually seem enhanced by the surreal effects caused by that damage. There's many a jewel to be mined in this vast collection, and Cezar Popescu is to be both lauded (and supported) for his dogged one man undertaking at preservation.

I hope there'll be a book coming out of this- what I'd really love is an on demand publishing service which would allow you to publish in book form your own personal favorites of your own choosing! Meantime, think I'll just kick back a few days, take my sweet time, and ponder what those favorites are...

Photo: Costica Acsinte