Ansel Adams' Developer Tray Is a Beautiful Artifact of the Film Age

When thinking of fetishized photographic equipment, your mind doesn't often wander to mundane darkroom materials. But photographer John Cyr's work will give you a new appreciation for a rugged bit of photographic kit that's got historical significance.

Cyr, a custom black and white printer, contacted many well-known photographers, such as Ansel Adams and Sally Mann, and was able to take his own pictures of the developer trays that have sat in their darkrooms for years. In his short video essay, he describes his motivation and ruminates on these objects tell us about the passing age of film photography.

Check out Cyr's website for a full gallery of his work. [John Cyr Photography & Vimeo via PetaPixel]

Images courtesy John Cyr Photography