All photos © John Cyr. Above: Andrea Modica’s developer tray. 10×12

John Cyr has spent the past year visiting darkrooms of notable black and white photographers in order to photograph their developer trays. Amassing over fifty trays thus far, Cyr believes that each tray contains a history as unique as the photographers that have used them. Not only do these trays reference the photographer’s body of work, but they also record fingernail scratches, tong marks and developer stains that have accumulated through as much as forty years of constant use. During this time of digital proliferation, Cyr finds importance in photographing developer trays so that the photographic community will remember the specific tools that were seminal in photography’s traditional darkrooms. To see more of Cyr’s work click here.

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© Sally Mann. Virginia #42, 2004, from the series Faces. Courtesy of Gagosian Gallery.

The Family and the Land – an exhibition recently opened at the Photographers’ Gallery in London is Sally Mann’s first solo show in the UK. The exhibition will run from 18th June until 19th September 2010. See more information on the exhibit here.