RICHMOND, VA, January 28, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Jens Mauthe, an amateur film photographer based in Richmond, Virginia, has completed a new long-term photography project built around strict limitation and repeated execution. The work continues his analog-only practice and reinforces a method rooted in routine, documentation, and physical printing.

The project developed over many months and followed a fixed structure from start to finish. Mauthe used the same cameras, lenses, film stocks, and darkroom setup for the entire duration. No new tools were introduced once shooting began. The intention was control. By limiting variables, Mauthe aimed to better understand how small changes in light, exposure, and printing decisions affect the final photograph.

All photographs were made on black and white film using fully manual 35mm and medium format cameras. Exposure decisions were made without automation. Shutter speed, aperture, and focus were set deliberately for each frame. Notes were recorded at the time of exposure to track conditions and intent. Each roll followed the same development process to maintain consistency.

Film was developed by hand in a home darkroom. Developer type, dilution, temperature, and agitation timing remained constant throughout the project. This removed guesswork and allowed changes in negatives to be traced back to exposure rather than processing. Every roll was contact printed before enlargement to evaluate density, contrast, and framing.

Printing played a central role. Mauthe treated the darkroom as the primary site of decision-making rather than the camera. Each selected negative moved through a sequence of test strips and work prints. Exposure times were adjusted in small increments. Contrast filtration was refined step by step. Dodging and burning were minimal and applied only when necessary to correct imbalance.

Final prints were made on fiber-based photographic paper using traditional enlargers and archival chemistry. Each finished print was washed, dried, flattened, and stored according to archival standards. Mauthe evaluated prints as physical objects under consistent lighting rather than relying on scans or screens. Only one final print per image was retained.

The subject matter remains restrained. Photographs depict quiet interior spaces, transitional architecture, and utilitarian surfaces found throughout Richmond. Mauthe avoided recognizable landmarks, people, and staged scenes. Many images show empty rooms, corners, walls, and structural details. Locations were revisited repeatedly to reduce novelty and emphasize familiarity.

This repetition was intentional. By working within the same spaces, Mauthe removed the pressure to find new subjects and shifted attention toward execution. Subtle differences in light direction, surface wear, and tonal response became the focus. The work favors consistency over variety.

The completed project is now published within Mauthe's online archive. Each image appears alongside its contact sheet and technical notes. Exposure settings, development records, and printing decisions are included. Failed frames and rejected prints remain visible. The archive presents the work as a complete process rather than a curated selection.

Mauthe views the archive as a working record. The goal is accuracy, not presentation. By keeping all steps visible, the project documents how analog photography functions when treated as a discipline rather than an outcome. The structure supports photographers interested in long-term improvement through repeatable methods.

The project was completed without commercial intent. The photographs are not for sale and were not produced for exhibition deadlines. Mauthe works independently and maintains photography as a personal practice. The release marks the conclusion of a defined phase rather than a final statement.

Constraint remains central to his approach. Limiting tools, locations, and materials allows deeper attention to process. Mauthe continues to work slowly, often producing only a small number of finished prints over extended periods. Progress is measured through consistency and clarity rather than volume.

Future projects will follow the same framework. Fixed equipment. Defined subject range. Full documentation. Physical output. Each new body of work builds on previous records, forming a cumulative archive of decisions made over time.

For Mauthe, photography exists in the sequence. Load film. Expose deliberately. Develop carefully. Print patiently. Record everything. The finished photograph matters, but the record of how it came to exist matters more.

Jens Mauthe is a Richmond-based photographer focused on analog processes, hand printing, and the disciplined study of film as a physical medium.

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