A Church In Mississippi

Right after getting married, the thought of spending $500 on a new camera gave me pause. Mind you, I still bought the camera, but I did pause for a moment before doing so. We owned a perfectly fine Canon camera at the time, but I was lusting over my first ever Leica, the Mini-Zoom. Ha ha. I noticed that used copies of the Mini-Zoom are selling for nearly $300 these days. That's pretty crazy... In fact, it was a very enjoyable little camera to use and I still have it in my collection. The church was a pretty bare bones affair, as is common for these older structures, with no air-conditioning even in the late 20th Century. The ceilings were high and the fans did a nice job of keeping things comfortable.

Tasting notes: Leica Mini-Zoom.

When the Rain Comes...

... pick up your camera. You never know what you'll find. Even though it was raining heavily, there was still interesting light, albeit attenuated. Luckily, I was able to shoot from a sheltered spot and didn't have to worry about the camera getting soaked. I like the abstract composition here.

Good light to you this weekend.

 
Tasting notes: Olympus Stylus 1.

Cheat Day = Okay

As the years click by, I have found that I have to be much more careful about what I eat. Consequently, potatoes are no longer on the menu around here very often. But once or twice a year, especially when visiting with friends on holidays, it is perfectly fine to cheat and really go all in on the potato. It took four adults just a matter of a few minutes to deal with this casserole, leaving behind a nice photographic opportunity. Which makes me wonder, what would I shoot on a photographic cheat day? Birds in flight, perhaps?  

Tetherball Kings

On a walk last week, we came across a playground area at a local park that has likely never been upgraded, not that I am complaining. It sent me on a bit of a nostalgic reverie, mercifully short lived. I remembered that at some point during elementary school, I was one of the kings of tetherball, with the calluses to prove it. And that was the absolute peak of my childhood sports 'journey'. Unlike football, there were no leagues or trophies. We were soldiers, in it for the love of the sport. 

Tasting notes: Canon G1-X.

Floating

It was a magical ladder in a clearing in the woods. Black and white images from modern digital sensors is a whole new world, one well worth exploring.

Tasting notes: Canon digital camera with a 35 mm lens.

Flirting With the Telephoto Perspective

We had yellow tulips around the house for Easter. Is that too cliché? I really don't care, thank you very much. They stayed fresh for quite a while but were even photogenic as they started to fade. Lately, I've really been enjoying photographing with the Olympus Stylus 1 with its 300 mm equivalent telephoto reach. Now that is something most phone cameras can't do. It is fun just zooming in to see what you can isolate in the frame even if you don't click the shutter. Normally, I tend to shoot in the 28 to 135 mm range, with 35 mm to 100 mm being my great preference, so working at 300 mm is a real treat. What is your comfort zone, focal length-wise? 

Like A Ton of Bricks

I could never afford to live in one of the new super skyscrapers that are popping up around NYC. That said, I wouldn’t mind seeing the city views from the top floor, but I’ve heard that many of the elevators have problems, and I have no desire to get stuck on the way up or down. Not to mention water leaks and getting battered by high winds. You know, I think I prefer the views from street level after all. I remember standing near this spot in Central Park a couple of decades ago when my brother first arrived in the city. Things change more than you realize. That’s what hits you when you stop and think.

Tasting notes: iPhone.

Sticker Shock

On my recent trip to NYC, I stumbled upon a large show of contemporary photography at the Phillips Collection in midtown. It was like a small tour of the medium’s history from the 1930s until the present. Just enough work was on display — right below my threshold for visual overload. That is one of the great things about NYC, the random encounters with wonderful art. I’m glad they have these public viewings prior to the auction, it was inspiring and I came back the next day for a second look. Not that I could afford to bid on much. The prices ranged from around $1000 for the work of a little known artist to an estimated quarter million for a Cindy Sherman. The Dubuffet on the second floor was not for sale, just part of the decor of the place.

Tasting notes: iPhone.

Negative Thoughts

For me, there is something special about a large negative, like the ones produced by the Fuji 6x9, not to mention a large format camera. I don’t know if it matters all that much in terms of art, and I suspect it doesn’t, but the physical presence of the negative in the hand encourages inspection, invites a closer look. The tactile nature of analog media is just different from digital. As lens based artists, we have more options today than at any time in history. Do these many options free us or paralyze us?

Days of Heaven

The late afternoon sun was passing through a stand of bamboo in our yard and the atmosphere was similar to the memories I have of seeing the film ‘Days of Heaven’ so long ago. It was a feeling I wanted to capture on film. I had a roll of HP5+ in my Fuji 690 BL from the 1960s. It is the second copy of the camera I have owned, as the first one died in my hands while shooting a couple of years ago. There is something special about the large 6x9 cm negatives, especially when using the 100 mm f/3.5 lens. The level of detail and atmosphere is unique to my eyes. I digitized the negative using a modern camera rather than my scanner, and inverted the color file which I adjusted to taste in photoshop. I’ve been enjoying the split tone look this simple treatment gives.

Tasting notes: Fuji 690 BL, 100 mm f/3.5 lens, Ilford HP5+, DDX 1+4 for 8 min, digital camera scan.

Something Exotic

In a few months, when summer is here in full force, this old boathouse will look like it was painted with a faded dull green enamel that was purchased at the local hardware store on closeout. I would probably not bother to take a second look. But in the clean afternoon Spring light yesterday, the color appeared to be a dark turquoise, something exotic and definitely worth stopping to photograph. A reminder to shoot often in this time of sweet light.

Yesterday, for a change of pace, my wife and I decided to walk in a local State Park rather than around the block like we usually do. I was armed with the Canon G1-X, a widely loathed camera from a decade ago. Candidly, I have a bit of a soft spot for despised cameras. It only took a decade, but for $175, I guess it was worth the wait. Sorry haters, it is a fine instrument to take with you on a hike as long as you remember a spare battery.

When The Rain Stops

When I looked at this photograph on the computer, it looked a little like I had used fill flash, but I hadn't. The rain had stopped and the sun came out from behind the clouds for a few moments. For a short time, the sunlight was both direct and diffused. The rose bush was still damp from the rain and created a nice specular highlight. Good conditions for making photographs, when the rain stops.

Other People's Stuff

Here in the South, we have gotten our fair share of rain, some would even go so far as to say more than our share. I'm pretty tired of it to be honest, but overcast skies sure can make for some very nice light and saturated colors. Balancing indoor and outdoor light can be a pain when you are seeking to create a spontaneous still life. And, when you are in someone else's house, you really shouldn't be moving things around, should you? That constraint forces you to think outside the box a little bit when looking for compositions. Overall, I liked what I was able to come up with here.

Tasting notes: Canon digital camera.

Happy Easter

 Happy Easter, and whatever you do, don't lose your bunny!

Morning Zen

I've observed the morning light as it angles its way through the kitchen window for years. It has become a habit, part of my daily coffee making routine. Depending on the specific arrangement of wine bottles, olive oil bottles, and vases, a variety of patterns can be observed. This one is from a vase that is shaped like a chunk of bamboo. Generally I'm pretty quick to reach for a camera to see how the scene renders. It's those times you can't be bothered that you have to worry about, the times when you deny your beginner's mind.

Tasting notes: Olympus Stylus 1. 

Conflict Avoidance?

To me, this photograph doesn't provide many visual clues about when it was made, and I'd like to say that is exactly what I was aiming for. I had to wait for the person conversing on their cell phone to finish their call and leave before taking this shot. I suppose I could claim that I was eliminating detail in order to give the viewer room to invent their own narrative, but maybe I just didn't have the gumption to photograph a stranger. That said, I'm not keen to have my photograph taken on the street, so why should I get up in someone else's face? It is a bit of a conundrum for me, I admit.

I hope you have good light this weekend.   

The Flowers Around You

I saw a video in which the photographer Alec Soth made a comparison between photographs and flowers. Central to his comments was the observation that no one complains that there are too many flowers. We all are confronted with the reality that there are an incomprehensible number of photographs in the world. Yet they are also transient like each season's flowers, and pass from our consciousness faster than we might wish. That is just the nature of things. So, fellow traveler, please continue to document your corner of the world with abundant photographs. And, I hope you are open to noticing the flowers around you. 

Tasting notes: Olympus E-500, 35 mm lens. 

A View with a Zoom

Aw, hell, I did it again. New camera. I picked up a shiny used copy of the Olympus Stylus 1, a camera that never got the love I feel it deserved at the time it was released all the way back in the Fall of 2013. At that moment in the space-time continuum, you may recall that many thought that small sensor compact cameras were going the way of the dinosaurs. With the perspective provided by the passage of nearly a decade, perhaps we can revisit these old fossils to see if they are of any current interest.

One of the first things I do when I pick up a new camera is to take it with me on a walk around the block. I have certain shots that I like to use as my test compositions, I'm sure you're the same. One of the stand out features of the little Olympus is it's 300 mm equivalent reach at the telephoto end of its zoom. Zooming in tight is a nice way to transform your suburban neighborhood into a pristine woodland, should you want to do such a thing.

Tasting notes: Olympus Stylus 1, converted to black-and-white in Lightroom. 

Hole in the Wall

I've been watching this wall slowly decay for a number of years now. On this particular day, I noticed that a new hole had appeared in the brickwork. When I peaked through, I discovered outdoor seating for some venue on the other side that I didn't even know existed. That observation sparked a train of thought involving a place from my distant past called The Hole in The Wall in Austin, TX. They served an awesome chicken fried steak sandwich that I enjoyed ordering, that is, until I decided I was a vegetarian, another Austin phase of mine. Interesting how photographs work their magic.

Infrared Photography -- Like a Fine Scotch?

I've always felt pretty ambivalent about IR photography, but at the same time, I've also always thought that I should at least experiment with it. Give it a proper chance. After all, it is a uniquely photographic approach to creating an image. And, why not use the full range of photons available to us? On the film side, I've come to appreciate the results one can get with Ilford SFX, which responds to NIR. Close to the visible in other words, such that the 'glowing leaves' effect is a bit mellower. Of course, you have to use heavy filtration to block most of the visible light, and shoot on a tripod. But it works.

Digital IR, on the other hand, is something I feel like I've never been able to get fully under my control. First of all, the false color treatments I've seen are definitely not to my personal taste, but I've seen some very solid black-and-white work. So, during the height of the pandemic, I picked up a copy of an IR converted Canon 5D to experiment with. I had an old Lensbaby mounted on the front to impart a 1970's 'Diana' kind of vibe. The above image is one I like well enough, I suppose. Still, though, I think I could have achieved a similar result using visible light, without all the fuss.

In future, I'll probably pull out the IR camera from time to time for a taste, like a very fine bottle of scotch. And who knows, before I leave this mortal coil, I may end up with a small body of decent IR work after all.

Keeping an Eye Out

This early surveillance instrument consisted of two mirrors at roughly right angles mounted to the surface of a window frame, presumably to allow the shop owner to monitor activity on the street in both directions. Something to do when business is slow. It is more attractive than a closed circuit camera mounted in the same position, that is for sure. I must have found it fascinating at the time, because I took a few photographs of the set up from multiple angles. I was hoping to get a shot of the shop owner reflected in the mirror, but no such luck, so I framed up the little red star instead.

Tasting notes: Sony RX-10.

The Vernacular and the Monumental

If you have seen photographs taken in northern Europe, you can probably guess right away where this photograph was made. In the countryside, so many of the vernacular structures in Sweden are painted this color. For many of us, these functional structures are fascinating subjects for photography, possibly even more than the famous monuments, who knows. The owner of this building appeared to be a fence or ladder hoarder. As a child I remember being told that red was often used in order to add vibrance to an otherwise dull landscape, or at least to contrast with the green of the trees and grass. Although less romantic, it could also be that this was the color that was on sale at the local hardware store at the time.

Reflections of Oslo

Oslo was one of my favorite cities to visit, I think because it is so walkable, and moderate in size. One day we ended up walking for nine miles with someone who knew their way around, which may be my personal record for an urban stroll, and I feel as if I actually got a feel for the city. The camera I had with me that day was the Fujifilm X100S. This image of children playing at water’s edge is one of my favorites. I like the muted colors imparted by the reflection in the window.

Good light to you this weekend, reflected or otherwise.

No Futz Images

Sometimes, the stars are aligned or whatever, and like, you get a unique image? With absolutely no futzing. Not that I mind a good futz, but somehow, it does feel kinda nice to have an image look great straight out of camera. Another cruise shot today. Somewhere in Norway, standing on deck, leaning on a railing, and staring out to sea. My favorite part of cruising, the lean, if I’m honest. And those Norwegian sailors? Crazy good.

Tasting notes: Sony RX-100. Pretty swell travel camera, if a bit chunky.

Untold Stories

Sometimes I think that conceptual art is akin to telling a joke. The bummer is that once you hear the punch line, that's pretty much it. At any rate, I'm sure we have all dreamed up little conceptual projects, many, if not most, of which never actually see the light of day. That is a shame, I think. These days, with print-on-demand being so easy and affordable, why not do a one off? Who cares if anyone else gets it? Not everything is destined for the gallery wall. A few years back, I came up with the idea of the 'industrial palimpsest'. You see, we were on a cruise (last one I'll ever do), and I had some time on my hands between ports. The ship was passing through an area of industrial decay, and the surfaces were interesting. Kind of like a safari in a way, hunting for abstract compositions rather than big cats.

Objects of Desire

 

We may not like to admit it, but the marketing folks really know their stuff, making most of us pretty easy marks. Me anyway. I can still remember seeing full page ads for the original Contax T with its red sapphire shutter button back when I thankfully had no income of my own. A few decades later, I picked up a nice used copy. Happy to report that the sapphire shutter button is every bit as gorgeous as I had imagined it to be. Naturally, the fact that it is made of sapphire matters not at all. Another camera that needed to be acquired was the Fujifilm X100S. Despite the adverts, I didn't enjoy shooting with that camera all that much, and only kept it a short while. But I sure did love the fill flash it had. It seems to me that there is usually something endearing about almost every camera. Right?

Which makes me wonder: is there a camera that just plain fails on every front? 

Places Lived

It is not a really a special place, at least not on the surface, on the basis of the things that the real estate agents tend to care about. But we have long since quit worrying about the square footage, the open floor plan, and have marked up the space in our own ways, with our own lives, and we will surely miss it when we are gone. For a little while, anyway. We'll be marking up our new spot soon enough.

How many places have you called home over the years? For me, it's over twenty. On the other hand, one of my neighbors has lived in the same damn house since 1978, and I doubt he's going anywhere anytime soon. I guess that's another approach, but not one I can relate to very well.

Tasting notes: Canon M6ii, 22 mm f/2 lens.

One Image, One Month, One Zine

More than one well-regarded photographer or artist has spent time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art looking at the ancient sculpture. In fact, as I write these words, I have one person in mind who based an entire body of work on a photograph of a single piece. 

Anyway, I've given myself a little assignment. Pick an image of one of the antiquities that caught my fancy on my latest visit to the Met, and prepare a dozen or so interpretations of that photograph. Make a zine out of it. That's it.

Tasting notes: Canon M6ii, 22 mm f/2 lens.

That Next Best of Times

A few decades ago, someone planted a tree and I am grateful.

“There's a Chinese saying. 'When is the best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago.’” The Chinese engineer smiles. ‘Good one.’ 'When is the next best time? Now.' ‘Ah! Okay!’ The smile turns real. Until today, he has never planted anything. But now, that next best of times, is long, and rewrites everything.” 

―Richard Powers, The Overstory

Tasting notes: Olympus E-500 digital camera, 35 mm Olympus macro lens.

Recoil Into Silence

When great trees fall

in forests,

small things recoil into silence,

their senses

eroded beyond fear.

––Maya Angelou

I did what I had to do for adequate depth of field.

Tasting notes: Sigma sdQuattro camera with 70 mm Sigma macro lens.