July 2011
0 posts
1 tag
The Last Post
Well, I’m all done here.
Thanks to everyone that’s been following me on this project over the last 13 months and an extra special thanks goes out to the nice people who took the time to comment, ask questions, or otherwise let me know they appreciate my stuff. Mike Johnston at TOP deserves a hearty smack on the back for inspiring me and others to give this project a go—and...
June 2011
6 posts
2 tags
The Camera
First Impressions
I remember the day in May 2010 when my Leica M arrived in the mail. Until then, I’d never held one before and when I took it out of the box, it felt very strange. As my brain tried to make sense of it, to associate the feeling with something I’d experienced before, the memories that came to mind: the .22 caliber revolver my Dad let me fire when I was 12, the gold...
The Lens
Visualizing With Primes
A trap with zoom lenses is that you can become an easy slave to their versatility. Instead of clearly visualizing a picture before looking through the camera, you make the lens show you a bunch of possible pictures that you pick from. Multiple choice photography. Chances are good that without a concrete idea of what you’re after, you’ll end up picking the safe...
I Thought I'd Be Done By Now
I planned to be done with this blog by the end of May. Now, here it is June and I’ve still got a few more posts left to do. Life has been unusually demanding for me lately… in particular my day job… and I expect this state to continue for awhile, so the remaining posts are just going to continue to dribble out as I can get to them.
However, my photography trundles merrily on....
May 2011
19 posts
3 tags
Old Stuff #9: Star Wars
Earlier this month, the family and I went to go see a special exhibit at the Seattle Science Center called “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination.” It featured lots of nice educational displays demonstrating the real science behind some of the Star Wars tech.
That was all pretty interesting, but I have to admit I paid little attention to any of it. I was too busy completely...
1 tag
The Film: Wrapping Up
The final take-away from my experience of shooting 35mm film over the last year is that it’s largely about the process for me, less about the look. I like working with it. I like the tangibility of it. I like that you can make a picture without turning on a computer. I like waiting for it and how it forgives. I like the cameras that go along with it.
Yeah, I like digital photography...
1 tag
The Film: Vantage Point
John Szarkowski wrote in his book, The Photographer’s Eye, about “Vantage Point” and the role it plays in photographs. By approaching a subject from above or below, by standing too close or too far away, we can gain insight. His words:
“If the photographer could not move his subject, he could move his camera. To see the subject clearly—often to see it at...
1 tag
The Film: Workflow
I make my income sitting at a computer and I think I do entirely too much living in front of them. Between my laptop at home, my computers at work, and the iPhone I carry with me everywhere, I’m pretty much always connected. I’m strongly ambivalent about this but I’m not anti-technology. I’ve worked in the tech industry for 16 years and I appreciate its value and believe...
1 tag
The Film: Grain
In the right kind of pictures, visible or even heavy grain can have an amplifying power that fits them like a finely tailored suit. It can be lush. Beautiful. Gritty. Nostalgic.
I don’t make those kinds of pictures. At least on purpose.
And so I’ve just accepted obvious grain as a fact of life with 35mm Tri-X. It usually doesn’t get in the way too much, but if I could reduce...
1 tag
1 tag
The Film: Editing
Garry Winogrand would wait a year or more before processing a roll of film he’d exposed. Part of this was certainly due to his extremely prolific shooting habits but that’s not all. He didn’t want his memory of the experience of making a picture to influence his ability to judge its worth. Maybe he was shooting on a fine sunny morning with fantastic light and had beautiful...
1 tag
tannerblog asked: HAHAHA!!! I think it's clear I should leave the words to Tolkien. I'm probably the worst thing to happen to plants since lawnmowers. Regardless, thanks for the plug Chad.
Also, I'm really enjoying the Leica Year Homestretch, you've rocked that Leica man. That being said, I've already purchased front row tickets to The Camera Simplex. I can't wait to see what...
Also, I'm really enjoying the Leica Year Homestretch, you've rocked that Leica man. That being said, I've already purchased front row tickets to The Camera Simplex. I can't wait to see what...
April 2011
33 posts
3 tags
1 tag
The Film: Shoot Less. Not!
Film costs money. Digital doesn’t. That’s the conventional belief and so it seems to follow that using film would lead to fewer exposures. Slow down. Plan more. Make each frame count.
I thought going back to film would have this effect on me and initially it did. I remember the first roll of Tri-X I burned. Each shot was a process itself. I was slow. Deliberate. This was certainly...
1 tag
4 tags
The Film: In (Disconnected) Parts
Like I wrote here, I’d originally planned to write a single longish post covering all my thoughts on working with Tri-X over the last year. Change of plan. Instead, I’m going to try breaking this one up over several shorter posts appearing over the next week. Why? To be honest, I’m finding it hard to connect all the seemingly random thought chunks I have about film into a single...
1 tag
ventilare-deactivated20110928 asked: Any film camera recommendations for a beginner? :)
Also, hope you turn this stuff into a book soon! I'm rootin' for one!
Also, hope you turn this stuff into a book soon! I'm rootin' for one!
gingersnaps-deactivated20111228 asked: I'd love for you to follow me. Be aware though, not everything I post is photography related. I've been shooting with a hasselblad for about 10ish years, and this year I got a Leica as my birthday present. Sadly, I'm still struggling with the rangefinder and lens' issues. Love your blog and can't wait to see what you post next. I'm on Flickr as traceythorn.
1 tag
Almost There
On May 12th, it’ll be one year since my first post here and the start of my Leica Year project. Over the next month, I’ll be busy wrapping stuff up by picking final selections and finishing work prints for all the film I’ve shot. Lots to do. With respect to the blog, I plan to write three more posts covering the film, the lens, and finally the camera in a (hopefully) tidy...
nicolaisabelle asked: I'm amazed you still keep shooting and sharing pictures! How do you manage to keep it up while A. not getting bored and B. staying inspired?
