Give and Receive...

Music | The Truth by Handsome Boy Modeling School

Some people bring out a conduciveness to collaborate. Jenn had only sat for one other photographer before we got together. She readily admitted that she had no ideas or what to do and sometimes that can be really difficult. We started out a little stiff, but as she found it easier to work with me and was able to interpret my words to her actions, things began to roll. Our first plate was a winner and as she saw the result, she quickly built confidence. This was the last plate of the session, it is by far not only the best plate of the evening, but one of the nicest pieces I've shot with a Wet Plate.


Sa Jouet

re Learning Patience...

Music | Numb by Sia Furler

Finally, shot more 4x5 last week and processed the film just now... So I'm in the familiar place of having so much anticipation to see what I got, but I still don't read negatives very well... I mean, I do have a properly exposed neg, looks quite good in fact. But I can't really say until I either make a positive of it, or scan it so I can see it on the Positive side. Problem is, the film is still wet and like watching paint dry, film is no less harsh.

I do like this old familiar feeling. I remember having to wait at least a week when I would drop film off at Walgreens to have my film developed and printed. Just after receiving that envelope with the 3.5x5 inch prints, I'd quickly go over them and declare good or bad, moving quickly on to the next.

Turn around times got shorter as time moved on and now we only have to wait just to get back to the computer... But with that efficiency and the immediacy, the sense of anticipation is gone. Here I am now biding my time by writing of the experience because I know I can't do anything until the film is completely dry...

I'm finding this is a special time, maybe when time starts to move slower than faster, so I won't feel so compelled to think my life is running right by me. I need more of this...

utopia...

Music } End Theme by Zero 7

The other night, I spent a good few hours with 4 other gentleman who are very qualified photographers. I use that term because of my respect for each of them, the way as true artists to keep moving forward and striving to work their passion. The evening started out with wine, conversation, then on to a fabulous dinner of home made lasagne, bread and salad. More wine, more conversation...

I was talking to a friend about my "dinner" and he was quite surprised that I would be able to attend such a gathering, as he knows my distaste for, Men of Egos... He knows me well... Though I had not thought about it before, I realized that my meetings with these other photographers were not at all about egos. There was absolutely know competition or sideline derogatory innuendo, passive aggressive statements or actions... Strange how I often strive to place myself in situations like this that I had overlooked what a sort of utopia I had happen to be a part of.

The evening continued with an article and a newly published book by Irving Penn, photographs that were recently shot by our gathering and 2 amazing bottles of Single Malt Scotch that was brought in by one most generous gent from Kansas... Not only did I get to admire some great photography, I got a few lessons on the history of the elixir we sampled that night...



Good friends, great photography and some of the best scotch I have ever had, ever...

Anna from 2008

Music | Mad World by Michael Stipe off the soundtrack, Donnie Darko

This year has started out in flux between ups and downs, mostly up. However, I've noticed as the days go by in the new decade, I'm having a bit of trouble jump starting my creativity. I haven't shot a personal photograph in a few months. I hate this feeling and the only walls around me are the ones I have created myself...

So, in an attempt to get going, I reviewed some older images to bring out. This photo was from a very good shoot I did with Anna. I do like seeing things with a different perspective that only time can create.



Often makes me wonder what other treasures I have passed over.

A Vase...

Music | Color For Duke by World Saxaphone Quartet

Suddenly, a photo appeared before me...