Quote: Charles Durning (Actor and WW2 Veteran)

“FORGIVENESS IS A GIFT WE GIVE OURSELVES”

Ambrotype Photo Stand Setup

Got this little top bar (Tripod was mine) for $30 CAD tonight, online via Amazon these things run $83 new and $39 used with a $27 shipping cost to Edmonton. I played around a bit with it tonight and it should work well with a iPhone or a small digi camera. I will use this set up to photography my 11x14 inch to 24x24 inch Ambrotype plates. I just need to place the glass under the camera, light it and photograph away. I will use this set up to prepare photo submissions,  creating photos for the webpages etc. 

3 Small Portfolio Books

Am doing up 3 small (8.5x11 prints) portfolio books. Will fill them with digi prints and show them at my 2 artist talks in April. People can see more prints up close. My friend Larry does this with his wonderful photography books. These portfolios are not as nice as books but they should serve their purpose.

Outside the books with titles added

What the inside of the books look like. I found that 300 thickness paper is a bit too thick if you want to place 48 or so images in the book, 2 times 24 pages. I will try thinner paper.

Tam, in a New Used Frame

Made up this quick print today, on some two side already used paper (1 side mistake). The frame was bought yesterday for $4 CAD at a thrift shop.  Reused the frame and the mat, just added my pic,

Tam Vietnamese Brothel Worker, BODY SELLERS, Poipet, Thailand 2003

Tam lived a terrible and frightening life. She used drugs to survive the brothel, you can see it in her eyes in this photo. Poor lady. This place was very difficult to make photos, such sad, desperate and lost lives. Because this photograph, I think of her and the others often. The world she lives in has to end.

Its small but beautifully presented. A white frame better?

Newly printed

Original print

Original mat

Added to frame

Back of frame

On the wall

8.5x11 Portfolio Books

Been thinking on a new idea. What if I purchased 4 - 8.5x11 black portfolio books and then placed different series within the books.

- MY FATHERS KAST DAYS

- THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY 

- THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP 

- KODOKU or BODY SELLERS (individually or combined)

I could take the portfolios to the two coming artist talks for people to view. Not on my friend Larry’s level, nothing compares to his glorious photo books. I think thou it might be an effective and even beautiful way to show the work. To tell my subjects stories, a tribute to them.

Real Darkroom

These digi prints are fine but I need to get my real darkroom going and make some traditional prints.

I need to transfer all the gear and sinks from my old darkroom to my new one! Will work on that this winter.

Bought Me Some, Digi Photo Paper

Ran out of digi photo paper last night. I ordered a bunch from Vistek here in Edmonton after comparing pricing to B&H Photo in New York. The Vistek price seemed a bit cheaper. I also bought the paper in rolls, which will require cutting down, for the same reason, a cheaper price. Cost $549.98 CAD for 3 large rolls. My favorite is the NATURAL, will probably order more of that next time, the other 2 not sure, might use it for color work. The brighter whites seems to look nicer in color.

More Digi Pics Made Tonight

More new digs prints. The various photo series are listed below each image. There are quite a few are newly discovered images.

BODY SELLERS from 2003

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP from 2013 to 2025

THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY 2011 to 2025

MY FATHERS LAST DAYS 2014

    MY FATHERS LAST DAYS

  MY FATHERS LAST DAYS

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMILES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY

  MY FATHERS LAST DAYS

THE FAMIIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP

BODY SELLERS

BODY SELLERS

Quote: Van Gogh

 

A 2nd Book Shelf Buy

Yesterday picked up a 2nd bookshelf from the restore shop. Each cost $25, both strong and large. I could probably use another 5 of these! Will keep a lookout for more. I look and read the books daily, a form of paradise.

Note* Most of the books, at least a high majority are art and photo books. I love my books. They are all about learning and showing the beauty of life. I fill my downstairs nan cave with wonderful music (thanks Dennis) and a lifetime of books!

First new book shelf

Second new book shelf

Quote: John Lennon

Book Thoughts!

The book thoughts from Facebook 

TO GERRY FROM FSO

I used to write for a number of publications. Sometimes it’s hard to get started. 

Here’s my advice:

Tell your story to several friends and family members. The more you tell it the easier it will be to write it down. 

If you don’t like to work with pencil & paper, dictate it into your phone or laptop and then you can polish it up when you rewrite it 

—and you must rewrite. Rewriting is better writing. And always have another set of eyes look at it before you get it published. A professional editor would be ideal.  in any case, Editors are your best friend, because they will make you look your best.

AND

Just wanted to add that you definitely have stories to tell!

FROM GERRY TO FSO

FSO the idea is basically to tell photo stories. Show a photograph or series in a book and share the stories behind the image, the people, subjects lives, making of the  photograph etc. 

I have sorta being doing that verbally for years at club meetings when I was a club guy and now at artist talks. 

When I do it, people seem to enjoy it. So thought that it might work in book form. In a way it would also be a bit of an autobiography. 

Thank you for your help and thoughts France. “Rewriting is better than writing.” That is great advice. 

I have been doing more reading in retirement, Baldwin, Maugham, Dickens etc. Their words inspire you to create some of your own words of feelings, emotions. Not on their level of course but they’re yours which is sweet and fun.

The other thing is I do not want the people in the photographs to be forgotten. Writing a book will help that process, make them less likely to be ignored. A written, recorded memory, a tribute to them.

A Night of Digi Print Making

Spent the night making digi prints after finding some new paper (Moab Estrada Rag Bright 300). Quite a few new photos in this bunch. It was fun finding new imagery dating back to 2017.

Looking at new photos never fails to bring joy to my heart. I have been involved with photography since I was 14, the purpose, wonder and happiness it brings me, is never ending.

THE FAMILES OF THE DUMP series

Hiroshima, Japan

SUKHUMVIT AT NIGHT series 

SUKHUMVIT AT NIGHT series 

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

BODY SELLERS series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY series

SUKHUMVIT AT NIGHT series 

SUKHUMVIT AT NIGHT series 

SUKHUMVIT AT NIGHT series 

KODOKU series

KODOKU series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

MY FATHERS LAST DAYS series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP series

Trees, Canada

MY FATHERS LAST DAYS series

MY FATHERS LAST DAYS series

Cambodian Slum Baby

SUKHUMVIT AT NIGHT series