Quote: Mother Theresa

"We can not do great things, only small things with great love."

Quote: Albert Schweitzer

"Until he extends the circle of compassion to all livings things, man will not himself find peace."

I Have One Of Those!?

You know you have way way to much photo gear when you have something and do not even know you have it, that happened to me today. I have been searching for the best way to attach my dedicated ring flash to my blad body, I needed a hot shoe type device to attach the flash power unit to. I tried all kinds of hand flash bracket grip type things and finaly found one that worked, sorta. What I really needed thou was a device I saw online that slides onto the side of the camera and has a hotshot mount. I thought geez one of those would be great, I wish I had one! Like all blad things, even in the digital age these things are fairly expensive so I kept looking for a hand grip that would work. While I was searching for a screw for the grip I was assembling I accidently found the slide on hot shoe blad thing that I had seen online. Who knew I had one all along, where did it come from? No idea.

I will test this little device tomorrow with the blad and ring flash when I make some portraits of dad. If it works, I will use it in Thai to continue the sex worker series. I will do a series of headshot portraits  of the workers on the black and white Tri-x I bought this last week. I doubt that this new  work will be accepted by local Canadian galleries either but it is essential an artist follows his heart and mind and not try to cater to what will sell, show or be popular.

What I found in my drawer.

Another "Families of the Dump" Rejection Email

I got another rejection for the May send out of the "Families of the Dump" series. No one seems to want to show this work, I must be up to almost 10 rejections now, more than 5 anyway. This latest no was friendly and polite. Not all places want to show documentary photography, everyone has there preferences for subject matter-programming for their galleries. I sort of shoot the same type subject matter year to year, so doubt any future work will fit the Kelowna Art Gallery programming. This rejected submission will probably be my last effort to get shown by this gallery. Here is the nicely written no email.

Hello Gerry, thank you very much for mailing your disc of images to us in submission for an exhibition at the Kelowna Art Gallery. Your interest in the gallery is greatly appreciated. I have taken the time to look at your images (Burmese families living in the Mae Sot Thailand garbage dump) and review the material you sent. The work is great, but is not in keeping with the general thrust and priorities of our programming here, sorry to disappoint you. I will keep your material in an archived file on premises. Thank you again for submitting and best wishes in your ongoing work as a photographer, sincerely, … …..

From the desk of:
--- -----
Curator
KELOWNA ART GALLERY

Latest Araki Article Translation

A very kind friend here in Edmonton translated the article for me, here is the latest version and last version I will post:

( Netherlands Online Special Contribution ) If the Japanese prostitutes under Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki photographic lens stimulates the limitation of the sensory world by exuding a feeling of  erotic sensual enjoyment, and indulgence, set in a bizarre and delicious medium as human body sashimi, then the Thai prostitutes under Canadian photographer Gerry Yaum’s photographic lens are completely removed of this erotic layer of icing . They (the Thai prostitutes) stood rigidly in front of the lens, faces expressionless, their body rigid as if every part is undergoing an ultra- high-precision scanning down to their hair standing up like daggers. All that was missing is a thin layer of plastic film like saran wrap and then a black and white bar code and thus they can be put on the shelf and sold. Obviously, Yaum 's works takes away the audiences’ romantic imagination of sex workers and pornography.  In his images, the prostitutes are reduced to a commodity to be sold.  Though very cruel, but to some extent, Yaum’s images is a closer representation of the essence of the sex industry than Nobuyoshi Araki 's work.

At times rather flowery language but to be included in a story with Araki comparing my style to his, is fricking great, it cannot get much better than that. Its cool because of the Araki comparison and its also cool because the story is right on in the description of the differences in our work. I studied Nobuyoshi Araki for years before making the sex worker photos and was trying to do exactly what the journalist wrote. I wanted the work to be realistic and not make everyone look like they are having such a wonderful time. I wanted the photos to be true to the real sex worker experience. No one dreams to work as prostitute, the goal was to show that true reality and not do a series of photos that reinforced the male fantasy's.

Here is the original article again from the Chinese news site, the story was also picked up by numerous other Chinese sites and blogs.
It was written by journalist and author, Miss Wang Bang 作者：王梆

http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1021913

I also added some Araki YouTube stuff, a documentary on his work (Japanese language), a link to  one of his shows in London and general link to a ton more vids. People seem fixated on his bondage photos but the guy has shot so much more, over 200 photo books, world wide exhibitions etc. He is probably amongst the top 10 most famous photographers in the world, maybe even top 5. What you see in the documentary is his great sense of fun and humour, you can quickly understand how he puts his subjects at ease.

Mr. Nobuyoshi Araki

Japanese Documentary (Arakimentari)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuQI6mkD7mg

London Show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM8nf_KRYTU

More Araki vids:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=araki+nobuyoshi

Update* One more short fun Araki compilation vid, him using every camera imaginable, all types of subjects, and shooting shooting shooting. Photography should be more like this, a joyful experience!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHJNmP7bCC0

Update** Here is another Chinese webpage with a link to the same story as above. These things really spread quickly, there are a number of blogs and websites that have the same article.

http://dy.163.com/article/T1379063653955/9PFOELOD00964KM3.html

My Evil Twin

I have been thinking of something I posted on the blog a few days ago. Is Gerry Yaum known more than my real name, the real me? It's not that Gerry Yaum is famous or anything like that but with the reach of the internet there are lots of links related to this imaginary dude!  There are a lot more Yaum links than links to my real name. Maybe he has become my Frankenstein monster, to quote Gene Wilder in the movie "Young Frankenstein", "IT'S ALIVE!!"

Joking aside I kind of like the whole Yaum thingy, one of the main reasons I created him was I wanted to remain a bit distant, to keep my real name off the walls of the gallery shows, online etc. I have always felt really uncomfortable having the real name thing up there, so I thought why not just make up a pseudonym. My photography has always been about the people that allow me to photograph them, I wanted to tell their stories not mine. The work is not about showing off, getting famous or having my name in a book, magazine or gallery. The whole Yaum thing feels good in that way, it allows me to make the work, show the work but stay a bit apart, a bit anonymous at the same time.

Still it all takes a bit getting used to. In New Orleans I got introduced as Gerry Yaum, which was a bit off putting, a bit strange. Now Yaum is an article with the great photog Nobuyoshi Araki (real name) and doing interviews on Slate.com. If things are like this now, what might they be like in another 20 or 30 years. Its all a bit different, a little strange, sort of like I have this weird alternative twin out there. Hope my twin is not an evil one, I do not want to be shot in my sleep!

Simplified Gear List

I looked over the previous gear list and had immediate back pain so I thought I would try something a bit simplified.

Here is what I might take:

5x7 Linhof Camera
120mm Lens
Pentax Spot Meter
Manfrotto Tripod Head
Gizto Carbon Fibre Tripod
15 5x7 Film Holders
Large Harrison Changing Tent
Reflector

2 Leica M6 Camera Bodies
35mm F1.4 Lens
28mm F2 Lens
Medium size camera bag.

Hasselblad 503CX Body
80mm 2.8 Lens
2nd A12 Film back
Portable Ring Flash

150 sheets of 5x7 Tri-x ("Families of the Dump" portrait work)
100 rolls of 35mm Tri-x ("Families of the Dump" and other projects)
100 rolls of 120 Tri-x (new "Sex Worker" portrait series photography)

No 210mm lens for the 5x7, the closer head shots I can do with the 80mm on the Hasselblad. Only 2 Leica rangefinders not 3. I also dropped the 21mm lens (hard to do) in this version of the gear list. As to film, I have 100 sheets less of 5x7, 50 rolls less of 35mm and added 50 rolls of 120.

Going with 1 view camera lens is putting all my eggs in one basket, that goes for the medium format stuff as well, if I lose the blad I lose the ability to shoot the 100 rolls. This gear list is much lighter than the other version.

35mm film for the Dump, Muay Thai Boxer and Sex Worker Series.
5x7 film for the Dump and Muay Thai Boxer Series.
120 film for the Sex Worker, and maybe Boxer, Dump Series.

I might also be shooting in Nepal or Cambodia next trip. so traveling lighter is always better. This is still a lot of gear, taking 3 film formats could be a mistake. I might be trying to do to much again with to little time.

Update* I was so worried about overall weight I weighed my Leica M6 with 35mm lens and my Hasselblad with 80mm and film back, surprisingly the blad only weighs about 1 pound more.

The Joys Of Buying A Donut

I can't believe how great it felt today to buy a donut. That's sort of a strange way to start a blog story but you need to know the rest of the story to get it. I was visiting dad at the hospital today before work, I did a few photos of him and brought him a newspaper. Dad was doing a bit better, he was lying on his hospital bed in the sun looking quite comfortable and relaxed. We started talking and dad asked if I could get a curly donut for him at Tim Hortons, he said he had a craving for it. Now if you know my father you know that he is a very independent man who always likes to do everything himself, he hates to ask for things and does not like to cause a fuss. For him to ask today meant he really wanted it, as soon as he asked he sort of un-asked but I knew the truth. So after some more questions (what the heck is a curly donut?) I ran off to the shop downstairs to see if I could get him either the curly donut or a raisin brand muffin. I found out the curly was actually a French Cruller (dad often changes the names of things to own unique brand), so I bought 2 of those plus a raisin brand muffin. To watch my dad quickly eat this cruller was so satisfying, it felt great to make him a little bit happier. Dad ate the thing up in minutes, it was gone very quickly, he looked happy as he ate. We talked about past and an upcoming weddings, about the passage of time, about good times before and in the future.

At this point in  our time together something as simple as buying a donut for your father can be a rewarding thing, a joyful thing, it made me feel great. Heck this curly donut thingy moment might be something I remember and think back fondly to 10 years from now. It felt so great to to do something, to do anything for dad.

He can have the muffin and the second cruller later tonight if he is still hungry.Tomorrow we will bring dad home from the hospital again, so that's great, I am eager to get him home.We were only together today for maybe 40 minutes total but it was a great day!

Studying Peter Hujar

Another photographer worth studying is Peter Hujar. Mr Hujar shot extensively in the square format, his compositions were especially delicious, everything he shot looked simple but it had a certain beauty to it that is hard to explain and even more difficult to achieve. He is an example of a photographer that did not get dazzled by the toys, he just used simple tools to make lasting and important imagery.

Self-Portrait Peter Hujar 1976

More Film Bought

After studying the work of Nobuyoshi Araki over the last several days and using the blad to photograph my father in the hospital today I was inspired to buy some 120mm Tri-x. I have less than 10 rolls of this film left and it has always been my favourite 120 film. Dating back to my first 3 trips to Thailand I used it extensively with 2 Mamiya 6 cameras. Tri-x is the king of films. I often tell my students use one film until you really learn it, don't get distracted by all the options there are. Once you really know a good film like Tri-x you can produce astonishing images in most any situation.

Tonight I purchased 110 rolls of the film from B&H aat a cost of $590.99 USD, including shipping and taxes. I expect to take 100 of these rolls with me on my next Thai trip, to continue portrait work on the sex worker project and also to shoot  portraits at the dump and the Klong Toey slum boxing gym. I never feel guilty spending money on film, its the flour for my type of cooking! : )

Burma Beat, "Tears Of A Butterfly"

My newest vimeo vid, "Tears of a Butterfly" made it onto the burma beat video link website. If you want to learn more about Burma and the Burmese people the site is a great resource. Check it out here:

http://burmabeat.com/videos/

Note* the "Families of the Dump" and some of my other Burma related vimeo vids are also further down on the this page.

Bargirl 2014 Series?

I have been thinking all night about a possible way to continue to shoot the sex worker photographs in Asia this year. The square format of the blad keeps running through my mind. How to compose square? What works? What will make a statement? What will communicate the message best? The current thought is a square format show, a book (hoping) and stark black and white portraits. I could do head shots with lots of shadows or flat light dramatic ring flash shots of my subjects. The idea would to do a series called BARGIRL (same title as 1999) but this time to concentrate on the faces of my subject. I could shoot 20 - 30 workers this trip then continue the photos on subsequent trips if the images are progressing as I hope. I would also try to do a little biography of each person, where they work, how long, age, family life info etc. The idea would be to humanize my subject as much as I can, to make them the sister of every person who views the show or looks at the book. I could find my subjects in a variety of venues, freelancers, gogo bars, massage parlours, beer bars, bj bars etc.

The photographs if good enough would give a voice to the voiceless. I am starting to feel inspired, this might happen. I could give 2 weeks to this project out of my 7, my main goal would still be the 5x7 work at the dump, at least 3 weeks maybe more of shooting there.

Later on in life when I have more time I could also make darkroom tintype series from these negs. Lots of options, lots of possibilities. "Ain't Photography Grand!"

More Film Maybe

After looking through my freezers I realized I have no more 120 Tri-x. A B&H order of film with 15 boxes of 5 films per box (75 total films) with shipping and taxes will cost $303.30 USD. I will probably end up buying the film but I need to check what type of 120mm I have available in my 4 photo deep freezers. I might have some old Agfachrome in 120, I am not sure if my old Agfachrome is 35 or 120. If I shot  colour slide film I would process it in the darkroom with whatever kind of E-6 chemistry I could find and then print it digitally. 

I always try to shoot my old frozen films first but it would be tough to lay off the buying new Tri-x and using that wonderful film.

Possible Gear Bag For Thai

To distract myself I have been thinking of possible gear combinations I can take to Thailand this coming trip. I have a 7 week trip scheduled for later this year, not sure if it will be a go or not but I was asked to turn in my vacation request, so I did.

Here is what I might take:

5x7 Linhof Camera
120mm Lens
210mm Lens
Pentax Spot
Manfrotto Tripod Head
Gizto Carbon Fibre Tripod
15 5x7 Film Holders
Large Harrison Changing Tent
Reflector

3 Leica M6 Camera Bodies
35mm F1.4 Lens
21mm F2.8 Lens
28mm F2 Lens

Fuji 6x7 Camera Body with 90mm Lens
Portable Flash

250 sheets of 5x7 Tri-x ("Families of the Dump" portrait work)
150 rolls of 35mm Tri-x ("Families of the Dump" and other projects)
50 rolls of 120 Tri-x (new "Sex Worker" portrait series photography)

This would be a ton to carry and I would be doing without my Leica R6 and 60mm lens which I like very much. I would also be taking 2 view camera lens in this set up, not sure I should do that. I think I can use the 210mm to do head shots in the dump similar to the" Burmese Man" photo posted earlier, so I might take it with me to do a series of heads. The film estimations are sheer guesses, that will probably change up. I can only carry so much weight in my carry on baggage and I want to take the Leica's with me in carry on as well so I might have to cut something, maybe one of the Leica M6 bodies. One good thing about the Fuji is that its quite light (prefer taking a blad but its heavy), I want to see how sharp the lens is before making my decision. I am temped to shoot the new sex worker series (if I decide to do it) with just the Leicas but I think a larger format and flash might be needed based on past shooting experiences.

This is all very fluid, I might be trying to do to much again with only a 7 week trip, that's one hell of a lot of film to shoot.

Update* I had an equipment failure today with the Fuji 6x7. I cannot afford faulty equipment when I am making pics in Asia. I thinks its probably better to go with a Hasselblad body and lens. I know with the blads I will get the best lens possible and that the cameras are very well built and reliable. There is also a zen like quality to the 6x6 neg. I think I will probably go with the blad if I take medium format to Thai.

Its better to use the best film cameras in the world if you own them, why screw with a inferior tool? If your going to make good photos or lousy photos best to do it with the sweetest cameras ever made, Hasselblad, Leica and Linhoff.

Hard

Today was a hard day, I took some pyrogies and chicken wings for dad to eat in the hospital before coming to work tonight. I also made some more photos with dad with the Leica and Tri-x and with a Fuji 6x7 camera and Delta 3200 (old film I had sitting in my freezer for many years). I wanted to try out the 6x7 just in case I take it to Asia later in the year to continue the sex worker photography. Dad as always was gracious allowing me to make pictures freely, it was hard to focus the camera today, I kept on tearing up. Anyway it was great to share some time with dad today, talk to him about some future plans, and to touch his hand and kiss his forehead. Seeing him get weaker and weaker as time passes is so tough, he looked better today than yesterday so I guess thats good. The best part of the day was that dad had such a sweet tone in his voice when he spoke to me today, he was happy that I came to see him.

Translation Attempts

I tried translating two of the  Chinese articles (on different sites) using google translate  and ended up with these 2 English versions. I posted only the beginning of the article (the rest of the story deals with a behind the scenes biography-story of a sex tourist in Thailand).  These translations are not quite accurate (remove the erotic icing?) but you can get a feel for the message told. What is kind of cool for me is that I have been a fan of Araki for almost 20 years and when I studied his work I sort of came to the same conclusion as the journalist. I felt that Araki's prostitution photos sort of made it all seem so erotic where as I had already visited Thailand and had seen first hand what the truth was. I remember thinking that the reality I saw was so much different than was in Araki's books so I decided to shoot what I felt, which was basically the opposite of eroticism. The sex scene world in Thai is filled with sadness and desperation, so that's the kind of photos I made. Here is one of the original Chinese story links and the two google translations.

http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1021913

Translation #1

Nobuyoshi Araki (Araki Nobuyoshi, Japanese photographers, artists) under the lens is the joy of Japanese prostitutes, indulge. They set grotesque and delicious in one, like the human body do sashimi, challenging the limits of the sensory world. Canadian photographer Gary Baum (Gerry Yaum) Thai prostitutes are under the lens completely removed the erotic icing. They stood stiffly in front of the camera lens, their faces expressionless, they are each part of the body, such as ultra-high-precision scanners are carefully scanning over it, they're just covered with a layer of plastic film, and then the bar code printed on a black and white , can be sold. Baum's work, pulled out of the men on the porn industry, romantic imagination, prostitutes are to maximize the reduction of product: very cruel. In a way, than Nobuyoshi Araki's work closer to the nature of the sex industry.

Translation #2

Thailand's tourism industry story: My "accompany prostitute 'diary

Sunday 2014-03-30  Netherlands Online

One of Thailand's tourism industry of the story: Her summer, his evening 

(Netherlands Online Special Contribution) If Nobuyoshi Araki (Araki Nobuyoshi, Japanese photographers, artists) lens under Japanese prostitute is joy, indulge, set in one of the grotesque and delicious, like the human body do sashimi, challenging limit the sensory world, then Canadian photographer Gary Baum (Gerry Yaum) Thai prostitutes under the lens is completely removed this layer erotic icing. They stood stiffly in front of the lens, face expressionless, like every part of the body is ultra-high-precision scanners scan too careful as hair dagger now, only a thin layer of plastic film cast, and then printed on a black and white bar code, then can be sold. Obviously, Baum's works take away the people's romantic imagination pornography, prostitutes are to maximize the reduction of goods, although very cruel, but in a way, than Nobuyoshi Araki's work is closer to the sex industry essence.

More Work On Prostitution?

If I can manage a 7 week trip to Asia later this year I am wondering if I should try to do another 1 or 2 weeks of sex worker photographs. I sort of got burnt out by that scene and over the last 4 years or so have moved onto to other things. I am wondering now if I need to dive back in and do more work in that area. I was thinking of possibly doing a series of work on bar workers in their apartments, or possibly doing freelance workers in the rooms they use with their customers. I might also try to do a series of large format portraits with workers who work at a specific nasty type of bar, they are called blowjob bars (no further explanation needed). I would want to stay away from sexulizing the subject or showing nudity and concentrate on doing strong head shots like the one I posted the other day of the "Burmese Man" from Mae Sot garbage dump. I would want to humanize my subjects, the goal would be to make the viewer think of them as their own  mother, father, brother or sister. I might also try colour film again. Maybe I can use my promised artist residency at the Toot Yung Gallery in Bangkok to continue this work. Going back into that world of greed, lust, pain, police corruption, drunkenness, exploitation, disease, substance abuse, tears, sadness, bitterness, danger, jaded damaged people (both the sex workers and customers) and general ugliness will be difficult to handle, but maybe it's something I need to do. There are many important stories in the bar world to tell. I feel I am a better photographer than I was years ago so maybe with lots of work I can open peoples eyes to the true reality of that life, and give a voice to those often forgotten people.

Another cheaper camera/film option would be to shoot this new series on 120, with a Blad or a Fuji 6x7 or 6x9. I need something with a higher res neg and fairly compact. If your in the sex tourist bar world of corruption and payoffs its best not to draw to much attention to yourself (like carrying a big ass 5x7 with tripod).

Like always more thought needed on all this stuff.

Update* I doubt I will continue the large format 8x10 sex worker white background studio work next trip, but maybe I can go down that road again in 2015 or 2016. What bothers me most about continuing that series is the film is so expensive ($76.50 USD for 10 sheets plus shipping and taxes). I love to use Tri-x in that studio setup but I might have to switch to HP5 next time for cost reasons. I hoped to use all of my frozen 8x10 Tri-x doing available light portraits all over Asia using dads Deardorff. We will have to see how this all works out, maybe I can manage to shoot both series with Tri-x. If I could sell a few prints, I would have the money to buy film but that is not happening.

What's The Deal?

Whats the deal? In New Orleans I got included in the same sentence with the work of the great photographer Edward Burtynsky, and now today I find out the sex worker photos are being compared to the images of the great photographer Nobuyoshi Araki.

Both Burtynsky and Araki are world class millionaire seller type photographers, very famous, internationally shown respected and recognized, with beautiful books and major gallery-museum shows. They are both major artists, creating work that will last forever. Araki I think has over 200 books to his name, they both have multiple film documentaries based on their work and life (check out YouTube).

I am obviously not in those guys class, but heck things still seems a bit out of wack. They have all of the above, and I am sitting in a security guardhouse working 12 night shifts making small money and getting rejected on a daily basis from local smallish galleries. I am not by anyway comparing my work to the these two greats but heck is there no sort of minor league situation for me (and other photogs)? They can be the major league pitchers but cannot we at least be a minor leaguers? Single A ball? Double AA?

I mean I am struggling along doing my security deal, barely making ends meet, begging for money on my blog, begging to get artist grants, doing workshops for $100,  saving and squirming, trying to find anyway to make my photographs and these two dudes have so so so much. I wish I could earn  1/2% of what Araki gets and 1/2% of what Burtynsky makes then I could retire from this security gig that I have been doing for 20 years now and devote myself to my photography full time! Imagine that, doing photography 24/7 for the rest of my life, that would be fricken COOOOOL!!!! Heck I would be happy if I sold 1 print a year, currently I am not on that pace.

Even better than the money stuff would be getting work into major or at least minor venues like Araki and Burtynsky do with effortless ease. Gosh I am struggling to get the work seen anywhere, anytime. Local galleries are saying sorry they do not want to show the stuff, yet these same photos are being noticed and written about by journalists half a world away. Whats the deal on that! How can your work be talked of in the same paragraph as Nobuyoshi Araki and yet still receive rejection after rejection after rejection at local small Canadian galleries. Its all rather frustrating and confusing.

I think we need a minor league pay and gallery show scale system for us struggling photographer security guards : ). Throw us guys a bone now and again.

Anyway I need to get by all that and just keep working hard and creating. It's nice to be mentioned and talked about in the same breath as a great, that will help my ego for quite a while. Araki is an idol to me and thinking of this will help me put in the night shifts I need to so that I can get the money together to return to Asia and photograph again.With lots more security hours and saving maybe I can return to Asia at the end of year and make new work. Of all the wonderful things life has to offer making new pics is the thing I love doing the most.

Nobuyoshi Araki And Me?

I found this link today on several Japanese websites, not sure what it is all about but since I have always been a huge fan of Mr. Araki and my pseudonym lies beside his name in this mystery story I thought I would post the link. The English translations of this page make no sense. Being included in the same story as the great Nobuyoshi Araki even if it's just a mistake or some kind of weird internet typo is still pretty darn cool.. Next time they need to put my fake name first! :))

http://www.inmediahk.net/node/102191

Just thought of something, Nobuyoshi Araki has literally hundreds of photo books to his name. If I could just get one quality book published in my life time I would be happy. Producing one book that I could dedicate to my father would be a dream come true and would allow me to fulfill my vow.

Update* I just found out the above link is Chinese not Japanese (I should have known better). I am going to get the article translated and post it on the blog in the coming day. The way I understand it, the story was written by a fairy famous Chinese journalist, photographer and movie maker. In the part of the article with Noboyushi Araki and Gerry Yaum mentioned there is a comparison of styles between my work (sex worker photos) and Araki's, how we shoot people in a different ways. I guess the work I did is considered more honest to the true emotions of the people and less sensulized.

I guess they translated my fake name Yaum into Chinese and it sounds pretty funny, it's kind of cool and a bit weird how this non person Mr. Gerry Yaum is developing his own identity. Maybe more people know Gerry Yaum now than the real me.

Pretty cool again to be in the same story as Araki and to have my work directly compaared to and talked about with such a great artist. Gosh I would love to meet Noyoubuish Araki someday, the compassionate loving work he did of his wife who died of cancer many years ago is especiallty powerful and moving, my favourite Araki photos.

Here are a few photos from the book Araki did on his lovely wife:

Yoko by Nobuyoshi Araki 1989-90

Photo Story: Burmese Man Mae Sot Garbage Dump, Thailand 2013

I took this photo in May of 2013 with the 4x5 Linhof, a 150mm lens and Tri-x. This photograph was made as a result of my ability to speak some Thai, this image shows how some language skills can help gain access to a subject. The first time I tried to photograph this man he was carrying water in a large pail which he had on his shoulder. I asked to take his photo and he shook his head no and walked by me. I asked him again a second time later and he refused again. A day or two later I was in the dump next to him and I found out he spoke and understood a bit of Thai. I immediately launched into an explanation on what I was trying to do and why I was making photos. Even thou he is less fluent in Thai than I am he understood enough, we became friendly and he allowed me to make pictures of him and his family. I have no idea why he was afraid of me before but I am sure he has had a very hard time in his life, he no doubt faced lots of persecution from people in authority both in his country of Burma and also by official people in Thailand. It was very rewarding to be accepted and trusted enough to make this picture, it was a privilege to make his pic.

When I was making this photo he initially thought I wanted the water pail on the shoulder shot and he lifted a full and heavy pail of water up to his shoulder for me. He went from not wanting to have me take his picture to helping me by posing in a difficult way. I took the picture with the pail and followed it up with this close head shot and some 35mm exposures. I like the look at determination on his face, I think its an accurate depiction of the fire in his belly to protect and provide for his family.

He has 3 children and a wife, I would see him working long hours in the dump to make money to support them. One day when I visited his home he was setting up a plastic sheet under his house. I did not understand what he was doing but he tied off a large sheet directly under the stilts (all homes in the dump are raised up on wooden stilts off the ground) raised home, he was smiling and laughing as I questioned him, asking "what is it?" It turns out he was making something for his kids to lay on in the shade. The sheet was above the garbage on the dirt ground and  below below the floor of his bamboo/wooden shack. It was a sweet moment when he laid down on it showing me what it was and then had his children come down laughing and giggling as they tried out their new hammock system. It was such a simple thing to do, pick up some scrap from the dump and tie it up under your shack but it made his children so happy, it was just plain joyous and beautiful! Seeing how happy the kids were at that moment is one of my favourite memories from my time at the dump.

In November when I returned to the Mae Sot dump and started handing out some color snaps of other families to various groups, this man (forget his name got to learn it again) asked me to photograph his whole family group as a unit. Later on I printed the photos at a local shop in Mae Sot and came back and gave them to him. I also gave the family some rice and some money before I left. Wonderful people, maybe I can photograph them again with the 5x7 next trip. If they are not there when I return I hope they have found a good life some how somewhere, good people like this deserve happiness, they have earned it.

Burmese man, Mae Sot garbage dump, Thailand 2013

Photo Story: Young Mother Mae Sot Garbage Dump, Thailand 2013

I was working on the web page tonight and came upon this image. I do not think I have ever posted it before, I did post  a variation of this photograph where the young mother is looking up with anxiety. Earlier on the day I made this photograph I had seen the young girl walking in the dump somewhere, I did not know she was a mother, she looked so young to me at the time, maybe 14-15 years old. I remember when I saw her holding and caring for the young baby later on in the family home I was shocked, she looked to childlike to be a mother, to fragile but yet that was the case. The lady lying in front of her is her mother, a women probably in her late 40s or early 50s who was in ill health. I ended up photographing this family quite a bit in both May and November of 2013, this photo is from the May trip. The family was always kind to me, I gave them rice, some canned fish and photographs on several occasions. I still have a few color photos I want to give them the next time I visit. The photos are of the father and mother of the home sitting together and laughing. During the November trip I also photographed this same girl without her baby, she has the most joyous smile, I wish I could talk to everyone in that home and get to know them better. Hopefully during the next trip I can do a large format portrait of the entire family group.

Young mother with child 2, Mae Sot garbage dump, Thailand 2013

Video: Tears Of A Butterfly On Vimeo

Here is a link to the latest upload to my Vimeo photography channel,  it is a higher quality version of the "Tears of a Butterfly" I recently posted on the blog. The title is based on a haiku (Japanese poem) I read years ago.

https://vimeo.com/92552511

Photo Story: Skinny Old Man Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok Thailand 2011

I think I will start a new feature, I will  throw in a behind the scenes story along with a photo every now and again. Here is the first photo, story combo.

I remember this old man, he just sat and let me photograph him, he was drinking you can see the small shot glass at his side, he did not seem much interested in food. I think I was with him for maybe 30+ minutes as I also had some very cheap Thai fried rice with chicken from a nearby vendor and a bottle of coke, great tasting stuff. I wonder if this man is still alive he looked so fragile when I was there, just bone thin, sort of wasted away. He mostly just stared into space as I shot him with 2 cameras and ate my food, he probably has had a long and difficult life. If he has passed away as so many people (especially older folks) in my Klong Toey photos have maybe the only record of him being alive is this photograph, am not sure.

Skinny Old Man Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok Thailand 2011

Getting Dizzy

Gosh I am getting dizzy, looking at this HTML code all day, changing letters and numbers to create new galleries is very time consuming and rather boring. It is nice to be moving towards completion but if I had to do this day in day out for other peoples websites I think I would go crazy. Anyway I managed to struggle through and add another 10 photos to the "Families of the Dump" gallery as well as complete all the links for the "Klong Toey Slum" gallery and the "Thai Sex Worker 2012" gallery. I also managed to put in 13 photos on the KT gallery and 5 photos to the TSW12 gallery, that's enough for today!

The "Families of the Dump" Gallery will eventually be very large, probably over 200 photographs, it is currently made up of 45 images. I might have to do up a second gallery from the dump of just the 5x7 work I plan on shooting next trip.

I have a darkroom workshop tomorrow at 1pm and a Easter dinner with dad and the family, I better get my beauty sleep.  Then its back to work doing security on Monday. Night all!

Website Thoughts

I have been simplifying my webpage in this latest rebuild. Instead of having many many NEXT page links I am just putting everything on one page, the more photos I want to show the longer the page. I am doing 5 photos across and as many down as are needed, the viewer will just have to scroll down. The whole thing works like one big long contact sheet. This way I can have many photos on one page (100?) as I want and make it an easier surfing experience for the viewer. They will just have to scroll, point and click to see a larger pic, then to go back to the previous page click again.

One of my pet peeves when visiting photographer-photography sites is how damn difficult it can be to see the actual photographs. Your always waiting for this fancy page thingy to load and that difficult to see and surf photograph gallery page to open, its can be really frustrating. Its a real pain in the ass sometimes just to look at the photographers photographs. The goal of this page is to, show as many photos as possible, as easily as possible. I want a page that anyone can visit and straight away see a ton of images, if they like them they stay if they don't they can quickly leave. I want an easy to use user friendly page that just so photographs in a simple straight forward manner.

I also need to page to be easy to update and change off, something I have not done any of over the last several years. I need something I can go into in an hour and upload 10 or 15 new photos easily and efficiently all by myself! If I can do that, then my page will never get hopelessly out of date, after every trip I can simply update it.

Heres hoping things work out, after 20 or 30 hours of work I am about 10% into the page, hopefully it will go a bit faster from here on in. My one worry is getting all the photos scanned and up to a certain standard, that will take forever. I just need to keep trudging away, day by day doing a little here and a little there, eventually it will be done.

If I can get this done properly it will help with future submissions, future workshops and future picture use requests like the one I got from the Texas University student a few days ago. Showing the work properly online is a win all the way around.

Update* I have 2 galleries on the website redesign completed, "Thai Sex Worker 2009" and "Families of the Dump". I will be adjusting and adding to these 2 galleries later but for now I am finished with them, time to move on to completing the other 10 galleries. I also need to work on the CV, contact and history of the photograph pages. I am making steady progress on completing this major redesign project. I want to have everything completed and online before my next major trip to Asia possibly a 5 or 7 week trip in late 2014. 

Another B&H Film Order

I just ordered another 6-100 foot rolls of bulk 35mm Tri-x. I will not use this newest purchase of film for 5-10 years (maybe longer) but I needed to reinvest this weeks darkroom workshop profits into new film. I will make $220 CAD in my 2 workshops, the film cost $466.43 USD so I will have to add quite a bit of security money to pay it off. I am saving a bit on shipping/customs clearance by getting a few extra rolls so decided to go for it. I probably have more than a 10 year supply of Tri-x 35mm film now. The film will be safely frozen and should be fine when I pull out to use it later. The current 35mm bulk Tri-x I am using was outdated 6 years ago in 2008 and it works great with no noticeable fogging.

I am not sure how much more of this bulk Tri-x I should buy, I might go to 4x5 or 8x10 Tri-x next purchase or start buying some more Ilford warm tone 16x20 fibre paper (my favourite printing paper and size). If I get a show somewhere sometime I will need lots of this paper. I think I only have 1 or maybe 2-50 sheet boxes of the stuff hanging around. To print a major solo show I would probably need at least another 200 sheets, maybe 300.

Working On Webpage Again! And Thoughts On Dad

Gosh I sat down today and spent 3 hours or so trying to put together a slightly better webpage. I do not have the skills to do a high end page or the money to pay someone to do that for me. I think thou this coming version will be much nicer and simpler than the what is currently online at www.gerryyaum.com. I am going to keep the basic html code and try to spice things up as well as simplify. In this current version I will have 12 galleries on the gallery page and plan to have 12 photos per gallery. I wanted to cut down the photo numbers but I do not seem to able to do that. I might have to have 24 photos for some of the more extensively photographed series like, "Sex Workers", "Families of the Dump", "Klong Toey Slum" etc. This is going to take a long while to complete but its something I need to do.

Over the last few months I have been working on a funeral slideshow and video presentation for dad as well as the eulogy I will give. Doing these projects just breaks me down, by the end of a few hours I am pretty well worn out and spent. I needed something to distract me from the sad thoughts about dad, the webpage is easier and needs less concentration than the darkroom so I have chosen it for now.

Speaking of dad today I ate some Ukrainian kobasa (sausage) with him as well as some watermelon, we talked and shared some stories, it was a good day. When he is gone I am going to miss him so much, I am not sure how I will be able to take it, it will be even harder on mom. Poor dad he is doing everything he can to stay with us but it's all beyond our control, there is nothing anyone can do. Now every moment I have with him is precious, I wish I could stop time, I wish I could give him some of my years, I wish I could do anything to keep him alive.

Update* I was just thinking some more about what I wrote about loss and my questioning how I was going to live without dad. I am a 50 year old man who is losing his father, imagine what a 5 year old or a 15 year old feels like. Imagine a child in a slum with no one to look out for them, no one to protect them or earn money to feed them. I am so lucky to have what I had for as long as dad was with me. I am protected by my life in Canada, a privledged life my parents gave me through their hard work. I think back to some of the young faces I photographed in Klong Toey slum, or in the Mae Sot dump, many of those children are no doubt without fathers, what pain must they be going through? Now that is true heartache, that is real suffering, so, so much more than anything I am going through.

The Work Is Making A Difference

I got this short email today, its nice to know that the work is having an impact, that it is creating/helping positive discussion. When I made the sex worker photographs I wanted to open eyes, to tell important stories, to educate and start discussion. This email today shows that the discussion is happening as well as hopefully a bit of education. I told this University student to go ahead and use any photos she wanted and thanked her. Here is the email:

Hello Gerry Yaum.

I'm a student at The University of Texas at Austin, and for one of my classes (rhetoric of tourism) I am doing a project arguing against sex tourism in Thailand. Could I please get your permission to use the photography in your galleries in my presentation? I would certainly give you credit if I used your images.

Sincerely,

------ --------

Conforming, Doing What's Expected To Fit In

Ever notice how people expect you to conform to the norms of society? If you have children your expected to do this and that, if your married or in a relationship your expected to act this way and not that way. I am not sure if the pressure to conform is placed on you by the people who have followed those unwritten rules because they do not like your independence and are envious or jealous of your perceived freedom (is anyone real free?) or because people have trouble thinking in new ways outside the box.

The people putting the pressure on others to act the same way as they do might have a point, they might be on the right path. If everyone did whatever they wanted to (within the laws of society) then the greater good our society might fall apart, everything might cease to function or at least function at a lower level. One thing I do know is that if you study the lives of great artists, independent thinkers and ground breaker type folks, they most often do not follow the norm, they do not fall to the pressure of their peers, they usually choose a unique path of their own design.

A nurse gave my father some great advice a few days back, my father told her he would refuse chemotherapy because it would not really help him and it would cause unnecessary pain, she said "It's your body and your choice, do what you think is right." We cannot allow peer pressure to conform and act a certain way to influence us, we all need to make our own judgements based on our own beliefs, it's our body, or lives, the person we need to make happy first is ourselves. That sounds very selfish and maybe it is but being happy in our own skins allows us to be a better person to all of those around us as well, happiness breeds more happiness. If you conform to fit in, if you follow the rules not because you agree with them but instead because your expected to, then that will ultimately eat you up and destroy something important. When your unhappy, when you lose that special spark that makes you who you are it's like a virus that destroys not only you but also everything around you. So by being selfish sometimes and finding your own personal happiness I believe your also benefiting those you love, your becoming a better person, a better lover, a better father, a better friend and a better husband.

Kaasa Gallery Artist Submission Link

The Kaasa Gallery at the Northern Jubilee Auditorium has their 2014 call for artists out. I had a wonderful solo show in this gallery last year, it is a beautiful space with great people to work with. The Kaasa only pays $200 CAD but provides you with a first class arts facility (upstairs in the Jubilee Auditorium is where the ballet and operas of Edmonton are shown).  For my show I had 37 large prints, portraits from Klong Toey slum, it's a huge space. I have been there done that so am not submitting or looking for another show at Kaasa but for those of you looking for a first class Edmonton venue please give it a try.

Here is the link:

http://www.jubileeauditorium.com/Portals/0/Call%20for%20submissions%20AJAS_2014.pdf

Note* I got in with a quick and easy email submission , so you can to. There is no need to pad things with a convoluted everything but the kitchen sink package.

Here is a vid of my Kaasa show, so you can see the space.

http://vimeo.com/70775312

Location, Location, Location

I have been thinking a lot lately about what separates photographers, what makes some great and some good and some non factors? Outside of characteristics that I have discussed earlier, study, extremely hard work, dedication in all areas, commitment to photography over other concerns etc. One of the things I think of more and more after photographing extensively in the dump is LOCATION. If you put yourself into situations ripe with photographs your simply going to have more opportunities to do good work. So much of photography is opportunity, there are lots of talented folks out there, lots of hard working photogs, lots of knowledgeable tech artists who know the art of photography.

But if you get to the right location, if your standing in the right place at the right time, now your talking! A huge factor that  plays a part in making great work is simple, put your ass into worlds, into situations where photos are everywhere. If you take the combo of extremely hard work, tech knowledge and a abundant photo opportunity environment, how can you miss? Of course getting into those vibrant photo situations can be very difficult, it can be dangerous, it can be expensive, it is usually physically demanding but those are the things you must overcome as an artist. No excuses, just get there and do the work.

In the coming years I need to throw myself into more and more locations, situations and opportunities that are filled with photos, everywhere I look, everywhere I turn I want to see compositions, moments and stories worth telling.

The Beauty Of Chasing Your Dreams

I watched this tonight and it brought tears to my eyes. This documentary is all about the wonderful power of dreams and the behind the scenes real life story that was made into the 1993 movie "Rudy". This short doc includes a wonderful interview with the inspirational real life Rudy Ruettiger. Do not not let your dreams die, chase them down with a unmatched desire and ferocity. Your dreams are what make life worth living, they make life beautiful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlVIpimqSok

November Trip Scans 22

Here are another 15 from the November trip photos.

"Families of the Dump" Series, Mae Sot Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Mae Sot Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Mae Sot Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Mae Sot Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Mae Sot Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Mae Sot Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Mae Sot Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Mae Sot Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Mae Sot Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Mae Sot Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Mae Sot Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Mae Sot Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Mae Sot Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Mae Sot Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Mae Sot Thailand 2013

Another Darkroom Workshop Coming And A New Second Darkroom?

There will be another workshop happening this week, this one is a darkroom workshop with one of my recent view camera students. I am unsure how to spend the $100 fee, possibly I can put it towards 3 more boxes of Tri-x 100foot bulk or I might get some replacement 8x10 sheets for the film I used when I photographed dad. Either way as with all my blog advertising money and workshop money it will get reinvested in the photography.

I am thinking of setting up a second darkroom, if I can find the space. The darkroom would be used for workshops and rental purposes. I have enough equipment to easily stock a new darkroom space so the costs should be minimul. I would have to pay for a plumber to come in and hook a sink(s) up but that would be about it, I might have to install some kind of ventilation system as well. I have extra enlargers, sinks, trays, safe lights, developing tanks etc in storage so there would be no extra cost to purchase equipment. If I could continue to do workshops at the current pace and maybe rent out the darkroom occasionaly at $20 ($25) an hour I would be able to make a profit that I could use to buy more film and photo paper.

Update* It looks like I might have 2 darkroom workshops this week, one on Tuesday and one on Sunday. I can use the $220 (charging a bit more for 8x10 enlarger use) towards film, probably 35mm bulk Tri-x as mentioned earlier. I can buy 5 or 6 boxes, and pay for the extra costs out of my security money. Having a large stock of Tri-x in the freezers is soothing to me, it means I am covered no matter what kind of crazy sh-t Kodak does.

Update** Just did a B&H Photo price check, to get 5 boxes of 35mm bulk Tri-x to Edmonton would cost $390.97 USD (thats for everything, customs, shipping, GST), 6 boxes cost $466.43 USD.

Email From A Friend

I got a  nice email today from a friend and very good photographic artist. I was unsure if I should have posted the photos of dad (to harsh?) that I recently took but maybe it was the right decision. I hope the photos are a worthy of my father, here is his email minus the name.

Hey, Gerry

Those photos of your Dad are really beautiful. Powerful. I think they
might be my most favourite photos of yours. Thanks for sending  them.
I am sorry to hear your Dad is dying of cancer. Thinking of you and
hope to see you around soon

--------

A Few More Scans From The Dad Photo Session

I am starting to love the dimensions of the 5x7 negs. The Linhof 5x7 camera is also fun and easy to shoot, hopefully the combination of the easy to use camera and the 5x7 format negs will  create some great portraits in the Asia.

Here are a few more scans from the April 9th photo session with my father. My dad allowed me photograph him without his shirt on, dad has always had the courage to allow me to be honest when photographing him. I will go show him the photographs this afternoon along with a newspaper for him to read and some photos of my friend Larry's house which are featured in a local Edmonton magazine (Dad loves looking at houses).

Update* Dad saw and liked the photos today which was a relief for me. We might try another session in available light or in the studio again, depending on how dad feels. I do not want to push him into doing anything he does not want to or does not have the energy for, it's his choice.

8x10 Tri-x negative, 300mm lens, April 9th 2014

8x10 Tri-x negative, 300mm lens, April 9th 2014

8x10 Tri-x negative,  300mm lens, April 9th 2014

5x7 Tri-x negative, 120mm lens, April 9th 2014

List Of Most Expensive Photographs

Found this of interest, there is quite a drop off in price from 1 to 19. Who is Andreas Gurssky? Some research required.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_expensive_photographs

Slightly New Look

I changed the main colours of the blog to blue from red. Every now and again I like to change things up a bit, move the furniture around to give the living room a slightly different look (something my father loves to do).

I also added a translate link on the left side of the page to allow people from different countries who do not understand english to read the blog. I get hits from pretty much every country on the globe for example Zambia a few days ago. Not sure how your supposed to read the translate button if you cannot read English but here's hoping it helps out some folks. Hopefully this translate feature gives a close approximation of what I actually wrote.

Here are some translations of this blog entry, aren't langauges cool!

Thai:

ผมเปลี่ยนสีหลักของบล็อกสีฟ้าจากสีแดง ทุกขณะนี้และอีกครั้ง ที่ฉันต้องการจะเปลี่ยนแปลงสิ่งขึ้นเล็กน้อยย้ายเฟอร์นิเจอร์ไปรอบ ๆ เพื่อให้ห้องนั่งเล่นดูแตกต่างกันเล็กน้อย (สิ่งที่พ่อของฉันชอบที่จะทำ) ฉันยังเพิ่มการเชื่อมโยงการแปลที่ด้านซ้ายของหน้าเพื่อให้ ผู้คนจากประเทศที่แตกต่างกันที่ไม่ได้อ่านภาษาอังกฤษในการอ่านบล็อก ฉันได้รับความนิยมจากสวยมากทุกประเทศบนโลกเช่นแซมเบียไม่กี่วันที่ผ่านมา หวังว่าคุณสมบัติแปลให้การประมาณที่ใกล้ชิดของสิ่งที่จริงผมเขียน!

Ukrainian:

Я змінив основні кольори блогу на синій з червоним. Час від часу я хотів змінити речі трохи, перемістити меблі, щоб дати вітальні дещо інший погляд (щось мій батько любить робити). Я також додав посилання перевести на лівій стороні сторінки, щоб дозволити люди з різних країн, які не читають англійські, щоб читати блог. Я отримую хіти від значною мірою кожній країні земної кулі наприклад Замбії кілька днів тому. ! Сподіваюся перевести функція дає краще наближення того, що я насправді написав Ось деякі переклади, що я тільки що написав: тайські:

Chinese:

我改变了博客的主色调为蓝色的红色。现在每一次我想改变的事情了一下，将周围的家具，让客厅的稍有不同的外观（东西我父亲喜欢做），我还添加了翻译链接在页面的左侧，使人谁不读英语读博客不同的国家。我前几天得到的点击来自几乎每一个国家在地球上，例如赞比亚。！但愿翻译功能，让什么，我居然写了一个更接近于下面是什么，我只是写了一些翻译：泰国：

Hindi:

मैं लाल से नीले रंग के लिए ब्लॉग का मुख्य रंग बदल दिया है. हर अब और फिर मैं, चीजें थोड़ी बदल कमरे में रहने वाले एक अलग नज़र (मेरे पिता ऐसा करने के लिए प्यार करता है कुछ) देने के लिए चारों ओर फर्नीचर स्थानांतरित करना चाहते. मैं भी अनुमति देने के लिए पेज के बाईं ओर एक अनुवाद कड़ी जोड़ ब्लॉग पढ़ने के लिए अंग्रेजी समझ में नहीं आता, जो विभिन्न देशों के लोगों से. मैं कुछ दिन पहले उदाहरण जाम्बिया के लिए दुनिया पर बहुत ज्यादा हर देश से हिट हो. यदि आप अंग्रेजी नहीं पढ़ सकते हैं, लेकिन यहाँ यह कुछ लोगों को बाहर में मदद करता है उम्मीद कर रहा है, तो अपने अनुवाद बटन को पढ़ने के लिए चाहिए यकीन नहीं. . उम्मीद है कि इस अनुवाद सुविधा मैं वास्तव में क्या लिखा है के एक करीबी सन्निकटन देता है ! यहाँ इस ब्लॉग प्रविष्टि का कुछ अनुवाद langauges शांत नहीं कर रहे हैं, कर रहे हैं थाई:

Got To Find Ways To Create

I need to figure a way to make as many pictures as I can with the time I have left. I have to put myself into situations where I can create photography that is important to me and has personal meaning. How to do that? How to get enough money to make photo ops happen as often as I can for as long as I can. I think I will go ahead with my plan to save a big pile of money then ask for a leave from my job (or quit if necessary) to go to Asia for another extended trip, probably 6 months or so. The earlier blog idea to spend 6 months in Asia and then 6 months in Canada working any odd jobs to get by will be difficult but will also allow me to make pictures, make lots and lots of pictures. If I rotate back and forth and back and forth over a 10 year period, 6 months here then 6 months there seems like the best way to go. Living on a very limited budget in Asia is hard but feasible, I would have to take 2nd or 3rd class buses, eat fried rice and other cheap local foods often and probably mostly do with out a/c more (only rented fan rooms). The idea while in Asia would be to spend less than $10000 CAD in a 6 month period including the $1500 airfare and visa run cost etc. It would be hard to live this way, the photography would be strenuous, challenging and probably dangerous to make but if in the end I created important photographs all the difficulties would be worth it. Here is hoping I can put this plan into effect by the time I turn 53 or 54.

Simplicity In Shooting

Been thinking a lot lately of making things simpler. Jock Sturges uses 1 camera, 1 lens and 1 film to do all of his work, that seems so right to me. Many of my photo acquaintances are dazzled by the toys of photography but whenever I study a great photographer they almost always use simplified tools. The great landscape zone system photographer John Sexton for example uses 1 camera, 2 films and a few lens (4 or 5) to do all his work. He does not need 5 cameras, 10 films and 25 lens. Thinking back to the great Edward Weston it was also 1 8x10 camera, 1 film and a few lens (he did use a Graflex for some of portraiture as well). Henri Cartier-Bresson used a Leica rangefinder and two lens for all of his wonderful work. The pros, the really great artists know how to use simple gear to create memorable work, they are not dazzled by the toys of photography, they use few tools, work hard and make greatness. The hobbyist photographer is unsure of what he is doing and thinks that an extra camera, many lens, many films, many filters etc. etc. will somehow make better pictures. All that gear accomplishes is confusion, the hobbyist has his toys but misses out most times in finding the good image. The thing I go over with all of people who take my workshops is forget all that gear sh-t, do not not be dazzled, work with simple tools and photograph, photograph, PHOTOGRAPH! The greatest pieces of gear a photographer can use are his own heart and mind.

Next trip with my 5x7 I am undecided if I should take 1 or 2 lens, if I go with 1 there is always the chance of it breaking down on me. I do like the idea of really learning 1 lens and 1 film, and creating that way, no photo bells and toy whistles, just me and the subject melding together and telling stories.