The Cry Of The Hawk!!

I had a moment yesterday that I will remember for a long time. As I was photographing the multiple  military graves (lined up as if still marching in their hundreds) I heard the distinctive cry of a predator. I looked up to see a large hawk swooping down over the graves quite low. An amazing frightening call he makes, flying so near seconds later. Sort of took my breath away. A truly beautiful sight. And this all happened in Calgary, imagine the wonders awaiting in more isolated parts of Canada!

Got to love the making of ambrotypes for AMBROTOS KANATA!!

Alberta Surpls Buys

 Picked up some Alberta surplus tools at auction today. The Pelican case is the most on item. It will allow me to carry the 16x20 Chamonix in the trailer. The case is waterproof and bulletproof!! The pelican case with foam (mine has limited foam) for $514 USD. NEW from B&H.

Quote: Lewis Hine

 

Picked Up The Canon 5D Mark lV

Got my new-used Canon 5D Mark lV today from Japan. It is in very nice condition (less than 9000 shutter activations). I will shoot it with my 11-24mm F 4! My Mark lll was pretty busted up.

Canon 5D Mark lV with 11-24mm F4 Lens

Made this THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY  shot of Dao with the Canon 5D Mark 3 and 11-24mm lens

Kinda Like This One

Kinda like this one. The children are so beautiful there, the best thing about the dump. Whenever I see wasted food in Canada I remember back to seeing some of these young ones eating directly out of the garbage dump. Don't waste food folks, it is a gift, we are so lucky to have what we have.

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP will be shown as 1 of 2 exhibitions at the University of New Brunswick Art Centre opening night is October 28th. There will be a raffle of a large original print from THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP photographic series. 100% of the money earned will go directly to directly help the families. No waste, no middlemen, from your heart directly to those in need.

UNB COMING SHOWS

2017??

Selfie Crazyness!!!

The UNB Art Centre gallery curator asked for a self portrait to use in the exhibition. Went a searched in my files and found a bunch, some that I had forgotten about. Hope they can use  one. More pics of ME ME ME then I have ever posted before. Wearing the same shirt but I think these were made over multiple days in 2017. The view camera is a 5x7 Linhof.

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP will be shown as 1 of 2 exhibitions at the University of New Brunswick Art Centre opening night is October 28th. There will be a raffle of a large original print from THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP photographic series. 100% of the money earned will go directly to directly help the families. No waste, no middlemen, from your heart directly to those in need.

UNB COMING EXHIBITIONS

2016 or 2017 selfies in the dump

Possible New Donation Money From The UNB Gallery Exhibtions!

Got this note from M the curator at the UNB today. Hope this happens, it could do a lot of good for the people who allowed me into photograph their lives.

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

"Hi Gerry, you will receive an artist fee of $2161. We could also purchase 1 or 2 of the works… I could only pay $1000 for each.  Anything beyond that needs committee support. Another idea is to auction/raffle off one of the works to help raise funds. How do you feel about these ideas?"

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

The $2000 plus dollars-money would be donated back to the people in the pictures, to help their lives. Not a sure thing yet, but it was suggested by the curator today. So I think it has a good chance of happening. Could buy boots, headlamps, food, medicine, toys etc. with the money, to help the people in the dump and under the freeway.  Boots cost $7 a pair; a headlamp is $14. $2000 plus dollars can help a lot of people.

The power of photography as a force for good, GOT TO LOVE IT!!!

 

"Ain't Photography Grand!!" 

Here is the FACEBOOK page, explaining the same thing.

Forgotten Image Found

Was browsing through my photography book on Alexander Gardner today and found this image stuck inside. A forgotten photo from the sex worker project of the past. It was made in 2009 with a Blad. 

There is a sadness in the photo that I often felt and saw in that world. It is was the reason I stopped photographing there, I could not stay in that place any longer. 

Bla Freelance Wirker

Made me Some Collodion!!

Mixed me up a bunch of collodion. Quinn Quick Clear and Gerry. Heading out next week off to make me some AMBROTYPES!!!!!!!

Made 2000ml of G and 500ml of QQC.

New Donation Funds From Shows At The University Of New Brunswick Art Centre??

Got this note from the curator of the gallery today. I hope we can raise more money to help the people in the photographs. Will see how it goes, I hope more can be raised. The power of photography to cause positive change in this world, is something I have always believed in.

 Here is the complete quote..

"I cannot tell you how moving these stories and photos are. I think this will be an amazing exhibit. Maybe we could set up some sort of donation system- I will talk to my staff and see how we can do this."

Bought Me A Used Canon 5D Mark lV

I have been wanting to replace my beaten up Canon 5D MarkIII for the last 6 years or so (bought used). The camera still works but is in rough shape with a fair amount of body damage. I have been making plenty of good quality images with that tool plus the 24mm-105mm, and the 11mm-24mm lens. Many of those photographs will be in the coming exhibitions at the UNB Art Center.

I decided to finally bite the bullet and get a used Canon 5D Mark lV.  It cost $1580 USD with free shipping from Japan. I will have to pay GST and brokerage charges when it arrives in Canada. The body is in Near Mint condition with only 8347 shutter count (I will soon fix that!). It is coming from Japan.

I think this was a smart purchase as I will use the Camera till it dies on me. There is no Mark V as Canon has stopped making DSLR cameras. This is the last of the breed.  After this camera dies, I will mostly likely be looking for another Mark lV!

For all my photography life I was more of a film guy until 2 things changed things up for me. Low light shooting is far superior in digital and I now can do digital negs and darkroom prints (Platinum Prints etc.) which eliminates the digital print thing which I am not a fan of.

Full speed ahead!! My social documentary working gear going forward will be 2 Hasselblad X1Ds with 2 lens, a 45mm and a 21mm. This Canon 5D Mark IV with the 11-24mm. Possibly a Leica with Tri-x film.

Canon 5D Mark lV

Enough Is Never Enough!

Since enough is never enough. I sent another 15 photos to the gallery to look over for possible exhibition. Including these:

Bathing boys, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Bangkok, Thailand 2015

Dom 58, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Anapon 55, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Old man in the garbage dump, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot, Thailand 2015

Young boy in Mickey Mouse shirt, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot, Thailand 2017

Sister on the edge of the dump, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP< Mae Sot, Thailand 2017

108 Sent!!!

 

African Sex Workers, SUKHUMVIT AT NIGHT

From the ongoing/offgoing series SUKHUMVIT AT NIGHT. Kind of feel bad, did not make any photos for it in 2022. 

The project documents life on one of the busiest nightlife streets in Bangkok. On my second 10 month trip to Thai back in 1999, I spent 10 months walking this road, up and down, back and forth, night after night. It still fascinates me all these years later.

This picture is from 2019, found it tonight by accident.

2 African sex workers waiting for customers, SUKHUMVIT AT NIGHT, Bangkok, Thailand, 2019

Organizing AMBROTOS KANATA Plates

Trying to figure a way to title and safety store the better AMBROTOS KANATA ambrotype plates. Came up with this for the 8x10 glass. I expect to eventually have 1000 ambrotypes of varying sizes from across Canada, I will need some order! I tend to be pretty terrible when it comes to organizing my photos, trying to improve.

- titled bubble envelope.

- inner plastic sleeve.

- black background glass stored separately 

 

Not sure how I will do the bigger plates.

 

Note* Will also add the GPS numbers to the black envelope. Each image will have a pretty exact recorded location inside Canada.