Happy So Far!

Am happy with the 120mm and the 5x7 film so far, the 35mm work thou is rather poor. I am looking to improve on things next trip. Am thinking of not taking a 35mm with me, but instead taking the Graflex 4x5 along with the 5x7 and Rolleiflex.

The Graflex will allow me to continue focusing up to the last second (using my granny close up glasses). Because it is a SLR camera kids moving about should be less of a focus issue, I can make quick last minute adjustments. The main problem with that camera is the minimum 1/30 of a second shutter, using a roll type spring shutter at back of the camera. I am testing the Graflex Super D with a mono-pod at 1/30, might have to resort to the Gitzo carbon fiber tripod in Thai. Wish I also had shutter speeds of 1/8 and 1/15 with this camera.

Anyway the negs developed so far look good. I should have enough to work with to make a decent submission to DC3 Art Projects Gallery and 10+ other galleries in the coming months.

Note* If I go with the 4x5 Banarama Razzle camera next trip I can shoot at all shutter speeds but then I am limited in how close I can make pictures ( the bellows is rather short). Each camera has its positive and negatives, maybe that is why I own so many!

Quote: William Shakspeare (Julius Caesar)

"Oh, that a man might know The end of this day's business ere it come! But it sufficeth that the day will end, And then the end is known" and "But this same day. Must end that work the ides of March begun; And whether we shall meet again I know not. Therefore our everlasting farewell take: For ever, and for ever, farewell, Cassius! If we do meet again, why, we shall smile; If not, why, then, this parting was well made".

November/December 2015 Trip Scans #7

Been developing a ton of film since I returned from Thai. Here are some more:

Bangkok street, half frame camera.

Dyptic book, half frame camera, Bangkok

Tryptic, half frame camera Bangkok

Young Girl, dump Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

Door Klong Toey slum, Bangkok 2015

Three young girls, dump Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

Young boy, dump Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

Young boy and girl, dump Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

Young weight lifter, dump Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

Young girls, dump Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

Quote: Chester Higgins Jr. (Photographer)

"A photograph never lies about the photographer."

November/December 2015 Trip Scans #6

More 5x7 scans:

Three girls, dump Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

Young boy, dump Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

Dumpscape, Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

Anapon the man who lives under the freeway, Bangkok (5x7 negative)

The woman who lives under the freeway, Bangkok (5x7 negative)

Dumpscape, Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

14 year old worker with father, dump Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

Dumpscape, Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

Bought Some Film

Bought 50 rolls of Tri-x 120mm from B&H Photo in New York. The total cost was $268.81 USD with free shipping. I am quite happy with the way the Rolleiflex shots worked out this trip. Needed to get more film as  I shot 40 rolls this last trip. I expect to take 50-60 rolls with me to Asia next time and continue the twin reflex head shot work.

I always feel good when I buy film, so many possibilities with new stock ready to use!!! Who knows what will end up on this Tri-x, maybe something very powerful and important!

Links: Chamonix 16x20

I think I have settled on the Ultra Large Format view camera I will buy. The camera that offers the best price and the lightest (partially carbon fiber) body is the Chamonix 16x20 out of China.

This camera also offers great adaptability. With the 16x20 I could also get a back standard to allow for 11x14 and 12x20 film sizes. Wet plate backs, holders are also available sizes. The camera retails at $6315 USD plus $450 for shipping (plus duty and GST tax on entering Canada). Holders run $430 (16x20) each. The lens? Maybe $2000-$5000 a piece. So were talking at least $20000 CAD to get everything up and running.

I will probably buy this camera within the next 5 years, possibly in 2016. I am also considering their 20x24 version. The 20x24 is $500 USD more and around 9 lbs heavier. I would use this camera to do the "In Buddha's Path" photography project as well as other work.

http://www.chamonixviewcamera.com/1620.html
http://www.chamonixviewcamera.com/2024.html
http://ssfilmholders.com/

Update* Imagine how beautiful a 20x24 negative would be! How visually stunning a contact printed silver gelatin or wet plate collodion image would be!

Graflex Super D? Bananarama?

Plan on shooting the 5x7, the Rollie, one 35mm  (?) and so possibly the Graflex Super D next trip. Will do some 4x5 heads with the normal Graflex 150mm lens and monopod over the next few weeks. If things look good I will continue the work doing photo heads in the dump. I am also going to try some full body shots with the hope I can do portraits in the dump later while folks are working (5x7 is very cumbersome). The combination of monopod Graflex and 4x5 Tri-x is very mobile and appealing. The Razzle Bananarama 4x5 camera is also worth considering, a small light and fluid camera system.

Am Planning My Next Triple I can

Have started planning for my next trip to Asia. I was thinking 5 weeks but now am thinking 7 weeks. I am encouraged by the results of the most recent work and need to double down now that things are going well. I have built up relationships and connections in the dump surrounding areas and need to use that access while I still can. I need to try to tell the important story of the dump NOW not later. After this trip I will not be able to take another vacation until 2017, unless I quit my job or get a leave. I really need to make top end strong images with this limited time I have.

It looks like a April return to Thai for 7 weeks with a possible side trip to the Philippines or Indonesia. Everything has to be settled at work and I need to try to book a flight in the next 2 weeks or so. Updates to follow.

November/December 2015 Trip Scans #5

Another mix of scans some 5x7s in this bunch:

Man walking in dump, Mae Sot Thailand

Dump mother with her young sun, Mae Sot (5x7 negative, 180mm lens)

Young girl, dump Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

Young boy, dump Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

Dumpscape, Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

Dumpscape, Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

Dumpscape, Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

Brother and Sister, dump Mae Sot (5x7 negative)

November/December 2015 Trip Scans #4

More scans from the trip, all Rolleiflex F shots. The third shot below fits into my attempts to take an important mother child image. Mine attempt is not on the same level as those shown on the earlier blog. In the works linked the mother seems to take precedence over the child.
http://gerryyaum.blogspot.ca/2015/10/mother-and-child.html

I need to keep working with  this common artistic theme in the future.

Young boy at "Gai Chon" chicken fighting, Pattaya Thailand

Gee with his champion rooster  at "Gai Chon" chicken fighting, Pattaya Thailand

Migrant workers baby, Bangkok Thailand

Young boy migrant worker housing, Bangkok Thailand

Man with his fighting rooster, Pattaya Thailand

Proud fighting rooster, Pattaya Thailand

Dump dog, Mae Sot

 "Gai Chon" (chicken boxing) gambler, Pattaya Thailand

The Sickly Dump Smell Returns

Today as I was listening to music in my car outside work I had a flashback. Not sure where it came from but a quick odour in the the car suddenly reminded me of the sickly smell your always surrounded by at the dump. That smell gets into your clothes, your hair, the pores of your skin, it is something that stays in your boots long after you have repeatedly cleaned them. That smell of old waste, rotting food, sweating people, pigs, dogs, stagnant green water, flies and cockroaches.

How can people get used to that smell? I remember going to the the dump one day this last trip and on leaving the truck Khun Noy (my driver) told me "Mehn!" which means "It Stinks!" He shook his head outside the dump entrance and said "Mehn!". How do the, families, the people live deep insiide that world? How do the children 24/7? For a few minutes here in the -13C night time snows of Edmonton Canada I was transported back to my life in the dump. It strange how things like smells can trigger such memories.

"Forgotten Laughter: The Children Of The Dump" Exhibition Ideas

Been thinking while I do my rounds tonight about the best way to present the show to galleries. I am currently thinking as follows:

- An artist statement short to the point. On the statement a light hearted color self portrait with the kids.
- A 10-20 minute video to be running continuously.
- Artifacts from the dump. I would have to gather them next trip as I have none now (feel bad I missed out on the panda puppet which was discarded).
- The main child portraits would all be Rolleiflex square format stuff, both close, mid range and full body. 10 to 20 photos printed large possibly 19x19 depending on the size and space of the gallery. Get new wooden white square frames to show the photographs.
- 5x7 dump shack landscapes without people (many shot already). These photos would also be printed large on 20x24 paper. I might be able to use the old white metal framing from the sex worker show a few years back at the VAAA. These pics would add context to the difficult living conditions and lives of the child portraits.
- a magazine or 2 of the work like I did last time using blurb.com
- sell a calender for $25 with all profits going to the families in the dump.

I think a show like this should be very attractive to both the viewer and the gallery. The combination of stills, video, books, calenders and a artist statement would communicate the message very well.

Quotes: Robin Williams

"I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel alone."

"I don't know how much value I have in this universe, but I do know that I've made a few people happier than they would have been without me, and as long as I know that, I'm as rich as I ever need to be."

Quote: Errol Flynn

Flynn's last words:

"I've had a hell of a lot of fun and I've enjoyed every minute of it."

Link: Labanoon Sings "YAUM" Or As Thais Write It "ยาม"

I posted a cover version of YAUM by Labanoon recently, here is the original band singing their song. This tune I originally heard in a bar where I found my subjects and started learning to speak Thai back in 1999. Labanoon and their music is one of the main reasons, the YAUM in Gerry Yaum was invented. The songs theme fit into what I was doing at the time with my photographs (attempting to protect women) and my security guard life in Canada (Yaum in Thai = security guard). Recently on a van ride in Thai I heard YAUM played by the driver, it flashed me back to old times and my old life, miss them.

Here is the fun original video by Labanoon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RshLyKtbAdA 

November/December 2015 Trip Scans

Am posting my first 5x7 neg scans from the trip, the negs look beautiful! The 120mm lens seemed to work better than the 210mm for me. With the 120mm your using a shorter focal length than the 210 and also shooting at a smaller aperture f8 versus f5.6. As a result the negs show more sharpness, depth of field etc. I think I might only use the 120mm next trip and shelve the 210mm. The 120mm set at f8 regardless of how much light I have might become my standard. The 5x7 negs are indicated in the titles, the other film formats included below are 35mm and 120mm.

Here are the scans:

Going home from school through the dump

Aung San the father of Burma and the King of Thailand, dump school Mae Sot

Burmese man after his bath, near dump school Mae Sot

Girl #1 Version #2, Mae Sot Dump

14 year old worker getting water, Mae Sot dump

Dump shacks (5x7 negative)

Young brother and sister (5x7 negative)

Preparing to celebrate with local Buddhist monks, Mae Sot

Baby girl Karen refugee, Mae La Refugee camp 2015

Young baby girl in dump, Mae Sot

Baby boy Karen refugee, Mae La Refugee camp 2015

Link: Sky Blue School Donation Day Photos

Here are some of the digi color photos made on the donation day to the Mae Sot dumps, Sky Blue School. They have about 115 students from the dump and the surrounding area. There were around 80 kids there the day I made the donation

Here is a link to the original donation day blog:
http://gerryyaum.blogspot.ca/2015/12/major-donation-day.html

Group school portrait

Donations in Khun Noy's truck

Lining up for Icecream

Smiles all round

High Five!!!!