Dad May 12, 2014

I shot these photos of dad about 8 hours ago.

Dad #1 May 12, 2014 Canada

Dad #2 May 12, 2014 Canada

Dad #3  May 12, 2014 Canada

Dad #4 May 12, 2014 Canada

Dad #5 May 12, 2014 Canada 

Quote: Vicki Goldberg (Photography Writer-Critic)

On Sebastiao Salgado

"In Salgado's splendidly but repetitively composed pictures, his command of light, recognizable style, and relentless drive toward idealization take center stage, leaving the workers to play assigned roles in a drama where the photographer is the real star."

No Alberta Photo Open This Year?

I have been searching online to submit work to this years Alberta Photo Open but have been unable to find links. Last years deadline was in April, does that mean there is no Open this year? To bad it was a great event, with lots of work, some quite good. Last year I made $75 when one of my prints was accepted, I make almost no money selling photographs so getting $75 for showing one pic was a nice change of pace. Hopefully the open will happen later in the year or be back next year. We have so few chances to see photography in Edmonton hopefully we have not lost this event as well.

New Idea: Photo Story Book?

Just had a new idea, what about doing a book (desk top self published of course) on the whole photo story idea. Maybe 50 pictures from my photo career with a story of the making of the picture and the background behind the picture on the opposite page. Possible title? " Photo Stories" by Gerry Yaum. Something like this might be fun to do, heck I could just pull the stories off the blog, copy and paste with new higher quality photo scans and it would be done! Another project to consider, I think that's like the 1006th item on my photography to do list.

Photo Story: Matt 28 Ladyboy Sex Worker, Thailand 2010

Matt is a great person to photograph, I think I might have photographed her more than 10 times, maybe as many as 15 times, between the years of 2007 and 2011. When I did the sex worker photos on white backgrounds with the 8x10 camera in 2012 I went looking for Matt but she had left the bar where she worked. I left my hotel, phone number etc with folks that knew her but I was never contacted, the man I spoke to at the bar (Thai language) told me she had left the city and was working elsewhere. Matt has a really cool look to her, when I photographed her in 2007 she had no breasts but later, I think in 2008 she got breast implants. Like most ladyboys Matt was very proud of her nom (breasts) and would like to show them off in the pictures. I think they made her happy because they made her feel so much more feminine, which she seemed to me to be. She used to come over with ladyboy friends (Bee, Nong) to be photographed as she was a bit nervous and shy to he with me alone, we eventually did do some photos alone and she was OK with it (around 2010). I remember telling her when we were finally alone doing pics that I had never before photographed her alone, she smiled and "Yes I know.".

For this photo I think we were alone, we were joking about something and she let out a spontaneous laugh at something I had said or done.  Most photo sessions I do are like this, its important to make the person happy and comfortable in the portrait process even if joy is not the message of the photo your looking to create. Matt is a very nice person and someone I would love to photograph as she ages, I hope she finds happiness, romance and love, often for ladyboys in Thailand this can be difficult. Maybe someday I will meet her again and we can do more pictures together.

Tech stuff, Xpan camera with their standard lens and Tri-x (200), direct flash. D-76 2-1 at 20C for 12 minutes 30 seconds.

Note* If you meet or spend time with transgender people like ladyboys in Thailand it's good to be polite and always refer to them in the feminine, even if technically-physically they are still male.

Matt 28 Ladyboy Sex Worker, Thailand 2010

Photo Story: Young Begging Girl Bangkok 1999

This photograph was made on my second trip to Thailand in 1999. In 1999 I spent 10 months living in Bangkok with occasional visa runs to Malaysia and Cambodia. Since I was in Thailand so long I rented an apartment (complete with cockroaches) and set up a small darkroom in the bathroom. Back then digi photography was a non factor so I used to give out small contact print photos I made with my Mamiya 6 camera as gifts, most everyone I photographed got a free photo (if I could find them again). I would shoot all night, then develop the stuff all the next day. I would come back later with loads of small b/w photos in envelopes to hand out. This child was part of my 35mm work, it was one of the images that inspired me to return to the 35mm b/w work in the last 3 or 4 years. With a 35mm camera and Tri-x you can create such powerful unique stylistic type photographs, the grain and contrast just gives you an edge that's hard to recreate other ways, its so wonderfully visual and abstract. A strong documentary image made with a 35mm Tri-x neg printed on warmtone fibre paper is just plain special.

I had been doing a bunch of 6x6 work but that day I decided to shoot the 35mm. This poor little child had be left by her mother alone to beg, probably because a child alone makes more money. The people walking by her were heading home on the busy walking bridge (raised bridge over a busy road) where she sat, they basically ignored the child, I saw no money given while I was there making photos outside of the money I left. It is a common practise to use children to beg on walking bridges and the sidewalks in Bangkok especially in area where there are tourists. On the opposite end of this bridge is a major shopping center frequented by wealthier Thais and tourists so that is probably why it is chosen by the mother who placed her daughter there. I found the smiling Colonel Sanders on the cup the look on the child's face and the indifference of the nearby adults compelling so I made the image. 

I have often heard stories from Thais that some women will actually rent a baby for the day to beg with, in these cases they would hold the baby and beg together all day  to raise money. I am not sure if this true or not, it might be a way people rationalize not giving. In cases like this young girl, I think the mother was nearby watching but sometimes I believe. the child is left alone all day.

Tech stuff, Nikon F5, 20-35mm and Tri-x (200? 800? most likely pushed film). I forget the development info, probably in HC-110B.

Young begging girl on walking bridge, Bangkok Thailand 1999

Photo Story: Anapon 47 Bangkok Thailand 2013

This photo was made in November 2013 as part of the "People who live under the Freeway" series, in Bangkok Thailand. This man Khune (Mr) Anapon lived under the freeway with 2 others in slapped together separate boarded room type sections with doors. Anapon was a nice man, he mostly just smiled at me and did not talk to much. He had a very badly twisted right foot and leg, it looked like he hurt it in some kind of bad accident and it was never treated in a hospital. Anapon walked with the big stick you see against the door in the picture. I would give all 3 people who lived under the bridge (Khune Go, Khune Anapon, Khune Sing) a bit of money each day I visited and photographed them (went there 5 or 6 consecutive days). One time after I gave out some money Anapon took his cane and walked  to a nearby store where he bought some rice and an egg, later on I photographed him cooking everything on a little fire in front of his doorway. Maybe the photos will never do much good but at least that day he had some food because of  my attempts at photography. I would very much like to go back and photographed these 3 again but this time with a large format 5x7. They were living not far from my hotel, I used to feel guilty going back to my clean large room with a hot shower, a/c and satellite TV after seeing the conditions Anapon, Go and Sing were forced to live and survive in.

Tech stuf, I believe I used flash for this photo as it was extremely dark. Leica M6 28mm lens with Tri-x, flash, developed in D-76 2-1 at 20C for 12 minutes 30 seconds.

Anapon 47 in his home, Bangkok Thailand 2013

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

This photo of a young boy was made last year during one of my 8 trips to the dump in May. The boy wore only a t-shirt, nothing else and sat in his home while his very young sister (9 or 10 years old) cooked out front on an open fire. I believe the parents were off working in the dump trying to earn money for the family so the young girl had become a surrogate mother for her even younger brother. I did a number of photographs some of the girl cooking out front with the house and then focused in on the young boy who was sitting, crawling and kneeling in the entrance area of the bamboo, wooden shack home. In the photo you can see the younger sisters hand-leg moving out of frame to the left of the image.I remember the look of desperation on this boys face as I worked, he had sort of a quiet resolution to it all, he said nothing as did his sister. It was incredibly hot during those 8 days, as hot as I have ever been in m y life, loads of sweat, a very hot burning sun and scenes like this is what I remember most. I do not remember seeing this boy on my November trips to the dump but when I return in late 2014 I will go back with a 5x7 camera and try doing a family portrait with the mom and dad included. I still see this young boys eyes sometime when I think of the dump, he just watched me, was curious but looked so frail, so timid, so vulnerable.

As to the tech stuff, I believe this is a 28mm (21mm?) on the Leica M6 with Tri-x exposed at 200 and given my standard development of D-76 2-1 at 20C for 12 minutes 30 seconds.

Burmese refugee boy in his family home next to the dump, Mae Sot Thailand 2013

Quote: Anonymous Comment

Today Michael Sam the first openly gay football player was drafted into the NFL. This comment was left on the NY Times website.

"Long ago I stopped watching professional football. Teams seemed unwilling to stand up against misogyny and violence. Character no longer seemed to matter in the construction of the athlete. Today's decision challenges my preconception. I see an act of integrity and courage in drafting Sam. Sam's courage to stand alone demonstrates his ability to lead a team. His team's willingness to stand with him speaks to the character of his college team (and now his new team,) and to the fact that they, too, must respect his character. I'm tempted to watch the game again.

Strength is not just in the physicality of the game, but also in the courage and integrity of the individual playing the game. Today's decision invites me to again connect with the sport. While there have always been individuals and teams with strength of character, lately that integrity has been lost in the seeming willingness to accept violence and racism. While those issues have not been resolved, I do see a step in today's actions-- a step to no longer allowing bigotry to shape the future of the sport.

Good luck to Sam. And, I am ready to learn more about the Rams"

New Photo Project Idea

I was just watching a YouTube video and it gave me an idea for a new photo project related to my sex worker photo history. What if I did a project on 1 single worker, just follow there life where ever that might take me (us). I am not sure if it would be a female, male or ladyboy worker but what if I just invested in their lives and photographed everything about them. What if I just became a shadow and told their story from their perspective. How would that work? I would have to find the right person, or maybe 2 or 3 people that I could follow then eventually stay more and more with the one whose story is the most compelling. I think with a project like that I would need extended time in the country where the photos are made, maybe I could do it on the planned longer future trips. I think I would need a minimum 3-6 months possibly more to complete the project. Imagine that shooting 1 person for a 6 month period. Heck I even thought of a title, if the persons name was Nong for example I could call "Nong, the Life of a Sex Worker".

This is an idea that definately requires more thought, it might actually work better as a documentary film, or both in stills and video.

Edmonton Arts Council Travel Grant Submission

I am finished up my Edmonton Arts Council travel grant request. I received a similar grant in 2012 which I used to buy about 1/2 an air ticket ($750) to Bangkok Thailand. The grant helped me produce my show "The Train is Coming" which was a series of portraits of people living and working in the Klong Toey slum in Bangkok. I hope that I am lucky enough to recieve a grant a second time, as I feel my current project "Families of the Dump" is even more important. I will go back to the dump and do a series of portraits there using my Linhof 5x7 camera, if I can get 1/2 my air tickt paid for it will make things so much more easy.

The Edmonton Arts Council is of great benefit to the art community here in the city, they are using tax money and other funding sources to help artists directly. All people who believe art is important need to support groups like the EAC. If you love art, if you think art has a valuable positive influence on our lives then you need to stand behind the EAC and other artist grant programs.

Hope, hope this works out, a few minor details tomorrow and the submission should be ready to mail. I might also be trying another type of EAC grant, but have to do some more research to see if I qualify.

I will include 3 videos and 10 photos as part of my submission package, here are the 10 pics, all these photos were made at the Mae Sot dump with the familes in 2013.

Update: I completed the grant, will mail it on Monday, one less thing to worry about.

Tough Work

I have really been struggling trying to finish dads funeral tribute video. Gosh its hard to work on this 15 minute musical slideshow with video footage. I keep putting the video off, trying not to think about it, maybe I am hoping somehow my father will not die, maybe this will not need to be made. Foolish I know but at times like this all kinds of foolish thoughts and mixed emotions are hitting you daily.

I need to complete this, tonight I am trying to work on it but it's just so difficult it draws out so much emotion. To see dad from a young boy to an old dying man over and over again, smiling laughing, dancing, joking to strong music is just so damn tough. I have to to complete this, somehow I need to struggle through it so I can show it to dad and get his final approval.

Tonight I am working a sequence of him as a very young chubby smiling child and also some video from his 2 month trip to Thailand.

Quotes: Bruce Lee

"The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering."

"The idea is running water never grows stale, so you gotta just keep on flowing."

"To express oneself honestly, not lying to oneself and to express myself honestly, that my friend is very hard to do."

"If I should die tomorrow, I will have no regrets. I did what I wanted to do. You can't expect much more from life than that."

Asked whether he thought of himself as a Chinese or a North American.

"You know what I want I want to think of myself, as a a human being.....because under the sky, under the heavens there is one family..... "

Quote: Farley Mowat

"My motives have been selfish in a peculiar way.....not to attempt to gain recognition, fame, to become an icon, to become a Conrad Black or somebody like that, but simply to satisfy my own appetite for good stories."

This quote says it all for me, you do not do your art for the fame or for the money, you do it because it makes you happy, you do it for the sheer joy of it.

5x7 Neg Dad Photograph

Here is a photo I made the other night with dad, 5x7 Linhoff and 120mm, Tri-x 2 seconds at F8.2. Hopefully the positive work with these tools will continue in Asia. This size negative which I plan to shoot in Asia next trip will be fun to print, so much tonality and clarity. Paul Strand shot on 5x7 film thou he liked the 5x6 format so composed accordingly. E.J. Bellocq must have used a 5x7 camera as well, the dimensions of the image below (haunting blog) seem to be identical as this shot of dad. Maybe it's destiny to be going back into the sex worker world using this camera to do portraits with, maybe I am continuing Bellocq's work (or at least hoping-dreaming that is true)

I plan on moving up to 8x10 available light work in Asia within the next 5 years. 8x10 will be as big as I plan to go for my people photography but I will probably eventually buy a 11x14 for alternative process type work. Before my photo career is over I hope to do platinum printing as well as wet plate stuff.

Dad May 5, 2014 Canada

More Grant Attemps

I am making up a few more grants tonight, hopefully I can get them out by weeks end. This round is to the Edmonton Arts Council. A grant is possible from the EAC people as I received a $750 travel grant a few years ago. Lets hope I have luck again with the EAC, I could certainly use the money which would help so much, it would give me the freedom to make my photographs and tell the stories I hope to tell.

This Could Be Great

The old Polaroid Type 55 might be making a comeback in this new kickstarter backed project, check it out.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bobcrowley/new55-film/posts/833267

http://new55project.blogspot.ca

Developed 6 Sheets Of 5x7

This morning I developed 6 of the 8 sheets of yesterdays dad shoot after work today. The negs look FINE, nice exposure and development. I settled on development time of 10 minutes at 20C 1/1 D-76 at agitation level 4 in an Expert Jobo tank. I think I should be able to make a nice print out of one of these negs, even with a 2 second exposure time at F8.2 . Long portrait exposures are a new area for me, under a loop 3 shots have blurry eyes and 2 look reasonably sharp. One thing that's a bit tough with the 120mm is that it is only a F8 lens so focusing in low interior light is a bit dodgy. Couple that with a wide aperture and a very slow shutter and your sharpness difficulties are compounded.

The technical stuff can be overcome with hard work and practice. What is really exciting is seeing the dimensions of the neg (same as 35mm) with the wide angle 120mm lens (35mm equivalent is about 24mm).  I keep running through all the images I want to make in Asia with this machine, the possibilities are endless and very exciting. One of the joys of photography for me is the dreaming and the planning, the thinking about the pics is joyous. When some of the dreams eventually become a reality whether it's complex large format 8x10 sex worker studio portraits or 35mm Leica stuff in the dump, then that makes it that much more special. Anyone can dream a pic but to go out and make it and see it floating in the fix, now that's the high of highs! From the planning to the completion its all beautiful, thats why I love photography so much.

"Ain't Photography Grand!"

When I can get some nice light I will I try some 210mm shots of dad and the 5x7. Shooting the 5x7 in Asia will be physically difficult but it will be a blast, it will be extremely rewarding, life does not get much better than that.

Got to go hang up my washing negs then its off to bed, night folks.

Worked With The 5x7

I worked with the 5x7 today in available light with a reflector. The Linhof is a beautiful camera to use, its a bit old, the bellows are frayed and there are some focus slipping issues (when the lens is pointed down) but I am really getting to love this thing. I did 8 photos of dad laying on the sofa in his burgundy pyjamas using the 120mm (2 seconds at F 8.2). Making available light portraits with a large format camera is really about being in a special place, you become one with your tool, concentrate on your subject and work in such a slow methodical way, its almost meditative.

Making pics this way is simply beautiful. I am really looking forward to shooting 150 plus sheets with the Linhof 5x7 when I return to Asia, the photos will be done in Klong Toey slum and at the Mae Sot garbage dump. I am unsure of whether I will use it to make any environmental sex worker portraits but that's a maybe as well, especially after the influence of Mr. Bellocq's image (earlier blog). I will solely with Tri-x and probably work with 2 lens the 120 and the 210 (to do some closer work).

Dad looked so peaceful today, we made the photos after he had taken a bath. I will so miss kissing him, hearing about his day and telling him about mine when he is gone. Dad is still very mentally sharp and aware, he remembers things much better than mom and he sees everything, notices everything you do and say. Dad's eyesight, hearing, mind are all in A+ shape, it just his body that is failing him with the cancer, if not for that he could probably make it to his late 80s maybe early 90s.

Haunted! Influenced?

This photograph came back from the past tonight to haunt me again. Years ago I found this picture made by Mr. E.J. Bellocq and ever since I have thought about it. The photo is of a sex worker from the old time Storyville brothels of New Orleans. Bellocq photographed extensively in that region in around the early 1900s. When I was down in New Orleans for my Thai sex worker show his name came up over and over again, sometimes even in connection to the work I was doing (a great compliment).

This one photo more than any others that I have seen by Bellocq continues to enter my thoughts, the vulnerability of the girl, the stiffness of her pose, the sadness on her face, the damaged neg. I am not sure what it is but something about this image lives on in my mind and pulls me back again and again. I wonder who she is and what became of her, what was her life like before and after this photograph was made. Did she have a family? Did she live a long life? Did she ever find happiness?

Maybe with the 5x7 and 120 lens I can continue to tell the stories Bellocq told on my next Thai trip. A man from my show in New Orleans told me I should try to photograph the workers in their private rooms, maybe that is something I can pursue. If I continue the sex worker photos I want to do it in as compassionate a way as I can, simple and straight forward, honest tell tale emotions.

Here is the haunting E.J. Bellocq photograph:

Darkroom

With dads illness my grand 90 day in the row darkroom plan fell though. I am working most off work days in the dark and the occasional work day as well. I have been developing film  most days this week and last night I made this print of dad both in RC and Fibre. The print was made from an 8x10 Tri-x negative, shot with dads Deardorff and a 300mm Nikon lens.

In the future when I do not have to work my regular job I expect to put in an everyday darkroom shift, of 4 plus hours per day. First things first thou, I need to produce a large body of quality negs that I can later print. The only way you improve at anything or achieve your goals is to work hard, I need to shoot a lot over the next 20 years then put in another good solid 10 fun years of darkroom printing work. Heres hoping I have the good luck to last that long.

Visions From The Past 2

Here are some more shots from the second roll of film I mentioned, Nong in the Thai swimming pool, film shot in 1999, developed tonight.

Nong 1999, Thailand

Another Workshop Scheduled

I have another workshop scheduled with a student for the my next week. I will be teaching the view camera again for $120, I can use the money to help pay for the 110 rolls of Tri-x 120 I just bought. Hopefully I can get another workshop for that week, 2 workshops seem a nice number to do on my off work week.

I was supposed to get a email from the continuing education person about how to start up a new photography course but have not received it yet. I guess I will have to try again, maybe that's a non starter but I at least want to make the effort. If I can teach larger classes it means more money to chase down the imagery I want to create in my lifetime.

Emotion?

How do I capture the human experience, how do I make my photos sing out and reach people? How do you get past the indifference many folks feel? Emotion? Sheer unadulterated emotion? Show honestly how someone feels in sheer sharp detailed black and white? Dad was feeling down when I made this photo but it is an expression of his true state of mind that day. Today I will go spend some time with him and try to get him thinking of better days gone by.

Dad May 3. 2014 Canada

Latest Ring Flash

Did this ring flash shot of dad last night. I want to shoot more in available light but that is difficult inside the house. I might also try some of dad in a suit against the white background with 5x7 and 8x10 cameras.

Dad May 3, 2014 Canada

Dad May 3, 2014 Canada

Visions From The Past

Way back in 1999 I made these photos, photos of Nong in a pool in Thailand. I recently thought about these pics and wondered what had happened to them. Last night when I was developing some ring flash film of dad I threw in a roll of Agfapan 100 film I had sitting in my darkroom for over a decade, guess what? There was Nong in the pool. I have one more roll of undeveloped Agfapan most likely of the same subject, I will try developing that this weekend as well. The last time I saw her in 2003 Nong was living with her 3 children and Thai husband/boyfriend in a slum in Bangkok. She was living in very poor conditions and had lost weight, her father was an alcoholic and her mother and the rest of her family barely surviving day to day.

Back then I jumped from film to film like so many of my photo acquaintances did and still do, I wish I had shot this on straight Tri-x but instead it was shot on Agfapan 100 b/w film (no longer made). Still the images are OK and a new look back to something I shot 15 years ago. I hope Nong and her family are happy and in a good way. She is (was?) a vulnerable, sweet, kind person, just trying to get through life with the poor cards she had been dealt, as best she could.

Nong 1999, Thailand

November Trip Scans 23

It might take me a while to load up 15 new photos in this blog entry, so come on back and check them out later if you have time.

"Street Kids" Series, Kathmandu Nepal 2013

"Street Kids" Series, Kathmandu Nepal 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Thailand 2013

"People Under the Freeway" Series, Bangkok Thailand 2013

"Street Kids" Series, Kathmandu Nepal 2013

"Street Kids" Series, Kathmandu Nepal 2013

"Street Kids" Series, Kathmandu Nepal 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Thailand 2013

"Families of the Dump" Series, Thailand 2013

"Street Kids" Series, Kathmandu Nepal 2013

"People Under the Freeway" Series, Thailand 2013

"Street Kids" Series, Kathmandu Nepal 2013

"Street Kids" Series, Kathmandu Nepal 2013

Larry Xrayed

Here is a photo of my friend Larry, shot with the Hasselblad and ring flash at the photo meeting the other night and then played with in photo shop.

Larry April 30 2014, Canada

Update* I was just sort of screwing around with this shot but I might be doing more. Larry has has asked me to photograph him and his wife Joanna. It should be fun to play with this technique thou I think it is probably a divi only thing. I am not sure how I can achieve this style in the darkroom, maybe with lots of contrasty overdevelopment and grade 5 filtration in the condenser enlarger.

Dad Ringflash And High Contrast

Here is a ring flash blad shot of dad, there is a ton of contrast added to this, not sure I can achieve this look in the darkroom. Maybe if I use my high contrast papers, with a condenser enlarger and a special developer of some kind. Not really anything close to reality as this shot is rather highly maniupulted but I think this interpretive portrait shows a bit of the hell my poor father is going through.

How do you photograph pain? How do you photograph your fathers last days? How do you deal with the end of the life of a person you love? How do you help them through these days? How do you say goodbye in photographs? How do you photograph honestly and with respect but without covering the truth? These are questions I am asking myself now as I make these photos of my father.

I want to photograph my father in an truthful way, to humanize and show with honesty what he is going through, but yet I also want to show the proper respect. If I do not tell his story in a real way, in a way that it is true to what is  happening I do a disservice to him. He is allowing me in, he is giving me some of the time he has left, and I cannot sugarcoat and gloss over what he is experiencing. This is not a pretty time in anyones life and making pretty pictures would be like lying about my father and lying to my father, I cannot do that. I will strive to make photos that convey what his life is like now and yet do so with respect and love. Doing this will be the way I honour him.

Dad in high contrast, May 1 2014

Quote: The Talmud

"Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saves an entire world."

My Father In Hospital

Last week I shot some 35mm Leica stuff of Dad in hospital (he is home now again) and some stuff with a Hasselblad. Many of the photos were out of focus, I must not be concentrating well, missing to many shots. The conditions to shoot the blad in were far from ideal, I hand held this photo with a 80mm lens at 1/60 and F2.8 with Tri-x Rated at 200ASA. The photograph was illuminated with window light from dads left side.  I gave the 120 film my standard 35mm development, D-76 2-1 for 12 minutes 30 seconds at 20C. This type of photo would probably be easier to take with a Mamiya 6, that camera is a range finder and has less movement during exposure. I wanted to try using the blad thou and was happy with this one neg out of the roll.

I like the silence of this photograph, my father quietly thinking in his bed.

My father in hospital late April 2014, Edmonton Canada

I was thinking what I could photograph in the new photo groups magazine if that project happens. The subject needs to be Edmonton based and I do not have a lot of Edmonton based work, but maybe I could use some photos of my father I have taken over the last few months. I will try to do more square format work in the coming days, probably with a ring flash and in available light with a reflector and tripod.

I am glad I bought a 110 rolls of Tri-x 120, the blad is a wonderful reliable tool with world class glass, I need to shoot it more. I think I can do good work with the Hasselblad and it's 6x6 zen format on my next trip in Asia.

Update* I talked to dad tonight about the possibility of the magazine project and using his photos as my Edmonton contribution. Dad said it was OK to go ahead and do that so we will be doing more photo work in the coming days towards that project. I did a few ring flash shots tonight with the blad and Tri-x. I want to do more available light 120 and 35mm plus some late large format studio work. Not sure how many photos I will be allowed to contribute, hopefully 4 or 5.  I now have two goals, to photograph dad for myself and the family and to also work towards this photo group magazine thing.

Nice Meeting With New The Group

Tonight I almost forgot but made it to a meeting with the boys form the new photo group I belong to. We meet in each others homes and have some snacks and get to see the work of one of the guys, we are still in the get to know you part of the process. Lots of cool shots tonight including a series on killing a pig in Czechoslovakia and a nude lovers touching motion series I quite liked. The group is very free and easy, no rules, just a bunch of guys exchanging ideas, showing work and talking photography. To many rules can kill these things, the other part that is cool is all of these guys are pretty hardcore photo folks, all work hard at their photography.

We might try doing an Edmonton related photography magazine in the coming months, not sure if this is a go or how it will work but it's something on the agenda.