Spending Money Like A Drunken Fish

Do fish drink? Maybe that's sailor, yes I am "Spending Money Like A Drunken Sailor!" tonight I accidentally bought 2 Rolleiflex F 2.8 planar lens cameras. I won both auctions barely. I will have to pay for both (the 2 winning auctions were in the low $900s USD) cameras then after I receive them choose the better one then resell the second hopefully recovering a good percentage of my original money. I did not expect to win both, but I did, so now I am sort of screwed. I will get the chance to test and choose the camera I love best, but this is going to be an expensive deal. Dumb move on my part, I am usually more careful about such things. Guess I got into some sort of weird ass bidding fever today.

One of the cameras belonged to a the father of the seller, the father is a WWII vet and the sale was to help pay for his care. When I read that part of the sales advert and maybe I bid a little to higher than I might have. At least the money I am spending is going to a good cause, helping a man of honour and sacrifice. I hope I like his Rolleiflex F 2.8 planar lens camera best, it would be rewarding to use a camera with that history of ownership in a positive, constructive way.

I also bought $84CAD in books from Amazon tonight. Joseph Kouldelka's "Exile" which was on sale, a cheaper book on the documentary painter/photographer Ben Shahn and the complete poetry of Walt Whitman. i thought I could take the Whitman book with me to Asia, to help me through the slow hours between photos. I have come to love reading poetry, and Whitman is special.

I am going to pay for all my stuff on eBay, then am shutting that down, no more purchases. No more cameras for a few years anyway. I will use it to sell but not to buy. Sort of lost control for a while here, now to get back on topic. I need to save for Asia, I need to concentrate my efforts not into buying more gear but into the creation of new strong work.

Bought A Lensboard

Got a Graflex wooden lens board with a hole big enough for my brass lens, cost was $28.58 USD. That price is quite a bit cheaper than my other source for the board who was going to charge me a $20 drilling fee. In the future if I want to get new lens boards I will go through this same person.

I can now test out my brass lens with the Graflex, this should be fun, hope it works. My lens does not have f-stops (probably a magic lantern projection lens) so I will shoot everything handheld and wide open. Maybe it will create a cool look, I got to try to get some use out of this thing, a $29USD lens board gamble seems quite acceptable.

Up

My work out numbers during my night shifts continue to climb, now they include:

2x 40 push ups (up from 20)
2x 40 sit ups and leg crosses (up from 20)
5 chin ups (up from 1)
8 burpees (up from 5)

Tonight was the first time I did 5 underhanded chin ups. I still cannot do 1 real overhanded pull up with arms spread out but am working on that as well. Doing lots of stairs each night also along with stretches and crouches. On my week off work am riding more, last week did 4 bike rides of 21km+. Not sure how high I should let these numbers go, not sure how high I can go before things start breaking down. I do not want to over do stuff, do not want to hurt myself.

Slowly but surely things are coming together. I have definitely lost some weight and I feel leaner and meaner (well leaner anyway: )). I have about 4 months 10 days left to train. I will probably cut things down the last couple of weeks to avoid injury. The last thing you want to do is hurt yourself a week before you fly.

Update* Just did a pull up, up to my nose. A few more inches and were at 1 pull up : ) Gosh those things are tough.
Update** Left shoulder a little sore and pinching, better pull back on the training a bit.

3 Scheduled Workshops This Week Will Pay For My Room

I have 3 scheduled photography workshops to teach this week. A darkroom workshop on Tuesday with Vincent and 2 workshops a darkroom a View Camera on Saturday and a darkroom on Sunday with Katherine from Calgary. Will make a combined $340 for those 3 workshops but still not bad.

All that money will deposited into my Asian photography fund. For $340 I can get a nice clean a/c, fridge, hot shower, cable TV hotel room in Mae Sot Thailand (where I make the "Families of the Dump" photos) for maybe 15-16 nights. So this week of workshops will pay for most if not all my accommodations in Mae Sot. Teaching photography, getting paid, then staying free in the place you need to make photographs, can't beat that!

Of course if I travel to Asia for a longer period there is always a chance I will just get a room in Mae Sot and rent by the month. If that happens who knows $340 might get me a month or 30 nights. I could also use the funds to help pay for a motorbike rental which would give me much freer access to my photography subjects.

Update* Have a new advanced darkroom workshop tentatively scheduled with Stu for the end of July so if that happens it would add $180 into the mix.

Bought A Bag Mag

Got this item off eBay today, it holds 12 4x5 sheets. Very old school piece of equipment called a bag mag or Kodak Folmber Schwing 4x5 Magazine. You mount it to the back of the Graflex camera then use the leather bag deal to change out the septums. There is supposed to be in and out slots that you use a rod to help with the removal of the septum from the front to the back areas of the unit. I guess this thing is a predecessor to the Graflex Gramatic. I am not sure this thing will work for me but I got it at a very low bid of $27USD (plus shipping) so thought it was worth the buying risk. If it does work for me I will not have to carry all those extra holders for the Graflex Super D. If it works I would just carry this device and the Grafmatic back, allowing ease of use and saving tons of back pain. If it does not work then I just lost $48USD.

Guess I should stop buying stuff now, need to shut down eBay and go into saving mode again. My trip is a bit more than 4 months away, time to save some doe.

Note* Hmm, wonder what this things smells like?

Sputnik Stereoscopic Scans

Here are a few stereo photos from today's Sputnik mosquito fest. I did have loading problems as I only got 3.8 sets of negs onto a roll of 120. I had lots of blank film at one end so I need to correct that mistake. Anyway, the negs are nice and sharp and the camera fun to shoot. I plan on using this thing plenty of times in the future. Well worth the $95USD price tag. Pass the borscht comrade!

Not sure why but the lens side neg (lens?) is not as sharp as the right in this scan. In the other double 3 photos I made the sharpness seems more balanced. Not sure why this one is different (part of creating a 3D effect?). I shot these at F5.6 I might have to set a minimum aperture a bit higher to get more uniform overall sharpness, maybe F11,16, 22. It was a good first attempt. I will learn from these mistakes and do better the next time. I might take this camera to dads graveyard next week off to do some pics. It is so peaceful and beautiful there, it might help me concentrate and create a bit better.

Notice that these two images are not quite the same for the 3D effect. The lens are in slightly different positions, you can see it in the tree positioning and the various bright light, dark shadow areas.

First attempt with Sputnik stereographic camera

First Roll In Sputnik

Ran around in the back yard this morning dodging mosquitoes and put my first roll of 120 Tri-x through the Sputnik stereo.

Figuring out how to load and advance the film was a bit of a nightmare. You have to see the numbers on the back of the film through a little read window. I could not see the numbers so counted turns of the camera film advance knob, sort of gave it my best guess (6 1/2 turns to move up 2 frames). Back in the darkroom I was able to see the numbers through the window so next time will look harder.

Composing was a bit weird also, things looked bright and distorted, so I need to get used to that also. Being eaten alive by the pesky bugs did not help the experience, I was bitten 5 or 6 times in a matter of minutes.

Am developing the film now, as I type I turn back ot the sink and agitate ever 30 seconds. If anything turns out I will scan and show you people.

Exposure between 1/30 and 1/60 F 5.6 Tri-x at 200ASA. Development 2/1 D-76, 20C for 11 minutes 30 seconds (pulled back a minute).

Update* Well I got some images on the negs, I took a quick look, they are washing now. The negs looked sharp, pretty damn good for a 1950s Soviet Union tractor factory camera. I did not get the full allotment of shots on my 120 roll. I think I only got 4 sets. If I would have advanced the film properly I should have gotten 5 or 6 sets of 2-6x6 stereographic negs. This looks like it is going to be a fun purchase.

Wonder what the transparencies will look like? Now I can shoot all that outdated 120 Agfachrome I have. Might follow my earlier plan and do slide living condition photos in 3D for future exhibitions. Show where the people live in the dump in 3D color, that sort of thing. A combination of b/w documentary photos and colour 3D, could be an effective tag team.

Buying A Yankee 4x5 Development Tank

I am buying a Yankee 4x5 development tank for my 4x5 sheet film. I develop all my sheet film in a Jobo processor but I wanted be able to do STAND development. The Yankee tank will allow me to do the 2 hour STAND development with 4x5 that I cannot do in a Jobo. I would also have the option to take and use this tank to Asia if I stay there for extended periods.

Yankee 4x5 or smaller sheet film development tank

Irving Penn And His Rolleiflex

Just read that the great photographer Irving Penn used a Rolleiflex for many of his top images. I guess Penn shot a Tessar lens version of the Rolleiflex that he prized for its compactness, simplicity and sturdiness.
Irving Penn Rolleiflex Images

3 Asaro mud men, New Guinea 1970 by Irving Penn

 Cuzco children, Cuzco Peru 1948 by Irving Penn

Bought A 6x9 Carrier

I got a very good price on a 6x9 Graflex 23 carrier for my Graflex Super D. I have always loved the 6x9 roll format size (matches 35mm and 5x7 with the longer horizontal) so thought I would try for one of these carriers. I now have 2 options with the Graflex, I can shoot 4x5 or 120 mm film sizes. I had been bidding on several of these 23 carriers and kept getting outbid at the $49USD mark but today I got lucky and bought one for only $35USD (my max bid was $51USD). I paid for the back and it's on its way to Canada. I will probably be shooting with it in 2 or 3 weeks, will post the results on the blog.

Update* I will need to draw some 6x9 composition lines on my Graflex ground glass so that I can compose photos more accurately when using this carrier.

Graflex 23 Graphic 120 roll film holder for 4x5 camera

Sputnik Has Landed

The Russians are coming, the Russian are coming, yep their here now, welcome comrade! I got my 100% genuine black plastic Sputnik stereographic camera today. Nothing says quality like cameras that came out of factories that also made tractors, populated by baba workers in babushkas, back in the days of Soviet Union world supremacy. Long live "Mother Russia".

Anyway : ) the camera looks quite nice, its a bit primitive but should do a adequate job especially for the low price of $95 USD. Overall the Russian workers seem to have created a good working tool. This will be a fun toy to play with, I got my Holga viewer earlier this week so now I can do up some 3D transparencies and maybe even some 3D black and white print cards. My stereo photography era has started!

My Sputnik Stereo Camera, around 1955 Russian made.

Looking through the funky viewefinder, focusing screen

Found My Linhof 5x7 Lensboards!

Several years ago 2 nice gentlemen from Apug  (analog photography users group) sent me 3 Linhof 5x7 camera lensboards for free! For several years I used one of the metal ones with my 210mm lens and the camera but had to settle for a plastic lensboard for my favored 120mm lens. I had this lensboard made by a former acquaintance from one of my clubs, it is adequate but I worried how the plastic would respond to extensive use in Asian heat and humidity. Would the cheap plastic lens board be hard to load into the camera, become warped or damaged? Now that I found these metal versions again I can transfer my 120mm lens to one of these. I found the boards under a pile of prints I was shuffling through for next weeks photo club meeting. For this meeting I am hosting and talking about my work.

Another trip problem solved. I am now approximately 4 months and 2 weeks away from making pictures in Asia.

Graflex Equals The Freedom To Create

The Graflex in its day must have been so revolutionary, no wonder they made them forever. Even today shooting a 4x5 handheld while composing through a mirror (SLR) is pretty damn amazing. The other day when I was photographing with the camera in the early morning after a fresh rain it was so exhilarating, so liberating.

Making pics with the Graflex is a wonderful experience. Running and moving, composing at will, then the sweet sound of the shutter. Looking forward to creating in documentary situations thou I might have to push the Tri-x too 800 or even 1600. Imagine that! Pushed 4x5 negs! Anyway it should tons of fun. Am now looking forward to the arrival of my Rolleiflex, what joy will be had there?

Graflex Shot

Here is one of the 1/30 of a second Graflex shots from yesterday morning. It is pretty hard to hold a SLR with a 190mm lens steady at 1/30 of a second. Out of the 6 photos I made (6 fit into the Grafmatic back) this was the sharpest of the bunch. Contrast and some burns were added in Photoshop elements. I might try printing this neg next week off, possibly during my tuesday darkroom workshop.

Update* I just remembered there is a way to raise the mirror before exposure. I am not sure thou that I can also trigger the shutter with the mirror raised. This might be a method to try to eliminate some camera shake at 1/30 of a second. With the mirror up and settled down there would be less vibration. The problem then would be of course you would lose the ability to compose.

Graflex Super D with Ektar 190mm lens, F5.6 at 1/30 handheld

Quote: Kirk Douglas

"In order to achieve anything you must be brave enough to fail."

Link: Edward Weston, Charis Wilson Documentary

Found out about this documentary tonight. The doc tells the story behind the making of the famous Edward Weston nudes with Charis Wilson. Miss Wilson remembers back to the making of the photos from her youth, she is 90 years old in the documentary. I need to track down a copy of this film somewhere. In this little clip they have Edwards Graflex, which I guess started out as a 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 and eventually became a 4x5 Graflex.
Eloquent Nude The Love and Legacy of Edward Weston & Charis Wilson

The making of the famous sand dune nudes
The Story Behind The Sand Dune Nudes

Lensboard For My Graflex, A Shot In The Dark

Bought a wood lens board for my Graflex and brass barrel lens. This purchase is a real shot in the dark, maybe I will hate the look of the lens. The lensboard is also pricey $47 USD for the board, the 60mm hole cut and shipping to Canada. This could be a huge plus if I like the lens neg look or a total waste of money if the lens does not work for me.

The way I rationalize spending the money is I bought the lens several years ago (for several hundreds of dollars) and have never used it, so paying another $47 at this point is no biggy. At least now there is a chance to use the lens, possibly to use it a lot.

Update: I found a cheaper online option, $18.99 plus shipping with a free hole cut. This price makes it less of a gamble. If this works I might also experiment with more types of lens and the Graflex.

Starting To Love The Graflex

There is a real beauty to using the Graflex Super D. I am still a bit unsure about the 190mm Ektar lens but I love the feel of the camera contros, love the SLR mirror composing/focus for 4x5 photography, love the sweet sound of the focal plane shutter. I also love the idea of using the camera 2 of my all time idols used, Lewis Hine and Paul Strand. Both photographers were able to do great documentary photography work with this tool. Dorothea Lange shot "Migrant Mother" with a Series D Graflex. Good work, even great work can be done with this tool. I am looking forward to using it in the field in Asia.
Back story and the other 4 "Migrant Mother" photos made by Dorothea Lange

One of the series of 5 4X5 negs Lange made using the Graflex Series D leading up to the Migrant Mother image.

Migrant Mother, Florence Owens Thompson 32 by Dorothea Lange 1936

Underexposed!!

Yesterdays Graflex negs were underexposed, no shadow detail at all. After seeing those disappointing negs I grabbed my Graflex (Pong) and went out and shot another 6 sheets. These exposures were also shot at 300 ASA (Tri-x) but at 1/30 and F5.6 which is a lot more light than last time. It was a bit darker outside as I was shooting in early morning light after a fresh rain. Not sure what 1/30 hand held will look like, but we shall see shan't we!

This is fun! "Ain't Photography Grand!" I wish I could just make photos and work in my darkroom everyday. Nothing is better than making pics, such shear joy.

Update: Exposure/Development look fine this time. I even think I got some reasonably sharp pics at 1/30th and F5.6. Imagine that, holding a 4x5 Graflex at 1/30 with 190mm lens and getting some sharpness.

I am also going to dig out my Razzle, Banarama 4x5 camera made by the late Dean Jones. I was afraid to shoot at f5.6 with this camera before but why not, it's working with the Graflex, why not with the smaller and lighter rangefinder Razzle! I will experiment shooting the Razzle in the next few weeks in the same way.

My New Rolleiflex

I  bought a Rollieflex Tessar 75mm F3.5 camera today. I am not sure how old this camera is but it is supposedly tested and in 100% working order with clean glass. I am also looking for a 2.8 version of the camera, possibly a F or newer GX model. In this auction there was also a working Zone VI converted Luna Pro light meter, a nice little bonus item. The total (auction price, shipping, duty) cost of this camera/meter was $424.95 CAD, a decent deal.

Update: Went to Amazon.ca (who knew they sold camera stuff) and bought a lens hood and lens caps for this camera, $49.77 CAD with free shipping. This purchase was pricey but still way cheaper than anything I could get on eBay. Non original stuff but new and usable, I needed to get them to protect the lens and to help prevent flaring. I should be able to use one of my existing camera straps. A few weeks from now I should be posting images made with this camera.

My Rolleiflex with Tessar 75mm F3.5 Lens 

Link: Major Submission Opportunity, 2017 Alberta Biennial Of Contemporary Art

The AGA, The Alberta Gallery of Art, sent me this submission info today. They are having their 2017 Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art Submission Call. The deadline is July 26, 2015. Getting in would be an extreme long shot at best but I thought why not try, it can't hurt. The AGA has kicked me in the balls many times on my submissions, what's one more time? No Biggy if I submit and fail to get in, but if I fail to submit I have lost already, lost something more than just a submission attempt. You got to try boys and girls!!

I have PDF submission file info, if your interested send me a email and I will forward you the file. This is a Alberta resident only type thing, good luck with your submission.

http://www.youraga.ca/exhibitions/call-for-submissions-2/

Today's Graflex Shots

Today's 6 foliage photos with the Graflex were shot at 1/200 and F8. I metered the scene with a reflected light meter which metered the diffused light at 1/250, F8 at 300ASA. Will post some of those scans later if there is anything of any value. On day 2 of shooting with the camera I was slightly more fluid.

Graflex Scans

Here are some scans from the Graflex photos taken yesterday. The 2 pics are hand held at F5.6 and 1/125. The Tri-x film was exposed at 200 ASA with a reflected meter reading. I might try a 300 or 400 ASA setting next. Film was developed in the Jobo 1/1 (225ml D-76/ 225ml Water) at 24C in a sheet sheet tank at agitation setting #4.

I wonder about the lens lacking contrast, the older Kodak Ektar lens s a bit different to work with for me. The back element of the Ektar was a bit dirty yesterday when I made these photos, I will continue to experiment. Hopefully I can use the Ektar 190mm F5.6 with the camera and do not have to change it out to a modern lens of similar length and speed.

Quote: Albert Einstein

On God.

"I have repeatedly said that in my opinion the idea of a personal God is a childlike one, I prefer an attitude of humility corresponding to the weakness of our intellectual understanding of nature and of our own being."

Developed The Graflex Super D FIlm

I developed the 12 sheets of Graflex 4x5 film I shot yesterday. I opened the jobo tank, peered in, and with a deep breath pulled out the first sheet to examine it. The sheet looked well exposed, it looked reasonably sharp. The camera seems to have no light leaks, no fogging from the new film holder either.

WHEW!! WHAT A RELIEF!!

I need to check the negs with a loupe after they wash and dry but so far so good, things look promising. This could turn into a major photographic tool for me, leading to some very strong photos. Another camera to take with me to Asia next trip?

Leng Mao my cat is curious about my new Graflex, as I am typing this, she is smelling it. The camera has an OLD MUSTY smell to it.  Leng Mao just bolted upstairs, maybe she thinks my camera stinks or the previous owner had a dog.

Update: Am trying to arrange to buy a lens board for my brass barrel lens, there are 2 possibilities on eBay.

Update: I looked at the film with a loupe (while it was still wet). Some of the shots are out of focus (probably photographer error), but others look quite sharp. Even the 2 tight heads I did of mom at F5.6 and 1/300 look sharp. This is exciting! Will shoot more with the camera today, and over the next days, weeks, months. If I take it to Asia I need to become very proficient with it.

Bought 8 Holders

I bought 8 wooden 4x5 Graflex style film holders tonight. The cost was $26USD plus $38USD for shipping (trying to get that lowered a bit). I now have enough holders to do 22 photographs in a day using the new Graflex camera. I can do 16 with the 8-2 sided holders and 6 with the Grafmatic holder. I can also reload the holders in the field with a changing tent if necessary giving me a possible 44 shots in a day, thats a ton!

These special holders have a extended groove along the vertical edges of each side. The groove allows you to mount the holder to the back of the Graflex Super D. Boy a 1950-60s camera with 1920-30s technology and now wooden holders, I am going OLD OLD school.

Update: Shipping got changed from Priority to First Class, the final cost to me was dropped by $10 to $28.14. All and all a pretty good deal for 8 Graflex Graphic 4x5 holders.

8 wooden Graflex 4x5 holder, with extra grove for mounting

Lucille? And Other Graflex Super D Thoughts

 I have been thinking of giving the camera a female name, is that weird? Maybe so! Still it could be fun. It would allow me to be me arty farty creative and personal with this equipment. BB King called his guitar Lucille, what should I call my Graflex?

After closer inspection of the camera it seems to be in excellent condition. There is a bit of dust on the mirror, a few marks on the leather covering, a tiny bit of raised leather on the front lens hood but thats about it. This thing is pristine, I paid a lot for it especially with shipping and duty etc but this thing may well be worth it. SHE IS BEAUTIFUL.

One feature I really like about the camera is a super sized 2 1/4 inch metal focusing knob that was placed on it. The knob makes focusing easy and precise, whoever adapted it added a worthwhile feature. I might add a next strap of some kind, possibly a guitar strap. I have one hole already on the right side of the camera so would only have to add 1 hole to the left side for the strap. Still putting HOLES in your camera makes me a bit queasy.

Shot 12 Sheets

Within a few hours of my getting the Graflex RB Super D, I had shot 12 sheets of 4x5 Tri-x. The Graflex is a fun camera to shoot, thou I did feel a rather awkward using it. My exposures were 6 at 1/125 and 5.6 and 6 at 1/300 and 5.6. I wanted to see what the negs look like shot at 5.6. I am hoping the negs are sharp at that aperture which would allow me to handhold 4x5 in darker documentary photo settings. It was rather weird WINDING up my focal plane shutter but everything seemed to work correctly. It will take some practise to able to use this camera at a faster rate. I spent way to much time today trying to figure out the technique of using this thing and not enough time actually concentrating on the image.

I was very happy that you can focus close and do tight head shots with the camera, this feature could come in very useful. Fast close hand held 4x5 head shots! Great!! Today I did not add any filter factor but hopefully can get a printable neg. I did 2 heads of mom from different distances. A few full and half body portraits and a bunch of foliage/tree stuff.

If I am not to tired I will develop the film tomorrow after work. If there is anything decent I will scan and post some samples here on the blog.

I will get some more holders for the camera and a lens board for my brass lens. I want to try shooting some barrel lens on the Graflex. With the focal plane shutter I can now use brass lens for added cool looks to my negs.

Weird Ass Graflex Grafmatic Holder

Turns out the 6 sheet Graflex Grafmatic holder I got with the Super D is actually a bit different than the other 7 or 8, 6 sheet Graflex Grafmatic holders I own. Go Figure! There is a slight added edge of maybe 4 mm around the holder that allows the arms of the Super D camera back to grab on.

I will have to purchase some 4x5 Graflex holders on eBay, or find another slightly larger Grafmatic 6 sheet version. That's the problem with different camera systems, each have their own peculiarities. When you have a shit load of cameras, you end up with a super shit load of other weird accessories, just to make it work. I have closets filled with all kinds of gear that I never used, and never will use. I guess its time to start selling some of this stuff on eBay, especially if I decide to leave my job and go full photo mode for a while.

Got My Graflex Super D, It's So BEAUTIFUL!

WOW, finally today my Graflex arrived and it's beauty. The camera seems to be in 100% working order, I will start shooting it tonight. Here are some photos of the newest tool in my camera arsenal, I love it!

Graflex with focusing chimney up

Gramatic back and 2 1/4 inch metal focusing knob on Graflex Super D

Film Order

I wanted to get a magnifier glass device to test out with my Graflex Super D. I hope the magnifier will help with ease of focus. I read online where when Graflex user was using it with success. To get free shipping I decided to also buy some 120mm Tri-x. I have 50 rolls or so of this stuff but with my recent purchase of a Plaubel Makina 67 and my current interest and possible purchase of a Rolleiflex or 2 I decided I need more 120mm.

So today I bought the magnifier plus 50 rolls of Tri-x 120 from B&H. Total cost was $273 USD. I should now have enough 8x10, 5x7, 4x5, 120mm and 35mm Tri-x for the next few trips to Asia, depending on what cameras I take. I need to get my ass over to Asia and start using this stuff, there is also a chance of a Uganda trip next year sometime. Going to Uganda would be my first trip to the African continent.

I usually feel guilty when I buy another camera, but never when I buy film. I have been criticized in the past by an ex photo club person for buying film instead of spending money on socializing, doing the party thingy. I always feel thou that film is the most important thing you can buy as a photographer. Film is the little seed that can grow a grand tree. Today's money was well spent!

Here are the magnifier glasses I bought. I guess you just clip them onto the top of the Graflex Super D chimney. These things are cheap so worth a try, if they do not work with the Graflex I will use them when I am editing my 35mm contact sheets.
Carson CF-10 1.5x Clip & Flip Magnifying Lenses

Photographing "Lost Innocence"? Done Beautifully?

After seeing Jock Sturges work on the "Rollei Project" photos I had a bit of a rethink on how the "Lost Innocence" project might look. "Lost Innocence" deals with the subject of young women being damaged or having their lives destroyed by working in the Asian sex industry. I want to concentrate on workers that have local men customers but also might add in some workers that work in the Western sex tourist industry.

What of instead of photographing the head shots harsh with a blad and ring flash, I go the other way and try to photograph my subject beautifully. What if I did beautiful head shot natural light portraits of the workers which would contrast drastically with the terrible worlds they live in. There might be a certain irony in showing their outer innocence, beauty and then having a title like "Nong 20 Brothel Worker, Laos", or Mary 19 Gogo Dancer, Philippines". The contrast of their beauty with their occupations, the lives they have been sold into (or forced into for economic reasons), might be quite startling.

Once again more thought needed on this. All my photo projects are continually changing, evolving in my mind. From day to day these things adapt and move in different directions. I guess that's part of the creative process, something that makes art for the artist so challenging and important.

Got To Get Me A Blond

Found this cute story online, Thanks Ben C for sharing. This was the Epiphany moment for the photographer.

My moment came when, at around age 12 or 13, I spotted a young, darkly handsome photographer with a large wooden view camera (looking back it must have been a Dorf) setting up a shot at a local state park. His convertible was parked nearby, and it wasn't long before he attracted a very nice looking young blonde. She inquired about what he was doing, and I heard him say "This is how I make my living." The photographer and the blonde then left together in his convertible. I thought, "Man, I want to be a cool-looking dude with a big camera and get a blonde, too." Forty years later, I've got the big camera, but no blonde (but a wonderful wife).

Workshop Dates Starting

Got off to a bit of a slow start workshop wise this year but things are coming along now. Last year I think I did 8 or 9 workshops. Over the last little bit this years numbers are starting to add up. I have a student coming up from Calgary for 2 workshops on the 27/28. Today I got 2 new possible students, not sure how many workshops they will take. Things are looking up! I can put the money towards my Graflex, or a Rolleiflex if I buy one. It's great to make extra money plus its FUN to teach the beauty of film photography.

Just got off the bike did 22kms in 1 hour and 3 minutes. The wind was tough today, I was huffing and puffing. I went to visit dad as usual.

Link: Jock Sturges "Rollei Project"

Just realized one of the few world level photographers I know and have talked to at length did a book called the "Rollei Project". I have been bidding on a series of Rollei cameras over the last few days and came upon the "Rollei Project" Sturges book. I love the warmtone look tonality of the prints in this show.
Jock Sturges "Rollei Project" Facebook Page

Here is a bit written by Sturges and some photos from the LA show.

The Rollei Project Jock Sturges Photographs by Jock Sturges. "I was bemused and, to be honest, a bit skeptical when in the Spring of 2012 my friend, Duncan Meeder, proposed that I do a project with the Rolleiflex Twin Lens Reflex 6x6. Hmmm not really my format, I thought. My camera of choice for the last forty years has been and remains the 8x10 view camera. But I was flattered by Duncan's proposal because the work he proposed would accompany a beautiful, multicolored edition of the camera bearing my name. This was too good to resist -- not least of all because I knew what an illustrious history this camera has had. The instrument of choice for photographers as diverse as Diane Arbus and Vivian Maier, the Rolleiflex has been delivering brilliant results for many decades. So Duncan's proposal felt like both a nice compliment and an engaging challenge. Four months and hundreds of rolls of film later, Duncan and I sat down and edited this book. Editing books is always agonizing because of all that must be cut away to arrive at a final choice, but in this instance it was a particular trial. The Rollei had given me so many fine pictures! My technique with the 8x10 camera is necessarily deliberate and classical -- it is not exactly lightning-quick. I carried that formal method forward into this project as well, but as was agreeably surprised by how the camera took over and let me shoot with more spontaneity than ever the 8x10 allows. So the work in this book departs a bit from the solemnity that people who are kind enough to attend to my work have known up till now. As I had hoped might be the case, I learned something -- ever my ambition. This project had its origins in the notion of an adventure with a camera. But finally, if it is a success, it is because of the beauty and character lent to me by the models here depicted. They are my great wealth in the world." --Jock Sturges

Quote: Jane Austen (Mansfield Park)

"There are as many forms of love as there are moments in time."

Quote: Albert Einstein

"Man is here for the sake of other men..."

Book Re-issues, By Sebastiao Salgado

My online friend James who keeps me updated on anything Salgado advised me of 2 new Sebastiao Salgado books just released. I bought the America's book tonight for $57 CAD. The other book on Coffee production is currently $95 CAD, so I will hold off a while on that purchase hoping the price will drop. The two books are pre-orders, so getting them might take a while. Eventually I will add both to my rather extensive Salgado book series collection.

Here are the Amazon.ca links to the books (also on Amazon.com of course).
"The Scent of a Dream: Travels in the World of Coffee"
"The Other Americas"

Note* Thanks as always James for your help.

Quote: Mark Twain

His last words:

"Death, the only immortal who treats us all alike, whose pity and whose peace and whose refuge are for all -- the soiled and the pure, the rich and the poor, the loved and the unloved."

Developing Film For Jack

Doing a some development over the next week for a friend. Jack the man who gave me all his darkroom equipment not long ago as me to developed 18 rolls of 120mm and a a bunch of sheets of 4x5. Going to do the development in Tmax, which Jack bought for me along with some fix. I have not developed in Tmax for decades, have to do some research for the proper development times. Hope my agitation in the Patterson tanks is fine with the film, it should be, it works great with my Tri-x. The 4x5 film is in ready loads which I have never handled before so that should be a bit of an adventure also. I will develop all the film, put them in neg sheets and get it back to Jack as soon as I can.

So the next few days will be development, hopefully I can get this done soon. I also want to develop some of my Tri-x 120 and an old roll of Tmax 3200 35mm I found laying about. I have no idea whats on the 3200 film but if anything of consequence is on any of my films, I will post them.

A Good Morning

Had a good morning today, did 33kms on the bike. On my ride today I tried something different, I went down into the river valley in search of a route to work. I always wanted to ride my bike to work but never could figure out how. I finally got most of the route down today. It would be a long gruelling trek, probably over 1 and 1/2 hours of cycling both ways. 1 1/2 hour of biking, 12 hour nightshift with exercise, and a 1 1/2 hour bike ride home, WOULD BE TOUGH!

I have been dreaming a lot about dad lately. The other night dreamt I was fighting some black dressed woman (even her face was covered in black cloth) as she lead dad away, last night I dreamt about speaking to his photo "I miss you so much dad!" So today on my bike I decided to go somewhere else, somewhere less sad. I have been visiting dads grave every time I ride maybe that is leading to all of these dreams. Decided to take a break, do something different.

The river valley is so nice to be in, and so fun to explore. Today I did a number of paved trails I had never taken before. I spent quite a bit of time biking and walking my bike up and down the cross country skiing trails way up in the back country. Loads of fun but also very tiring.  Feel spent, I biked 3 days in a row! Tonight I am also playing golf! At least I am getting tons of exercise which should be a good thing for November when I am back in Asia making pics. Everything I do now will benefit the picture making later.

Update: Yesterday I did 25kms on the bike, today 33. :))

Links: Repairing A Rolleiflex T 75mm 1:3.5

This is down right terrifying, all those little screws, imagine putting this back together after it was in pieces. I do not have the skills or tools to repair a camera like this. Still it is quite fascinating to see how intricate these old Rolleiflex T cameras are. The T is the mid range priced model. There was the Rolleiflex F, then T, then Rolleicord. Just started researching these cameras last night, always wanted one. Heck I might end up buying another camera! They are world renowned for the quality of their small Tessar lens and their quality. You can see a bit of that in the video as well. It would be fun to own one of these before I die, maybe someday!
Repairing a Rolleiflex T 75mm 1:3.5

Note* This YouTube channel has a ton of camera/lens/flash repair videos, all quite interesting. Check them out here:
Mikeno62 YouTube Channel

The Bad Guy!! The Bad Guy??

It is not always easy tell who the bad guy is, sometimes we (I) jump to conclusions. The world is very grey not black and white like we sometimes think. We think we know who the bad guys are, but were quite often wrong.

Today after I got home from work I decided to have a little snack of onions and sausage. I had just started eating when I heard a loud chattering outside my open window. At first I ignored the noise but it got louder and louder, it sounded like 10 or more birds yelling at something. I had just let my cat out and sometimes when I do that the birds chatter away at her. This was different thou, this was much stronger, many more birds, much more noisy.

I went to my back door to check things out. There were 15 or so large black crows in the 2 large spruce trees I have at the back of my yard. There were also 3 magpies, and it looked to me like the 2 different species were fighting. I surmise the magpies had a nest in the trees and the crows were up to no good, what bad guys! The crows were much larger and outnumbered the magpies at least 5-1 it hardly seemed like a fair fight. I had things all figured out, bad guy crows.

So 45 minutes or so pass and the birds are still squawking away! Loud, very Loud! Those damn crows, why are the bothering the small nice magpies! My cat sort of looked on and watched from a safe distance a bit frightened but also curious.  Eventually, about an hour into the disturbance and I put on my bike gear to go for a ride. I got the bike out of the garage and headed to the back of the yard where the birds were. All of a sudden out of no where a large brown hawk of some kind flew out of the spruce, with the crows in quick pursuit, squawking and chasing it. I only saw the hawk for a few seconds but it was big, probably twice the size of the crows. I guess the hawk had been there all this time, and it only flew out when I approached and spooked it.

I had it all figured out, the crows were the bad guys, the magpies were the victims. Instead the hawk turned out to be the culprit. This is only a story about birds but it applies to many things, sometimes we (I) judge to quickly. Remember Gerry the world is very very grey! You may see the crows and jump to conclusions but there might also be something hiding in that spruce tree!

Anyway after that little adventure I did another 21.4 KMs in an 1 hour and 1 minute ride. Went to visit dad as usual, told him what had been happening. For the year so far I am over 300 KMs. It was a bit tough cycling, I had just gotten off my 7th 12 hour night shift. I did not have much in the legs today, but it was a good test, and a beautiful morning to ride. There is really something to being outside cycling in the fresh air on a nice warm day like today. It is a wonderfully enjoyable experience, you feel so alive. It certainly beats doing it in a gym and watching the sweaty guy next to you huff and puff.

Link: Quoted?!

I think this is the same article as the one I posted before but it also seems different This story was only posted on May 23, 2015. I am quoted (sort of a weird feeling to be quoted) in the article, not sure where they got my quote from probably from the interview Slate.com did a while back.

https://patohh23.wordpress.com/

Here is the part of the article that mentions the Yaum guy. Not sure I ever said the words ALL OF THEM OF THEM ARE POVERTY-STRICKEN. Once you start saying like ALL your bound to be wrong. Terms like ALL are very black and white, real life is more grey than that.

Another strange thing about this story, they quote me directly yet do not have any mention of me in the extensive references at the bottom of the page.

Here is my quote part of the story.

Canadian photographer Gerry Yaum has made a documentary with regards to Thailand’s sex industry. He has been visiting Thailand many times with the intent of raising awareness about the situations by documenting the sex workers and sharing their stories to the world.

According to Yaum, many Thais seeks saw that being a sex workers is their only means of supporting their respective families. As all of them are poverty-stricken, they drawn to become a sex worker because technically it is more profitable than any other works, aside from the fact that you don’t need to become a degree holder to become one.

Expanding My Advertising

Since I have had 2 people respond (taking 4 courses) from Calgary and 1 person from Saskatoon (2 courses). I have decided to work on expanding my free kijiji.ca advertising base. It is unlikely but still possible I might get some students from farther off locales. I have added adverts to the following Kijiji locations.

1)Banff/Canmore
2) Saskatoon
3) Lloydminster
4) Fort McMurray
5) Red Deer
6) Grand Prairie

I did up the beginner darkroom workshop. Will do up my more popular view camera workshop next.

Link: Holmes Stereoscopic Viewer

Just found this online. I wonder if I could make 3D black and white prints that would slide in and work with this viewer. It could be just like the old days! This might be fun to play with as well, it would be very interactive for someone who comes to my exhibition. When I was in New Orleans for my PhotoNOLA show in December 2013, I saw an exhibition with this type of tech.

Assembled these units cost $85 USD ($80 USD on eBay).
Holmes Stereoscopic Viewer

Photo Idea: Sputnik Stereo Camera, Living Conditions Photos

My next trip Asia I plan on continuing to work on "Families of the Dump" as well as adding "Forgotten Laughter" into the mix. Some of the children living in poverty photographs for "Forgotten Laughter" will be shot in the dump as well. I have been thinking how I can use the Sputnik, what pics can I make with it? I want to use it as more than a gimmick camera. I need to use it as a tool that will help tell an important story.

What about this? What if I did 3 dimensional colour transparency photos of the living conditions at the dump. Instead of focusing on the people as I will with my b/w 2D cameras, why not do the 3D work of the housing, the garbage, dump landscapes. Looking at those subjects in colour 3D will pull the viewer right into that world. They will go from the clean pretty white walled gallery, to the smelly, hot, fly infested, stinking garbage dump.

I have a ton of old Agfachrome in my freezers, film I thought I might never use. I can take that outdated but still good (hopefully) stock and do something very constructive with it. I think the combination of harsh black and white fibre prints of people along with the living conditions colour 3D Holga viewer transparencies could be very strong. The enlarged contact sheet was a hit in my last show, maybe this idea can work for the next one. The idea is to get the viewer INVOLVED in your projects, to make them participate, this could do the trick.

Something else to think about.

Link: Holga Viewer

I have been thinking that I might be able to use this Sputnik camera as a compliment to my 2D shows. If had another exhibition for example at Visual Arts Alberta, which has great window light I could include the linked Holga viewers and 3D mounts. On the walls of the gallery I could have my traditional black and white photos and then I could provide the crowd with 3-5 of these Holga viewers loaded with 3D colour slides.

The 3 dimensional, beauty, colour images would add a whole different aspect to the exhibition. It would be a whole different experience for the visitors and guests to work with. My only concern would be to leave 1 of a kind transparencies just laying around in the viewers, I might have to figure out how to make duplicate viewing transparencies for the show (never done that before).

Here is a link to the viewer and mounts, and how to use them. You can can a feel for these nice cheap plastic viewing set ups. I bought 6 plastic holders and 1 viewer last night for around $35USD.
Using A Holga Viewer

Link: Upgrading My Sputnik Camera

I have been reading a bit online in regards to problems with the Sputnik cameras. One of the main issues is the highly reflective shiny black plastic inside the camera. I guess light entering through the lens bounces around quite a bit causing fogging and contrast issues. One fix lots of photographers due is adding a sticky dull flocking material to the camera interior. I bought some last night on eBay and will add it to my camera before shooting. I might also have to figure out some kind of lens hood system and work on the seals at the back of the camera to prevent fogging form that end.

Here is the stuff I bought online last night. I paid $8 USD with free shipping.
Black Velvet Flocking Material

Bought A Sputnik Stereoscopic 120mm Camera

Bought my first ever stereoscopic camera today. It is a Russian made Sputnik. I ended up buying it for a very good price, $94USD and $35 for shipping from Moscow. This will be my first Russian camera, and my first 3D stereoscopic camera. The camera was supposedly checked by a photography technician and should be in 100% working order. It looks pristine in the photos.

I hope this thing will be fun to play with, might even try showing some of the work eventually. It is supposed to make stunning 3D transparencies so that is probably the way I will go with it to start. I hope it arrives before the Edmonton Society of Photographers meeting I am hosting on the 28th. I would like to show both this camera and the Graflex RB Super D.

In my new foray into stereo cameras, I might also get me a digital and a 35mm, if I can get them cheap. The way I figure it these cameras are basically the price of a very good quality single meal for 2, I would simply rather have the camera over the food! It is so much fun to handle and shoot these things, why not enjoy them! I do not drink or smoke, do not party or do drugs, but playing with cameras, making photos, is my thing! Let's have some fun!

My Sputnik