“The human mind and what we've achieved with it is remarkable. But it
does not come close to what we can do, be, see and heal with our hearts”
Friday, February 24, 2017
Meaningless Crap
This morning before sleeping I was reading a book on ancient Greek and Roman art. In the book the writer wrote of how compared to the Greeks the Roman art was derivative and second class. The Roman artists did not create create work that was original in anyway. They mostly just copied ancient Greek pieces that were then sold to Roman buyers. The Roman artists basically sold their artistic souls, they made art that people would buy, work that was pleasing and accepted but not challenging, unique or powerful in any new way.
Tonight I visited for the first time in a long time (18 months?) two photographers websites. I revisited the websites to update myself on their current photos. I was extremely disappointed, everything I saw was the same as before, pretty pictures of snow and gardens, mountains and trees etc, it all blends in my mind. Nothing had changed since my previous website visits and from the time I saw the work up close. Just like the writers critique of the Romans, the photos I saw were second class and derivative. The sad part in all is this is that these are two talented people who could do great work if they decided to take some chances and pushed themselves to see in new ways. Instead they stay on the same boring course, their path most traveled. Year in, year out they make the same trite, commonplace, unchanging sludge pictures. Millions of people around the world each and everyday do the same type stuff, maybe not quite as pretty or as well crafted but it is the same type meaningless visual crap. Why oh why spend your skills and talent making garbage?
What a waste of time and talent, it is so depressing. Veiwing the work, the same exact photographs again, again and yet again over the years is a form of torture, it is visual vomit, artistic poison!!
Whew! I needed to get that out, thanks for listening, it was boiling in me since I saw the work. I feel better now! :)
I need to strive to try and do original work, try to find new ways of saying what I want to say. I need to learn from the writings in this blog. It is easy to criticize but to learn and grow as a artist because of your awareness of what you do not like, of what you see as wrong is an entire other thing. I need to take my distaste for what these offensive second class derivative artists (the Romans of our time) are doing and force my own attempt at a unique ( or at least semi unique) vision forward. I need to learn from what I hate about their photographs!
Tonight I visited for the first time in a long time (18 months?) two photographers websites. I revisited the websites to update myself on their current photos. I was extremely disappointed, everything I saw was the same as before, pretty pictures of snow and gardens, mountains and trees etc, it all blends in my mind. Nothing had changed since my previous website visits and from the time I saw the work up close. Just like the writers critique of the Romans, the photos I saw were second class and derivative. The sad part in all is this is that these are two talented people who could do great work if they decided to take some chances and pushed themselves to see in new ways. Instead they stay on the same boring course, their path most traveled. Year in, year out they make the same trite, commonplace, unchanging sludge pictures. Millions of people around the world each and everyday do the same type stuff, maybe not quite as pretty or as well crafted but it is the same type meaningless visual crap. Why oh why spend your skills and talent making garbage?
What a waste of time and talent, it is so depressing. Veiwing the work, the same exact photographs again, again and yet again over the years is a form of torture, it is visual vomit, artistic poison!!
Whew! I needed to get that out, thanks for listening, it was boiling in me since I saw the work. I feel better now! :)
I need to strive to try and do original work, try to find new ways of saying what I want to say. I need to learn from the writings in this blog. It is easy to criticize but to learn and grow as a artist because of your awareness of what you do not like, of what you see as wrong is an entire other thing. I need to take my distaste for what these offensive second class derivative artists (the Romans of our time) are doing and force my own attempt at a unique ( or at least semi unique) vision forward. I need to learn from what I hate about their photographs!
Mido Holders For 8x10 Work In Asia?
I might use the Mido adaptor type 8x10 holders for the coming work with the camera in Asia. The holders will dramatically cut down on weight. There were some light leak issues with these cute devices, I will need to test them before deciding whether to use them or not. I own many of these light wait holder, bought them many years ago for
my planned eventual work in the field in Asia with an 8x10 (saw this coming for
over 10 years). Here is what the holders look like.
Mido Film Holders Blog
Mido Film Holders Blog
Photo Idea: 8x10 Large Format Vertical Portraits In Thailand
Walking my rounds tonight I thought back to the beauty of working and making portraits with a large view camera. In available light I have taken pics with 4x5 and 5x7 cameras in Thailand, this next 6 month trip I plan to take my 8x10 camera with me. It is going to be so beautiful to make portraits with it. I am spending lots of time with all this film making stuff but my first love and true joy is still still film photography and I plan on doing lots of that next trip as well!
When dad was 81 I made the picture below of him. We were visiting the areas he grew up in as a boy. The picture was made in a cemetary where he went to see his fathers grave. Little did we know at the time but dad was less than 2 years away from dying himself. I would like to do similar images in Thailand.
The idea will be to do standing vertical portraits of people in the dump, children, workers, the elderly. I could also photograph people I meet and know in Bangkok, and in the Muay Thai boxing gym, Monks, Workers, Police, Migrant Workers, Security Guards, Street Vendors, Ladyboys Sex Workers etc. Years ago I wanted to do a projected called "Khon Thai" (the Thai People). I always liked that idea but never went through with it because I did not think that limiting myself to only photographing Thais was right. Thailand is a mixed country, filled with Laotians, Burmese, Cambodians, Africans, world Tourists etc. Why just limit yourself to Thais? What if I called the project "Khon Nigh Thai" คนในไทย (People In Thailand). That way I could photograph all people, demonstrate not only nationalism but internationalism, express our shared humanity.
I will shoot the camera dad bought me, our 8x10 wooden Deardorff. His gift to me should be shot and used to create important work. His love for me allowed me to buy it, my love for him allows met o use it to remember my father through the use of his gift.
The Story Of The Deardorff 8x10 Camera Dad Bought Me
I already have all the very expensive 8x10 Tri-x film I need in my freezers and will use only 1 lens (following Jock Sturges advice here), the Fujinon W-250mm F6.7. I would need to shoot it with a very shallow depth of field, F6.7 if possible in available difused light. I will need to very selective in who I choose to shoot and probably only 2-4 exposures per subject.
For years these 2 8x10 vertical portraits by Richard Avedon have inspired me. I want to try to emulate the same feel in the "People In Thailand" portrait project. I might have to think of a better name for the project, something simpler.
Update* Composition wise and technically I might follow Avedons lead on shooting this type of portrait. Less depth of field (better bokeh) helps isolate them and composing the subjects feet closer to the bottom of the frame. Sort of like they are standing on the bottom edge of the negative. People-portraits look better that way I think.
When dad was 81 I made the picture below of him. We were visiting the areas he grew up in as a boy. The picture was made in a cemetary where he went to see his fathers grave. Little did we know at the time but dad was less than 2 years away from dying himself. I would like to do similar images in Thailand.
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| Dad at 81, 250mm Fuji Lens, HP5 (200) at 1/15 and F 11.5 |
I will shoot the camera dad bought me, our 8x10 wooden Deardorff. His gift to me should be shot and used to create important work. His love for me allowed me to buy it, my love for him allows met o use it to remember my father through the use of his gift.
The Story Of The Deardorff 8x10 Camera Dad Bought Me
I already have all the very expensive 8x10 Tri-x film I need in my freezers and will use only 1 lens (following Jock Sturges advice here), the Fujinon W-250mm F6.7. I would need to shoot it with a very shallow depth of field, F6.7 if possible in available difused light. I will need to very selective in who I choose to shoot and probably only 2-4 exposures per subject.
For years these 2 8x10 vertical portraits by Richard Avedon have inspired me. I want to try to emulate the same feel in the "People In Thailand" portrait project. I might have to think of a better name for the project, something simpler.
Update* Composition wise and technically I might follow Avedons lead on shooting this type of portrait. Less depth of field (better bokeh) helps isolate them and composing the subjects feet closer to the bottom of the frame. Sort of like they are standing on the bottom edge of the negative. People-portraits look better that way I think.
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| Lew Alcindor, (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) by Richard Avedon |
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| Bob Dylan in Central Park by Richard Avedon |
Thursday, February 23, 2017
500000 Page Views!
Gosh have not been paying attention to the page view numbers. They currently sit at 500162! WOW. Thanks everyone for visiting. The next big number to watch out for is 1 million! Maybe in another 10 years. Please keep reading, watching and thinking about the blogs folks. As long as I am alive I will keep writing here and making photographs. I will keep at it for the rest of my life. We started up in 2007, so this year marks 10 years online.
Photo Story: Migrant Baby
I changed up my link to my photo website (see left side of blog). I will rotate in and out different photos from the page periodically. I will then do up a photo story entry about the photograph. Here is the first of that bunch.
Photo Story: Migrant Baby
The Story:
Near my hotel in Klong Toey slum Bangkok Thailand there is a migrant housing complex. Not really a complex more like a 2 story set of rooms (40? 50? total?) that is made of plywood with small doors that can be locked (no windows). There is also a washing area where everyone can wash clothes and take baths. I have been photographing in this area since about 2013. Through the years probably visited there 5 or 6 times. I need to spend more time there, I want to go back sometime at night to photograph when everyone is home from work, maybe next trip! Maybe I can make friends with some of the people who live there.
Originally all the residents were either Burmese or Cambodia. They were migrants (mostly legal I think) who came in from their home countries to work doing construction and other jobs in Bangkok. Thai employers can pay these migrants less money than they have to pay Thais. Also many of the jobs the migrants do Thais do not want to do.
When visiting the area I practise the few words of Khmer and Burmese that I know. I count or say hello in their language, sort of a fun way to make friends with strangers. Sometime it is hard to figure out who is Burmese or Cambodian. Everyone gets a kick out of it when you try to speak their language, most are surprised to hear it. My last few trips to this housing area I have met more and more Thai folks, poor rural people who had come to the big city and had no where else to live. The workers (some children) in this very basic type of living pay rent of course to those that own the building-land.
In the photography the baby and mother were sitting in the shade hiding from the sun as I was leaving one day. I asked if I could make a photo and did. The mother was so proud and loved her child. Wonder what the little boy was thinking? Probably something like "Who is the big white guy? I am not impressed!"
Tech Stuff:
This photo was made on Tri-x using a Rolleiflex camera and close up attachment (Rolleinar). Developed in D-76 2/1 for 11 minutes 30 seconds at 20c. I have never printed the negative.
Update* One time when visiting the housing a Cambodian woman showed me her beat up wedding photos. She must have handled them over and over and over again as they were quite damaged, worn through from the touching. She gave them to me gently and with such pride. She had come to Bangkok for one reason to make money, money she could send home to help her children and parents. I can still remember her sadness, she had such a longing to go home and be with her family again. Neighbors gathered round and looked at the pics with me. We spoke Thai to each other, she told me stories of her special day and her current life in Thailand. I wonder what happened to her? Is she still in Thailand, far from her family back in Cambodia? Or is she home again with them?
Photo Story: Migrant Baby
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| Burmese mother holding her baby boy in Migrant worker housing complex, Bangkok Thailand 2015 |
Near my hotel in Klong Toey slum Bangkok Thailand there is a migrant housing complex. Not really a complex more like a 2 story set of rooms (40? 50? total?) that is made of plywood with small doors that can be locked (no windows). There is also a washing area where everyone can wash clothes and take baths. I have been photographing in this area since about 2013. Through the years probably visited there 5 or 6 times. I need to spend more time there, I want to go back sometime at night to photograph when everyone is home from work, maybe next trip! Maybe I can make friends with some of the people who live there.
Originally all the residents were either Burmese or Cambodia. They were migrants (mostly legal I think) who came in from their home countries to work doing construction and other jobs in Bangkok. Thai employers can pay these migrants less money than they have to pay Thais. Also many of the jobs the migrants do Thais do not want to do.
When visiting the area I practise the few words of Khmer and Burmese that I know. I count or say hello in their language, sort of a fun way to make friends with strangers. Sometime it is hard to figure out who is Burmese or Cambodian. Everyone gets a kick out of it when you try to speak their language, most are surprised to hear it. My last few trips to this housing area I have met more and more Thai folks, poor rural people who had come to the big city and had no where else to live. The workers (some children) in this very basic type of living pay rent of course to those that own the building-land.
In the photography the baby and mother were sitting in the shade hiding from the sun as I was leaving one day. I asked if I could make a photo and did. The mother was so proud and loved her child. Wonder what the little boy was thinking? Probably something like "Who is the big white guy? I am not impressed!"
Tech Stuff:
This photo was made on Tri-x using a Rolleiflex camera and close up attachment (Rolleinar). Developed in D-76 2/1 for 11 minutes 30 seconds at 20c. I have never printed the negative.
Update* One time when visiting the housing a Cambodian woman showed me her beat up wedding photos. She must have handled them over and over and over again as they were quite damaged, worn through from the touching. She gave them to me gently and with such pride. She had come to Bangkok for one reason to make money, money she could send home to help her children and parents. I can still remember her sadness, she had such a longing to go home and be with her family again. Neighbors gathered round and looked at the pics with me. We spoke Thai to each other, she told me stories of her special day and her current life in Thailand. I wonder what happened to her? Is she still in Thailand, far from her family back in Cambodia? Or is she home again with them?
Link: Gerry Yaum VIDEO BAR
Check out my new VIDEO BAR, top left of the page. The bar I think chooses videos at random from my YouTube page, enjoy!
I also updated this blog with links to my new documentary film making blog and my FREE wix photo website (I closed gerryyaum.com to save money). I will try to update and improve the photo website before I leave for Thailand in the fall. I have so many photos I could add to it, and want to take some offline as well.
Update* Not sure the film making blog link is working. Here it is if your interested. The blog is a streamlined version of this "hoto Diary" with only video and film making write ups included, no still work, quotes, dreams, poetry or rants (well maybe minimal rants!).
www.gerryyaumfilms.blogspot.com
I also updated this blog with links to my new documentary film making blog and my FREE wix photo website (I closed gerryyaum.com to save money). I will try to update and improve the photo website before I leave for Thailand in the fall. I have so many photos I could add to it, and want to take some offline as well.
Update* Not sure the film making blog link is working. Here it is if your interested. The blog is a streamlined version of this "hoto Diary" with only video and film making write ups included, no still work, quotes, dreams, poetry or rants (well maybe minimal rants!).
www.gerryyaumfilms.blogspot.com
BIG SD CARD BUY
Bought som more storage SD cards for the BMPCC bodies. The cards need to be super fast to keep up with the RAW data pouring in to them. The card that is recommended is the 64GB Extreme PRO SD SDXC Card 95MB/s Class 10. Last month I picked up 3 refurbished versions of these cards for $20 USD a piece plus shipping. After testing the cards in my cameras I found they were NOT dropping frames so today I bought another 4.
I now have 11 of these cards, 4 I got from the seller of my cameras off eBay, and 7 are these refurbished babies (guaranteed to be as good as new).
I was thinking of buying the 128GB version in fact I bought one online but the seller disappeared without sending me the card. I appealed to eBay who refunded my $41 USD (too good a deal to be true and it was). I rechecked the prices for the 129GB cards tonight and found them quite high. I am also not sure if the 128GB cards work in the BMPCC. Decided to play it safe and buy the smaller sized 64GB versions.
64GB is quite small for the amount of info I am recording. I will need to change cards quite often. If you are shooting RAW, I think each card will only old 20-25 minutes of footage. With 11 cards I should have enough storage space to record 3 hours and 40 minutes per day.
Hmm wonder if I should buy a few more cards?
Here is the eBay pricing for different versions of this SD card (I paid $20 USD each for my refurbished type cards)
NEW 95MB/S 64GB SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC Class 10 - $40.80 USD free shipping
NEW 95MB/S 128GB SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC Class 10 - $66.55 USD plus $2.29 shipping
Update: Bought another 5 cards. Thought I needed them just in case they break down, in case I lose them, in case I need them for a long days shooting, etc. I now have 16 cards, which is enough storage space to do 5 hours 20 minutes+ of video a day. Do not plan on doing that much recording but it is better to have backups to my backups than to be stranded and pissed off in Mae Sot trying to buy SD cards (very limited stores). I would also hate to have an important shooting day cut short because I ran out of storage space. I have run out of still film before and that always hurts! There will be times I plan on spending the night in the dump filming. When I am there all night I want to make sure I can film at will.
I will now shoot at ease, trying to get the good and important video I need for the movie. I still have to becareful I do not overshoot and be selective. Everything I shoot will have to eventually be stored on hard drives for later editing. I can only buy so many 4TB hard drives for storage!
Note* If I shoot in ProRes HQ instead of RAW I can store much more footage on a 64GB card, I think it is 40 minutes plus. Not sure of the exact numbers, depends on frame rates etc ...24 per second 30? Am still learning. Having too many cards is certainly better than not having enough! 16 should do me nicely.
I now have 11 of these cards, 4 I got from the seller of my cameras off eBay, and 7 are these refurbished babies (guaranteed to be as good as new).
I was thinking of buying the 128GB version in fact I bought one online but the seller disappeared without sending me the card. I appealed to eBay who refunded my $41 USD (too good a deal to be true and it was). I rechecked the prices for the 129GB cards tonight and found them quite high. I am also not sure if the 128GB cards work in the BMPCC. Decided to play it safe and buy the smaller sized 64GB versions.
64GB is quite small for the amount of info I am recording. I will need to change cards quite often. If you are shooting RAW, I think each card will only old 20-25 minutes of footage. With 11 cards I should have enough storage space to record 3 hours and 40 minutes per day.
Hmm wonder if I should buy a few more cards?
Here is the eBay pricing for different versions of this SD card (I paid $20 USD each for my refurbished type cards)
NEW 95MB/S 64GB SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC Class 10 - $40.80 USD free shipping
NEW 95MB/S 128GB SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC Class 10 - $66.55 USD plus $2.29 shipping
Update: Bought another 5 cards. Thought I needed them just in case they break down, in case I lose them, in case I need them for a long days shooting, etc. I now have 16 cards, which is enough storage space to do 5 hours 20 minutes+ of video a day. Do not plan on doing that much recording but it is better to have backups to my backups than to be stranded and pissed off in Mae Sot trying to buy SD cards (very limited stores). I would also hate to have an important shooting day cut short because I ran out of storage space. I have run out of still film before and that always hurts! There will be times I plan on spending the night in the dump filming. When I am there all night I want to make sure I can film at will.
I will now shoot at ease, trying to get the good and important video I need for the movie. I still have to becareful I do not overshoot and be selective. Everything I shoot will have to eventually be stored on hard drives for later editing. I can only buy so many 4TB hard drives for storage!
Note* If I shoot in ProRes HQ instead of RAW I can store much more footage on a 64GB card, I think it is 40 minutes plus. Not sure of the exact numbers, depends on frame rates etc ...24 per second 30? Am still learning. Having too many cards is certainly better than not having enough! 16 should do me nicely.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Quote: Mahatma Gandhi
"When
I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and
love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a
time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they alway fall. Think
of it---always."
The Inequal Value Of Life
There is so much inequality in the world, the value of a life varies. I just read a number that stunned me 5082. 5082 migrants lost their lives last year trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. 272 have died so far in 2017 trying to make the same journey. All those people died, and are dying on a daily basis yet we hear almost nothing about it. Many of those dead are children. Where has our compassion and our understanding of our shared humanity gone?
Desperate people, looking for a better life, die and are quickly forgotten, why? Because they are Africans?, Syrians? Are they human beings of less value? Are their lives, dreams, futures less important than ours?
When the 9/11 happened 2985 people died, and 16 years later it is all we talk about in the West. In the States it is one of those ground breaking Pearl Harbor moments, the Pearl Harbor of our generation. Yet over 5000 people died last year trying to get to a better life in Europe and they are not spoken of, not remembered and basically forgotten. Their lives are only statistics in an article. What the fuck is that? Why does only some life seen to have value?
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/21/africa/libya-migrant-deaths/index.html
Desperate people, looking for a better life, die and are quickly forgotten, why? Because they are Africans?, Syrians? Are they human beings of less value? Are their lives, dreams, futures less important than ours?
When the 9/11 happened 2985 people died, and 16 years later it is all we talk about in the West. In the States it is one of those ground breaking Pearl Harbor moments, the Pearl Harbor of our generation. Yet over 5000 people died last year trying to get to a better life in Europe and they are not spoken of, not remembered and basically forgotten. Their lives are only statistics in an article. What the fuck is that? Why does only some life seen to have value?
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/21/africa/libya-migrant-deaths/index.html
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| Migrant bodies being collected, photos by Ifro Mena/Twitter |
Monday, February 20, 2017
My Tokina 12-24mm F4 Lens Has Arrived
I got my 12-24mm Tokina F4 lens from Japan today, there was no extra charges. Tonight at work I have the lens on my BMPCC body. The f-stop feature works flawlessly with the electronics of the Metabones EF Speedbooster. The angle of view 12mm-24 (about a 20.4mm-40.8mm on the camera) is quite wonderful. With the speedbooster the lens is effectively a f2.6 not fast but not bad. I really like the range of the zoom. I believe I will use this lens for 80% of my shooting. At the widest focal length of 20.4 there is little noticeable distortion, much less so than the earlier tested Rokinon 7.5mm (22.5mm equivalent).
Finally I can pay for everything and not buy any more major film making gear. It is time to start saving for the trip. My training to become a film maker continues on a nightly basis. Things are going pretty well as planned. We are on a positive roll towards the creation of the movie.
Finally I can pay for everything and not buy any more major film making gear. It is time to start saving for the trip. My training to become a film maker continues on a nightly basis. Things are going pretty well as planned. We are on a positive roll towards the creation of the movie.
I Love The Look-Feel Of 35mm Tri-x
Spending time with the dad print this morning (see previous blog) has gotten me
excited about shooting 35mm Tri-x again. Even when printed large like
this (20x24 inches) the images have a feel, clarity along with grain and
contrast range that is unique in art.
I will shoot 35mm extensively during my 6 month trip for this reason. My current plan is to take a R6 Leica SLR with 60mm f2.8 macro lens (possibly the R 24mm f2.8 lens as well) and a rangefinder M6 with 35mm f1.4 (possibly a wide angle 21mm as well). Using these Leica cameras in the dump and elsewhere is a sheer joy. Sometimes I shoot poorly when doing 35mm, I will have to be more careful this next trip. Choose my compositions, shooting situations and shot choices very carefully. If 35mm Tri-x is good enough for W. Eugene Smith and Sebastiao Salgado, it is good enough for Mr. Yaum!
My thinking is I will take along 30 or so rolls of bulk Tri-x as well as 5 or 6 canisters of 100 foot Tri-x and a bulk film loader. I can put the exposed film in the metal cans then reseal them, and use the now empty 35mm cartridges to reload fresh film. This takes more time in the field (I have 6 months) but cuts down on overall weight (cartridges are heavy). You end up loading film after a hard days shooting, but such is life, it has to be done to save money and weight. I believe it is overall lighter to do the 35mm bulk film this way. The other advantage is that you have less of the accidental opening of 35mm film cartridges when it is stored, causing film fog and lost shots. I can safely seal all exposed film up in black plastic bags and mental Kodak canisters with duct tape after they have been shot. Then store everything in my rooms refrigerator to fight off the heat and humidity of Asia. The 100 foot metal Tri-x film canisters also take up less room when traveling or or the aforementioned fridge.
Update* I will need two types of storage cans at all times. One can for Tri-x exposed at 200ASA and 1 can for film exposed at 1600ASA. These two types of exposed films will of course receive different development times-types on my return to Canada. The 1600 receives a special type of STAND development in Rodinal that allows for successful pushing of the film.
I will shoot 35mm extensively during my 6 month trip for this reason. My current plan is to take a R6 Leica SLR with 60mm f2.8 macro lens (possibly the R 24mm f2.8 lens as well) and a rangefinder M6 with 35mm f1.4 (possibly a wide angle 21mm as well). Using these Leica cameras in the dump and elsewhere is a sheer joy. Sometimes I shoot poorly when doing 35mm, I will have to be more careful this next trip. Choose my compositions, shooting situations and shot choices very carefully. If 35mm Tri-x is good enough for W. Eugene Smith and Sebastiao Salgado, it is good enough for Mr. Yaum!
My thinking is I will take along 30 or so rolls of bulk Tri-x as well as 5 or 6 canisters of 100 foot Tri-x and a bulk film loader. I can put the exposed film in the metal cans then reseal them, and use the now empty 35mm cartridges to reload fresh film. This takes more time in the field (I have 6 months) but cuts down on overall weight (cartridges are heavy). You end up loading film after a hard days shooting, but such is life, it has to be done to save money and weight. I believe it is overall lighter to do the 35mm bulk film this way. The other advantage is that you have less of the accidental opening of 35mm film cartridges when it is stored, causing film fog and lost shots. I can safely seal all exposed film up in black plastic bags and mental Kodak canisters with duct tape after they have been shot. Then store everything in my rooms refrigerator to fight off the heat and humidity of Asia. The 100 foot metal Tri-x film canisters also take up less room when traveling or or the aforementioned fridge.
Update* I will need two types of storage cans at all times. One can for Tri-x exposed at 200ASA and 1 can for film exposed at 1600ASA. These two types of exposed films will of course receive different development times-types on my return to Canada. The 1600 receives a special type of STAND development in Rodinal that allows for successful pushing of the film.
4th Exhibition Print Session
I have been struggling my last 2 weeks off work trying to get my 4th Art Gallery of Saint Albert print made up. I worked on and was unsatisfied with the last 3 negs I put in the Durst enlarger. Two of the negatives had issues, one under exposed, one over exposed, the third I was not sure was worthy of exhibiting (I like it but not sure it is the best hospital photo choice).
Tonight 4 hours before the end of my week off I think I found a worthy negative, an important negative. Maybe some day this photograph will be collected, a lasting tribute to my father. I truly hope so. The photo was made during dads last summer, around August 2014. Dad is looking away thinking, with almost frightened but resolute eyes. It is almost like he sees death approaching from a distance, at least that is my interpretation of the image.
The photo below is the third attempt at the print, there is extensive burning on the bottom edges, the pillows, and the bandage at filter 0, some dodging on the eyes and face during the basic of exposure of 80seconds at f2.8 with a filter of 2.5. This show I am making an effort to print about 1 contrast grade higher than I normally do. I want to give this exhibition and dads trauma a more stark, harsh feel.
I will wash the 3 prints I made tonight, let them dry, then go from there next week. I should have this neg in its final form after bleaching and toning by the end of my next week off work. I hope to get started on my 5th image, which might possibly be a photo made that last day after dad passed away. The bad news is I have a dental appointment (surgery) next week as well, hope it does not put me off my printing. Getting these prints made for the show is very important, a tribute to my father and our relationship.
Tonight 4 hours before the end of my week off I think I found a worthy negative, an important negative. Maybe some day this photograph will be collected, a lasting tribute to my father. I truly hope so. The photo was made during dads last summer, around August 2014. Dad is looking away thinking, with almost frightened but resolute eyes. It is almost like he sees death approaching from a distance, at least that is my interpretation of the image.
The photo below is the third attempt at the print, there is extensive burning on the bottom edges, the pillows, and the bandage at filter 0, some dodging on the eyes and face during the basic of exposure of 80seconds at f2.8 with a filter of 2.5. This show I am making an effort to print about 1 contrast grade higher than I normally do. I want to give this exhibition and dads trauma a more stark, harsh feel.
I will wash the 3 prints I made tonight, let them dry, then go from there next week. I should have this neg in its final form after bleaching and toning by the end of my next week off work. I hope to get started on my 5th image, which might possibly be a photo made that last day after dad passed away. The bad news is I have a dental appointment (surgery) next week as well, hope it does not put me off my printing. Getting these prints made for the show is very important, a tribute to my father and our relationship.
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| 20x24 inch 3rd attempt at dad thinking in bed photo, August 2014 (35mm neg) |
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Quote: George Takei (Actor-Activist)
"We are an interdependent people, sharing a common bond of humanity"
Friday, February 17, 2017
My "1296P Mini Camera Wearable Body Video Police DVR 140" Has Arrived
Got my new compact body cam today. This is not a hidden camera but more of a wearable body camera with an obvious lens. I was thinking of using it to record my daily activity in the dump and other PUBLIC places, to give a more personal up close viewpoint for the blogs. This unit is easier to wear than the go pro option. Hopefully it will help humanize my subjects that much more, furthering education and a continue raising awareness.
In the sample video I am hand holding it, in real time use in Asia, I would place it in a pocket and forget about it for the day. The recording time I believe is up to 4 hours on a 32GB mini SD card.
Note* This video was made on Adobe Premiere (still need to learn so much there!).
In the sample video I am hand holding it, in real time use in Asia, I would place it in a pocket and forget about it for the day. The recording time I believe is up to 4 hours on a 32GB mini SD card.
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| The body camera used for this video |
Dad Dream
Had another dream about my father last night. We lost dad back in 2015 but the dreams continue. This dream was kind of nice and sweet, in the past they would be more emotional and difficult to handle.
"I came to my mother and fathers house early in the morning after being away from them for a long time after a trip of some kind. It was like 5am something like that. I was going to go inside the house to talk to them but then thought, ' No, it is better to let them sleep". As I was going to drive away, my father suddenly stuck his head out his bedroom window, he was not wearing a shirt, he just have just woke up. Dad smiled at me and waved his hand, calling me into the house"
That is all I remember about the dream, the image that sticks with me most is my just woken up shirtless father sticking his head out the window, waving and smiling at me. He was so happy to see me after our long time apart. Boy I wish this dream was true and that I could simply go into the house and talk to him again, be with him again.
"I came to my mother and fathers house early in the morning after being away from them for a long time after a trip of some kind. It was like 5am something like that. I was going to go inside the house to talk to them but then thought, ' No, it is better to let them sleep". As I was going to drive away, my father suddenly stuck his head out his bedroom window, he was not wearing a shirt, he just have just woke up. Dad smiled at me and waved his hand, calling me into the house"
That is all I remember about the dream, the image that sticks with me most is my just woken up shirtless father sticking his head out the window, waving and smiling at me. He was so happy to see me after our long time apart. Boy I wish this dream was true and that I could simply go into the house and talk to him again, be with him again.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Video: Invasion Of The Body Snatchers!
Here is a bit of fun, just practicing using Adobe Audit and Davinci Resolve. All practice is good practice even when it is goofy like this.
I got to learn:
- shooting the BMPCC with Rokinon 7.5mm
- using the monopod/Came-TV Stabilizer combo
- creating a scream in Adobe Audition
- finding the right audio format to work with Davinci (AIF)
- editing a short sequence in Davinci, trimming,color grading, mask, sharpness, slow mo, contrast
- muting the camera sound track and syncing a separately recorded scream
- delivering/rending a large quality file
- reducing and creating a smaller file in .MKV format to upload on the blog
Check out the end of the "Invasion of the Body Snatchers Clip" first. I am doing Donald at the end sort of :)) (forgot the hand gesture!).
"Invasions of the Body Snatchers" Ending Clip
I got to learn:
- shooting the BMPCC with Rokinon 7.5mm
- using the monopod/Came-TV Stabilizer combo
- creating a scream in Adobe Audition
- finding the right audio format to work with Davinci (AIF)
- editing a short sequence in Davinci, trimming,color grading, mask, sharpness, slow mo, contrast
- muting the camera sound track and syncing a separately recorded scream
- delivering/rending a large quality file
- reducing and creating a smaller file in .MKV format to upload on the blog
Check out the end of the "Invasion of the Body Snatchers Clip" first. I am doing Donald at the end sort of :)) (forgot the hand gesture!).
"Invasions of the Body Snatchers" Ending Clip
Crane Monopod Cam!!
Played around today with the crane-mono pod camera thingy I plan to use in the dump. The best set up I found so far is as follows.
BMPCC---> Rokinon 7.5mm Fisheye Lens--> Manfrotto Aluminum Mono Pod--> Came-TV Optimus Gimbal With Remote Control
I also tried the 24mm F1.4 lens but it is not wide enough and too heavy to hold up. My larger Chinese made carbon fiber tripod was also tried but it seems to be a bit more shaky (too flexible?) when fully extended (a bit longer also). Check the earlier blog video for the results of the test.
Improvements? Will try out the 12-24mm Tokina F4 lens (maybe less distortion) and will try to slow down the pan left to right speed when I am using the remote control. I believe there is a way to access panning speed in the Came TV gimbal software (another thing to learn, accessing the software). I think it will allow for a slightly smoother pan as well. That is what I want a smooth/high/wide angle/slow pan over the dump and the workers.
Update* Did some research on adjusting the Came TV gimbal using the software. It all seems dodgy and highly screwupable (my word). I think I will make do with the current setting and leave it alone, last thing I want to do is break my new $1000+ USD toy.
BMPCC---> Rokinon 7.5mm Fisheye Lens--> Manfrotto Aluminum Mono Pod--> Came-TV Optimus Gimbal With Remote Control
I also tried the 24mm F1.4 lens but it is not wide enough and too heavy to hold up. My larger Chinese made carbon fiber tripod was also tried but it seems to be a bit more shaky (too flexible?) when fully extended (a bit longer also). Check the earlier blog video for the results of the test.
Improvements? Will try out the 12-24mm Tokina F4 lens (maybe less distortion) and will try to slow down the pan left to right speed when I am using the remote control. I believe there is a way to access panning speed in the Came TV gimbal software (another thing to learn, accessing the software). I think it will allow for a slightly smoother pan as well. That is what I want a smooth/high/wide angle/slow pan over the dump and the workers.
Update* Did some research on adjusting the Came TV gimbal using the software. It all seems dodgy and highly screwupable (my word). I think I will make do with the current setting and leave it alone, last thing I want to do is break my new $1000+ USD toy.
Video: My Rokinon 7.5mm Micro 4/3 Lens Has Arrived
I got my Rokinon lens delivered today without extra charges. The lens is a fish eye designed for micro 4/3 cameras like my video BMPCCs. The lens gives an equivalent 22mm view angle when mounted on the BMPCC body. I quite like the look, there is a bit of distortion but it is sort of a funky cool looking aspect to the lens. When you have it mounted to the BMPCC without any accessories (rig cage etc.) the whole thing is super light. I did some testing of it today mounted to the camera and the Came-TV gimbal. I then attached everything to my aluminum Manfrotto monopod and raised everything up to try a improvised crane scan. See video. It all worked out rather well with a few hitches but I think this set up will work in the dump to give a wider viewer of the environment and the action.
Update* I think this is the first little film thing I have done in Blackmagic's Davinci Resolve.
Update** One thing I forgot to mention is that if you set this thing on infinity your basically always in focus. A 7.5mm fisheye lens has amazing depth of field. You got to love that! It is a huge bonus when the camera is mounted on a stabilizing gimbal that cannot be touched without ruining the shot. It also will work well in low light (difficult to focus) shots and crane-monopod sequences like in the video for this blog. AM VERY HAPPY I BOUGHT THIS CHEAP BUT HIGHLY USEFUL LENS! It promises to be a useful moving making tool.
Update* I think this is the first little film thing I have done in Blackmagic's Davinci Resolve.
Update** One thing I forgot to mention is that if you set this thing on infinity your basically always in focus. A 7.5mm fisheye lens has amazing depth of field. You got to love that! It is a huge bonus when the camera is mounted on a stabilizing gimbal that cannot be touched without ruining the shot. It also will work well in low light (difficult to focus) shots and crane-monopod sequences like in the video for this blog. AM VERY HAPPY I BOUGHT THIS CHEAP BUT HIGHLY USEFUL LENS! It promises to be a useful moving making tool.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
My Came-TV Optimus Gimbal Has Arrived
Got my Came-Tv gimbal today, cost only an additional $19. The device works great thou it is taking me some time getting used to using it, figuring out how to first balance it then shoot with it. I quite like it so far especially the 2 handed version. In combination with my 24mm Canon lens, Metabones Speedbooster and BMCPP the weight is minimal. I can easily carry it with one or two hands. I am eager to try out the 11-16mm Tokina lens I have in the mail from Japan. That lens will give me a wider angle of view as will the small and very light 7.5mm Rokinon I have coming up from the States. I will probably use those 2 lens much more with the Came-TV stabilizer.
So far so good with this unit, I think it will be especially good for low angle following children through the dump shots and high angle views off a raised mono pod. Here is hoping it is a valuable addition to this film. Now I just got to figure out how to tell a story in film! I own lots of toy now but have little in the way of story telling ability!
Update* The one problem I had with the unit was the rather rinky dink mount for the remote control. It was all plastic and cheap and came apart a few hours after I first got things set up. I instead attached the remote using an elastic band on the left handle of my 2 handle rig. I find it is much better to use in that position as I do not have to reach down for the remote which destabilizes the entire rig. I can instead simply move my thumb a few millimetres which gives me full access to the remote and pan up-down, left-right motorized camera movements.
So far so good with this unit, I think it will be especially good for low angle following children through the dump shots and high angle views off a raised mono pod. Here is hoping it is a valuable addition to this film. Now I just got to figure out how to tell a story in film! I own lots of toy now but have little in the way of story telling ability!
Update* The one problem I had with the unit was the rather rinky dink mount for the remote control. It was all plastic and cheap and came apart a few hours after I first got things set up. I instead attached the remote using an elastic band on the left handle of my 2 handle rig. I find it is much better to use in that position as I do not have to reach down for the remote which destabilizes the entire rig. I can instead simply move my thumb a few millimetres which gives me full access to the remote and pan up-down, left-right motorized camera movements.
Lunch With Dave
Had a nice talk with a veteran filmmaker today, Dave C. Dave was nice enough to speak to me Mr. Newby. I bought him and his wife lunch and took notes the whole time. Will review the notes and do more research on various terms such as "Cut Aways! :)) "Always shoot cut aways!" and all the other ideas, techniques, he spoke to. A good outing that got me farther down the track towards becoming a real live film maker.
I will also be joining a local film making group called FAVA, "The Film and Video Arts Society Alberta". Hopefully I can meet more folks there that will help with the learning curve.
https://fava.ca/
I will also be joining a local film making group called FAVA, "The Film and Video Arts Society Alberta". Hopefully I can meet more folks there that will help with the learning curve.
https://fava.ca/
Friday, February 10, 2017
A Bunch Of "Families Of The Dump" Pics-Reposted
Thought I would post these photos again for the fun of it. These are the images I quickly grabbed off google then placed in a folder on my security work computer desktop. I seached through them for possible "Ten Voices" gallery submission pics (an earlier blog). All these photos have previously been posted on this blog. They were made in late 2015, and early 2016, my last 2 times to Thailand.
In no particular order here they are!
Update* Just remembered I still have some, not a lot, but some 120mm film undeveloped from my last trip. Best get on it, develop, scan and post those on the blog as well.
In no particular order here they are!
Update* Just remembered I still have some, not a lot, but some 120mm film undeveloped from my last trip. Best get on it, develop, scan and post those on the blog as well.
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