Me, W. Eugene Smith, Sebastiao Salgado and Lewis Lewis :)

I wanted to thank David Best for this. The story is from issue #160 of Black&White Magazine.

This goes without saying, is rather obvious, but still needs to be said. Of course, I am not even near the same class, not near the same quality but it is still super cool to be mentioned in the same article with the photographers I have admired, studied and idolized for decades. Robert Capa, David Seymour, Cornell Capa, W. Eugene Smith, Walker Evans, Lewis Hine, Margaret Bourke-White and Sebastiao Salgado.

Seeing your name (pseudonym), your quotes and portrait in an article alongside your photographer idols, is dream come true like stuff.

Thank you, David Best and Black & White Magazine.

In the photo, the children at the dump look kind, cute and joyful. I had forgotten, I miss hearing them laugh. Got to get myself back there and make more photographs, tell more stories.

Issue #160 with Khun Ooh from Klong Toey Slum on the cover.

The kindly David Best article

GERRY YAUM PHOTOGRAPHS Layout, Black & White Magazine Issue #160

Here are some captures of the recent Black & White Photography Magazine story about THE FAMILES OF THE DUMP and THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY photographs.  The magazine is a bit older now and no longer on the newsstand, so I thought posting the images would be OK. 

Have a look and read.

Thank You David B, Dean B and all those at Black & White magazine who made this possible. Most importantly thank you to all the people who allowed me into their lives, allowed me to make these images. I owe you so much. Hope to see you all soon.

Note* One my personal difficulties is reading about ME, ME, ME, that always makes me uncomfortable. When these magazine stories come out, or there is some kind of online write up. I NEVER READ THEM. I will glance quickly but that's about it. I never read the entire stories, read what I said, read what the writer wrote. I really appreciate the hard work of the editors and writers. I just hate reading about myself. It makes me very squeamish and uncomfortable. I cannot handle it, so I avoid it. 

The thing that happens thou is that you miss things. There are 2 parts of the "Black & White" magazine story, I completely missed as a result. I did not know the sections in pictures 2 and 3 below even existed until I made these photos captures today. Thanks again Black & White and David B, Dean B.

Quote: Mary Ellen Mark

"I'm just interested in people on the edges. I feel an affinity for people who haven't had the best breaks in society. I'm always on their side. I find them more human, maybe. What I want to do more than anything is acknowledge their existence."

Dupree Bolton Street Photos, In a New Book? Maybe!

It is strange how life eventually comes back at you. In 1985 I photographed jazz trumpet player Dupree Bolton on the streets of San Francisco. In 2023 I am in contact with an English writer and musician who is writing a book on Dupree. The street photos now have historical importance and could be used in the book, along with stories I told in an Interview. Life comes back at you, memories restored, experiences relived! Gotta love it!

———————————————————————————-

Email from the writer:

Dear Gerry

Thank you. Those photos of Dupree playing on the street in Chinatown, and the one you sent by itself, are terrific. It’s so valuable for me to see them and eventually I hope to be able to ask for permission to use some of them in my book. 

I’m extremely grateful to you for the trouble you’ve taken. Seeing this new evidence of his later life helps give me the momentum to get on with writing the story.

Best regards

——

Link: Dupree Bolton Book?

There might be a book done on my old friend from San Francisco/Oakland Dupree Bolton, who I met in 1985, when I was 21. I have done an interview with the book's author, telling stories of Dupree's older days. Also am forwarding the writer some images (rather poor photos) made when I was 21 with Dupree. Pics of him on the streets playing in Chinatown San Francisco and also a few of him doing heroin (fogged, blurry images). 

Some of the stories and maybe even a photo might make it into the book. I hope writer/musician Ricard W, creates a wonderful tribute to Dupree. I have positive memories of our time together, he deserves to be remembered.

Possible updates to follow.

Dupree In Chinatown, San Francisco, California, USA, 1985

Hear Dupree play here, he was really something in his prime. 1963 from his album "Katanga!". I was told by a man who knew Jazz (my friend Sonny Land) that without the heroin, Dupree had the potential to be an all-time great player.

Kantanga: Dupree Bolton on Trumpet!

2 Ambrotypes Purchased for the Province of Alberta Collection

 

Note* Got lucky there. I kinda counted my chickens before they hatched. My plan was to spend the collected work money, $2000 CAD for the purchase of silver nitrate to make more Ambrotyoes. The problem was a month after I submitted the work to the phase 2 folks, I had not heard back from them. I did not know if they would buy the pieces. So I was heading off for a three week shooting trip with not enough chemical supplies. I decided to go all in, to take a chance. I bought the $2000 CAD in silver and another $700 in Collodion.

That chemistry is at home waiting in next week's trip departure. Luckily today found out the silver money will be coming from the province.

Photo Story: Dupree In Chinatown, San Francisco, California, USA, 1985

This is Dupree Bolton, a world class Jazz trumpet player and heroin addict. In 1985 I started to photograph him in San Francisco's Chinatown. He would play all day for the tourists then buy heroin at night, Nickel and dime bags ($5 and $10). Often the heroin was so cut, it would have no affect on him. Other times he would pass out as he spoke to me. His body was that of an old man even thou he was still in his 50s. Dupree was skin and bones, he told me the heroin took away his sex drive and his appetite. His whole life was devoted to making money for drugs. 

Dupree treated me kindly, with respect, never asking for money, he welcomed me in as a friend, even thou I came from an entirely different world and culture. I came from a place of privilege, I came from a far-off country, Canada. I was young and white, yet he forgot all that and we connected and shared. Dupree introduced me to many of the friends I made in West Oakland. As a 21-year-old kid from Canada it was a life changing experience. At the time I did not understand it, but now I do. I owe Dupree a lot. I wish I could tell him that.

Dupree Bolton died of cardiac arrest 7 years or so after this photograph. I was told by an Oakland friend that he also contracted AIDS through shared needles.

Dupree In Chinatown, San Francisco, California, USA, 1985

Partly Finished 18 Inch Projection Lens with Lens Board

I still need to add black putty to make it light proof. This lens with board setup should work as well as the 14-inch version. 

I have no idea what the image will look like. The sharp area, the dept of field will be very shallow, perhaps too shallow. The good is how dad this lens will be the large glass should allow in a ton of light. 

Here’s hoping it works. I can do without the shutter but having no F-stops might be a problem. I will test it on the 16x20 next trip. The lens will also fit the 24x24 Chamonix. I have no idea on the coverage.

Note* I did the board painting and filing at work.

Note** The cost of the lens was $12.99 USD and shipping $40 USD. The lens board was included in my Chamonix 24x24 camera buy. 

Quote: Buddha

 

18 Inch Projection Lens and Lensboard

Tonight, at work. I am going to try and fit my 18-inch projection lens into a wooden lens board. Then the lens can be mounted on the 16x20 and 24x24 Chamonix cameras. Not sure about the lens coverage. Not sure what look the lens will give me.

My work area

Photo Story : Vietnam Vet After Shooting Heroin, West Oakland, California, USA 1985

So the year was 1985. I was 21 years old. Borrowing my parents motor home I headed down to America from my home in Canada for 6 months. Eventually I met a Jazz trumpet player on the streets of San Francisco's Chinatown, we became friends, that mans name was Dupree Bolton.

Dupree took me one day to meet a friend of his, an ex prize fighter (boxer) named Sonny Land. Over the next 3 months or so we became very good friends. Sonny and I were inseparable. Being a naive, insecure, white Canadian kid in a African American ghetto, with many African American friends, was an experience I cherish to this day. I learned so much from my friends there, they were mostly in their 50s and so much more experienced and knowledgeable. I entered a culture, a world I knew nothing about, and left a changed person To this day the things I learned there, influence my life in a positive way.

This photograph was made in Sonny's closed Jazz Club bathroom which I had converted into a darkroom. The man's name I forget. Dupree and many of his friends slept in the club as I did. This man came in one day to shoot some heroin in my bathroom darkroom. He asked me for my sock, tied it around his arm, and injected heroin after heating/mixing it up with water in a bottle cap. I remember he told me he was a Vietnam vet, and that he had worked as a medic in the field, in battle. He must have had many demons. I only met him that one time. I do not know what happened to him.

The photo was made with a Canon A-1, with Tri-x.

Vietnam Vet After Shooting Heroin, West Oakland, California, USA 1985

The True W. Eugene Smiuth

Always loved this image.

To make the photos he made you have to feel deep compassion and empathy for the people in your pictures. 

Smith had the reputation as a tough, difficult guy, yet here you see his heart  This picture reveals his true feelings, the true man.

W. Eugene Smith while photographing his "Minamata Series", photographer unknown.

Voigtlander Lens On The Chamonix 24x24

I am not sure if the lens, a Voigtlander 655mm (24.5 inch) F6 Lens , will cover 24x24. One of quite a few lens options for the new/used Chamonix camera.

Possible Future Ontario AMBROTOS KANATA Meetup and Talk

Got contacted by a Facebook friend from Ontario. There might be a meetup and talk possibility at some future date. Will add his info to my meetup, workshop, talk, demonstration Excel form.

Thanks Christopher!

3 Cameras!!

3 cameras a 5x7 Deardorff copy, the Chamonix 24x24 and the HF3535.

Chamonix 24x24 Camera Is Safe In Edmonton!

The Chamonix 24x24 inch camera is safely unpacked in my small studio in Edmonton, Canada! 

Thank you Alex T for doing a great job packing the camera and providing me with a shipping case I can re use to haul the 24x24 across the country as part of AMBROTOS KANATA.

I am pleasantly surprised at the weight of the camera. I should be able to handle it for many years. It is lighter than I imagined.