3 Prints Project: April 6, 2008

This week I gave the digital camera a rest and was back to shooting film. I use 35mm Ilford Hp5 processed in Kodak D-76 developer diluted 1:1 with water. I've been using D-76 for over 30 years now and it still gives reliable results. In case you are wondering how I fit this into my schedule I carry the Leica M6 around with me from Sunday until I have two rolls exposed. Generally I have that done by Wednesday or Thursday, process the film on Thursday or Friday evening, and print sometime during the day on Saturday.

It takes more patience than time. Shooting is incidental and done while doing other things. Processing the film takes about 45 minutes. Making three prints takes another hour or so. Depending on my mood and how the week goes this can seem easy or impossible. Luckily it doesn't matter how I feel. I just need to do it.

Still not sure where I am going with this project but I believe something good will happen. Photography remains a mystery to me a lot of the time.

So here are this week's pictures:

Kim at Barnes and Noble.

Twisted vines in bird paradise.

Trees in the wind at local park.

3 Prints Project: March 30, 2008

This past week I have worked exclusively with the Canon G9 digital camera. I find myself exploring freely with it and pleased with the RAW files it produces. Since I am a couple days late posting these I have already run through a roll of film in the Leica and as I look at these I am aware of how different the experience is using the different cameras. I can't judge one approach better than the other. Just different for now.

Here are my three choices from last week's project shooting:

My wife Kim searching for stick people in the grapevines.

Agfa paper box and view from the coffee shop window.

Corner in downtown parking structure.

3 Prints Project: March 24, 2008

I wanted to skip the project this week. The desire to not shoot two rolls of film, mix developer, process the film, and make prints just seemed overwhelming. Even though I had the camera with me it took an act of self-will to shoot this week. Maybe it was a hectic schedule at work. Or more likely me shifting from slow to slower to stop. What ever it was I had to drag myself along.

I’ve felt the same about riding. Not just to work but riding in general. Sure, the weather isn’t all that great but it’s certainly reasonable weather. This morning I forced myself out the door on the Vespa. It was colder than I thought and I had to stop to put on a ski mask under my helmet. The temperature reading on the Vespa as the sun crept over the ridge was 21 degrees Fahrenheit.

I’m glad I forced myself out the door to ride and I’m glad I forced myself to shoot the film. I felt good once I was on the road and the same for the darkroom. My old brain is really good at convincing me I should take the easy road – in this instance drive the truck to work and skip the pictures. I can easily convince myself that the ride will be lackluster and the pictures insignificant. But you know what? None of that matters. Taking the ride, shooting the pictures, that’s what matters and that is what will feel good at the end of the day. I sure am ready for warmer weather though.

Here are the prints for this week.

Essa posing as a fine, soft snow falls

Sumac at intersection

Collection of winter debris and stuff in the deer den

3 Prints Project (Digital): March 17, 2008

This post marks a modification in the project format. Beginning last week I started shooting digital pictures and plan to alternate between digital and film. For the digital weeks I'll shoot at least 100 digital pictures, then the next week 2 rolls of black and white film. I'll do this for at least a year. Or so the plans go right now.

This change is the result of a gentle suggestion by a friend who believes my working in film might be limiting me. He proposed working digitally would allow me to release the tight control I exert when shooting film. A quick look at my contact sheets bears out that theory. I wasn't sure if I should make the switch and posted the question on a forum I belong to for additional feedback and the digital/film question is as active as the motorcycle/scooter one is. If you want to have a look at that discussion check out The Empty Mind -- Film vs. Digital.

At the end of the first week I've noticed differences. That's strange considering how much work I do professionally with a digital camera. But for personal pursuits it's like none of that counts. I made 242 exposures, more than triple the amount I make with film. Perhaps I am not hearing the money adding up the same way I do with film. And there is color to take into account. And I've noticed I shoot more verticals digitally. Not sure what that's all about.

I'm still looking at what I've shot and trying to figure out what's going on. It's sort of an exciting puzzle for me. It was difficult to make three selections from everything I shot. That's probably another learning opportunity. So here are the selections from the first week of digital:

15 year old Essa posing for a portrait upon returning from a morning walk

Empty parking deck after work

Tree near research greenhouse

3 Prints Project: March 9, 2008

I finished my prints this week later than normal -- around 10 PM on Saturday evening. The process is more routine and predictable with only about an hour needed to produce 6 to 8 work prints.

The three I chose this week to share are different but similar. My eye seems to be drawn to the same construction over and over again.

Tree along Branch Road

My Domke bag at a coffee shop

Essa McCloud examining snow

3 Prints Project: March 2, 2008

Another week and two more rolls of Ilford HP5 35mm black and white film shot, processed, contacted, and three more prints. At one point I thought I lost the first roll of film in the trash until I pulled the negatives from the developer and saw what I thought were the lost images. If nothing else I will be more careful where I store my exposed film.

The coming week promises a bit milder weather so I expect to see more time on the Vespa and perhaps some different pictures. Regardless I will continue to expose two rolls of film...

Reflection in window of Glennland Building

View along Brush Valley Road

Eggs in store window display

3 Prints Project: February 24, 2008

I only have so much time and attention in a day. As I get older it becomes easier to see how my choices can waste them. Shooting two rolls of film each week, 72 exposures, on top of everything else I do demands I take my camera with me everywhere. To work, on dog walks, to the bank, to bed. Most people you see on a daily basis don't have a camera hanging around their neck. Most people aren't riding a Vespa in the winter. But I bet most people wish they could do more.

Perhaps shooting these pictures is a concerned attempt on my part to not squander the time I have. To do more.

So here they are.

The multi-stemmed white birch in the front yard

A view from my tea cup in a local coffee shop

Beaver Avenue the way I like to see it

3 Prints Project: February 17, 2008

Another week and more film through the camera and darkroom. Three rolls of Ilford HP5 35mm film, one more than my weekly goal. And I actually made 9 8x10 prints. But I'll burden you only with three that reflect the ongoing winter weather last week that has kept my Vespa in the garage. It has to stop sometime right?

80 plus year old neighbor rides by on his bicycle.

This man rides relentlessly year round. I was standing out in the road trying to decide if I should ride to work. He went by and I drove the car. I've lost my winter riding edge.

Bench in park down the road from our house

Apple tree in backyard

I've gotten into a photographic flow. Shooting, processing, and printing is easier though the last batch of prints came out of the wash water at 1 AM. I must be reliving my energetic youth. A focus is beginning to emerge that can be best described in words provided by my friend Frank Armstrong -- pictures of an ordinary life. After thinking about it that is what I photograph; the ordinary moments and places that appear in front of me as I live each day. I do the same thing with my riding. I ride in the places here where I live. We'll see how it turns out.

DON'T FORGET!

It's that time of year again when you can choose the best and worst of the motorcycle and scooter industry. The motorcycle industry is starting to take bloggers and blog readers seriously. Your vote will matter and who knows what that might mean down the road.

To view the nominations and vote click----> 2008 Riders Choice Awards.

3 Prints Project -- February 10, 2008

I've continued to expose film and it is getting easier. I am almost finished with my second roll for the coming week. That should allow for more time to process and print. These prints were made late at night. My flatbed scanner appears to attract dust that I just can't see on the glass. The prints are clean but the scans look as if I made the prints in the dirtiest darkroom on the planet...

I made six prints this week. My goal is to make at least three a week. Here they are:

Dawn just before ride to work

Birch trees in front yard at dusk

View into backyard at the end of the day

My friend Paul relaxing at local tavern

Turn out areas for horses

Rock in garden

3 Prints Project Index

I've been tackling a goal I set for myself to shoot two rolls of film every week. And then process, contact, and make three gelatin silver prints. Work prints. Every week, rain or shine, no excuses. And so far I have been pretty successful. And to add another motivational stick I am going to begin posting those prints here every Sunday night/Monday morning.

I've undertaken this work because I have been searching for my next creative direction. I have never planned out my projects. They just appear, find me in some mystical fashion. And they only appear when I'm working, while I'm pressing the shutter in response to something that interests me personally. And when I am engaged like that something will happen. It always does if I am patient.

Below are links to the project posts.

3 Prints Project -- April 5, 2009

3 Prints Project -- March 22, 2009

3 Prints Project -- February 24, 2009

3 Prints Project -- April 6, 2008

3 Prints Project -- March 30, 2008

3 Prints Project -- March 24, 2008

3 Prints Project -- March 17, 2008

3 Prints Project -- March 9, 2008

3 Prints Project -- March 2, 2008

3 Prints Project -- February 24, 2008

3 Prints Project -- February 17, 2008

3 Prints Project -- February 10, 2008

3 Prints Project -- February 3, 2008

3 Prints Project -- January 27, 2008

3 Prints Project -- February 3, 2008

Another week has passed and I managed to shoot two more rolls and make prints. It is becoming easier to get myself into the darkroom and exposing the film is becoming more transparent in my life. It definitely helps that I carry my Leica M6 with me everywhere.

Here are the pictures...

Early last Sunday morning at local cafe

Kim in parking lot

Farm along long route to work

The Three Prints a Week Project

For the past couple months I've been tackling a goal I set for myself to shoot two rolls of film every week. And then process, contact, and make three gelatin silver prints. Work prints. Every week, rain or shine, no excuses. And so far I have been pretty successful. And to add another motivational stick I am going to begin posting those prints here every Sunday night/Monday morning.

I've undertaken this work because I have been searching for my next creative direction. I have never planned out my projects. They just appear, find me in some mystical fashion. And they only appear when I'm working, while I'm pressing the shutter in response to something that interests me personally. And when I am engaged like that something will happen. It always does if I am patient.

To keep things simple I've decided to use simple tools. My Leica M6 rangefinder camera, black and white film, D-76 developer for film, Dektol for prints, and Forte Elegance Polywarmtone Plus paper. If something appears and I want to pursue it outside this print project I can use other cameras of materials but for now I don't want any mental distractions.

Professionally I work exclusively with digital tools. To help separate my professional and personal work I am using film. It is an elegant way to work. The Vespa may find it's way into some of the pictures but it's anyone's guess where things will go. So here are this week's pictures.

My dog Essa exploring the garden during her morning walk.


Kim stretching

My Vespa in an underground loading dock