Goodbye

I woke up this morning to some very difficult news. My old friend, Joe Edward Segrest was tragically killed in a bicycling accident.

Joe was the very first male "model" I had ever worked with. Even though photographing male nudes has never been a huge part of my portfolio, his participation is incredibly meaningful to me. Joe was a beautiful man, full of life, energy, and kindness. Of all the people I have met over the years, he more than anyone embodied the notion that all people from all walks of life deserve respect and the benefit of an open mind.

Joe was a cancer survivor and when my mother struggled and ultimately lost her life to the same disease I often thought of Joe to inspire me to be strong. He lived his life in the most wonderfully contradictory way possible, with one foot always seeking out adventure and the other firmly grounded as a solid foundation for his friends and loved ones.

Joe will be missed, and for my part, he will always be remembered. 

Camera: Minolta Maxxum 7
Film: Kodak Tri-X
Location: Santa Cruz, CA

Contrast and Feet

Sometimes the good memories come floating back for no reason at all. Other times it's because you did something hard and ultimately came out the other side just a little bit better of a person than you were before.

Up All Night

Instead of sleeping, I decided to spend my night developing film instead. Actually, saying I "decided" implies I had some choice in the matter. Sometimes my brain will just not sleep no matter what I do. So instead I had a sort of mini photographer's party for one - complete with shots (consumed happily), plenty of photo chemistry (not consumed obviously), and sweet slow music to wash the night away.

This particular image was made on Kodak Tri-X pushed all the way to ISO 1600. I like the way the model's hair looked like a tattered shower curtain, which matches the overall scene and mood of the image rather well in my opinion. 

Camera: Mamiya RB67
Film: Kodak Tri-X
Location: Portland, OR 

These Hands

I had some pretty grand intentions on the day this image was taken for some outdoor locations but unfortunately mother nature had other plans. Rain is something I will typically ask people to endure, but freezing wind is a whole other ball game that even I’m not crazy enough to force upon someone.

Despite the lack of cooperation from the outdoors, I think we managed to make some really nice images. The tea and the warmth certainly helped lighten the mood anyway!

Camera: Mamiya RZ67
Film: Kodak Tri-X
Location: Portland, OR

Joyful Photography

I spent a good deal of time last night looking at the work of another photographer whose models all looked really happy. It made me realize that I have so few photographs of people looking happy. This isn't on purpose mind you. It's just instinctive for me to want poses and expressions that look either neutral or serene, and I feel like if I try to force a smile out of someone it is just going to look fake.

I am curious how this other photographer (who I shall not name) does it and makes it look real. I admire that simply because I'm not sure I have that skill as a photographer. On occasion I can capture genuine joy in a person, but I feel like I'm just getting lucky when I do. 

Camera: Mamiya 645e
Film: Kodak Tri-X
Location: Portland, OR - Sauvie Island

Setting Sun

I haven't done a whole lot of pregnancy photos in my life as a photographer. The few opportunities I've had I did enjoy however. The body can really do fascinating things when it is carrying a child and being a witness to its changes is really amazing.

This was photographed near sunset out on Sauvie Island just outside of Portland Oregon. The land around here is a bit of a bird sanctuary and there are times when herds of cows roam free through the grass. On this particular adventure however there wasn't much going on beyond a pregnant model and a setting sun. 

Camera: Mamiya C330
Film: Kodak Tri-X
Location: Portland, OR - Sauvie Island

Morning Light

Working with some very early morning light and a lovely model.

The lighting conditions where incredibly contrasty so I decided to shoot this with Kodak Tri-X and pulled it to about ISO 200. Semi-stand development took care of the rest and insured that I get some detail out of the darker areas of the image. 

Camera: Mamiya C330
Film: Kodak Tri-X
Model: Olivia Odd
Location: Ithaca, NY

Needs...

Wants and needs can sometimes be the same thing.

Photographed with a Mamiya C330 TLR on Kodak Tri-X film pushed all the way to ISO 6400 and developed in Ilford DD-X developer. The line going down the side of the frame is actually an issue with my scanner that needs to be fixed like...yesterday.

Camera: Mamiya C330
Film: Kodak Tri-X
Model: Olivia Odd
Location: Ellicotville, NY

Sleepy Time

I'm feeling sleeping this evening. Kind of sad but I think I'm looking forward to going to bed more than any other activity I could possibly do on a Friday night. Yaaaay for getting old!!

Photographed with a Mamiya 645e and Kodak Tri-X film hand held with only natural light to guide the scene. 

Camera: Mamiya 645e
Film: Kodak Tri-X
Model: Theresa Manchester
Location: Portland, OR 

Black and Gray

Lines in grayscale and be such a lovely thing.

Photographed with a Mamiya C330 TLR and Kodak Tri-X film, developed in Rodinal. I love the Mamiya for it's ability to focus in pretty tight making for some nice abstract compositions. Sure, the parallax can be an issue, but once you practice with it for a little while it isn't so bad.  

Camera: Mamiya C330
Film: Kodak Tri-X
Location: Portland, OR

Water Portrait

A portrait of an old friend.

Photographed using a Mamiya C330 TLR with Kodak Tri-X film. 

Camera: Mamiya C330 
Film: Kodak Tri-X
Location: Portland, OR - Columbia River Gorge

Space and Shadow

Playing with a camera in small silent spaces.

Photographed with a Mamiya 645e and Kodak Tri-X film pushed to ISO 800. The light was mostly natural coming from a window to the right of the frame. I set up a small reflector to get a little more intensity out if it.

Camera: Mamiya 645e
Film: Kodak Tri-X
Model: Theresa Manchester
Location: Portland, OR 

I Spy Said I

Creatively speaking I am not having the best day today. I'm sure any photographer who happens to be reading this can relate. For whatever reason every roll of film I pulled out of the developer just gave me a feeling of "meh".

Oh well, it happens and thankfully I have a rather large archive of images I'm happy with to fall back on.

Camera: Mamiya C330
Film: Kodak Tri-X
Location: Portland, OR

The Window Dark

I love the veins in the model's hands. They are like little rivers of life shooting up and down the figure.

Photographed with a Mamiya 645e and 80mm F/1.9 lens.  The window light was really fading when we got around to taking this image so I had to push the film all the way to ISO 3200.  Even then I was still shooting wide open at F/1.9 all the way down to about 1/15th of a second.  

Camera: Mamiya 645e
Film: Kodak Tri-X
Model: Theresa Manchester 
Location: Portland, OR 

Mirror Nude

Playing with a mirror in a motel room on the outskirts of Portland.  

I found a stash of Kodak Tri-X on craigslist a couple of weeks ago and will be working off of that for a little bit.  It was only expired by a year so I'm not worried about the quality.  I've always had really good luck with expired black and white film.  

Camera: Mamiya 645e
Film: Kodak Tri-X
Model: Theresa Manchester
Location: Portland, OR 

Light to the Left

Photographed with only natural light coming through on the left side of the frame.

This image was made using Kodak Trix-X loaded in my Mamiya RZ67.  I really hope Kodak film production finds itself on more stable footing in the near future because I really love the way Tri-X renders skin tones.  I found this particular role floating around the bottom of my refrigerator and as I mentioned before I'm sticking with Ilford HP5 for most new film purchases for the foreseeable future.  Depending on what happens with Kodak that may change though.

It's also worth noting how much I've come to appreciate the 110mm f/2.8 lens on my Mamiya RZ67.  I didn't use it for a while because the focal length doesn't lend itself very well to working in tight spaces and still getting a good portion of the figure in the frame.  I usually like to get a bit more of the environment in my work with people, or if nothing else, the entirety of the body.  This is more of a head and shoulders kind of lens.  Still, I think I'm making it work pretty well here.  

Camera: Mamiya RZ67
Film: Kodak Tri-X
Model: St. Merrique
Location: Portland, OR