Color Shift

Working with Kodak Ektar under hot lights yields some rather extreme color shifts, but I sort of like the results anyway.

Camera: Mamiya C330 TLR

Film: Kodak Ektar

Location: San Francisco, CA

Lost

I feel like I have amnesia,

but I know it's myself I've lost.

I wonder what's happened so far,

and what might have been the cost.

- Mind.in.a.box - Amnesia

Camera: Mamiya C330 TLR
Film: Fomapan 100
Model: Anna Tree

Mazarine

If my career as a photographer was to be compared to that of a rock band from the 1980's, the top photograph would easily be my one hit wonder.

I made that image all the way back in 2008 and to this day I get e-mails, questions, print requests, and adoration for it at least once a week if not more. This is not a complaint mind you. I really don't begrudge the fact that I have at least one image that seems to stick with people. I think a lot of photographers go their entire life without accomplishing that and if I can do it once that means the potential will always be there to do it again.

I think it goes without saying that Mazarine, the lovely woman behind that image, has remained a close friend in my life. I honestly don't even remember how we met. It may have been a craigslist ad, or perhaps through Model Mayhem. Maybe she just found my website at random and got in touch with me. All these years later I really couldn't say nor am I sure it even matters. The only important thing is that picturing my world without her friendship just doesn't seem possible. 

Mazarine (greatest name ever btw!!) is perhaps the smartest and most ambitious person I have ever known. We catch up over breakfast or dinner quite regularly and I don't think I have ever had an encounter with her where she didn't change my way of thinking about at least one topic. The words "huh, I never thought of that!" are something I am completely accustomed to saying in her presence. I am convinced that if it weren't for her strong sense of character and honesty, she would probably be ruling the world by now. 

Camera: Mamiya C330 TLR - Rolleflex TLR
Film: Fomapan 100 - Ilford HP5

Abstract

Once again, just channeling that inner Bill Brandt in me that never seems to go away. 

I like the softness of the shadows in this image. The contrast may be harsh, but the shapes are lovely and seem to dance around the curves of the body nicely. 

Camera: Mamiya C330 TLR
Film: Ilford HP5

Window Light

I’ve been working with a digital camera a lot lately, in part due to laziness and in part due to financial necessity.

Then I pulled this image out of the developing tank and I thought to myself, “yeah…the digital camera just aint gonna fly…”

Camera: Mamiya C330 TLR
Film: Fomapan 100
Model: Cait Lion
Location: Portland, OR 

I Can Read!

Part of my outlook on life these days is to make it a point to try new things. I think it is an effective way to deal with depression and perhaps get me out of this creative rut I am in.

So when a lovely friend of mine, and frequent model, asked me to read a chapter from her new book in front of a live audience I said, "Sure! What have I got to lose?"

The book is titled: They Call Me Rocket: Stories of a Rose City Stripper. The reading will take place on May 6th at the Star Theater in Portland Oregon, so if happen to have that evening free you should come on by! It should be entertaining if for no other reason than the fact that I will likely make a fool of myself on stage. That alone should be worth the price of admission. 

Camera: Mamiya C330 TLR
Film: Rollei RPX
Model: Rocket
Location: Portland, OR - Sauvie Island

At Last!!

This is the time of year when everything changes on a technical level. The typical gray sky of the Pacific Northwest begins to part and we get several months of solid sunshine and warm temperatures. All the 400 speed film in my camera bag goes back into the ice box and is replaced with 100 speed film and maybe even a little color mixed in for good measure. I start developing my film three degrees colder to tame down the contrast a bit in my final images.

Most importantly I have a new element at play to work with. I have no choice but to dance around with direct sunlight, keeping in mind when I make images, using it to my advantage when I can and compromising with it when I can't. It can be a fun challenge, and an ever present anomaly to annoy me when I'm not accustomed to it.

NOTE: I am incredibly grateful for all the notes and e-mails that have been flooding in as of late. The well-wishes, compliments, and questions are all very welcome and if I haven't replied it is simply because I am overwhelmed and have just not gotten the chance yet. Just know I appreciate them all!!

Camera: Mamiya C330 TLR
Film: Fomapan 100
Location: Portland, OR - Columbia River Gorge
Model: Wolfpup

Disconnecting

I'm going to be disconnecting from the internet for a little while. I have some traveling to do. 

First stop will be Vancouver Canada, where I hope to do a little drinking and maybe checking out the lovely landscape if the weather gods are on my side just a little. Then I'm back to Portland for a couple days of much needed therapy (quite literally!) and then I'm heading east. Where east I'm not sure, but I've got all the time in the world right now and a change of scenery will be nice.

In the meantime I will feed the internet with exactly what it wants, a naked girl and a cute kitten. 

You're welcome. :-)

Camera: Mamiya C330 TLR
Film: Ilford Delta 100
Location: Portland, OR

Cooking? Me?

This image reminds me of the fact that I have yet to eat this evening. Don't ask me why, just trust that it does.

So I better get on that.

My options include frozen pizza, pretzels. cottage cheese, or maybe some really bad nachos if I'm feeling particularly bold. That is just how I role in my kitchen.  

Camera: Mamiya C330
Film: Ilford HP5
Model: Olivia Odd

Soft Back

I like the general softness of this image, even if I did get my own fingerprints all over the negative ;-)

Camera: Mamiya C330 TLR
Film: Fomapan 100
Location: Portland, OR 

Pick and Choose

I am slowly starting to come to terms with the fact that once I willingly share an image with the public, it is no longer mine to control. 

I'm going to confess a little secret... The two images on this blog that are by far the most popular are two images I really don't care about at all. I mean yeah sure, they're pretty. I made the images and on that level I stand behind them. However, they don't make me feel anything in particular either. I don't look at them and feel happy, or sad, enlightened, or frustrated, or accomplished. I don't have much of an emotional connection to either one.

But you know what? That is perfectly ok because obviously someone else does like them a whole that more than I do and there is nothing wrong with that. I don't get to pick and choose which pieces of mine inspire some kind of response.

When I realize it isn't up to me that does tend to take a lot of pressure off. I can just make things. I can choose to like them or not. I can choose to share them or not. The rest is up to someone else. 

Camera: Mamiya C330 TLR
Film: Fomapan 100
Location: Portland, OR - Columbia River Gorge

Happy Weather

We've been having some real Oregon weather lately which I am absolutely loving. Summer and Spring be damned!! Give me overcast skies, a cold wind, and empty beaches any day of the week.

Camera: Mamiya C330 TLR
Film: Ilford Delta 400
Location: Portland, OR - Sauvie Island

Woods and Portraits

Please forgive my absence from the internet as of late. I've been going through a little bit of self imposed "therapy" which has kept me rather occupied. I take that back, it has pretty much left me laying in bed thinking very deep thoughts and figuring out things in my brain, which isn't entirely a bad thing at all.

This image was made under the shadows of some very tall trees on a sunny afternoon. I had to push the film all the way to ISO 1600 and was still hand holding the camera at about 1/15th of a second. I actually like working under conditions like this. It's an imperfect world after all and sometimes just the act of making a photograph can remind us of that fact.

Camera: Mamiya C330 TLR
Film: Ilford HP5
Location: Portland, OR - Columbia River Gorge

I'm A Little Behind

Wow, this image is at least ten years old and I just developed it 24 hours ago. Yeah, I'm a little behind on things...

I actually don't like the image all that much, but I am fascinated with the fact that I can almost guarantee I was saying to myself ten years ago, "this is sooooooo Helmut Newton!"

Camera: Mamiya C330 TLR
Film: Fomapan 100
Location: Portland, OR 

Window Light

For some weird reason I've been having a lot of problems with film curl lately. I've never had this issue before and I haven't changed anything at all about my processing methods. Maybe it's the weather? Who knows...

Whatever the cause, it's making me hate scanning even more than I already do!

Camera: Mamiya C330 TLR
Film: Fomapan 100
Location: Santa Cruz, CA

Portrait Wall

I've been doing a lot of work lately up against a blank wall in my apartment. I can't decide if that is because I'm lazy, too broke to go shoot in hotel rooms, or because I'm making some sort of artistic choice to just work in the most simple way possible. 

I'd like to believe it is that last option, but I'm not entirely sure that's true.

Either way, this was made with a single hot light and my trusty Mamiya TLR set up on a tri-pod. 

Camera: Mamiya C330 TLR
Film: Fomapan 400
Location: Portland, OR

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.

It's Ok to Scare Me

I'll be the first to admit that I have a very difficult time capturing faces. Or maybe the better way to put that is I have a difficult time capturing expressions.

For most of my life I've focused my photography on the body. As beautiful as I find figures to be it must be said that sometimes they really just amount to being another object in the frame - no different than a rock or a tree or a field of grass. I don't mean to imply that is a lesser photographic aesthetic because it is certainly not, but it does mean the majority of my concentration is on finding pleasing shapes and lines that can dance across a frame.

Looking purely at a person's face however is without a doubt outside my comfort zone. Having them look back at me, into my camera, and in many ways right into my own eyes is downright terrifying.

Sometimes I like to be terrified.

Camera: Mamiya C330 TLR
Film: Fuji Neopan 400
Location: Portland, OR

Wind and Words

The wind was stirring up something furious today. In a strange way I sort of liked it and surprisingly my model didn't seem to mind either. There was electricity in the air that was so strong you could almost taste it. Like all I had to do was open my mouth and my words would have more fire to them than a person ought to.

I like days like this. 

Camera: Mamiya C330
Film: Ilford HP5
Model: Freya Gallows
Location: Portland, OR - Sauvie Island

I Miss You!!

I finally broke down and used up my last role of Adox CHS 50. I cannot tell you how much I miss this film. Incredibly rich and sharp with great contrast and tonal range. Such a classic look that just cannot be reproduced even with modern films, let alone through digital means.

I hear they have brought back an ISO 100 speed version of this film but it is not yet available in 120. I hope that changes soon because I can't wait to give it a try!!

Camera: Mamiya C330
Film: Adox CHS 50
Location: Portland, OR