Continuum (nocturnal photography at the truck stop)

Completely unhappy with the results of my initial shoot, I made my way back to the Transport for Christ Chapel at the truck stop.  I thought the rain would make for some interesting contrast and armed with a serious camera, perhaps get better results.

 

It’s funny, when you get back to the basics of photography and apply some discipline, how things seem to work better.  First of all, I looked at my viewfinder, rather than merely through it.  This kept distractions like odd street lamps and other bright objects from making it to the final negative.  Though there is always room for improvement, I have to say at this point, I’m pleased with the results.  I liked the shot of raindrops on the lens, how they took on the shape of my aperture blades, but not sure how long I’ll like it, or if I’ll think it’s too cheesy later on. 

Upon examing my negatives on the light table, I see how much “bounce” I had in my camera from the bad foam where the mirror flips up.  It’s most noticable in the close-up shots, here, the 24hr drive-thru sign, and the coffee cup in the other set of images.  I did use the MLU function of the camera in a couple of shots, but the freezing temps rushed me into not fiddling with it much.  I have since scavenged some foam here at work, and replaced the foam myself.  I haven’t shot with it yet, but just tripping the shutter, it’s much quieter now, so some of the vibration should be reduced.

 

I intended to shoot my interiors and portraits of the Missionary, but he is ill, and seriously so from what info I gathered.  He was a kind and patient man, who indulged me all my questions, both informative and on a personal, spiritual basis.  My thoughts are with him and his family as he recovers.                                               Mudflaps

Rear of the chapel on a rainy night.

                                                Drive thru McDonald’s or church?; what a choice.

                                             Chapel rig

                                                  John 3:16 and God orbs

Nocturnal photography

I had a near film developing disaster last evening.  My fixer was apparently bad, so when I pulled my film from the tank, it had not cleared, leaving the thick purple film emulsion still intact.  I didn’t think much about it til I called every camera store in town to discover no one sells b&w chemistry anymore.  All was not lost though; I met Tricia at the university campus and fixed the film.  Thankfully it cleared the film and I was happy as a clam. 

I’m excited to share my first bit of “street photography”, as in I was brave enough to point my Nikon at another living being.  I shot the images after my walk around town in the rain after a gallery opening.  I was frozen and hungry, and since I’ve always wanted to take pictures in a Waffle House at 3am, that is where I headed.  Granted, it wasn’t 3am, but it was still night and the mood could be the same regardless what the clock read.   

I’m disappointed my images around the capital building didn’t turn out, but that was completely my fault for not exposing the film right.  I was happy a shot of a cello in a music store window turned out ok (save the damn headlight streams from passing cars!).  However, I think it was worth the sore throat I got from standing in the rain.  I shot with my Nikon and 50mm lens, which I love because it’s such a fast lens and the camera fits my hand like a glove and we have such history.  Ok, enough rambling I suppose. 

blah blah blah

Nothing really interesting to say tonight, however I’m happy to report I’ve bagged another roll of film.  This time though I shot with my Nikon F3 and 50mm lens, what a sweet combo it is; didn’t even realize how much I missed shooting with it til now.   

Here’s one I shot a few weeks ago with the Great Wall, a cheap Chinese medium format SLR.  I haven’t got anything to show off its gorgeous bokeh, but if you google some images for it, you’ll see what I mean.  Or better yet, check out Tammy’s blog, she has some amazing shots with it.

Just one of those days…

…when I wake up questioning everything, wondering what the hell I’m doing, and why bother?  The proverbial drawing board seems I’m always at it, feeling lost and even unworthy of standing in front of it.  

I’m afraid I’ve become a victim of my own attempt to “lighten up” on myself.  In doing so, I’ve allowed myself to pass marginal images as work.  I used to spend days thinking, envisioning images, how to compose, light, shoot, what the final negative would consist of.  Execution was no less hurried or strenuous.  I could literally spend an hour just setting up a single shot, shoot and re-shoot til I was either successful in my attempt or walk away in utter defeat.  I didn’t force anything, would settle for nothing less than my original intent. I don’t pretend I’ve ever risen above mediocrity, but there was a time I was so driven by obsession, my work was on a upward trend of improvement. 

I think my downfall is to be drawn into latest trends and kitsch, try to fit my square peg self into a round hole.  I suppose I feel this way because I don’t think I’ve ever found my own personal style or know how to develop one.  Enter the rash of badly lit snapshots and banal images.  I have some extremely talented friends who could point a $5 disposable camera at a trash can and create a beautiful piece of art.  I’m not one of those people.  They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but I must apologize for even attempting such a thing.  In my case, it’s been a monumental farce. 

Photography is hard work, and those passionate about it, work hard at it; much harder than I have done in the last several months I must say.  It’s like the person who buys their first digital camera, the “spray and pray” mentality, where shooting a lot=hopefully something worthwhile.  I need to get my act together and start working hard again, this dead end road is getting tiresome. 

Gallery reception; intimate view of an artist

I attended the gallery reception for Kathleen Robbins’ The Art of Arranging Things last night at City Art Gallery.  More than an opening reception, it was a revealing of the artist’s soul, a poignant portrait of family, space, and time.  I’ve come to know her work because she’s my youngest daughter Tricia’s photography professor at the University of South Carolina.  I’ve been fascinated by the images on her website and blog for some time now, but there is so much lost to us, staring blankly back from a computer screen.  The images in the gallery are big, bright, and brimming with detail, which is not translated with the same bravado in the compressed digital images.

 

I have a penchant for the dramatic, the more the better.  If you look through the links I have posted in my Inspiration heading, you’ll see the type of work I’m drawn and aspire to.  Kathleen’s work is in stark contrast to the over-the-top, heavily manipulated type imaging, it’s more realistic, down to Earth.   There is a warm intimacy in her images; her style is elegantly simple and uncomplicated.  So much art is lost to the common person (of which I consider myself), it’s superfluous, egotistical, narcissist by its very nature; that was the real beauty of the work presented last night, it was relatable to anyone.  Her life could be any one of ours, her love for her family and home are tangible, and it’s quietly whispered to the viewer standing in front of the 30×30 photographs.