#1092 Solo Show in September

Posted on August 1, 2014 by admin

Coming in September I’ll be exhibiting works from my Watershed & Sunstreaks Collections at La Fab in Old Chelsea, Quebec.

Watershed
The Watershed project started 14 years ago as my dear old dog and I started exploring the little creek behind our home.

That turned into an 18 km (so far) exploration of a traditional watershed in Chelsea and Gatineau Park with medium and large format photography. It’s been an amazing adventure seeing how the waterway changes over the years.

Watershed – Black & White One-of-a-Kind Originals – Straight from the camera. 2013

SunStreaks
My latest project started with a home made 8×10 camera and tweaking a 170 year old art process that’s not supposed to involve a camera. The original, one-of-a-kinds depict the sun as it streaks across the sky.

Kingsmere Lake SunStreak – the blue line is the path of the sun. The gaps? Cloudy periods… One-of-a-kind originals – Straight from the camera

The Big Camera
Some of each project is captured using a very large, plywood camera, built by hand. The camera produces originals straight from the camera. Unlike traditional photography there is only one final piece of art available with each exposure.

Hand made 8×10 Large Format Camera

Join us!
La Fab
212 Old Chelsea Rd
Old Chelsea, Qc.
September 18 to October 5, 2014

#1090 World Press Photo Winners 1955-2011

Posted on July 23, 2014 by admin

Last blog post we announced the arrival of the World Press Photo Exhibition at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

Past Winning Photos
Since then I discovered a site showing the winning photos of the award from 1955-2011. The photos give an idea of what to expect from this year’s exhibition.

WARNING!: Some photos in the link above show scenes of conflict or portray challenging situations that may not be suitable for all audiences.

Local World Press Award WInner
Ottawa’s own David Barbour, below, won a World Press Award in 1986 for a photograph taken in Egypt for CIDA.

Exhibition Details
This year’s exhibition runs from July 25th to August 21st, 2014 at the Canadian War Museum. It’s free!

Ottawa’s David Barbour – 1986 World Press Award winner

#1089 World Press Photo Awards Arrives in Ottawa

Posted on July 18, 2014 by admin

One of the finest annual photo events comes to Ottawa again starting next Friday, July 25th, 2014:

World Press Photo Exhibition at the Canadian War Museum

The World Press Photo Exhibition features the finest press photography from around the world. Subjects include:
• sports
• people
• peace
• war
• some lovely stories we never hear about
• … and some that make me cry

It’s worth a visit:
Canadian War Museum
July 25th – August 21st, 2014
Free.

You’ll walk away changed.

#1085 Large format innovations

Posted on June 30, 2014 by admin

I get bored easily…
So I am always looking for new and not-yet-done innovations with cameras or camera-like devices.

After your feedback and sales at The New Art Festival I am excited about the direction I am going with my work.

Large Format – One-of-a-Kind Works
More and more, I am excited about simple processes. I feel like I am going backwards along the evolutionary scale of photography – back to simpler equipment and slow, but extraordinary results.

Old photo formats – slow photography

While I have modern, new equipment I get most excited about old equipment. Last month I dropped my 4×5 in a lake… submerged. After a thorough disassembly (easy) and drying, the camera was happily back in action.

I’ve slowly explored the path of large format photography starting with a Graflex 4×5 and building up to my newest camera, my home made 8×10 field camera.

Last year I worked hard to figure out two new processes producing originals straight from the camera – not prints / reproductions.

I like it!

Next Show
I’m creating more this summer preparing for my next show at La Fab – September 18 – October 5th.

Stay tuned!

Original, straight from the camera. One of a kind. From my continuing 14 year Watershed project following the creek behind our home – 18km so far…

#1083 A Big Thanks!

Posted on June 23, 2014 by admin

We had a wonderful weekend at the New Art Festival.
Weather was perfect and we met many new and familiar faces.

If you follow this blog you’ll know I showed my new Sunstreaks and B&W Watershed works straight from the camera.

New Works at the New Art Festival

Both sets of photos were exciting to explore. The processes took 1-2 years to transform and tweak into the artwork I am producing – many, many, erm, challenges/attempts/failures before I got successes.

A big, big thanks to everyone that came to visit and supported my work. Your purchases help me continue to experiment and produce new works.

SOLD – New Works – Parliament Hill Sun streak…

And a big thanks to those that helped behind the scenes – John, Marcel, Omer, Rachel (& friend), Marie-Helene and, of course my wife and family who picked up the slack as I worked through the weekend!

Many thanks…

I have a show coming up at La Fab.
Stay tuned!

Large Format Photography

#1076 Big Film Photo Workshop

Posted on May 29, 2014 by admin

People keep asking… so we’re offering a workshop for people who want a challenge beyond the DSLR.

Join us this summer as we introduce different large formats to the group while exploring a couple of locations from my Watershed Collection which involves 20 kilometres of exploring a waterway.

Large Format Photo Workshop

For the last 22 years I’ve worked as a photographer. It’s only since 2007 that I have owned a digital cameras…. the early ones were terrible (technically) and I held out as long as I could. I’m now happy with current available digital equipment but still have a passion for film.

I’ve owned and shot many formats including:
• 18x24mm (half framer)
• 35mm (standard SLR format)
• 6×7 cm
• 24×50 mm (panoramic)
• 4×5 inch (large format)
• 8×10 inch (large format)

8×10 Large format – photographing Watershed

There are many reasons to shooting film and big formats:
• a new (or old) challenge – Think you’re a good photographer? Can you capture a technical shot with one click and no preview?!
• large file sizes
• tangible archival back-up material
• slow process
• There’s been a renaissance in film!

Dates – July 17 (eve), 19, 20, 24 (eve), 2014

Locations – Ottawa Studio Works (central Ottawa) & Chelsea Watershed (just north of Ottawa.)

Cost: $375 + taxes

Click here for more information and online registration.

From the home made 8×10 camera

#1075 Web Distractions

Posted on May 25, 2014 by admin

This edition of Web Distractions is brought to you by many of our readers and supporters! Thanks for keeping the links coming…

• 55 Best Photographers, Ever
We stumbled upon this list and I was curious who got the number one spot…

• Pre-Pantone Colours
Norman P offered this link about a book of colours described hundreds of years before Pantone.

Film Photography

• Photos of Tears
Gina R suggested this link with photos about the uniqueness of tears.

• Historic Negatives Found at Thrift Shop
Wojciech J. posted this link about a story of negatives that surfaced in a Thrift Shop.

• Motorbikes and their Loads
Peter H brought our attention to this light hearted look at heavy loads.

• Oops, wrong photos in a big news story
‘Anonymous’ suggested this NY Times story about the wrong photos being used for a mega news story

• Post-Baby Beauty
Murielle C posted this link challenging perceptions of beauty.

• Photographer Round-up
Check who’s doing what in the photo world – expand your horizons.

A big thanks for the links – keep them coming!

Bye for now…

#1074 Join Us – New Works

Posted on May 21, 2014 by admin

June offers the New Art Festival in the Glebe’s Central Park in Ottawa.

Hundreds of artists congregate to bring you their latest works with innovative ideas.

Hand bult 8×10 camera – photographing the Watershed project

This year I’m presenting:
• BIG Watershed prints

• My latest Watershed works shot with my hand built camera – these photos are originals – the photograph is the medium that gets exposed in the camera.

Watershed 4×5 Black&White Print – this photo is the material loaded in the camera… there is only one.

• Sunstreaks – For a year I’ve developed a way to capture the sun streaking across familiar landscapes with an old process not intended for the camera. These pictures also come straight from the camera.

Sunrise over Ottawa – an 8×10 original. The photo is straight from the camera. That is why it is backwards!

• and some work from the archives.

Join us!
I appreciate your support and purchases – there will be a range of prices and work to suit everyone.

Details:
June 21, 22, 2014
Ottawa’s Central Park in the Glebe.

#1072 Oops, I dropped a camera in the lake.

Posted on May 11, 2014 by admin

I dropped a camera in the lake – submerged…
Oops.

I trekked into Fortune Lake to continue my “Watershed Project” with two cameras:
• a ‘small’ 4×5 Graflex large format camera
• big hand-made 8×10 wood camera

With supporting gear, I hauled 50 pounds of equipment to a remote part of the lake.

8×10 hand-made sliding box camera

Sploosh!
I set up and shot a scene with the 8×10 camera after which I set the Graflex on a tripod and went for the film holders. With my back turned (just a minute) I heard sploosh! One tripod leg had slowly shrunk causing the camera to pitch into the water.

Graflex 4×5 camera

Clean-up and Recovery
I fished the camera out of the water and immediately took the lens off and dismantled it – the nice thing about large format lenses is you can unscrew most elements of the lens without tools.

I cleaned & cleaned & dried & dried with a soft cotton, absorbing cloth for 10 or 15 minutes and then went to save the camera by draining water and drying it as best as possible.

Once home, I took out the affected gear, warmed the oven to 200F, turned the oven off and put the camera and lens parts inside for a couple of hours.

Nikkor 75 mm lens with 4×5 coverage – easy to disassemble!

Results
I am happy to report that all critical elements are functioning – I did damage the Graflok spring back but there’s an easy work-around until I can find a part… Anyone have spare parts for a Graflex?

Support
Ottawa’s Camera Trading Company did not have the part but did have the expertise to help me make the camera usable without the Graflok back – that’s the value of Tom and Mark (and sometimes Bob) in the store – they know a lot!

David Barbour

As I was leaving the store I bumped into David Barbour, veteran working photographer. He smiled commenting about my camera-in-lake Facebook post. “Never turn your back on a tripod!”
Thanks David.

In 1997 I assisted Malak in the Yukon. At 82 years old he had seen it all. He told me “I’ve made every mistake in the book!” It’s comforting to know others have big ‘oops’es.

I am a big, big fan of simple, mechanical equipment.
… I love it!

#1070 Web distractions

Posted on May 6, 2014 by admin

This edition of Web Distractions is brought to you by many of our readers and supporters! Thanks for keeping the links coming…

• 2014 Scotiabank Photography Award goes to…
Mark Ruwedel! Congratulations…

• Sun Streaks to Analemma
Gilles saw my SunStreaks project and sent me this link to the related Analemma – very interesting! Thanks Gilles…

iPhone Ottawa Sunrise

• Custom-Cameras
Mike V of PhotoKibitz offered this link to Custom Cameras… very fun!

• NY Times: Alternate views of animals
Debbie S shared this article on different photos depicting animals.

• Powerful photos…
Thanks again to Deb for this link!

• Photographer Round-up
Check who’s doing what in the photo world – it’ll help you develop your own vision!

A big thanks for the links – keep them coming!

Building a picture – soak up as many influences as possible!