Free Day 22nd Dec 2011 (Perception)

Free Day 22nd Dec 2011 (Perception)

Took myself off to the local library today to return one book, renew the rest I had and see what else was available. I found an amazing book on the photographers from the American publication 'Life' which is beautiful and interesting with it's wide range of imagery as well as a couple of other interesting books.

Free Day Wednesday 21st December 2011 (Environment Pastiche)

Wednesday 21st December 2011 Environment

Having to visit Maidstone I took the opportunity to pack all the camera equipment and re-shoot the night time Brassai Image again. I had an assistant and the weather was much better this time with much less wind. The main problem was pressure from drunks/youths. Due to the interaction/interference of these individuals i lost a few of the shots but I'm hoping that I've managed to improve on what I already had.
I'll hand process the film in my Patterson tank when am able too.

Free Day Monday 19th Dec 2011 (Perception)

Monday 19th Dec 2011 (Perception)

Starting to consider the essence/direction of my essay, and I've done a brainstorm and a few notes as a starting point.
I have gathered all the idiot guides and information relating to this body of work for reference also.

Free Day Sunday 18th Dec 2011

Free Day Sunday 18th Dec 2011

"Based on MPWs comment on my blog I've ordered (and received today) 'A Man Escaped' (DVD) which hopefully I'll get time to watch over the Christmas period"

Well I found time to watch this today and if I'm honest I didn't think the lighting was quite as dramatic as I'd expected. Shot mostly within the walls of a French prison or at night (during the escape) it was pleasing to watch. Based on a period in history that interests me greatly and of course was shot in B&W. Like B&W photography there is something pure about B&W films that attracts me to them.

Free day Friday 16th December 2011 (Last day before Christmas break)

 Friday 16th December 2011

Had planned to go to the uni library and have a study session with my study buddy and friend from UCA Maidstone (Jenna), but unfortunately she has been to ill. So I'll try and continue to read where possible today. I have a new book that I've added to my collection that has me gripped 'Larry Burrows Vietnam'. Larry was a photographer who photographed the Vietnam conflict from the very beginning and lost his life in 1971 when the helicopter in which he and several other journalists and photographers were in was shot down.

Free Day Thursday 15th December 2011 (Printing Body/Environment))

Getting to uni at 11:45 I secured a B&W enlarger and set about getting the enlarger lens and setting up the (decent) easel etc. I just wanted to try and print a few more of the Salvation Army prints off to check the quality of the images before selecting any final(s) image(s).

Two of my three sitters

Left with no back lights.             Right fully back lit

Wedge and test strips

Wedge and test strips

Also I wanted to look at my first attempts at the Brassai night time pastiche, these images were test shots taken on my Mamiya. The more promising looking negative had some camera shake (I've already blogged that i need a decent tripod!) so after printing that I also had a go with another neg and again I suspect it won't be a final print. I may return to the location and try another roll of film on improving on what I have.

Camera shake on the most promising neg/print (top left). Original image 6x4 on RH side (for reference)

Day 46 Wednesday 14th December 2011 (Body+Object)

 Wednesday 14th December 2011 (Body+Object)

Oddly  quite like long days, having previously worked a 12hr day roster system I'm pretty used to them, and get frustrated and shorter days (when I have a high workload). Short days leave me feeling like I never had time to get tasks completed! Today was one of those full days I like.

In at 09:15 to assist Ian Turner with his shoot not knowing what he had planned other than shooting a single sitter. After a chat in the queue for stores Ian informed me we were replicating the set up I'd used already so the set up was pretty familiar. We did adjust the lighting set based on some advice from Colin, and after the first contact sheet and some further advice from Jonathan to alter the set to suit the sitter more. Apart from the usual glitches we managed to set everything up, and complete the shoot to Ian's satisfaction early enough for us both the move up to the dark room (which was an unexpected bonus).

Initially I wanted to print black and white but I decided to print my (re-shot colour) object images due to space in the colour dark room, and none in the B&W at the time!

I shot the object images on two different coloured tables, so starting with the darker table top background I completed a print. Knowing that I favoured the lighter (green topped table) I then progressed to that image which I completed and prefer.

Whilst waiting for colour wedge and test strips I popped in and out of the B&W dark room and produced some contact sheets that I required.

After producing the two 'final' object options (Brown and Green topped table variants) I set out the B&W contacts for the body (Salvation Army) shoot  and selected some images worthy or printing. I'd not expected to be able to do this until January so it was hard to narrow the images down to one final. Selecting several possibilities from just two of the contact sheets I set about producing the first. With advice from Rikka I feel the image I printed was pretty good, but a small mark on the neg (or piece on fluff on the sitter?) annoying me I'll print off a number for further images until I am 100% happy (or have a good selection to pick from).

Having had to produce contacts, switching from large to medium format printing (swapping enlarger lenses). Switching from Colour to B&W (adjusting easel for different paper size) and assisting a few people (and returning two library books and taking out two I had on hold for my perception Essay) it was 19:15 before I called it a day.  I'll return tomorrow to see what else I can get done.