For the past couple months I’ve been tackling a goal I set for myself to shoot two rolls of film every week. And then process, contact, and make three gelatin silver prints. Work prints. Every week, rain or shine, no excuses. And so far I have been pretty successful. And to add another motivational stick I am going to begin posting those prints here every Sunday night/Monday morning.
I’ve undertaken this work because I have been searching for my next creative direction. I have never planned out my projects. They just appear, find me in some mystical fashion. And they only appear when I’m working, while I’m pressing the shutter in response to something that interests me personally. And when I am engaged like that something will happen. It always does if I am patient.
To keep things simple I’ve decided to use simple tools. My Leica M6 rangefinder camera, black and white film, D-76 developer for film, Dektol for prints, and Forte Elegance Polywarmtone Plus paper. If something appears and I want to pursue it outside this print project I can use other cameras of materials but for now I don’t want any mental distractions.
Professionally I work exclusively with digital tools. To help separate my professional and personal work I am using film. It is an elegant way to work. The Vespa may find it’s way into some of the pictures but it’s anyone’s guess where things will go. So here are this week’s pictures.
My dog Essa exploring the garden during her morning walk.
Kim stretching
My Vespa in an underground loading dock
Steve,
I like that approach – not forcing it and a large dollop of patience.
In the past I used to see black and whites as dreary and lacking pizazz. I think the change point was in the visitors room at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston a few years ago.
The room was more a suite of rooms including a library and computers. Many people come from long distances to be with people who are in the hospital for treatment, and thus spend a fair amount of time there.
On the walls were a series of large portraits in black and white. I forget the photographer, an Israeli I think. The name Hershel pops into my mind.
I remember there was a portrait of Picasso, Casals, Muhammed Ali, DeGaulle, and others. I kept going back to see them. Simply captivating.
I look forward to see what comes out on the other end of your incubation process.
Tim
We are xcited about your new project as we have always admired your photography. We never get enough of seeing your images and reading your posts. Your writing is so personal, honest and warm. Looking forward to a new year of your posts. Thanks..
In the moment B&W photography is one of my favorite. I have a very old Canon AE1, T100, and canon range finder. Black and White film development was one of my first introduction in Kodak Black and white photography. Steve – what a good move and I will surely enjoy your new pics in black and white.
Steve, I am looking forward to seeing more of your B&W photography. B&W can be so dramatic, which is why all of the digital folks are making plugins and softward enhancements to emulate film. Why not just shoot film?
Just curious, do you have any plans to sell prints?
Brent
Oh good do we get popcorn as we set for the home picture show each week?
Truly looking forward to watching as your latest project unfolds.
Steve, I have nominated you for the “Excellence Award”. Yes, it is one of those awards that gets passed around the Blogosphere. I hope this bit of info does not make you cringe. I find that these awards turn more into a nod of appreciation than what one would consider a true award. Although “Scooter in the Sticks” is certainly worthy of any award it would receive.
If you would rather not receive or recognize the award I certainly understand…no offense taken.
I just wanted to let you know I felt you to be worthy of the award.
I wouldn’t want to meet that Vespa in a dark alley. Looks tough!
I too love the simple beauty of B&W film and prints. I also would love to have a Leica like yours. I shoot with old Yashica 35mm SLRs, with Yashica, Vivitar, and a couple Zeiss lenses. While I still have my darkroom equipment, I tend to shoot C41 B&W film now. Haven’t taken the plunge into a digital camera yet. Cost and obsolescence are the main reasons.
I’m looking forward to seeing what you turn up. Maybe it will inspire me to do more photography. 🙂
Dave T.
simplytim: Black and white photographs retain a simple elegance for me not only as a physical property of the print but also the way in which it reinvents the world. While color is a magical thing it can cloud what is happening and add a layer of confusion if you are not paying attention.
I felt that way yesterday looking at the work of Rachel Papo of young women in the Israeli Army. The color made the pictures easier to accept or something. You can see them at Rachel Papo Serial No. 3817131.
I’m not sure where my own project will take me but I am excited to be on the path again.
heinz & frenchie: Thanks for your kind words. We’ll see where the new year will take things.
pvino: I still remember my first black and white pictures in the mid-1960’s when my father let me use the family camera, a folding Zeiss Ikon camera. Not long afterwards I was processing film in our basement and on from there.
At times I think I am pursing nostalgia more than content. I remember the excitement back then.
dbrent: Digital printing certainly has it’s benefits even in black and white I suppose. But the equation between a silver print and inkjet print aren’t balanced. Each has it’s benefits and drawbacks. For me the physical quality of a silver print is preferable to an inkjet. And working in my darkroom is less expensive by far in terms of equipment and materials. Not having printed enough digitally I am not sure about time.
I have sold prints in the past from shows I have had but it has never been a priority. I have thought about making prints available of some of my Vespa photos here on the blog through one of the fulfillment companies but I have not pursed it.
Do you have any thoughts in this area?
tenntrains: I think you should reserve the popcorn in case I ever start posting videos again. For these a simple cup of coffee or tea will do….*grin*
I figured since I will only be posting three images it won’t become a tedious event. I can still remember visiting friends of my parents as a kid and having to sit through tray after tray of really bad and redundant slides of a vacation somewhere.
sarch: Thanks for the nomination and supportive words. It’s always nice to know that the work you do is appreciated.
lucky: It may look tough but it’s still out in the sticks. We are a pretty docile place. Though now that I think about it our district attorney disappeared and most presume he was killed. Across the street from this place a woman was murdered and the killer never found. The local paper has a story about human remains being found in a state park near here. And of course there is the unsolved murder in the stacks of our local library back in the late 1960’s that is suspected to be the work of Ted Bundy who was know to be in the area at the time.
Hmm, maybe it is a dangerous place…
david: I have similar feelings towards digital photography when it comes to cost and obsolescence. The speed and ease of digital and the instant feedback is hard to resist. Shooting film means you have to wait. That flies in the face of a give it to me quick I need it now culture of which I am a part.
I suppose shooting black and white film is also about getting off that wagon…
Steve whatever format you use the photos will be awesome. You have a gift.
Thanks Rick! I’ll keep the camera close and keep making more pictures.
This is a late comment from a couple of posts ago. You talked about your battery giving out 50 miles from home at 10 degrees. That’s only part of it. It will also happen at night, be on a twisty mountain road with no guard rail, and there will be freezing rain. Don’t ask me how I know that!
I especially like the photo of the Vespa in the underground loading dock. I look forward to seeing more pictures.
this kind of project sounds quite good.
I wouldn’t be able to shoot two rolls a week, as I mostly stay in an office and my subjects would soon repeat.
though, I got a new Pentax MX and I’m crazy about it, and your task pushes me to try and shoot a bit more.
This pulse already generated my new photo weblog – did you take a look at it? lightwasenough.blogspot.com – and I understood that I should dedicate more time to each picture…
Steve:
On a slightly different subject – have you any knowledge as to where to get snow tires?
Thanks.
Mike
Mike: My source for the Heidenau Snow Tex tires doesn’t sell them anymore. A quick search for those tires in Google revealed a number of dealers. I would pursue that.
Good luck!