Wandering to Saint’s Cafe
On my way to Saint’s Cafe with a new inkjet print in hand — a gesture toward beginning a new photography project. Cold and snow have the Vespa scooter at home in the garage sipping electrons from a Battery Tender.
Looking at Stuff
Paul Ruby appears with a new print and an old Bausch and Lomb Tessar view camera lens mounted in an old Alphax self cocking shutter. I’m fascinated by the engineering and mechanical manipulations surrounding old shutters and lenses for view cameras.
Our photo meetings take place in hopes we cajole, pressure or shame each other into creative motion. Discussion usually revolves around shows, paper, books and other issues that can clog a photographers mind.
Inkjet Prints
My first 13×19 inch print on Epson Exhibition Fiber paper made with an Epson P800 printer. After preparing the printing file in Photoshop CC (from a RAW image made with my Canon G15 (Now available as the Canon PowerShot G16 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera
The image itself was a sleeper for me, a quick snapshot while walking out of a parking garage. Much later while perusing images in Lightroom did I recognize the strange view as a unique part of State College, Pennsylvania.
Not sure what will come of any photography projects but at least I’m in motion. That’s a start.
Nice, good read in till the word ” Cajole ” showed up, I’m getting use to the being in the shadow of 16802, for over 60 years, my Bride throws in acronyms, synonyms, academics lingo, when We are takling and Later I found out what it That word means, hey what the? Anyway Steven, the mechanics of a camera shutter is amazing, you did teach me that.
Enjoy
Hello Mike. I was thinking of calling you today to see if you’re free sometime for lunch, breakfast, coffee, something.
Are you trying to say Elaine insults you with lingo and you don’t even know it? That’s just wrong. There are upsides to living in the shadow of 16802 though.
You buy a scooter yet? You know you want one.
That’s one thing about friends with common interests – they can give you that kick-start you need on occasion. Perhaps that’s what I need when it comes to photography, which is going through one of its frequent and sometimes lengthy sabbaticals. Looking forward to the images.
Sabbatical. I like that. Sounds better to say “My photography work is on sabbatical” than “I’m just tired and lazy and don’t feel like working”. My academic friends may not appreciate me appropriating the term and then misusing it though. They turn sabbaticals into crazy obsessive work projects.
I need to figure out what I want to explore with the camera. For now I keep shooting what’s in front of me.
SW: I definitely use the photo meetings as motivation to make a print or two. Otherwise I’ll often get distracted by pay work. Our meetings are similar to photo meetings I had
at the Squirrel Hill Cafe in Pittsburgh. We met Wednesday after dinner for Rolling Rocks. We all brought new black and white silver prints and we actually discussed them. Bob was particularly good for me. Even though he wasn’t on my wavelength he said what he thought and I wanted that. You aren’t afraid to say when something isn’t working for you. But if you are quiet and I want to know I ask.
When I’m quiet it’s because I’m in that empty place in my head — a big, empty white room.
I’ve not shot anything worth printing this week yet. I’ll have to see what I can come up with.
That shot and print look really good Steve. Keep writing and shooting…love to read your Posts….I took a picture of mine on Saturday when the Sun came out and I fired em up in the driveway to burn the gunk out. If I have your e mail I’ll send the shot to you so you can associate me with what I ride.
Cant attach it here…boo hoo.
Brent
Thanks for the kind words Brent. I’ll email you about the images.
Steve,
A long time lurker here. I really enjoy your blog, both the prose and photographic excellence. I just finished matting and framing a half dozen 12 x 18 Smug Mug prints from my summer vacation, and now you have me wanting an inkjet printer. Just wondering how many prints I need to make to reach the break even point for buying vs printing my own. The immediate gratification and ability for quick enhancements has to go into the equation.
Keep up the great work.
Dave
Thank your for your kinds words about the prose and photos Dave. I appreciate them.
For a long time I just let MPIX print my images. They may be the company that fulfills SMUG MUG print orders too. They make classic C prints and they do a great job. But a high end ink jet printer like the ESPON P800 (replacement for the 3880) allows me to explore more subtle and custom approaches to an image. It’s not unlike the difference is performance between working in your own darkroom and having someone else print for you.
So I’ll see how things go especially when I have to order $500 worth of ink…
That Epson printer looks like it did a great job! And I like the photo as well.
The printer is just amazing. Can hardly believe the quality. And the paper is as well. The surface looks exactly like the classic archival prints I used to make in the darkroom.
Great photos of you and Paul.
Motor cycling, cameras, coffee and friendly company make for a cosy winter.
The slush in the first photo reminds me of why I now live in more temperate climes.
If it weren’t for family and a new granddaughter I would be thinking hard about warmer climates. But then there are other issues — alligators, fire ants, mosquitos carrying more serious disease…
Maybe I should just stay where I am and quit complaining.