2019 Year End Wrap Up: Photo Plans for 2020

Sailing Into A Happy New Year.......I want to add a note that I have Added Reaction Buttons to my posts. I'd appreciate the feedback and I know it's not always convenient to add comments.  So Please let me know if a Post is: Like, Interesting, Cool

More from the Queen Mary coming in January

Whew!  A Busy Year, especially the Winter and Spring.  7 cameras join the Family and 8 'new' films tested, +1 that I will start testing for 2020: Ilford Ortho Plus.

For those of you that don't know, I faced a serious illness starting a year ago, and Photography and Blogging was a BIG part of keeping up my Spirits.  So Thank You All for hanging in there with me!

But that experience and the affects on my visual acuity have given me a new perspective on Photography which I am calling My Inner Monet.  Also drawing Inspiration from the recent Monet Exhibit in Denver.

I've decided to explore My Inner Monet, by working more with Pinholes and Alternative Processes.  Those perfectly crisp, classic Landscapes were starting to get boring.  And as I mentioned I SEE differently now.  So I am trying a new emphasis for the coming year!

Along those lines I am also joining the Frugal Film Project.  The Concept, use an inexpensive film and any camera worth less than $50.  I have several Candidate Cameras described on my other Blog.  Feel free to chime in with an opinion.

And I've gained enormous inspiration from working on the #camerachallenge and month-long challenges that ask questions about your photography.  It really makes you think!  Follow on Twitter, sponsored by @_Jason_Avery and @ILFORDPhoto and other organizations added from time to time.  If you are on Twitter Check it out.......

I've also done a bit of Publishing in on-line Film Photography Magazines:  EMULSIVE and 35mmc:

September 2019, 35mmc: “5 FRAMES IN MY GARDEN WITH A MINOLTA XD-11 AND ILFORD HP5 ISO 400 (EI400) – BY KATE JOHNSON”

September 2019, 35mmc: “5 FRAMES IN MY GARDEN WITH A MINOLTA XD-11 AND ILFORD HP5 ISO 400 (EI400) – BY KATE JOHNSON”

September 2018, On Blurb Books: “Personalizing Place, 15 Years of the Moab Photography Symposium

Check out more Past Publications here.  I am presently working on a couple of article which should appear in early 2020.

AND Finally, My Secret Santa Sent me a camera (Olympus SuperZoom 105G), that was used in a Flickr photo project.  I want to continue this cameras Secret Life of Travel by starting a similar North American Journey.  Contact me here or on Twitter (@AnalogPhotoBug) to discuss participation.

Looking Forward to Hearing from You Next Year!

52 Rolls Week #27: Revisiting Alternative Processes

Sharing the results of a Recent Salt Printing Workshop for 52 Rolls Week #27:

Click on the link above for a synopsis of the process.  And Read more about Henry Fox Talbot, the inventor of negative-based photography.

Sundays Online: Film is a Journey Worth Taking & 52 Rolls Week 25:52

Tis is also my 52 Rolls Posting for this week.  I'm changing things up for the heart of my Landscape Season and throwing alternate medium formats at you!

Check out Craig Sheaks on Film as a Journey that can transform you......

And Film is a Journey as I finally grasped at a recent B&W Photography Workshop in Condon, Montana with the Photographer's Formulary Crew, and Nathan McCreery as the instructor. Corrected some lazy mistakes I was making, but learned new things too!.  And I was finally convinced to use a spot meter!

Each participant came away with one good image......mine above, which I will have to reprint, because this is on resin coated paper.

Tech Info: Mamiya 6X7, Kodak T-Max 400, film developer Formulary's FA-1027, exposure (spotmeter) f/22 for 2 seconds.

And another perspective on the Film Photographic Journey.

Saturdays Online: Something Better than a Selfie Stick

Camera Phone Selfie's are all too common now days.  When we used take self portraits with a real camera, it required some thought and planning.  Ok we occasionally used the long arms approach.  But a self-Portrait (as we used to call them) can be a quality portrait, rather than just an exercise in narcissism:

Or something whimsical and Fun:

Or better yet, Take the advice offered HERE.

Total Wash Out........

Rained out for the second year in a row on Pinhole Day.....And my First try of the Solargram seems to have failed.......

Any suggestions from Solargram Experts out there as to what's going on here?

UPDATE:  I've cut away the paper around the Pinhole, thinking that it might have caused the lines as the paper expended when it got wet.........

I'll put it back out for a two week test and see what happens......

Saturdays Online: You Can't Just Leave it Anywhere!

So I've finally done it.  Set out my solargram pinhole can camera to capture the Spring Equinox:

What a difference a day makes!  It was nearly sunset when we mounted the pinhole camera.  So I left the shutter covered until the next morning.  By then it has snowed a little bit.  But still not like Boston!

For a definition of Solaragraphy click here.

But a word to the wise.....You can't just leave them anywhere, as one would be solargrapher in Atlanta recently learned.  And no, the Police are NOT going to call you to find out why you left your pinhole camera in a public place,  Mine is safely in my back yard!

Saturdays Online: Doors Open Denver & Shoot Film Day

We will be out and about for Doors Open Denver AND shooting Film (as always) for Shoot Film Day:

What I've Been Doing Instead of Blogging, Finally Done!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly allows you to customize your photo book just the way you want.

Now I can work on My New Year's Resolutions and Introduce you to our newest camera family additions..........

Saturdays Online: A little Photographic History

Read About Cyanotypes and Salt Prints.  And my own contribution to the cause, from Mono Lake:

Saturday's On-Line: Popularity of Alternative Processes

With all of the digital around, and the constant drive it seems to "kill" film photography and silver printing, I find it interesting that older photographic processes are in vogue.  Check out my local StudioQ and  the Wet Plate Collodion Process:

http://studioq.com/

These older methods (e.g. Cyanotype, van Dyke, Daguerrotypes, Tintypes, Gum Bichromate +many more.....) are called Alternative Photography.  The classification "alternative processes" speaks to previously standard methods of photography from the 19th Century, that have generally been replaced by silver emulsion film photography. 

Whereas caffenol film developing, plastic cameras, and pinholes are classified as Experimental Photography.  These are methods and processes (with the exception of Pinholes) that did not exist in the 19th Century.

Film and Silver Printing are holding their own, and should at the least be classed in the future with Alternative Processes (i.e. an alternative to digital).

I am a part-time practitioner of Cyanotype and van Dyke, although not as much lately.  But we are in the process of building a UV light source, and then you'll see more beginning this winter.  This is the standard for my Vintage Family Photo Project.

Below: One of our Wedding Photos that I re-printed as an alternative process using Liquid Emulsion.

New Years Photography Resolutions 2013

Getting Back in the Saddle again in regards to shows and gallery submissions.  Easier now that the Dark room is done.  And yes I did just barely get to print something in the darkroom before the end of the year!

That was my number one resolution for 2012.  So how did I do with the rest?

• Darkroom done and first prints made (as Christmas Presents).
• I got the SRT-101
• Participated in Worldwide Pinhole Day and got inspired to do more pinhole work-but decided not to invest in a 4X5 Pinhole camera.

But:

• No Progress on the Family Project- I need to build a UV light box.  No longer inspired by true sun printing; it is just to hard to calibrate.
• Missed the Winter Solstice Solargram opportunity, but still hopeful of catching the Spring Equinox?
• Somehow have misplaced my slides from Norway and Africa.  Where are they?  Sundays Overseas will return once I find them.
• Not so interested in 4X5 Camera, which is odd now that I have a professional grade 4X5 enlarger;  Go figure!

Not on the list but certainly accomplishments:

• Congratulations to Bill M who won the Calendar Sweepstakes!
• Calendar 2013 Completed and Distributed.
• Christmas Road Trip producing tons of photography to share in the coming year

Upcoming for 2013 and Beyond:

• Print, Print, Print in the Darkroom!
• Build the UV Lightbox
• Find those Africa and Norway Slides!
• Play with More Caffenol
• Test drive a Graflex Speed Graphic Camera.  Donald thinks he wants one and a friend has one that we can try.  Apparently alfred Steiglitz used a Graflex.
• Still Planning (i.e. saving up) for the Mamiya 6X7 Panorama Camera.

And I received the perfect Christmas Gift for a Camera Nerd:

 Featuring the George Eastman House Collection

What are your Photo Resolutions for this Year?

Scanning............

I've finally burned out on the Olympics.  I have 7 rolls of film to scan for posting and another half dozen to develop.

Met an interesting alternative processes photographer last night.  Check out Jacqueline Webster.

Expect a photo posting  later today.........

Meet the Kamra-e-foaree

Donald sent me this link a while ago.  Fascinating photographic technique, the Wooden Box Camera or Kamra-e-foaree of Afghanistan.  Make sure you check out the photo montage at the end.........

Keeping in touch with or photographic roots.  What have I been up too?  Processing my pinhole photos with not so great results.  Pinholes will be posted next week.  Not sure I'm going to submit any.

And take a look at this interesting Pinhole Camera too!

Kamra-e-faoree:
http://io9.com/5908611/a-fascinating-documentary-on-the-wooden-camera-photographers-of-afghanistan

Pinhole as Art:
http://gizmodo.com/5805116/wooden-pinhole-camera-makes-art-is-art

New Years Photo Resolutions 2012

My goals for this past year were very unrealistic given my health circumstances.  So I'm trimming it down to something more reasonable for this year:

Start Printing in My Home Darkroom

Continue with Pinholes (I have a paint can pinhole to play with this year)

Work on the Family Project (Easier once I have the darkroom)

Play with Caffenol

Dig into my slides from Spain, Norway, and Africa........and Post them for you!

My camera plans continue to be:

Still looking for a Minolta SRT-101

Long-range Plans for a Mamiya 6X7

Longer-range plans for a Graflex Press Camera (Speed Graphic model)

Yes coming soon the DARKROOM!  I'll post a progress report image in the next week. The only addition, looking for a small pocket sized rangefinder.  We'll talk about that in a later posting because I'll be seeking recommendations.

What are your Photo Plans for this year?

Caffenol: Oh my God it works!

If you have ever heard that B&W film can be devveloped in Coffee, well, yes it can!  And I've tried it, although not with the best results.  But try again I will..............


I started with some Rollei Retro 400.  Don't remember why I had it, so why not try a film I don't care about first.  Load it in the Holga so I won't be 'wasting' a roll of 35mm 36 exp.  Shoot in a day and try developing.  Follow this link for a History of Caffenol, also a great resource.  He has really worked on the the details of the technique.

One of my neighbor's gardens

As you may notice a major problem with Caffenol can be fogging.  Regardless of using KBr, the best results are obtained be using a fog resistant film such as TMAX.  I'll try that next.

A local tree up close.....

Fences

Another problem you can see is uneven development. 

But I think Caffenol definitely fits into my world of experimental photography and alternative processes.  Although my love affair with high speed films may or may not be compatible with Caffenol.

Are you ready for Caffenol?

Is this Photography?

I pose the question is a scanned image a photographic process?  My photo influence, Don Anderson, would say YES!

 What's your opinion?

Playing with Digital Negatives

 As I contemplate a return to Alternative Processes, especially to continue with the Family Project,

I'm working with digital negatives to use for contact printing cyanotypes and van dykes.

In a week or so I hope to show you some new alternative prints.

to see just how far you can go with this, visit Don Anderson's website.

Best of the Blog!

'Best of the Blog' has been posted on my permanent website.  Selection were based upon the images that received the most comments.  I also did throw in one or two of my personal favorites.

Since Vintage Family Photos proved to be one of the most popular, I add another one here for your consideration:  A Cyanotype Redux of Mom, circa 1959.

The Family Project involves not only preserving vintage family photos, but also reworking some of the best portraits using Alternative Processes.

Happy 86th Birthday Mom!

Today is my Mother's 86th Birthday.

I call this 'Betty Grable Mom', because of the 1940's upswept hairstyle made famous by Actress Betty Grable (the most Famous American WWII pin-up girl).


Van Dyke Contact Print on Canvas.
Original is 8X10
From My Family Project

New Year’s Photography Resolutions:

GOALS:
Start Printing in My Home Darkroom
Enter Juried Shows again
Take a Workshop
Introduce ‘The Family Project’ (Family Photo Preservation)
New Series ‘Weekly Volcano’
Experiment with Pinholes
Continue Urban Landscapes (Day & Night)
Talk more about my photo influences
Colorado Mining History and Cemetery Series

Cameras to Look For:
Minolta SRT-101
Gakkenflex 35mm TLR Kit
Rollei 35mm Rangefinder
Graflex Press Camera (Speed Graphic model)
Kodak Duaflex
Kodak Retina
Argus C4