Entries in exercise (2)

Monday
Apr052010

Cameras and Experiments

I am a camera geek; a person who can never quite satiate my need for a camera. I have several old cameras that occupy a shelf or two. I have an old Polaroid 95, and Argus C3 that was my Grandpa Daughtery's camera given to me by my Uncle Tom and an old Brownie that belonged to my Great Uncle Phil. Nalu - 2010None of them work today but they provide a bit of inspiration and remembrances that are invaluable as I get older.

I recently acquired an old Graflex RB Series D from someone over at LFF. Thanks Miguel. This is the first image.

Of course it's of Nalu, my ever ready and somewhat willing model. Not great, but this camera has potential as soon as I get the hang of using it on a regular basis.

As you can see, I let some light get into the holder but that appears to have been remedied on subsequent exposures. For me, it adds something to the image. Lately, perfection has been somewhat overrated in my photography and I'm not worried about that as much as I used to be.

There is another Graflex on it's way from Miguel and I hope to receive it this week. I'm looking forward to hand held large format photography. I've got a long list of projects I want to pursue with these cameras, the older lenses and some older type film like Efke 25. I still plan to use the Chamonix quite extensively as well as the Leicas. For me, at least for the time being, the stable of cameras is fixed and need to be used.

As best as I can tell, these cameras are about the same age as my Pop. Which is fitting since it was my Pop who got me into photography by never demanding the camera, that he so graciously lent me, back. Thanks Pop! After all these years it's still something I remember and am eternally grateful for.

Sunday
Aug092009

Looking!

In an effort to see, hone some compositional skills and just make an image or two, I've started using my iPhone to generate some images.  I've longed stayed away from this as it didn't seem all that serious of an option.  But getting to make images on film isn't happening often enough for my liking and when I do get a chance to photograph I find it's an effort to see anything.  So I thought I'd start breaking out the camera phone and see what happens.

During the commute to and from the office I try to look and see if there is anything there.  It's too difficult to make an image with the Leica but it's relatively easy to use the phone.  As you might imagine, there is a bit of trial and error with this method, but I'm looking for compositions that are interesting and letting the rest fall where it may.  Over the last couple of years of shooting with film, and not digitally, I've gotten my technical abilities back but I think I worried too much about that and not enough about the compositions.  

This is my exercise to see, make a few images, not take it too seriously...