Projects and Discovery

"The job of a photographer is not to produce decoration for other people's walls and homes, it's a real voyage of discovery, and I think it's an authentic way to go through life. It's a way of discovering things, finding things, experiencing things..." ~Michael Kenna

That sentence really spoke to me today so I thought I would share it with you all.



The Emptiness of Hope
Holga, Ilford HP5 film
Self Portrait, 2009

The title of this photo is a bit sombre, but it is a line from a song by a band whose work inspires me every time I listen to them. A lot of my self portraits are inspired by lyrics to their songs which I feel a deep connection to. So, although it may come off as depressing or sad at first, it's really me discovering what inspires me and my attempts to reflect that through my photos.

Experience The Neverending White Lights

The Grace

The Grace
Holga, Ilford HP5 film
Self Portrait

I intended to shoot this photo with my new Holga cable release, having FINALLY gotten around to getting one! I hadn't ever used one before and I was hoping it might make my self portrait work a bit easier, and I might be able to do a few things I wasn't able to before. Well as soon as I took it out of the box and to it's intended location for shooting, the top of the part that you push down, had fallen off and I couldn't find it. I decided to just go back to my old way of doing things for this shoot - this was one of the photos I was planning on taking with the cable release (I thought it would be easier than trying to reach over to the camera and hold everything still at the same time). Well, I managed to get it done anyways! Some weird positioning and careful arm bending and a steady hand was definitely needed!

I did end up finding the missing piece, so will make another attempt at using the cable release sometime soon!

Gone but Not Forgotten

Here are a couple more shots from the graveyard. I only took a few - shooting graveyards can be kind of cliche but I think these photos are a little bit 'different' and have some emotion tied to them - what do you think?

Its a very small graveyard, out in the countryside, and is home to a few groups of families, some from generations ago. These little stones with names on them stood out to me, especially with the stark flower arrangements above some of them.



Charlotte
Holga, Ilford HP5 film
September 2009

If you zoom in on this photo, at the bottom of the stone you will read "Gone But Not Forgotten". I shot this mainly because I loved the textures of the big tree behind it.



Gone but Not Forgotten
Holga, Ilford HP5 film
September 2009

Memorium

I was out shooting a few weeks ago and came across a small cemetery. These flowers in particular caught my eye:



Memorium
Holga, Ilford HP5 film
September 2009

Ps: There's only one day left to submit to Holgapalooza!

New Holga Self Portrait

I Hope Your Heart Runs Empty #2
Holga Self Portrait
September 2009

See #1 Here

Friday Happenings and a Photo

Prince's Island Pedestrian Bridge
Calgary, Alberta August 2009

This was shot on my White Slim Angel from Four Corners Store. Lovely little toy camera, nice wide angle and colour with some Fuji Velvia film.

I also wanted to mention a few happenings:

Holgapalooza deadline is fast approaching (Sept 25) so get your entries in!!

Don't forget to enter my Self Portrait Challenge to win a print and get featured on Holga Blog.

The Krappy Kamera XI book is now available on Blurb. I was fortunate enough to have a photo on exhibit for this show and the book is full of wonderful toy camera work! A great addition to your collection and a great coffee table book.

One more show you should be aware of if you are a Holga or toy camera shooter - The Holga Show 3.0 at the Photomedia Center - Deadline is November 7.

Until later, happy shooting!!

Shots Magazine

I was really excited to discover today that one of my images made it into the current issue of Shots Magazine!

The theme for this autumn issue was "Male/Female". My "Framed" Holga self portrait was chosen:



I kind of like how they do not notify you before hand - you have to wait until you get the magazine to find out if you made it or not... its extra special to just be flipping through a magazine and all of a sudden find your photo.

The whole issue is great as always so I'd encourage you to buy it online, or become a subscriber (it's worth it).

A little more Exploration

Here are the last few remaining pictures from this exploration set! The black and white one was taken with my Holga, and the other two were taken with my White Slim Angel, but I cropped them to square because there was a lot of wasted boring space and I wanted the focus to be on him exploring the flowers. I had Fuji Velvia 100 colour film in it, and it was a low light, shaded area so I got some dreamy soft grain that kind of gives the photos a vintage feel.

Exploration #2

Exploration #2
Holga Image, August 2009

I don't have much to say today! Do any of you have any photo plans or projects for this weekend? I have three rolls of film that I still need to get developed from this past week and last weekend! TGIF!

Exploration (holga photo)

Exploration
Holga Image
Calgary, Alberta, August 2009

This is a photo of my cousin's little guy exploring a flower bed. There's nothing like watching a little one explore things that we take for granted everyday. He probably could have spent hours entertaining himself by the flowers (if it wasn't time for a nap). I think as a photographer, it's important to have this same attitude and try and find new ways of seeing everyday things. You never know what you will get as a result!

Photo was taken on Ilford HP5 film using a close up filter to create the soft blur.

New Holga Lenses! Plus a weekend photo

I was so excited to read yesterday on Holga Blog about the new lenses being released! Head on over there to read about the details, specs, etc. Word is you can only buy them on Ebay right now... I went and bought some because I just could not contain myself. Looking forward to trying them out!

It's the last long weekend of the summer - I hope you enjoy it and have some good weather wherever you are in the world!



Iced Tea
Holga image, Calgary Alberta
August 2009

Also, don't forget to get your submissions in to Holgapalooza - the deadline is approaching!!

Holga and White Slim Angel do Calgary!

Calgary, Alberta
August 2009

Taken with my Holga on my brief visit to Calgary a couple of weeks ago. This is one of my favourite look outs - Downtown Calgary is very pretty...when it's not snowing! I got some funky light leakage or flare instead of the usual vignetting. Must have been where I was in relation to the sun at that particular time.

Here is another shot taken with my White Slim Angel from Four Corners Store on some Fuji Velvia film:



View From Prince's Island
Calgary, Alberta August 2009

From What I Once Was

From What I Once Was
Self Portrait, August 2009
Holga

Hi All! Things have been a bit quiet here for the past few days because I just got finished moving. I wanted to share this self portrait I took while on my trip a few weeks ago. It's a Holga double exposure taken on Ilford HP5+ film. (I scored a big pack in Calgary at The Camera Store!)

I will catch up on all of your blogs soon I promise!