Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Scanned Negative

Kodak Portra NC 35 ISO400

I’ve been in Boston for a few weeks now and I finally got to use my new camera! Shooting 4x5 is totally different, but I have a feeling I will warm up to it soon. Today was kind of lame because I was forced to shoot trees at the Arnold Arboretum with the rest of my class. I guess it was more about getting to know large format. It’s kind of hilarious how most of the kids in my class who are from Boston were so antsy and excited about making photographs of trees. I guess it’s clearly evident that surroundings influence one’s ignorance, because I could care less about taking pictures of trees while coming from Vermont…

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Scanned Negatives

Kodak Ektar 120 ISO100

I guess the reason why I was kind of shy about not shooting any fishing in Island Pond was because I did just that a few days before in better light. To be honest, I was also sick of seeing people fishing though my viewfinder. I felt like shooting something different for a change. Yet to get back on topic, Austin, his friend Simon and I all went up to the Waterbury Dam to fish the Little River. It was dope because thanks to Simon, I too had a pair of waiters and was able to get some angles that would have normally been impossible. I actually liked the atmosphere of the old damn and rock wall. Too bad we didn’t really catch much fish. We’ve had some pretty shit luck this summer. The portrait of Austin is becoming pretty typical whenever I’ve been shooting around him. I definitely feel that connection where he just always knows what I want now without me having to say a word. I know for a fact that I will continue to take pictures of him for the rest of my career. It will indeed be fun to look back on them years from now and be able to pick out trends and change within both of us...

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Scanned Negative

Kodak Ektar 120 ISO100

Friday was my last day at the lake and even though I’m so ready to get back into the hectic lifestyle of being an art student, I know I’ll miss the lake a month or so from now. I’ll miss being the first one wake up and be out the door before the sun rises. I’ll miss riding my tractor every single morning. And I’ll definitely miss sitting in the sun all day listening to good music and reading books until my brain can’t take it no more. I took this photo on the last day I worked at the lake. It was as if God made the morning extra beautiful just for me. The air was crisp and the water was warm; creating a thick fog with romantic morning light creeping in from behind. I guess I wouldn’t normally make an Ansel Adams-ish photograph such as this one, due to the overwhelming abuse of such images on the walls of almost every Vermont gallery and restaurant. Seriously, do we need more photographs of mountains and clouds? Yet this is more of a keepsake photograph if you will; visual proof of where I have been and who I was during the summer of 2009…

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Scanned Negatives

Kodak Portra VC 120 ISO400

Kodak Ektar 120 ISO100

Day 4 in Island Pond was the last day. I had checked the weather and knew the light was going to be nice, so I woke up early and went for a shoot around town. Like the boat photograph, people in North East Kingdom are notorious for having old machinery laying about their property. I personally think that’s fucking sick and could simply just do a body of work on that alone. It has that used, stepping back in time look that I’m so attracted to. I came across a few old Jeeps that I knew of in town. I chose this shot of the blue jeep because it truly defines the film I had in the camera at the time (Kodak Vibrant Color 400). I also found this orange skidder off of a dirt road and couldn’t pass the color as well. Another color I couldn’t pass up was a sea foam green cargo container. I pretty much made the photograph because it happens to be one of my favorite colors. Ironically my Grandpa Clement was also wearing it when we stopped in to grab some stuff from his garden. I definitely would have had to spend more time with Clement to get a good shot of him. The last object to photograph was an old cement silo on the way home. I thought it was really stereotypical to see all the BudLight cans on the ground and “Git-R-Done” written on the walls. I guess that’s Vermont’s future rught thurrrr….

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Scanned Negatives

Kodak Portra VC 120 ISO400

Kodak Ektar 120 ISO100

Day 3 in Island Pond was mostly fishing on the pond and in the nearby Clyde River. At the end of the day, we grilled way too much meat and felt forced to eat it all. I like the shot of Uncle Ed that I took above him on the deck. We then jumped into the pickup and drove to my father’s hometown, Colebrook, NH to see my Mémère at her home. On the way there we passed one of my favorite landmarks, the shark rock. When I was young this rock always used to get my excited whenever we drove by. Which goes to prove how I love to look out the window when I travel. I feel these photogrpahs lack a little bit of light. They still feel dark. Maybe I’m being too critical?...

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Scanned Negatives

Kodak Portra VC 120 ISO400

Day 2 in Island Pond was super cold for late August. It was mostly in the low 60’s all day. I recall wearing jeans, a flannel, a hooded, wool socks and sweater. Yet, the temperature didn’t affect our intent to fish and end the day at my Aunt Pauline and Uncle Dan’s for a warm dinner. While dinner was being prepared, we went to check out a nearby brook for fishing. I came across this boat in the front of someone’s yard and had to shoot it. I wish the light were stronger though. Again this camera felt totally different out in the field. I did have some stuff come out a wee bit crooked and I feel that would be resolved with a tripod. Last time I used my Bronica, it was for my Nightshots project and at the time I used one of MECA’s really nice tripods. I kind of whish I had one for shots like this. I guess I need to get used to working without one as well though. Like I said before, I need to just continue shooting with it and things will improve...

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Scanned Negatives

Kodak Portra VC 120 ISO400

Kodak Ektar 120 ISO100

Day 1 in Island Pond was almost like any other trip to camp. We met up with Uncle Ed and made some lobsters and fresh corn out on the deck. It was pretty good and once we were done eating, all we wanted to do was just kind of be lazy. So dad popped in the traditional movie of choice when were at camp, The Great Outdoors. I managed to get a few shots off here and there that day. It’s definitely different shooting with the Bronica, especially in the camp. It’s not like a portable 35mm, where one can just snap here and there. Creating a photograph with it is a slower process. The only lens I have isn’t too wide (75mm), so it was almost impossible to get certain shots that I had planned in my head. Shooting with a handheld light meter was also a bit different. I hadn’t used one in a while, and the one I did use was fairly simple compared to the one I got for my birthday. I guess like with all photographic media, it’s just a matter of getting acclimated. That of which is evident in my exposures. I’m still not a pro with judging colors, but I feel that the exposures here may be off a stop or so. After seeing these shots, I’m defiantly inspired to get better with this equipment...