Showing posts with label Ilford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ilford. Show all posts

Monday, January 23, 2023

Mursi Woman + Paint, Mago National Park, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, 2010


After a year in the darkroom it’s time to get the prints out. We’ll see how the #etsy crowd takes this work in, and sees the royalty that she truly is.

This young Mursi woman lives in a most difficult environment, and holds true to her traditional culture. Even though you'll see very few other Ethiopians in her area, vans of tourists stop now and then. Each time a group of tourists step out and walk into the village. Once they do the community walks over to them in order to try and earn a living with their goods, mainly the lip and ear plates as well as woven baskets. They also earn a living by being photographed, as each tourist pays a certain amount for a photograph.

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, 2016



The miracle of Delicate Arch has remained with me to this day, as well as the hike to it. Never thought that hiking with my camera equipment was a big deal, until I was resting now and then on my way up. In the end this print makes it all worth it.

PS This negative was exposed in 2016 with a Hasselblad 501CM/100mm combination and printed in the darkroom to 11x14. 

Monday, January 16, 2023

Young Student + Staircase, Shamli District, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2020



We visited her school for the first time in 2020, a month before the pandemic swept the world into a sphere of chaos. Innocent times they were, as we walked around the headmaster's house which also doubled as her school. These girls were receiving religious training and the headmaster wanted to do much more than that. We have included his school in our drive to do just that, and support this good man in his endeavor to improve the level of education for her and her friends. 

Sunday, January 8, 2023

Memories of Utah, Monument Valley, 2016

The grandeur of Monument Valley sticks with me to this day. In 2016 I was blessed to have visited this space thanks to a work assignment in Salt Lake City. On the weekends it was time to visit the national parks, with Monument Valley being high on my list. I just couldn't believe that I was that close to a most iconic space. Having this image on film and printing it in the darkroom was a treat.

PS This negative was exposed in 2016 with a Hasselblad 501CM/100mm combination and printed in the darkroom to 11x14.

Moon + 2 Birds, Virat Nagar, Rajasthan, 2020

During my quarantine in Rajasthan for the early part of 2020, the birds were my companions while walking in the fields. My host family welcomed me without question and gave me a room in which to stay for six weeks until my return home. So I would set up the camera on the tripod in the middle of the field and walk around and around. Once the moon was just right and birds started to fly, I would cross over to the center of the field to release the shutter. So this image has immense meaning for me, and I am thankful to have had such friends both on the ground and in the sky.

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Mentally + Physically Challenged, Kisumu, Kenya, 2007



Over 16 years ago it was my privilege to visit this region and photography two homes for mentally and physically challenged individuals.  I was deeply moved by the dedication of the staff and the resilience of the occupants. The young girl in the background of this image was a force of nature herself, as she went back and forth between friends in order to help them with their portraits. She was the first person I met with Down's Syndrome thru my photography and will never be forgotten.

Monday, December 26, 2022

Patricia + Railroad Tracks, Guanabacoa, Cuba, 2016



What would photography on the island be without Profe Gysleda and her students?

Let's just say that my interactions with her students are nothing short of miraculous. Here we are, welcomed into the most prestigious school for models in Havana, and allowed to interact equally with her students. These relationships over the years have turned into true friendships, and the collaborations are like times with friends. 

Patricia is all the above and more, as this session in the countryside exemplifies. She brings a great attitude with her, as well as a great selection of clothing. Some say that this is anything but real photography, that photography in Cuba should be about photographing life as it presents itself in the streets. I say why not photograph the people as they would like to present themselves, as models and dancers and actors?

Well here is Patricia as a model, something that she has aspired to be in her young life. A incredible one truly in my humble opinion.

Young Girl + House, Crimea, Cuba, 2015


Driving into the Cuban countryside is a privilege, both because few can do so and also because of the people we meet. We arrived at this spot by happenstance, as we turned left off of the main road to venture. We met a man at a fruit stand and purchased a few items, all the while having a conversation and making his portrait. He told us of his village and invited us to visit. We decided to go and, long story short, ended up photographing this young girl's neighborhood. I'm grateful for her time, and the warmth that her family showed us during our times there. It's been many years since 2015 and I look forward to the possibility of visiting them once again in 2023.

Etsy 

Young Boy + Rice Field, Manzanillo, Cuba, 2017

I remember this image like it was yesterday. We had driven out to the eastern part of the island and were concentrating on a family living in the city for the photography. We also were able to drive to the countryside and meet some wonderful people. This young boy actually lived in the city but liked to visit his grandparents in the countryside. Alejandro was able to pull up within 100 meters or so of the house, but was limited due to the muddy path. 

So I decided to get out and walk the rest of the way to speak with the family. They were very kind and welcomed me onto their property. Their home was a traditional one, constructed of wood. Their grandson showed interest in the camera and so we decided to play around, as he grabbed this tool and headed into the rice field. It was a great experience and one for which I am forever grateful. This is what the island means to me, incredible people and honest interactions.


Sunday, December 25, 2022

Sand Dunes + Grass, Imperial Sand Dunes, California, 2019


Really miss the sand dunes of California, and hope to return in 2023!

PS This negative was exposed in 2019 with a Hasselblad 501CM/100mm combination and printed in the darkroom to 11x14. 

Ballerina + Freeway Exit, Bauta, Cuba, 2015


I sincerely miss the days when we'd get in Alejandro's car and pick up the family well before sunrise, arriving at this spot a bit before sunrise. The dedication of the families impresses me to this day. Their admiration for the work and their affection for their children are something to behold truly. This young girl lives in a small town near the capital but is now attending the national school of ballet in the city. Even back then her talent was clearly visible.


Thursday, December 22, 2022

Trabajdores, Campo, Cuba, 2017


¡hermosos recuerdos del año 2017!

¡gracias a los trabajadores fuertes en el campo!

PS Negative exposed with a Hasselblad 503CW/100mm combination, the print toned in Selenium for permanence.


Zion National Park, Utah, 2016


It’s time to get back to the portraits, just had a lot of fun with the landscapes. While working my first corporate gig a few years ago, I had the opportunity to travel the States and bring my camera along. This landscape is from Zion National Park in magnificent Utah.

PS This negative was exposed in 2016 with a Hasselblad 501CM/100mm combination and printed in the darkroom to 11x14. 

Lily + Countryside, Guanabacoa, Cuba, 2018


Thanks to Profe Gysleda and her school ModaEgos, images of aspiring models in the countryside were made possible. This neighborhood is one in which my friend Alejandro has both family and friends. As a result we were able to walk around and find spaces for our sessions. This one spot is one of my favorites and has the most beautiful blue chair, as seen in the background. This young woman, Lily, did exceptionally well in light of her very sensitive eyes. All are appreciated and my hope is that these prints are a testament to their collective vision.

Monday, December 5, 2022

Silver Gelatin Print in the Darkroom, Imperial Sand Dunes, California, 2019



Yet another print from my time at Imperial Sand Dunes a few years ago. Walking around these dunes is like finding a visual treat over every sand dune, and it's hard to keep from putting the tripod down for another image. The contrast between light and shadow is breathtaking.

Note: this frame was made with a Hasselblad V System and a 100mm C lens.

Patricia + Dress from Yudel, La Habana, Cuba, 2018

Thanks to Yudel Contreras and Gysleda with ModaEgos for helping me a better photographer, and for enabling this series. The dresses of Yudel are just magnificent, and Gysleda's vision is incomparable. More than 14 years have passed since we first met at ModaEgos and the relationship continues building to this day. My hope is that 2023 sees us collaborating once again in the streets of that incredible city, La Habana.

Thank you Patricia for that great morning with you in the streets of your beautiful city!

PS Negative exposed with a Hasselblad 503CW/180mm combination.

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Sand Dunes + Clouds, Imperial Sand Dunes, California, 2019


Another print from the Imperial Sand Dunes, this time at the end of the day as I was walking back to the main road. The landscape is such a marvelous place, with scenes around each corner. Just when you think you're done, you end up putting the tripod down and getting ready for another exposure.

PS This negative was exposed in 2019 with a Hasselblad 501CM/100mm combination and printed in the darkroom to 11x14, tones in selenium for permanence. 


 

Dunes and Brush, Imperial Sand Dunes, California, 2019


Although I love the portraits, it's time to take a short break and print the landscape images from California and Utah. While working my first corporate gig a few years ago, I had the opportunity to travel the States and bring my camera along. This landscape is from Imperial Sand Dunes in Southern California.

PS This negative was exposed in 2019 with a Hasselblad 501CM/100mm combination and printed in the darkroom to 11x14, toned in selenium for permanence. 

Monday, November 28, 2022

Audra + Brush, El Mirage Dry Lake Bed, California


In the darkroom with the negatives from California, and with this frame of Audra at El Mirage. One of my favorite people in one of my favorite places on earth, such is the truth.

PS This negative was exposed in 2019 with a Hasselblad 501CM/100mm combination onto Ilford Delta 100 film. It was printed in the darkroom to Ilford MGIVWTFB 11x14, toned in selenium for permanence.

Field of Trees, Joshua Tree National Park, California, 2019


In the darkroom again with the negatives from California, in a field of Joshua Trees. Walking around these icons is a sublime experience, with each having its own character. 

PS This negative was exposed in 2019 with a Hasselblad 501CM/100mm combination onto Ilford Delta 100 film. It was printed in the darkroom onto Ilford's MGIVWTFB 11x14, toned in selenium for permanence.