Showing posts with label Zeiss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zeiss. 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. 

Monday, January 9, 2023

Mursi Girl + Ear Plates, 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 girl lives is 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. 

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 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.


Wednesday, December 14, 2022

9 Frames of a Boy, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, 2010


So glad I took color positive film with me to Ethiopia back in 2010, and to have had the privilege of photographing the various tribes of the Lower Omo Valley. While the trip was a most difficult one, the images have brought me a sense of peace from the experience. My hope is to return one day and to do more than just visit, photograph and disappear. 

Monday, December 5, 2022

Young Girls, The Gambia, 2006

Pierre Verger’s portraits in this region were on my mind as we walked onto the beach of this fishing village. It was hard enough to walk into the crowd as the only non-African, but the crowd was more than friendly. After setting up the camera many were curious enough to allow their portraits. 

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. 


 

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.

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Banjara Elder + Tent, Rajasthan, India

Looking back at my experiences with the Banjara community in Rajasthan, and grateful for their permission to make their portraits. This picture really brings back fond memories of those early days, as we searched for a young girl named Sharda. She was photographed by me on my first visit to India, when I was documenting the great work by Humana People to People India. Ever since that year we looked for her, and found her at this camp when we photographed her yet again years later.

 

Landscape with Cattle, Utah, 2016


In the darkroom again with the negatives from Utah, with the print sitting in the fixer. A herd of cows were grazing in the field just below this glorious mountain. I just had to stop… Utah is remarkable!

PS This negative was exposed in 2016 with a Hasselblad 501CM/180mm combination and printed in the darkroom to 11x14. 

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Monument Valley + Darkroom, Utah, 2016


In the darkroom with the negatives from Utah, with the print sitting in the fixer.

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

Monday, November 21, 2022

Widow in Mosque Courtyard, Delhi, India, 2007



Like many widows, she has been left to defend for herself and for her children. Instead of being looked after by her community, she belongs to the majority receiving nothing from the State and lacking a pension. 

In many instances, life after the death of the husband is a life waiting for death itself. So many women are married when quite young to men much older than them. As a result, the death of their husbands leaves them as young women with children and without a security net. The stories are endless, the humiliation eternal.

Depending on position and caste, some of these women are forced to shave their heads, others refrain from wearing jewelry or from presenting their beauty to the world. They are to remain invisible for the rest of their lives, almost as a means to relieve Society from its conscience. With over 40,000,000 widows in existence, this leaves a void difficult to ignore. 

Friday, November 11, 2022

Widow + Mosque, Old Delhi, India, 2006


Like many women in her widowed situation, she has been left to defend for herself and for her children. Instead of being looked after by her community, she belongs to the majority receiving nothing from the State and lacking a pension. 

In many instances, life after the death of the husband is a life waiting for death itself. So many women are married when quite young to men much older than them. As a result, the death of their husbands leaves them as young women with children and without a security net. The stories are endless, the humiliation eternal.

Depending on position and caste, some of these women are forced to shave their heads, others refrain from wearing jewelry or from presenting their beauty to the world. They are to remain invisible for the rest of their lives, almost as a means to relieve Society from its conscience. With over 40,000,000 widows in existence, this leaves a void difficult to ignore.

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Cuban + Book in the Park, La Habana, Cuba



In between sessions we rarely do any work, other than organization.

This afternoon we happen to be sitting in a small park and notice the traffic walking by us. While speaking about some differences between us, the tripod is extended and the camera mounted.

We continue having a lively conversation and, in between making points, as a person now and then to pause for their portrait. Incredibly, almost all pause for a quick snapshot. The man above does so and makes a minute to tell us about himself.

He loves books and works in a book store. He is always reading and proof of such is in his hands. We make note of his name and address as he bids farewell to us. We finish our discussion and then walk to a restaurant for something to eat.

Having become familiar with formal portraits, this single image makes me wonder a bit about the past few years. It seems just as magical to make portraits in this way, a split second decision without much preparation and anticipation. 

Sunday, July 17, 2022

School Children + Badminton Rackets, Alwar, Rajasthan, India


This is what I miss about India, the spontaneity. You wake up in the morning with camera in hand and find yourself in the middle of a crowd of children. The Rajasthani landscape is sublime as is the sunshine. Having these images to view decades later is a gift beyond measure.

Sand Dunes + Silver Gelatin Print, 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. A dream landscape over every dune!

PS This negative was exposed in 2019 with a Hasselblad 501CM/60mm combination and printed in the darkroom to 11x14 just yesterday.


Sunday, June 26, 2022

Claudia + Wind, La Habana, Cuba, 2016


Han pasado cuatro años desde mi Ăºltimo verano en Cuba y mĂ¡s desde este retrato de Claudia. TenĂ­a diez años cuando conocĂ­ a su familia y ahora estĂ¡ en la universidad, haciendo su propio camino. Estoy orgulloso de sus logros hasta ahora y espero con ansias lo que harĂ¡ en el futuro.

Leandro + Playa, Santa Maria Del Mar, Cuba, 2014


Back in 2014 Leandro Carrazana was a young dancer who was gracious enough to join us on the beach early one morning. It was a pleasure to witness his talents in this beautiful setting, and I’m so happy to have these images as a reminder of better times.