On Being Brave

I found myself taking a lot more chances this year. I am normally so paralyzed by the idea of failure that I would stop before I even began; but that side of myself is quickly fading. I found that taking chances in my life helped ]me to become a better artist and stand a little straighter.

-Patrick Nagel

A Project Worth the Challenge

Tags

Art, Photography

In photography and art in general there are numerous challenges that arise when taking on new projects, but nothing is worth doing if it comes easy. I am currently working on my final photogravure project, and I wanted to explore this process further by using different mediums. I don’t want to unveil it quite yet but if (when) I pull it off I will share the glory and go through my process but as of now I can express my excitement. And my hope is that the product will look like this for some degree.

For those who don’t know much about making a photogravure I think you night find this video very exciting. 

Copper Plate Photogravure Printing 

Ansell Adam’s Zone System

Tags

Photography

Zone 9 – known as key white or pure white – pure white paper or snow in bright sunlight.

Zone 8 – gray/white, near white – distinct highlight detail, like a white wall in sunlight or brilliant surfaces in flat light.

Zone 7 – light gray – pale “white” skin, a concrete walkway in sunlight.

Zone 6 – mid-tone gray – average “white” skin or shaded areas in snow on a bright, sunlit day.

Zone 5 – medium gray or 18% gray – darker “white” skin or lighter “black skin,” light foliage or the dark blue of a clear blue sky.

Zone 4 – medium dark gray – slightly darker “black” skin, dark foliage or shadows in landscapes.

Zone 3 – very dark gray – distinct shadow texture is visible.

Zone 2 – dark gray/black – only subtle textures are visible.

Zone 1 – near black – shadows in faint light or rooms without light.

Zone 0 – key black or pure black – carbon or photo paper black.

If you already have a basic understanding of photography the clever, yet relatively simple Zone System formulated by Ansel Adams and Fred Archer and perfected by other experts of photography will help demystify the great prints made by Adams.

The Zone System focuses on two very important aspects of photography – image exposure and development, which naturally centers on the f-stop (the size or opening of the aperture as expressed by a number indicating the amount of light transmitted through the lens). Each zone represents one f-stop of the aperture, so you will need to increase or decrease accordingly. Say, for instance, the darkest area of your composition fits within zone three, then you will need to decrease the aperture by two f-stops. Or, if the darkest area fits within zone seven, you will need to increase the aperture by two f-stops.

Sin City

Tags

Books, Entertainment, Movies

Franks Miller’s Sin City, Vol. 2: A Dame to Kill For was the book I last read (for my own enjoyment). I am constantly reading, usually books that I have not chosen but ones my professors prescribe for class. So I am always excited when I find an interesting book or a series that I can enjoy on my own and in between class readings. I read this book in a few hours (maybe a little longer because I loved staring at the illustrations); it is a twisted romance that was so hard to put down, especially knowing that I did not have the next book to read after. There are a total of seven books in the Sin City series (I have yet to get my hands on all of them).

Vol. 1: A Hard Goodbye

Vol. 2: A Dame to Kill For

Vol. 3: The Big Fat Kill

Vol. 4: That Yellow Bastard

Vol. 5: Family Values

Vol. 6: Booze, Broads, and Bullets

Vol. 7: Hell and Back

The movie ‘Sin City’ was based on the three books ‘A Hard Goodbye’, ‘The Big Fat Kill’, and ‘That Yellow Bastard’. Though I loved the movie I think each book deserves its own movie. But lucky there will be a sequel to this series with the remaining books which I am completely excited about.

Michael Hussar ‘Hans Memling’

Tags

Art

Michael Hussar

My favorite saved image is this painting done by Michael Hussar. I saved this image some years ago and I am still captivated by it every time I open my photo library on my computer. His work is what prompted me to start painting. I am in no way a painter but I thought if this could be the outcome I would try and see what I could do.

The Most Dangerous Game

Tags

Books, Entertainment, Movies

 ‘The Most Dangerous Game’

I read this back when I was a kid, I think in English class and it’s one of those (short) stories that you never really forget. It’s been at least ten years and I haven’t read it since but for some odd reason whenever I hear the word “game” it brings me back to this story.

The AIPAD Photography Show New York 2012

Tags

Photography

The Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD) will hold the 32nd edition of The AIPAD Photography Show New York, one of the world’s most important annual photography events, March 29 – April 1, 2012, at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City. Seventy-five of the world’s leading fine art photography galleries will present a wide range of museum quality work, including contemporary, modern, and 19th-century photographs, as well as photo-based art, video, and new media. The AIPAD Photography Show New York is the longest running and foremost exhibition of fine art photography. The Show will commence with an opening night gala on March 28, 2012, to benefit inMotion, which provides free legal services to low-income women.

This is a show that I had never heard of and the more I read about it the more I am tempted to purchase a plane ticket to New York to attend all the exhibitions and panel discussions this show offers.

http://i1.exhibit-e.com/aipad/PressReleaseforAIPAD_2_14_12_11.pdf

Drive

Tags

Music

I love movie soundtracks; lately I have listening to the Drive soundtrack. When I’m working in the studio or at my computer songs from the Drive soundtrack are at the top of my playlist. I’ve listened to it so often I hardly need a music player because it’s the kind of music that plays in your head over and over but it’s great music so I don’t mind.

1.”Nightcall” (feat. Lovefoxxx) Kavinsky

2.”Under Your Spell” Desire

3.”A Real Hero” (feat. Electric Youth) College

The Studio of My Dreams

Tags

Photography, Style

I would first like to start with a wonderful Victorian house where I would live as well as work.

If I were to dissect the interior of my dream (nightmare) house, It would be filled with books and small (sub) studios. Like that of Marc Giai-Miniet’s dreamy interiors.

The studio of my dreams would of course be a fully equipped photography darkroom, digital photo studio, and work station.

for the darkroom I would need these supplies:

Wet station

• Running water source
• Chemicals (developer, stop, fixer)
• Large plastic bowl for water bath
• 11×14 processing trays and tongs
• clips for hanging film up to dry
• Measuring cylinders
• film reels & canisters

Dry station

• print drying station
• digital timer
• Enlarger  and lens
• Multi-grade filters for enlarger
• blackout material
• Darkroom clock
• 11×14 4-bladed easel
• Negative carrier
• Grain focuser
• safelights
• Lots of photographic paper

I would love to have Victorian inspired work space and digital photo studio. I would imagine it would look something like this. 

More images and ideas to be unveiled. . .

Dear me…

I hope everything will be ok. Four days of consist pain is rough, but ya know, almost everyone has to go through it. It really is too bad that you didn’t get to keep the little bastards; I guess to some people teeth either belong in your mouth or in the bio-hazard waste.