Nitrous Oxide Haze

"A lake is the landscapes most beautiful and expressive feature" - Henry David Thoreau

The quote on the ceiling mounted poster in my dentist's office. A really bad photograph.

My mouth is sore. I am tired.

The result of a partial crown and partial root canal.

Lucky me.

Sleep time.

Awake and tired and my brain hurts

It's 8am. This is early for me. I went to bed around 1am. That was early for me.

But now I am up. Typing away. Checking things out. Weather. Email. News. Auctions.

My brain did not really shut off last night.

Today is Sam's show.

Today I will see his parents for the first time in 6 months.

Today I am nervous and anxious.

Today I have the lawn guy coming because of a leak in the back yard sprinkler system. $$$

Today I have a headache.

Today I have to take Karie with a K to the airport. She's off to Vegas.

Today I have to figure out my film developing problems. I need this to be fixed.

Today I have to talk to my darkroom witch and beg her to leave me alone.

Today I have to kiss my wife and tell her how much I love her.

Today I have to kiss my wife's belly and to tell my unborn child how much I love him/her.

Today I need to go back to bed.

The digital side of things

In my frustration with the darkroom, I started to look at the digital side of things. Remember when digital photography started and the battle cry was "cheaper, faster". Well, the faster side of things may have stayed true but the cheaper side has definitely gone away.

Last night, or this morning, around 3am, I went to the B&H website to price a few things out. For around $4000 I can get a Canon 5D, the amazing 50mm 1.2L lens, and a few other items. This does not include the computer or printer that I will need.

But what intrigues me / freaks me out the most is Epson's newest paper, Exhibition Fiber. It is supposed to equal the look of a silver gelatin print. I've never seen an image on this paper in person so I can't comment on it, but what I can comment on are the prices.

Epson Exhibition Fiber
25 sheets 8.5 x 11 - $59.00
25 sheets 13 x 19 - $126.00
25 sheets 17x22 - $168.00

Ilford Multigrade IV Silver Gelatin Fiber Paper
25 sheets 8x10 - $24.00
50 sheets 11x14 - $79.00
50 sheets 16x20 - $161.00

Yikes!!!

Darkroom Witch

I seem to have attracted a darkroom witch, a mystical being who comes to places where traditional photographers work. She plays nasty little tricks on them like screwing up chemistry and messing with the equipment.

Currently, my little witch is messing with my film development. I cannot seem to process film without uneven, splotchy development along the edges of the image. I've done about 175 rolls a film a year, for the last 8 years using the same equipment with none of these problems.

I have scrubbed the reels and the tanks and let the soak in 130 degree water but the problem continues.

So today I will try another tank and another reel and see what happens.

Wish me luck.

Low

Feeling a bit low.

More technical issues in the darkroom that I seem to have fixed about 15 minutes ago.

More Sam stuff. His show is Friday.

The only thing that made me feel good today was the sight of Amelia's pregnant belly.

Jen Bekman's 20x200

I've put myself on Jen Bekman's 20x200 list a while back because it is a great idea about how to sell art and photography. I get the email every Tuesday or Wednesday and always take the time to look at it.

A month or so ago, a Brian Ulrich print came up and before I even had the chance to try to buy it, it was gone. Two hundred 8.5x11 prints gone at twenty bucks a pop in like a couple of hours. Amazing.

Well, last night, I was having a look at Jorg Colberb's blog Conscientious and saw a post about Bert Teunissen and his Domestic Landscape work. I had a look and I really liked it.

Sure enough, the next 20x200 email (today) was for one of these prints. Hmmmm.... coincidence?

I click over to the 20x200 site around 11:30am MST to buy a print and it says there are 65 left. I click the buy button and the site crashes. Lots of code and blank pages. This is a few minutes after I get the email about the work. So, I send an email to the 20x200 tech support about the problem so that they know about it.

I finally get through and make the purchase. About 15 minutes later, they are all sold out.

two hundred 8.5x11 prints at $20 each
twenty 17x22 prints at $200 each
two 30x40 prints at $2000 each

All sold. WOW !!!!

$12000, let me type this out, TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS worth of photographs sold in one morning. Holy Crap !!

Great for the artist, even better for Jen. If, going by what seems to be a "gallery standard", she gets $6000 for doing her part. Awesome.

Now I am wondering how long it will take for the print to show up to me in New Mexico?

Robert Frank, China, and Vanity Fair

Robert Frank goes to China.

And Vanity Fair wrote about it. It's kind of sad. Kind of weird.

The video at the bottom of page one is painful to watch, to hear his old man voice tremble.

Ansel Adams - Celebration of Genius

This is a decent little podcast from the Geore Eastman House that is worth the time to watch it.

and there goes my inheritance

My dad and his wife recently bought an RV. Well, a home on wheels. They plan to travel and to see the USA. I am thrilled for them. I am not so hip on the 6 miles a gallon they are getting, but what can I do.

They were interviewed for USA Today about their new lifestyle and some Rally they were at.

The whole thing is rather amusing. Have a look here.

After being away from NY for 8 years, their accents sound really funny. No matter, I am really happy for them both. They are enjoying life and that's all that matters.

Meet me in Silver City

Ben Johnsen and I headed south for the Plains of San Agustin and a night in Silver City. I got home a few hours ago.

We had a great time and I had a great chance to scout the area in which I hope to explore more.

We also met Josh & Julia and Tom & Michele in Silver City. Josh and Julia came over from Las Cruces where they were photographing old folks in the RV's and Tom and Michele came down via some serious off road, off roading.

I posted a few things up at flickr.

More later.

The price of film

I was just doing a bit of "budgeting" for an upcoming project and Ilford FP4+ is now at $4 a roll for 120 film.

Freestyle has it at $3.99
B&H has it at $3.95
Calumet has it at $4.09

Did I miss a price increase somewhere?

I love my cats

I have two wonderful cats, Jack and Minou. They are like kids to us. They both have loving personalities and they need to be around, or on us at all times.

I've been adamant that they not be allowed outside where they can be attacked by other cats or dogs, or god forbid, have an encounter with a car.

So after reading the blog, Simon the Cat Burglar, I am certain that my cats will never be allowed outside.

I love my little kitties too much to let them roam.

Back from the Dentist

I just got home from the dentist. My last visit was about 9 years ago. All went well except for a tooth that has recently given me some trouble, tooth #30. He said my teeth look great and are in fine condition, except for #30.

He took a picture of it and then showed it to me about ten times it normal size. Yuck. It will need to be crowned. No other option really. So, in about 10 days it will be crowned. The cost is $1000. Fun.

JP Morgan buys Bear Stearns

Is it me or does anyone else smell something funny?

Who knew you could buy a bank for a measly (is measly the correct word?) $237 million dollars. I mean, the last Powerball Lottery was for $276 million and one person won it.

Hmmm, what shall I do with my lottery winnings? I think I'll buy an 85 year old bank !

More importantly, how much do you think the Bear Stearns (BS, hahaha) CEO will get as a bonus?

BULLSHIT!!!

The US markets open in about 6 hours. I think it's going to be a rough day.

what a day ...

Greg Laswell sings:

" What a day to be alive
What a day to realize I'm not dead
What a day to save a dime
What a day to die trying

What a way to say good bye
What a wonderful life now
What a way to use your mind
What a day to say good night

"Bring on the evening hours," I cry
"Bring on the evidence of my life"
(My life)

What a day to give a damn
What a day for "Gone with the Wind"
And what a day to start again
What a day to give up dry gin

"Bring on the evening hours," I cry
"Bring on the evidence of my life"
"Bring on the evening hours," I cry
"Bring on the evidence of my life"

Let it go
Let it go from here, I don't know
Let it go
Let it go from here, I don't know
Don't know

What a day to visit Seattle
What a day for San Francisco
What a day, holy Toldeo
What a day to get in the air and go
What a day to give up smoking
What a day to absorb Jim Beam
What a day to welcome a baby
And to begin breathing
(To begin breathing)"

a lovely tune.

bILL bRANDT in aLBUQUERQUE

The Albuquerque Museum currently has a show of bILL bRANDT's work.

It's a terrific show with a wide range of work including 155 prints.

If you are in NM or passing through, it's a great show to see.

And it is free on Sunday for NM residents.

When you see these prints, that were made in the 1940's and 1950's, you can see where people like Michael Kenna and others guy there inspiration.

Almost got one - Fuji GW680III

In my search for the elusive Fuji 6x8 range finder, I found a GW680III at KEH. It had a reasonable price and I put the order in for it, but I had a few questions.

First, it was in EX condition which was great. KEH tends to underrate their cameras and I have always been pleased with their rating system.

I wanted to know two things:
-what did the exposure counter read
-is the range finder aligned properly

So I called up Dan at KEH and posed the questions. About 30 minutes later, he called me back and said the counter was at 591 and did not know about the range finder.

I politely passed on the camera. Why?

Well, Fuji recommends a service when the counter hits 500 and a shutter service when the counter hits 1000. Dan did not know if the service was done at 500. Although they now offer a MACK warranty for an additional $69, I did not want to take the chance.

Also, I really want the 65mm lens. The camera that I was looking at had the 90mm. So I passed on it. I will wait this one out for now.

Photoshop Disasters - fun stuff

This is a pretty good read....

http://photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com/

And you thought digital was expensive.

20 rolls of Agfa APX 100, medium format film, just sold for $12 a roll on ebay.

Holy Crap !!!

I currently have 307 rolls of this film. If someone wants to pay me $3684 for it, they can have it. I'll even pay for the shipping.

Do I look fat? Do I look pregnant?

How do I answer this question, that I am asked every day?

I politely say, with a big, happy smile, "Yes dear, you look fat and pregnant".

And I love you.

Fuji Ad - The Big Format

My Two Fuji's

Here are my new cameras. I sold my Xpan II.

In it's place, I bought two other Fuji cameras. Yes, the Hasselblad Xpan is made by Fuji too.

I bought a Fuji GSW690III and a Fuji GA645w.

The 6x9 showed up in beautiful condition but the rangefinder was off. $225 plus tax to correct.

The 6x4.5 showed up today and is great so far, aside from being a little loud.

This is going to be my new travel kit. They both use medium format film and are very easy to use. The GA645w is basically a sophisticated point and shoot that produces lovely negatives. It has a pop up flash and a great meter.
The GSW690III is a manual camera that produces giant 6x9 negatives that are razor sharp and constrasty.

The GA645w makes 16 negatives.
The GSW690III makes 8 negatives.

Can't wait for next weeks road trip.

Eliot Spitzer

Do I feel bad for this guy? I am not sure.

Should he have stepped down? I am not sure.

But I am sure that there is more to this than we know at this point.

His "lil' somethin' somethin' " apparently has a MySpace page.

Use the big head, Eliot. The big head !!!

Ilford and Polaroid - nothing yet

From Ilford:
"HARMAN technology Limited have entered into discussions that are currently on-going with POLAROID regarding the potential manufacture of POLAROID monochrome products. It is unlikely that further news will be forthcoming before the end of March.

When, and if, both companies have something more concrete to announce a press release from both organisations will be issued. We would to acknowledge and thank all those who have contacted HARMAN technology LImited, either personally or via the save POLAROID campaign".

Plains of San Agustin

I've been wanting to do a photo project about a section of New Mexico, called the Plains of San Agustin. Next week, I will make the first scouting trip to see if this is possible.

I've been through the area before, including several stops at the Very Large Array.

The weather is looking to be nice and I will be doing this trip with Ben and maybe Josh.

Preparing for The World Darkroom Day

April 27, 2008 is the first time the World Darkroom Day ( formerly known as Global Darkroom Day) will be recognized and celebrated. WDD is the last Sunday of April.

So in preparing for it, I thought it was time to get a little organized.
This is my supply shelf with about two thirds of what I have.



The floor has been vacuumed and the shelves dusted.

I plan on shooting the weeks prior to April 27 and then will spend the day printing.

Twelve Billion a Month

Hmmm....what could I do with $12 Billion Dollars?

I don't know. Pay for a month of the cost for the US to stay in Iraq.

Yep. TWELVE BILLION PER MONTH !

Here's the article.

In the meantime, let's cut health care.
Let's cut education.

Let's go deeper in debt.

Where's the cheap gas we were promised?

Maybe the government should make Exxon Mobil pay for a year in Iraq.
Didn't they have a profit of $100 Billion in 2006?

Again, I scratch my head and say "what the fuck?!?"

Aren't we cute?

Amelia, Me, Julia and Josh

At Julia's Opening.

Fuji's response to Polaroid

From Fuji USA:

"Please be advised that FUJIFILM is aware that Polaroid will be
discontinuing their instant film products at some point this year. We
have no plans to take over or continue the production of Polaroid
instant film products, however, we will continue the production of our FUJIFILM brand instant film products."

Some folks had hoped that Fuji or even Ilford would take over the production of film liks Type 55. Ilford has said that they have been in touch with Polaroid management but nothing further has been announced.

The Sam McFarlane Memorial Scholarship Fund

As some of you might know, I lost a great friend and the world lost a great artist, when Sam McFarlane died last September. Sam was a graduate photo student at the University of New Mexico.

In his honor, UNM has started the Sam McFarlane Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The scholarship is a way to help out future Graduate Photography students and a way for all of us to remember and honor Sam.

So if you are reading this, and would like to make a donation, please call the UNM Development Office at 505-277-9377. No amount is too small. It is the gesture that counts.

Click here to see some of Sam's work.

Bert, Marilyn and Lindsay

Bert Stern, all around amazing photographer, did a photo shoot with Marilyn Monroe, in the early 1960's, right before she did. It's some really terrific work.

Well, just recently, Bert re-shot the entire thing, but this time with Lindsay Lohan and it was done for New York Magazine.

Apparently, their magazine completely sold out and the website has had more then 20 million visitors. WOW.

I must admit, there is something about Ms. Lohan. That's all I will say.

Click here to see the Marilyn photos.

Click here to see the Lindsay photos.

And then click here to see a scary remake.

Kodak plans a NEW FILM camera

The UK magazine Amateur Photographer is reporting today that Kodak is planning a new film camera for the Chinese market.

Doesn't quite make sense to me since not long ago, they dumped their Chinese film maker, Lucky, after losing billions of dollars in China.

The article is here.

Oh well.

But this is really important:
"Initial predictions of the death of film have been somewhat premature, according to Joel Proegler, general manager of Film Capture at Eastman Kodak who told us: 'Kodak has focused on the digital message for the past four years. As we come out of that transition, one thing is very clear: film is a very profitable part of the business'."

Ha!!

when it rains it pours...

In my search for the elusive Fuji GSW680III, I found one in Japan. It is on the popular Yahoo Auction site, being sold by a camera shop. Actually, what I found was the GW680III, which has the 90mm lens, not the 65mm lens of the GSW.

I emailed the seller about it and I did not get a reply. Until about 30 minutes ago. A nice, English speaking fellow emailed me with the details and quoting me a reasonable price.

Great!!! But wait.

I just sold my Xpan which has been collecting dust. I started to find the format a bit limiting and I really don't like working with 35mm film. Roll film is king for me.

And, this is a big AND, I paid for a mint GSW690III with just 29 on the exposure counter, about 24 hours ago. It should be here on Friday.

Ahhhhh!!!!

Oh lordy, what should I do?

Well, once I get a few more details, I will probably buy the 6x8 and it should be delivered some time next week. In the mean time, I will hang onto the 690. I am pretty sure I have a buyer for it (thanks Sam P) if I want to sell it.

This is bugging me.

I have a lot that I would like to write today but I will start with this.

And let me say that I have no idea how to write this without coming across like an asshole.

The panhandling in Albuquerque is out of control. Again. Here are my experiences from the last week or so.

At the intersection of San Mateo and I-40, the old lady (about 75), with the oxygen tank wrapped around her neck, asking for money.

The 20 something guy at the Satellite near UNM, always in a hoodie, who asks everyone that passes him for a dollar.

The teenager who came into that Satellite asking for money, who got yelled at by customers to get out.

Last night, at the Flying Star on Central, a man came in and was asking for money. A female customer complained about it and when the man found out, he went up to her and they had words. The manager had to come over to escort him out.

Then this morning, around 9am or so, my doorbell rang. I answered the door to find what appeared to be a homeless man outside. He told me some story about missing work and that he needed a few dollars for the bus. I politely declined a donation and watched him leave.

In late 2006, I had a man come to the door. He read his "story" from a piece of paper and he sounded mentally handicapped. Something seemed, well, not right. When I told him I had no cash, his handicap went away and he yelled "Go Fuck Yourself", flipped me off and stormed off down my driveway. About six months later, my door bell rings, and it's the same guy. I asked if he remembered me, he said no, and I politely said "get the fuck off on my property". He complied.

I completely understand that people have to do what they need to, to get by, but here is where I become an asshole.

Don't come to my house.

Also, if you've never experienced being approached for money in our town, then all you need to do is sit outside at the Starbucks in Nob Hill, or the Satellite by UNM. Hell, just take a walk down Central from Nob Hill to UNM. Remember walking? Well, if you do, I would say that you would be asked for money at least twice.

So that is my speech for today.

The Odd Photographer

Apparently the coppers in the UK need your help.

Looking for A Fuji Camera - Please Help

I am looking for a camera that never made it to the USA.

It is the Fuji GSW680III.
Yes it is a 6x8 range finder camera. A format I find ideal.

Unfortunately, Fuji only sent the 6x7 and 6x9 to the USA.

Seeing that my blog was viewed over 10,000 times in February,
and quite a bit by people in Asia, I thought it would be a good
idea to put the word out. (I have software that shows me how many hits I get and where they originated from.)

So, if you ever come across this camera in your favorite shop in
Tokyo or elsewhere, please let me know.

Save Polaroid ... the website

It looks like a few concerned photographers have put together a rather
nice website concerning the demise of Polaroid films.

http://www.savepolaroid.com/

Have a look. I did a picture of the site on my computer.