Awhile back I wrote about selling my Leitz Focomat V35 and acquiring a Focomat 1C and a Focomat 2.  I used the V35 with its color head, as I did with my beloved Devere 504. Both enlargers were a dream to use and the color heads made printing with variable contrast paper a breeze. Also, the V35 and the Devere were equipped with top-drawer lenses. The V35 came from the factory with the outstanding Focotar-2 lens, and I had outfitted the Devere with a set of incomparable Schneider Apo Componon HM enlarging lenses. The V35 is an autofocus enlarger and the Devere, while being a traditional manual focus tank of an enlarger used ingenious and easy to use below the baseboard focusing wheel controls.

Well so much for my past logic for using these world class tools and on to indulging my apparently not to hidden lust for what many consider the ultimate! Had I lost my mind?

While I had built out my enlarging bench to accommodate three enlargers instead of the previous configuration of two, my darkroom quickly became a storage location while I was remodeling my basement and sat idle since the beginning of the year. I completed my basement project at the end of May and then finally finished emptying my darkroom of everything non-photographic, purchased some missing parts for the 2C in Germany and installed them (the missing tiny ball bearings that went into the adjustable lens mounting assembly were particularly expensive and fun to install properly $^%#&&!).  Meanwhile roll after roll of exposed film was gradually taking over what empty space remained on the bench … I’ve actually made quite a bit of photographs this year despite a very busy work schedule and juggling the basement project.

So now sitting in my darkroom along with the Devere, my trusty companion of the last twenty five year or so, were what many consider the King (Focomat 2C) and at a minimum, the Crown Prince (Focomat1C) of enlargers … the Leicas of enlargers!  And of course neither was equipped with diffusion color heads and therefore lacked the convenience I love so much!  But not so fast! Why worry about ease of use and great results when you can have a 1C for 35mm and a 2C dedicated for medium format in their last incarnations, complete with the finest of Leitz lenses? No contest; they’re things of true beauty and functional magnificence!

This lovely picture brings us to the past week. What to do! Maybe I’m not thinking straight, but every time I walked into that room I knew the Devere was going to be a problem for me. I knew it so well and could use it so intuitively that it would be too easy to fall back and turn to it as I tried to get used to the Focomats sans color heads and my Zone VI compensating timer.

There was only one answer … yes maybe I am a bozo … I called my neighbor and soon we had taken my beloved Devere away. Yes, I ripped off the band aid and while it hurt I thought it was for the best. It sits atop a rolling table I built to hold my dry mount press in a storage room elsewhere in the basement … removed but not to far away.

I’ve recently picked up some Ilford variable contrast filters and several first generation mechanical Zone VI Dry Down Enlarging Timers.  Now with no choices and no excuses it’s time to get on with it!

Step one is to develop all that film sitting in the middle of the now more spacious enlarging bench. Then make proof sheets and finally on to making some prints if I got some keepers.

I’ll let you know how it goes … but if anyone has any thoughts I’d love to hear from you!

Stay well,

Michael

Last week I wrote about my big photography week off, how things didn’t work out quite as planned, but that hopefully some good pictures were made. I also talked about planning, and the more I think about it, so much in our lives seem to be planned and/or structured in some way. Now here’s something different … how about just meandering about in your car, on your bike, or even on foot with no specific destination in mind and just get lost. That’s right … get lost! You may be surprised at what you might find and see.  Don’t worry … your phone has GPS on it so you will find your way home when you’re done … well hopefully.  Actually, once my GPS lost it’s mind and kept taking me in circles in Seattle. Another time I was following it obediently and it directed me to a dead end. Not helpful. But again, don’t worry the likelihood of that happening is supposedly low.

So I think it’s healthy to get lost. In fact, I’ve been told to get lost a number of times and all’s well in my life, photographically and otherwise.  As I mentioned last time, in my meandering I ended up finding some new things I never knew about not far from where I live. I also made some pictures of things I’ve passed by a million times that upon closer inspection turned out to be more interesting than I thought!

So here’s the thing, it’s a great idea to sometimes ditch the plan or put it on hold and just try somewhere new, and not necessarily far away.  And while you’re at it be really open to observing what you are passing by.  There are many new worlds close by just waiting to be explored and gems to be captured.

Even if you don’t get lost and are driving or walking on familiar territory you can think of it as something new and different.  Recently I got together with a famous photographer/artist I know. She said she needed to pay more attention to a road she’s driven on millions of times because she realized there are some great photo opportunities to explore.

Look, I’m not giving up my projects or my plans, but I’m going to concentrate more on getting lost.  I think doing this will create a better balance in my photographic life and relieve any stress related to plans that don’t go as expected or projects that don’t get done during the expected timeframe. And the surprises will be all the more exciting! This may work for you too. Give it a try!

Stay well,

Michael

I had it on my calendar to take this past week off to photograph.  So I planned out a number of places I wanted to go. I’ve had a few of them on my to do list for several years or so.

It’s funny how there are places you want to go and for some reason or another you just never get to them, even if they’re not very far away.  Just like other things you want to get around to doing but never seem to make happen. Well this time I was pretty determined!  It sounded good when I talked about it and it looked good on paper in my notebook.

Then as usual, as the week was approaching a few things started to come up that had to be scheduled. A zoom meeting, then a conference call. Then three different couples we know wanted to get together for dinner this week.  Ok, no problem.

I decided I wasn’t going to get wrapped around the axel over it and realized my list was probably a little bit too ambitious under the best of circumstances.  So what did I do? I took my own advice as described in last week’s entry … I modified my plans a bit and went about my way to photograph all the things that get in front of my camera. I also decided to keep doing things on my schedule that are good for me and I enjoy. So I got in my daily early morning ten-kilometer walks and yes, went out to dinner three nights in a row with friends (Ok, a little much and not my normal I can assure you!).

The other thing I did was not to get into a funk if things weren’t going well when I was out there … be it a planned outing or going freestyle.  For example when my plans had to be ditched one day I hijacked a friend who knows many of Bucks County’s secrets and he showed me a few.  Thanks Dave! I also decided to head in uncharted directions where I had a hunch things might be interesting, especially when dark clouds started to roll in and the light got bad. Now what? Drive in a different direction!  I can’t tell you how many times I changed directions as I tried to stay ahead of the changing light. But you know what?  I ended up finding some new things I never knew about not far from where I live and made some pictures of other things I’ve passed by a million times that upon closer inspection turned out to be more interesting than I thought!

The most fun was when I went on a few day trips and just kept going off route when something interesting caught my eye or I sensed there might be something if I went rogue.  So I showed up to my destinations or got home an hour or two later than planned.  Who cares?

So in the end, a great week was had, and not the one I had planned on by a long shot! I had a wonderful time, without the stress, made a lot of photographs, found some unexpected surprises and maybe snagged a few keepers.

Now on to all of the things I didn’t get to plus all the other things I want to do! I’ll need a lot more than a week though!

Stay well,

Michael

I recently saw a quote by Lee Friedlander that really struck me … “I tend to photograph the things that get in front of my camera.”  How simple!  At first I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but having pondered it for a while I’ve concluded it is more than a simple statement … it is one that’s deceptively simple … and profound! And as it turns out, it’s something I do … read on!

Think about it. Do we over plan and over think our outings, so that when we get to where we want to be we’re so narrowly focused on the task at hand that we become blind to the myriad of photographic opportunities passing us by?  And what about when we are going from one place to another? Are we oblivious to what we’re missing because we’re not looking?

I own some of Friedlander’s books but I can’t say that I’m an expert on his work. That having been said I really like the concept and while I do some planning myself, especially related to projects, I try to be open to all the opportunities I see … and photograph the things that get in front of my camera.  Now does that mean that I’m firing away willy-nilly at everything that seems to be interesting? Not at all! What it does mean is that I’m open to whatever I see and if I think it has potential I do my best to properly evaluate, carefully compose and make the photograph.

But you could also take what Friedlander said and ask isn’t that what digital shooters do?  Well, I suppose, but firing away at anything that gets in front of their cameras, hoping to get some keepers amongst the hundreds or more pictures made during a couple of hours walking around does not yield good results on my opinion. And it’s confirmed when I look at the mostly mundane digital street photography populating the Internet.

If you ask my wife and kids they will tell you how I would always be taking pictures and holding up things when we travelled, or that when driving I would demand to stop the car, or worse yet to turn the car around and drive back ten miles to make a picture of something that caught my eye and wouldn’t let go. I know it was annoying, but I made some memorable pictures along the way.

So what’s the bottom line?  It’s ok to plan and be focused, but don’t worry about it  too much. Really. Worry too much and you might not make many photographs. Here’s an idea … just get out there and photograph the things that get in front of your camera!

That’s what I intend to do this week. I’m taking off some time just to photograph, and while I have specific plans for each day, I will be looking to photograph all the things that get in front of my camera.

Stay well,

Michael

A couple of weeks ago I drove up to Westwood New Jersey for a book signing and meet and greet with the great photographer George Tice. I had spoken with Gallery 270 Director Tom Gramegna who was raving about the astounding quality of the book – and yes, the shear weight of the thing – nine pounds!  He also mentioned that Tice had been working on it for twelve years! So a great double banger – I get to meet George Tice and get a signed copy of his new book called Lifework. It turned out to be a triple-header as I made the acquaintance of a very fine large format documentary photographer who was present at the event for the same reason as me. Turns out we got together this past week over coffee and Monalog will probably have a terrific new member!

That’s one of the things I like most about photography – the wonderfully unexpected and unintended occurrences, often having nothing to do with making a photograph, that often happen when you least expect them.

Okay, back to the main event.  Monalog had a very nice show at the 270 last September and will be having another one in June 2023. It’s just across the river from New York City, but while I was driving up on Interstate 287 I noticed the Paterson exit.  For those that know Tice’s work this was very fitting and it turned out be a great icebreaker that got a chuckle when I finally sat down next to George.

We had a very nice chat for about ten minutes when I looked at my watch and then at those waiting patiently for their turn and decided it was time to wrap things up. I spent much more time talking with him than I expected so I am grateful for that. George has had a remarkable career and life and I told him a little about mine. Nothing to deep but it was very nice and a lot of fun.

All and all a great evening and the book is a real beauty. I also made a wonderful connection with another great photographer who will become part of my photographic circle.

The unexpected and the unintended … it’s nice when things don’t go necessary as planned!

Stay well,

Michael

Yes another entry but not quite the same. Not another of my “favorite top black and white analog photographers” but just my favorite photographer. And whom you ask might that person be?  Shocker alert … it’s me! That’s right! And why not? I really like my own work and if I didn’t why would I make it? I love making my photographs and I get tremendous pleasure when I look at them. And if I didn’t there would certainly be a problem, wouldn’t there?

Think about it. I work hard to think about making my photographs that interest me of subjects I find interesting and/or entertaining. Then I put myself into position to make them.  And of course I then take the time to decide which photos to print.  Then I print them to the best of my ability. Lastly, I determine which of the prints will survive my editing process.

Am I comparing myself to Adams, Strand, Weston or Cartier-Bresson? Of course not – those and all the others I love so much inspire me to keep working at it! Nevertheless, does all of this make me someone with an oversized hubris problem, or worse, an egomaniac nutcase? I don’t think so.  Because for everything I do to get to the finish line with a print that has survived the final editing process and is now framed and on my wall or in a nice clamshell box mounted and matted to pull out and look at … I get tremendous satisfaction and a true sense of reward.

And guess what … another shocker alert … you should feel the same way about your own work if you care enough about it … if you put the time and effort in to make it the very best it can be.

Stay well,

Michael

Okay, I know this might be somewhat controversial for a number of you, but I really like Fred Picker’s work. And yes, I have actually seen his work in the flesh.  News flash … it’s quite beautiful! So there!!

One of his photographs may be one of the most visually arresting (to me) images I’ve ever seen.  I think about it quite often. It’s a picture of a several thousand year-old religious monument located in Scotland (I think).  A tall pale stone rising out of the ground.  Very slender and slightly curved towards the left, it points to the clouds above. It’s really quite perfect … to me. Behind and above the monument, the shapes of the clouds seem to mirror those of the contours of the land near the distant horizon. Sublime!

I own his monograph (as well as his technical books), as well as The Iceland Portfolio and enjoy them all. If you can’t deal with this because you’re a Picker hater, or there’s some other reason, take a pill and get over it. Most people consider Picker a salesman or perhaps a writer. He was a great salesman, a great businessman, a great designer of photographic equipment, a great writer, a great teacher, but he was also in my opinion a marvelous photographer.  In many ways he was an inspiration to me. So much so, that when I drove up to the funeral in Vermont to pay my respects to a man I had never met, I felt a strong connection … during the memorial service and afterwards when I looked at his jewel-like images and then had dinner with his friends (who I had also never met). Just like the stone monument picture, I will never forget that day.

Yes, Fred you’re one of my favorites … I never met you in person, but I’m sure it would have been entertaining!

Stay well,

Michael

The world has been waiting and I know things have become tense with the high level of anticipation.  But can the world truly be ready to know who is my Number 1 Favorite Black and White Analog Photographer? That’s right … it is happening … Numero Uno baby!

Yes, yes, it’s about time! So let the drums roll and dim the lights. Are you ready? My choice of my Favorite Black and White Analog Photographer is the one and only Paul Strand!!!

How could it be otherwise? For those of you that have followed my writings all of these years, you might have noticed more than a passing interest of mine in the genius of all things Paul Strand. I’m pretty sure I remember reading somewhere a long time ago that at some point in Strand’s career he decided he wanted to create his work with the idea that it would appear in books. And if I were to count, I probably have more of Strand’s books in my library then anyone else’s. Hmm, let me pause for a moment and take a count.  Okay, I’m back … so I have ten (I need to pick up a few more!). Two more than that of my number two favorite, Ansel Adams.

As great as all the photographers are that I have included in my top 10, Strands stands alone at the top of my photographic mountain. Why?  One reason is because of the universal greatness of all his work, across the range of photographic genres. But perhaps more than that, when I gaze at a Strand book … any Strand book … I am transported to a different time and place. It seems like I’m a visitor to some kind of alternative universe … a simpler and more pure one, free of all that ails us in this universe. Just pick up Tir a’ Mhurain, Un Paese, Time in New England, The Garden at Orgeval – I could go on!

I know the times are different.  The lifestyles were much simpler then, the work much harder, the manmade structures and landscapes more spare. It often makes me wonder which world and time is better – Strand’s or ours.

Because of Strand’s work I have had a long-time obsession to travel to the Outer Hebrides and Gaspe Peninsula to make my own photographs. Perhaps things will be so different that I will be disappointed. Maybe they won’t be the special places where Strand made his iconic images before I was born, or very young. I guess I’ll have to find out for myself some day. But even, if I were never to visit these mystical places, Strand has provided me with enough inspiration to continue my work for years (hopefully!) to come.

Two of the greatest exhibits I’ve ever been fortunate to see were of Strand’s work, at the National Museum of Art in Washington, DC, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Not everyone gets an opportunity like that. If you haven’t seen Strands work in the flesh or are simply not familiar with it, do yourself a big favor and pick up a few of his books. Trust me, you have a lot to look forward to! The ones I mentioned above are a good place to start, but all of them are simply marvelous!

Oh, and speaking of things simply marvelous, the day of this writing happens to be National Macaroni and Cheese Day. Think about it … what could be better … savoring some Mac and Cheese and Paul Strand!

Stay well,

Michael