You Can’t Ever Go Back … Or Can You? Don’t Give Up!

Sometimes things don’t work out as planned the first time around. Sometimes they don’t work out the second time you try. But sometimes the third time’s a charm. That was the way it turned out for me recently.

In landscape photography the masters have often revisited a location numerous times waiting for the right light or a beautiful cloud formation to arrange itself overhead. Then think of how may times Edward Weston photographed his pepper to get exactly what he was looking for. In the case of street or documentary photography you often only get one chance, as the picture is there for a fleeting moment and then it’s gone forever.  But not always, especially if you are persistent and not willing to give up!

Such was the case when I went to the large open air Italian Market in South Philly last summer. First things first; as soon as I arrived I grabbed some quick chow. Then off to make some photographs. After walking around the central area I decided to keep going … I always find it the most interesting when I have no clue where I am headed. I quickly came upon Capitolo Park and the semi annual Capitolo Park Flea Market.

The exterior of the Park along the sidewalks was packed with vendors selling their wares on top, on the sides and beneath tables, which they sat or stood behind. In some cases they had things hanging from or leaning against the metal chain link fence behind them that bordered the playground and basketball court. I walked around, mostly in the street because there were cars parked in front of the tables and the sidewalks were jammed. This of course made for some challenges when trying to make some of the pictures I was interested in.

I finally stumbled upon a gentleman selling the usual stuff, but behind him leaning against chain link fence were stuffed animal heads mounted on some kind of wooden board. A little bizarre, so naturally I got excited and made a few pictures. Unfortunately I couldn’t get what I really wanted due to the parked cars and the mass of people I wasn’t able to control. But you do the best you can or walk away empty.

I eventually got around to developing the film but the proof sheet turned out the way I thought it might; the pictures were not worth printing. Nevertheless, I stored what I saw in my memory for future keeping. On a Saturday morning this June I drove back to the same location hoping the flea market and the guy with the animal heads would be there. Of course I hadn’t done any checking beforehand and so no flea market and no guy with his animal heads. I walked around and made a few pictures but felt a little dejected until I spoke to a nice woman who I guessed live lived in the neighborhood and asked if she knew about the flea market. Yes she did; it takes place twice a year and the upcoming one would be next Saturday!

With great anticipation I drove back to South Philly the following Saturday.  It took forever to find a parking space within walking distance, but I finally found one and started hiking towards the park.  It was packed with people, tables and of course the damned cars parked in front of the tables. I walked around the park and playground and then I saw him with his animal heads against on the fence, in the exact same location as last before!  And yes there was a car parked in front of his area, but with enough of a space to hopefully get a decent shooting angle.

I had a nice chat with him about what he was selling, especially since he had a couple of boxes vinyl LPs and I only own several thousand myself. A few more couldn’t do any harm. Good ice breaker. In a short while he was happy to move into position so I could make some photographs and I was able to get the passing onlookers to stop while I made them. All very enjoyable!  I finished what I set out to do and went to find my car.

A few days later I developed my film and made my proof sheet with a certain amount of anticipation. And yes, third time was a charm!

I really wanted this picture and wasn’t willing to give up on it even if the probability of success was pretty slim. There are a number of pictures I have missed either because I didn’t have my camera with me or I couldn’t quite get it right or I just screwed up completely. I wanted to keep trying to see if I might capture this one. I thought somehow that if I kept trying the photography gods might look kindly upon me and magically it would happen.

I did, and it did.

If your picture really matters to you, don’t give up!

Lest We Forget … the 75th Anniversary of D Day

Both my parents were WWII veterans and I have always been grateful for their service and sacrifice.  I always think about them on Memorial Day, but this year was special because we were also the 75thanniversary of D Day.

I think it is hard to fully grasp the peril that the world faced in 1944 unless you grew up during that time. You can read about it, but the best way is to communicate with those who lived it.  And while America has endured many conflicts since the end of WWII, nothing can compare that conflict in terms of total horror and number of casualties.  Over 400,000 Americans lost their lives during WWII. Then there was the mass amount of casualties our allies suffered. All so tyranny could be defeated and we could maintain the freedoms we take for granted today.  But what about today? There are storm clouds on the horizon … neo-Nazi groups, white supremacists, growing racism and anti semitism at home and abroad, and ultra nationalism spreading across Europe like a disease.

Those Americans that fought in WWII so that their children and grandchildren could have the kind of lives that they could only dream of are passing away at a rate of 372 per day. That is why the recent 75th anniversary of D Day and events surrounding it like Mid-Atlantic Air Museum’s 29th Anniversary WWII weekend are so important!  They help us remember, to imagine, and teach those who are not familiar.

I decided that one of the ways I could become more immersed in the anniversary was to take the drive to Reading, Pennsylvania and check out what the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum’s 29th Anniversary WWII weekend was all about … and of course make some photographs. After all, the Reading Regional Airport was only about an hour and a half from where I live, so it would easily fit within my self imposed Two Hour photography plan I have been operating under and have previously written about.

There were tons of vintage WWII aircraft on the ground and flying overhead. My father-in-law was a B-17 jockey and would have felt right at home! Then there were the hundreds of WWII era re-enactors milling around in uniform or civvies, not to mention important world leaders giving rousing speeches.  And there were bands playing the great popular music of the 1940s. Of course there was a lot of food.  So far so good!

My hope was that I would see some WWII veterans and make some photographs of them. I did see a few and thanked them for there service, but they were in a very crowded area inside one of the air hangers.  So I didn’t have much luck in terms of the type pictures I was hoping for but seeing them was worth far more.

Now what? No problem. Look for other opportunities! They’re always there if you are open to the possibilities and I had a lot of fun finding them. In the end I got a few keepers I’m happy with and I have now started printing them.  But most of all I was able to be part of a truly wonderful event. It reminded me of how great the “greatest generation” really was and what they fought for to protect.

It really was a different time.

Thank you for your service!

Just One More Video … John Sexton: Print Your Legacy

Just when you think you have had enough I would like to alert you to one more video, because it is worth seeing! I seem to be on a video roll, but only because I recently watched an outstanding short video produced by Epson of John Sexton discussing his photographic and working philosophy that all leads up to one thing … creation of a finished print that contains everything you meant to say when you made the photograph. The video is part of an Epson advertising campaign and is entitled John Sexton: Print Your Legacy.

I was lucky enough to take two of John’s workshops when I was much younger. One of them was a 30thbirthday present from my wonderful wife. I learned a lot and met some truly outstanding people, including the great Henry Gilpin.  It goes without saying that John is a gifted photographer, but I can also tell you without hesitation that he’s a tremendous teacher and a lot of fun to be around. While I haven’t seen John in some years we have stayed in touch and I always look forward to receiving his informative newsletter. In the latest one he mentioned this award wining a video. You can find it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1T1DEZX1a4

It’s less then five minutes in length but long on inspiration.

Check it out. I think you will be glad you did!

It’s Another Video … Of Me … I’m Not Kidding!

And now for something different!  Last week I wrote about the wonderful and inspiring film Don McCullin – Looking for England. I hope you were able to watch it. Staying with the video theme, I thought I would provide a link to a video summary of my presentation at the recent Photo Arts Xchange (PaX) I previously wrote about. In it I talk a little about my thinking and the stories behind the photographs I showed. Thank you Steve Sherman for posting this, along with videos of other PaX participants!

You can find it on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yyFbLb-Bgw

I thought I would share this so you might get a little better idea about what makes me tick photographically.  To be on the safe side I watched it again to make sure I wouldn’t completely embarrass myself to those that are kind enough to visit this outpost every week. I hope you enjoy it, and despite having watched it, decide that you still want to come back for more!

You Need to Watch This … Don McCullin – Looking for England

Last week I happened upon a marvelous film entitled Don McCullin – Looking for England. Made this year, it takes us on a tour with McCullin through his old photographic stomping grounds and other fascinating locations to make pictures. It also brings us into the sanctuary of his darkroom to watch him print. At 83, McCullin is one of the great living photographers and he is still passionate about black and white film and the silver print.

The film is truly inspirational. I came away from it not only learning about how the man works, but perhaps more importantly I gained an understanding of what has enabled him to truly live a full and active photographic life into his eighties.  To illustrate this I thought I would share some notable things McCullin says as we follow him from place to place.

“I use photography to find myself in this world.”

“Photography has given me not so much an education, but a lifetime’s experience.”

I couldn’t agree more or say it any it any better, even though I have written about my own similar feelings several times here.

Thank you Don McCullin for all the great pictures and stories you have given us over these many years … and thank you for sharing in words how to live a truly photographic life.

So set aside hour when you won’t be interrupted and watch this great film. You can find it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOTedHe-_lg

Enjoy!

More Good News About Film Damn It!

A friend and reader of this site sent me an article written by Stan Horaczek that was recently published on Popular Photography’s website entitled Films Worth Shooting With Before They’re Gone. The tag line read “Give your digital camera a break and shoot these rolls while while you still have the opportunity”. The article goes on to state:

“Film photography is not dead. Although a few years ago it was hurting, with old film stocks being lost every couple of months, but in the last few years there has been a resurgence of new film stocks hitting the market and a companies bringing back once discontinued films. Although the remaining selection is a small fraction of what we once had, there are still plenty of films out there worth loading into a camera. The second hand film camera market is also having a bit of a revival. But who knows what the future holds?  We’ve put together a collection of films you might want to try while you still can.”

How’s that for a good news/bad news story? Come on. No need to be a Debbie Downer here! While there is no doubt we have lost some great films as a result of the digital onslaught … Plus-X, Pan-X, Verichrome Pan to name a few … we are very lucky and still have a large number of wonderful films such as Tri-X that we can use in confidence (not to mention a great selection of tremendous papers to print them on and all the chemistry you will ever need!). A number of them are mentioned in this article – both black and white and color.

Like vinyl, film is back. A small amount of film cameras are still being manufactured and a number of vintage camera models have seen their prices steadily rise on the used market. Thankfully many can still be had at bargain prices and their use is helping to feeding the film resurgence.

So I am happy to see this article but the sense of it is almost like hey, we’re all digital users, but once in awhile it’s fun to try something more old word and charming.  I have run into a number of photographers that still print digitally but have given up on digital capture completely. They love the experience and love the look of film. Think Tri-X. I have met others that have come back to analog completely.

Look, film is not going anywhere and there is an abundance of cameras to use them … believe me, I know! Maybe what we really need is an article that discusses using your mobile phone to snap a picture when you are out an about and don’t have your film camera with you!

July Photo Chat Get-Together

Summer is here in Bucks County and there is no excuse to be making photographs and talking about them. Time to schedule another Photo Chat Get-Together!

Yes, it’s time to get together again to discuss our photographs and how our photographic lives are progressing!

How about joining us and getting together to chat about our photographs and the stories behind them? What was your intent in making the photograph, what were you trying to say, was it a success? If you made your print, were there any particular challenges involved?

This is not a discussion focused on gear — the idea is to share insights, get constructive feedback, learn a few things, relax and make new friends!

Well, if this sounds interesting and fun, how about joining me in beautiful downtown Doylestown, PA, in the heart of scenic Bucks County, and we will get together over a cup of coffee.

Photographers of all levels are welcome.

Bring only a couple of prints to discuss. Obviously the prints should be Black and White and should be film based!

The get together will be on Sunday, July 28th, 10:00-11:30am at the Zen Den coffee shop, located at their new address on 41 E State St, Doylestown, PA 18901.

Email or call me at 215-348-9171 if you are interested. First come first serve!

I look forward to seeing you!

National Camera Day and More!

On Saturday I spent a good chunk of the day in my darkroom catching up on the large number of rolls of film that had been sitting on my worktable waiting to be developed.   The last roll was made a week ago.  Before I got started the phone rang – it was my friend Tom calling from Ohio to let me know that it was National Camera Day. He heard about it while watching the Weather Channel.

Thanks Tom! But wait, there’s more – after a little research I found out that June 29this truly special – not only is it National Camera Day, but it is also National Almond Buttercrunch Day as well as National Waffle Iron Day!

Yes, the trifecta!

I make a real effort with these writings not to dwell on picture making gear but as I have previously admitted … damn it I love cameras, especially the older fully manual mechanical ones. I enjoy and appreciate the tactile pleasure, the craftsmanship and feeling that they transport me to another time when I use them. In short, I love everything about them. But, what it most important is that they enable me to make photographs.  Of course any camera can make a good picture. Maybe some are more fun to use, or maybe built better, or have more features. Who cares! The point is grab whatever you own, dust it off if it hasn’t been used in awhile and make some photographs … in belated honor of National Camera Day. Maybe you might even decide to make some interesting photographs of almond buttercrunch, or waffle irons.  Maybe this will be the beginning of a whole new creative phase!  Maybe by next year’s National Camera Day you will have used your trusty old/new friend to create some work that you are truly proud of! Your immediate reward will be that you got out there, had some fun, maybe got a keeper and can now have some tasty waffles (I like mine with butter and syrup) and great candy bar (my wife loves Butterfingers) for a treat! The long-term rewards will be more profound.

So mark June 29thon your calendar for next year, set some goals and see what you have accomplished when you get there!