Category Archives: Photography

Habits

Posted on by

March 30

Lately it seems like I have to completely change my life all the time. Is this the trade off for being in my more emotionally stable thirties? A big project begins, and suddenly I’m putting in a 30+ hour 5 days a week work week. Soccer season starts and I have to figure out how to make and eat dinner and get to my Thursday night knitting group in the 5 minutes I have at home. My children have spring break, but not at the same time, not even for consecutive weeks, so we can’t travel anywhere and I can’t be at work. I start running and following a running schedule without much leeway before my 5k race, and have to find time to squeeze in a run when I’m home with the children. Then I develop tendinitis in my feet, and have to stop running for over a week which was even harder. This blog, too, has been a difficult habit ever since September when my daughter started her 5 day a week preschool – I no longer have set days off and we’re busier with more to prepare each day once we get home, leaving little time in which to write.

April 1

The flip side to all of this change is that I’m happy, really happy. This has been a really good year for my family, and I think being busy and working hard suites us right now. I like being busy at work, and am enjoying the new project. Spending an afternoon hour outside watching my son play soccer and my daughter run as fast as she can down a hill is a joy. I got a lot of hand stitching and knitting done not to mention netflix watching during one spring break, and managed to spend the other spring break at the office with my son in tow. Running makes me feel really good, especially after my forced break. Writing – whatever I can manage – makes me happy, and even if I’m not scrawling or typing words, I’m always writing them in my head.

April 2

One thing that has been hard is my daily picture taking habit. That big work project? Yeah it involves me taking hundreds of photos everyday, and by quitting time the last thing I want to do is pick up my camera and take photographs for myself. I’ve managed to only miss 1 or 2 days of this year’s 365 project, but I’ve used my camera phone for many many pictures, which I swore to myself I would not do again this year. I also haven’t posted anything from the last 2 months on flickr. Oh well. Someday I will find time to catch up.

April 6

The newest and best change for me is that I’m posting on habit. I was thrilled when Emily and Molly invited me to be a participant for April, and was glad to have a really good excuse to pick up my camera and document my day for myself. I’ll tell you it hasn’t been easy, and some days I reject everything I shoot or can’t come up with anything to write, and decide to post nothing. But I’m there at least 3 days a week for the rest of this month, and really habit isn’t about creating something spectacular, it’s just about creating something. Often what seems ordinary, when viewed alongside all those other moments in the lives of all those other women, becomes extraordinary.

April 8

35 of 35

Posted on by

Happy Thanksgiving! It’s also happy birthday to me. Inspired by this lady, I’ve been taking 35 photos throughout today in honor of my 35th birthday. I took the first one while lying in bed willing myself to get up, and the others have followed every 27 minutes thereafter. It’s been a great, full – grateful – day. There are still 6 untaken images, and I’m looking forward to seeing the whole series completed.

Meh About Photography

Posted on by

November 2

I’m not sure what is going on with me, but I can’t seem to get excited about my photographs lately. I’m still taking a photograph every day for my ongoing 365 project, though some days it is easier, not to mention more fun, to take an instagram photo with my phone. I still love my new camera and new lens, but I haven’t updated flickr in over a month which includes all my California photos. I feel mired in my routine.

Luckily, Emily and Molly reopened the Habit pool for the month of November to anyone who wants to participate. I had so much fun participating in July of 2010. Deciding on a photo and writing accompanying text (no more than 30 words!) quickly became my favorite part of the day back then. I hope working on new habit photos will jump start my photography love again.

November 3

New Camera, New Snow

Posted on by

At the end of the week that was a stay-at-home-with-a-sick-girl-week, my new camera arrived.  It looks just like my old camera, but it is much more complicated. I spent most of yesterday reading the manual, but last night I couldn’t even remember how to adjust the focus. I have a lot of learning to do.

We also got another 2+ inches of snow.

Is there such a thing as too many handknits when it is 19 degrees outside?

He’s grumpy about the snow. It’s no fun getting your feet wet and cold everytime you have to pee.

Of course there is no school today. Oh well, plenty of time to work with the new camera.

365, Part Three

Posted on by

(An assortment of photos from 2010.)

I just started my third year of taking a photograph every day.  The first year was hard, and I looked forward to January 1 when I was off the hook. But then something didn’t feel right, and I realized I still wanted all of the great things that came out of the 365 project – photos of my everyday life, more photos of my children, capturing how the things around me change with the hours and the days and the seasons. So, I began again.

The second year wasn’t hard. I still forgot on two days and sometimes struggled to find a single photo to take (this is especially true in the dark winter months), but a shift occurred and my daily photograph was a joyous part of my routine. I don’t see a single day in my future life going by without picking up my camera to document some part of it.

I hoped to start my third year with a new camera, but I’m still waiting on shipment and making do with my D70 whose limitations frustrate me more every day. It is still a great camera and a workhorse (mine is over 6 years old), but there is more I want to do with capturing light or the lack thereof. I’m trying to be patient while my heart pines for something new, but just imagining how this year will look with my new camera is becoming less satisfying every day. Luckily time gives us fresh eyes, and looking back at the images I took over the past year always makes me happy.

Habit

Posted on by

Habit has been one of my favorite blogs ever since it started 18 months ago.  I love to see the daily photographic captures of Emily, Molly, and their monthly guests paired with their own simple words (30 or less) .  So many images have struck me, and so many words have resonated with me.  Everyday I look forward to the new set.

July is a special month because Emily and Molly have invited everyone to be a part of habit.  I’m 11 days in, and kind of addicted.  At first I thought I’d make a habit entry every few days or so, but then the day didn’t seem finished without the creation of a habit photo.  Often there is a shot I’ve taken during my day that I love, but just isn’t right for my 365 project or as a part of my blog or flickr photostream.  Usually that photo is just right for habit, and it’s been a joy to take these orphans, think about what I want to say with them, then set them afloat in the habit group.  It’s also been nice to spend a few moments of my day – either during lunchtime or at night when the house is dark and quiet – with others’ images and words from their day.

With 20 days left in the month, it isn’t too late to try habit out for yourself.  I already know that once July is over, I will still add to my habit photos on my own, because it’s quickly become a favorite ritual – a habit – of my day.

Holga Primer

Posted on by

This past weekend, I finally dug my Holgas out from under the guest bed and loaded them with film.  I have a lot of 120 film that lives in my fridge next to the maple syrup and ketchup, and I never get around to using it mostly because I’m discouraged with the photo labs here.  They’ve all gone digital which I completely understand, but I hate digital contact sheets because the quality is so inferior.  I still want my negatives laid down on a sheet of photographic paper; I do not want them scanned.  But, I’m not going to let this situation stop me from shooting new photos anymore. I’m going to find a new lab even if I have to mail my film to New York.

Holgas are cheap and fun.  When I got my first one – oh about 12 years ago - it was such a nice change from hauling around my bulky 4×5 camera and loading sheet film into holders.  I still got photographs that I loved, with many of the same characteristics of my large format images, but with less sore arms and back.   Holgas can be a little frustrating though.  I don’t hack mine too much, but here are some basic ways to improve the experience. All of mine are the old S camera, so some of these mods may be unnecessary on the new versions.

1. Throw away the lens cap.  It is useless, and you will either forget to remove it or lose it. Get rid of it from the start and keep yourself from cursing.

2. Don’t baby the camera.  I’ve dropped all of mine, banged them around, and they still work just as well as they ever did.  In fact, I like to think that dropping a Holga makes it take better pictures, but I wouldn’t necessarily do it on purpose.

3. Name your camera.  Each Holga is different, and if you have more than one you’ll be able to know and keep track of which camera has light leaks, which camera has the best vignetting, which camera has the blurriest pictures, etc.  I own three Holgas – Huey, Dewey, and Louie – named after the ducks in a cartoon I liked to watch as a kid.

4. Do not rely on the metal tabs to keep the back of the camera on.  If you do, you will have roll after roll of ruined film when the back falls off and the film is exposed to light.  I glued velcro tabs on mine, and I also use gaffer’s tape along the top and bottom edges of the back for extra security.  I’ve heard of people using black electrical tape, but I don’t think that tape is as complete of a light barrier as gaffer’s tape.

5. A Holga will leak light.  To prevent light leaks, use gaffer’s tape along all the edges.  You will also need to put a piece of gaffer’s tape over the red piece of plastic on the back.  You can lift up this piece of tape to advance your film to the right spot, but then press it down again.  Even after taping all the edges, your camera may still leak light but that is part of the quirkiness of the low quality manufacturing that makes the Holga fun.

6. If you want square negatives (2.25″ x 2.25″), which most people do, then you will need to remove the plastic insert from the inside of the camera.  Cover the newly exposed rough edges with gaffer’s or electrical tape, so your film won’t get scratched by the plastic.  You’ll also need to push the black piece of plastic down so the arrow points to the number 12 on the back of the camera.  I remember this being a little tricky, and I think I had to use a screwdriver to pry it down.  Be careful not to puncture the red window in the process.

7. To be able to shoot in varied light conditions, use higher speed film.  One of my favorite films is Fuji 800 NPZ.  Even though it is rated 800, the film is meant for portraits so the grain is small and the colors are lovely.  This film is perfect for the Holga.  If you use film rated 100 or 200, know that you will only be able to shoot outside when the sun is shining.  

8. Unless you stuff some folded paper under the bottom of the film spools, your film will not be tight in the camera and will not wind tightly on the uptake spool.  If the film is loose in the camera, your pictures will be fuzzy.  If your film is loosely wound on the new spool, the paper backing will not protect your film from light exposure and all your pictures will be ruined when you open the back to take the film out. Be careful not to stuff too much paper under the spools, because then they will get jammed and you won’t be able to wind your film at all.  This is almost as annoying as loose film, and often ends up in a ruined roll of film (unless you have a completely dark room and can fix the problem entirely in the dark).

9. You can mount a flash on the Holga, as there is a metal hot shoe on top of the camera, but be aware that it might be a little finicky.  I used to have a great cheapo flash that was lightweight and perfect for the Holga, but then it broke like most cheapo things tend to do and I haven’t used a flash with my cameras since. If you want to shoot inside or at night, you will likely need a flash.

I know there are hundreds of other mods out there, but these will get you started.  I’m not going to go over how to load the film, because I have a feeling youtube has that covered even though I haven’t looked for sure.  I’m looking forward to seeing what new pictures I take with my Holgas, once I find that new photo lab.  Any suggestions?

365

Posted on by

For months, I’ve been counting down the days until my 365 project was over.

I loved making myself take photos everyday. But some days, there was nothing I saw that I liked. And other days, I forgot until 11pm at night.

I loved getting into the habit of having my camera with me all the time.  The few times I decided not to take it with me, I always saw an unbelievable shot I couldn’t capture. I realized that the light in our house sucks, and that I love my 50 mm portrait lens.

Some days I took hundreds of photos, and had a tough time deciding which one summed up my day and experiences. And some days, it was a chore to even get one photo I semi-liked.

I have a lot more photos of my kids. But, I still have very few that are in focus.

There were only 5 days I completely missed, which feels like a success to me.  I plumb forgot on a few of those days.  A couple of those days I skipped on purpose as I remembered at 11:30 at night, my camera was outside in the car, and it was pouring rain.

I imposed unfounded standards on myself. I decided I didn’t want any blog photos to also be 365 photos. This made it harder to blog.

Some photos felt like the art photography I used to do. Some photos felt like silly snapshots.

I really learned how to use and adjust my camera settings without having to read the manual from cover to cover.  It might have taken less time just to read the manual, but now I really understand and know from all my practice and mistakes.

Now that the project ends today, I keep thinking about doing it again. But, I think I want to try something different. I still want to take pictures every day or almost every day, but I also want to leave behind the constraints of a 365. So, I’m going to try to shoot every day, but only post the best photo of the week – I’m looking forward to seeing how 52 weeks will be different than 365 days. Maybe a year from now when it’s done, it wont be that different at all.

I used to want to take picture.

Posted on by

It’s funny how things change. I used to be obsessed with photography. OBSESSED. I looked at every magazine and book I could get my hands on. I went to galleries and museums looking for photographs. If I was in an antique store, I would walk by all the glass cases hoping to find a tintype or a daguerreotype. I waited each week for the photo-eye newsletter to tell me about the new books being published. If I traveled to another city, I searched out photography shows at galleries or museums. I would drive to Atlanta the last weekend of a show at the High Museum. I drove to New Haven the last weekend of the MFA show. I spent all day in Chelsea and ended up with a hurt foot due to all that walking. I wanted to be a Fine Art Photographer more than anything else.

But then I got sick and didn’t know it for a long time. And I was lonely being by myself all the time. I might have been lonely and depressed because I was sick, but it seemed like a lot of it had to do with photography. I got sick of hauling around heavy equipment and having to load and reload film all the time. And then I moved and lost my darkroom. And then I was pregnant, and didn’t want to be around chemicals. And then I was nursing and didn’t want to be around chemicals. And then I was pregnant again and still nursing, and I no longer wanted anything to do with chemicals. And the prices of everything went up up up. I have so much film in the fridge waiting to be processed, waiting for me to think we finally have enough money to pay the mortgage, the bills, and develop film. And now we have the digital SLR which is fun and easy. Nothing about my film cameras was easy. I no longer want to be a Fine Art Photographer and that is okay. I’ve known for a while that is in my old life, the life I left when I chose to be well and be happy. Photographer may still be on my tax return as profession but it probably shouldn’t be.

Yet, I still have a strong desire to make. But making to me now is about taking something like fabric or yarn and turning it into something useful or pretty or both. Making doesn’t seem to be very related to capturing. The more I spend my time with my hands making, the more I want to spend all my time with my hands making.
I still love to take photographs when the urge hits, though the urge comes to me not very often. There have been some afternoons in the past few months where I saw a tree I wanted to photograph the same way it looked in my eyes or I saw my children playing together and laughing and knew I wanted something that captured their smiles and crinkled eyes and expressed laughing and joy without needed any sound. I know I need to dig out those rolls from deep freeze and see if anything comes to life. I have a feeling I will see a lot I don’t remember, and since time passes so much faster now I need something to bring those past moments back to me. I think 2009 needs to be the year of bringing photography back to me. Somehow, somewhere it will be on my resolution list. Stay tuned…