I’m back!

 I need to spend more time on here, I know that. As I work on updating my website I’ll be working to also dedicating more time here. Hang in there…

The persuit of happiness

So who doesn't want to be happy? Foolish question I know, but it seems to me that although we all want to be happy few people actually go about seeking it.
Why is this? I think people confuse happiness with contentment,  a piece of cake may make you content as may multiple cocktails after work, but that's not necessarily happiness, that's a quick fix quite often send to fill a void in ones life. Many people think that wealth will provide happiness, well if that were the case why do many lottery winners end up broke and penny less? if you're reading this post, guess what? You're well off! That's right even the "poor" in developed countries have cars, cell phones, housing, food etc. in many cases the government provides it! So that's not it, ah must be your mate, your lover, your other half - nope. If it were why is the divorce rate in the United States at 50% (those folks are not only not happy I'd say their miserable)! But wait "I have a right to be happy" nope again. The US constitution provides inalienable rights, namely - life, liberty and "the persuit of happiness."
So why then are we so darn unhappy? With so much wealth floating around and so much "opportunity" why are we all so medicated in an attempt to escape reality?

The Creative Process

The passion of photographic expression is likened to a virus. Ones true merit is not necessarily gaged against the work of another or financial rewards. The rewards come with a personal satisfaction of a body of work; a lifetime of creating and having made a statement. 

I believe if your "statemant" is readily recognized 

Caution - Opinions

I've been know to be opinionated - yes it's true. I realize though that what is true for us today may not be true tomorrow. 

Let me explain; I've had my opinions on film vs digital. 35mm vs medium or large format (or iPhone), I've realized there is no right or wrong answer, different cameras and different formats simply do different things.

Photo Opportunity

It would be great if each time we were inspired we could simply drop what we're doing and immerse ourselves with our camera.

That's unfortunately not the case. I used to have lots of time to simply wonder through the woods along the Niagara Escarpment near Collingwood, Ontario. I had the time to set up my tripod, take exposure readings and compose the subject for interesting and hopefully exciting results. Ones success rate is greatly increased when one "takes the time to get it right".

Time is now a luxury, often I'm forced to make pics on the fly. It's disappointing, although my ability to compose quickly has become more acute.

This image was composed on the fly; the sun had broken through the clouds on I40 east of Ashville, NC. I had been dealing with an overcast sky and periods of rain when all of a sudden the sun broke through the clouds and lit up the surrounding trees. It was glorious, I managed to get away five or six shots and although they were captured with an iPhone and processed with multiple apps I'm happy with the results. It doesn't matter the camera format, what matters is the final result.

Artistic Growth

Photography for me for the most part included acquiring the knowledge to create an outstanding image. Whether, over the course of time I achieved that goal is subjective and left to the viewer.

Poplar Ave Memphis

This is an iPhone shot I made to illustrate the value of a phone app and modern technology vs old school.

It took only moments to create and with another app some quick tweaking. The result is not too bad.

But here is the rub, is it a good thing that decent images can be created on the fly? To create this in the camera (with film) would be expensive and time consuming. I'd have to set up the camera, compose the image, process the image, then spend a few hours in the darkroom printing. More cost, more time. So my question is, is it worth it?

Yes! The images I created that are good enough to find their way to the dark room are in my option my best. Those images will be finished by me not a lab tech (who by the way is probably more competent than me), but still not me.

The image will be offered for sale, will be limited edition and due to the process be original and yes,

 will be expensive.

The consumer/collector is entitled to my best, that's what he is paying for and there in lies the value!

So how does this shot fit into the process? It gives me an idea of how I want the image to look before I actually create it with film.

Killer App

Since my favorite film is Kodak TMax 100 and my favorite camera is the Hasselblad   500cm I'm elated to find an app that allows me the opportunity to mirror my shots using my IPhone. 

The app is 645 PRO MK II. This app allows me to set film type, and ratio (Hasselblad uses 6cm x 6cm negatives).

I can add filters that one would use in B/W photography ie. yellow, red, orange etc.

Why is this important? This combined with other apps allow me the opportunity to see and or compose the image before I actually create it with the camera. Film and processing is expensive and the time in the darkroom can be extensive, this will simply give me a head start in the creation process. I'm also not a patient fellow. 

I should also mention that many aspect ratios are available with this app. Panoramic, 6x7, 35mm etc. also available are different selections of film. For those serious about controlling the images made in their smart phones this app is a must!

Time For A Stranger

I ran into a fellow last week that collected vintage snowmobiles. Not just any snowmobiles mind you but Artic Cat! So why is that a big deal? That was only part of the conversation, I listened intently as he went on to tell me about restoring the machines, the pitfalls of a rubber track and the virtue of a rotary engine (I have no idea what that is) but he gleamed as he related the seemingly important tid bit of technical majesty.
I learned about his neighbor who had lost the use of his legs and was bound to a wheel chair. I learned that this same neighbor had purchased him a cross bow so that in the event he come across a large buck in deer season he too could partake in the hunt (something to do with rifle hunting and hunting with a cross bow.
I got an earful of his politics regarding all of having to pay additional taxes.
As I wright this I fund it interesting just how much he had to say, I for the most part just listened. I learned that given the opportunity to to talk about themselves most people will be quite engaging. I also learned how much I enjoyed listening to him tell his stories and expressing his opinions.
I spent a few hours with this fellow from Linesville Pa., I didn't get his name, I may never see him again, who knows?
I do know however that as a photographer perhaps the most important subject is in fact - us! We don't really know each other and for the most part we don't care to. We like to associate with those that think as we do or not at all.
I've dusted of the Hasselblad, it's time to put it back to work! The next time I run into such a great conversationalist, I'll be ready!

Web Site - Facelift!

Editing an entire website is a huge pain in the backside - it is necessary though and a task I've been working on a little at a time. I wanted it to be more streamlined with the gifsthops and the fine art sites. I suppose it's more about tweaking than a full blown change. The task it not your basic "on the fly" it involves rewritting code, screw that up and nothing works!

New Layout

You may have noticed the new layout, change is good I suppose. I liked the dark style before as it worked well with my website, good news is this is also dark, less busy and I think more interesting

The Road Runner

I'd see this sculpture of a Road Runner at a rest area high above Los Cruces, NM. There never seemed to be time to stop and see what it was all about. I kept saying "next time". Next time finally came, sometimes you have to simply make the time! The sculpture is actually discarded highway debris! Tires, running shoes, garbage really; all encased in wire mesh and proudly displayed for all to see.

Private Property

New Lab Service

I remember the day when after a shoot, you'd bundle your film, fill out each envelope (fill it out correctly least the lab screws things up) and ship it off to the lab. After about a week voila you got your proofs back.
Then you had to sort through them discard the junk, stamp proof on the back, and your copyright. OK now your ready to contact the customer have them pick them up and wonder if you ever see them or your proofs again. It's no wonder photographers were in a bad mood!
Things are much easier today, after the shoot, you process your own images in your digital darkroom (who misses those smelly chemicals)?
Here's the really cool part - you upload your images to your lab, create an online ordering system for your customer, they log in order what they want, the lab process the order collect the fees and ship. When all is said and done the lab sends your cut (in about a month because all work is guaranteed for 30 days).
I like the layout I've created for mine. Let me know what you think.
www.backprint.com/darcy





- Posted from my iPhone

iPhone Art

Ok I know there are a lot of kick ass digital camera's out there, I'm very find of my Nikon.
But what about the smart phones? Sure why not, no the quality is not as good but their fast and easy and some of the apps make editing a snap.
The way I see it when your creative juices are running low and you don't feel like pulling out your big dollar gear, have at it with the phone.
BTW the new iPhone 4 has a resolution of 8mp, not bad!





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

What makes an image great!

I wonder; As our equipment becomes more advanced how many of us get lazy, you know set that bad boy to auto and fire away at a blinding 10 fps. I mean it's natural isn't it? We can sort through the rubbish later on our desktop and perhaps find our jewel. I was as guilty as the rest, it wasn't until I ventured back to film that I had to be more conservative and again began to think before I fired.

I began again my love affair with the medium, now it's personal again - I like to think of it as art. As I ponder this concept of thinking before shooting I realize there are considerations that one must be make before one clicks the shutter....

• What is it about the image that caught your eye in the first place?
• What will best suit the image - colour or b/w?
• How does the light look (remember photography means painting with light)?
• Will you need a filter? (neutral density, graduated grey, colour balance, polarizer) etc.
• How will you place the subject within the frame? (composition)
• Have you considered depth of field? (that which is in focus vs out of focus)
• How about camera angle (remember to look at your subject from different angles)
• Is your camera on a tripod? (a good habit to be in - it does make a differance)
• Do you use a cable release? (reduces camera vibration - as does locking up the mirror if possible)

A friend once told me I had an eye for photography. I don't, I have a passion and thus the desire to create something that pleases me first. If others like that which I have created then I'm flattered but I must first satisfy myself. The bullet points listed above are basic considerations I make on most of my images, only when I get lazy do I realize there will be little worth looking at when I get my film back!

Frosted Maple

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