My Book For Next Year

If I do okay at the show in Paris, this book will follow around this time next year. I think I will do an edition of 10 books  - we’ll see.

This is scaled down (of course) the real book will be 12” x 12”, 116 pages, on very nice paper, hardcover with a image-wrap – I’m psyched about this!

"Vergangenheitsbewältigung"

"Anonymous" 4"x10" Wet Plate Collodion Ambrotype

 Annonymous Ambrotype - 4" x 10" - Clear Glass Ambrotype - Viernheim, GermanyI made this image a couple of hours ago - it was overcast and cool. I used north light (for the mask/effect). It was a 20 second exposure with my Hermagis lens ~375mm - f/9.

This plate looks a lot better when you are holding it in your hand - believe me! It's hard to copy/scan plates, but especially difficult if they are on clear glass.

Here's a snap of my new camera, too:

 

New Wet Plate Collodion Camera & New Formats

I've got a new camera - an 8x10, Black Arts Camera - that Steve Silipigni built for me. The camera is new and I've chosen to work with some new formats, too.

For the duration of my project, and for the upcoming exhibition, I've decided that the square format and the landscape (4"x10") format will serve me better in what I want to do.  

My new setup includes: 4"x4", 4"x5", 5"x7", 6"x6", 6.5"x8.5", 8"x8", 8"x10" and 4"x10".

The history of the square format in photography begins in 1929 with the introduction of the first Rolleiflex. The Rollei’s designers, Francke and Heidecke, had been producing various rectangular format cameras since about 1920. Their decision to make the Rollei a square format camera rather than a rectangular one was based on considerations specific to the twin lens reflex (TLR) configuration, rather than aesthetics. The elegant waist level viewing system of the Rollei would have been miserable to use sideways when a horizontal picture was desired.

Around the middle of the 20th century, talented photographers such as Richard Avedon, Robert Doisneau, and Irving Penn used the Rolleiflex camera in their portraiture and editorial work—choosing the Rollei. Diane Arbus, one of my major influences, made her incredible portraits with a Mamiya TLR. In all cases the resulting negatives were square.

Today, I made a few images. I made some 4"x4" images and 6"x6" images. Here's the most successful image from today.

I'm looking forward to working with these new formats and this new camera! We'll see what happens!

 6" x 6" (15cm x 15cm) Black Glass Ambrotype

Imagine A New World 2009

The EU invited me to submit some work for the, “Imagine A New World 2009” photo competition. I think they saw my work/project here in Germany and thought that the theme fit (my assumption). Anyway, I submitted three photos/plates and one, “German Cleaning Woman #2” (this is a blonde Putzfrau with a cigarette) made it to the final cut.

Imagine a New World - In an effort to concentrate more on my personal work and less on teaching, the technical, etc., I’m going to pursue exhibitions, publications, and opportunities like this more and more. When it’s appropriate, of course. I feel that I’ve neglected my personal vision for what I really want to do in lieu of other’s desires to learn the Wet Plate Collodion process. I don’t think I’ll ever completely get away from the educational aspect but I’m going to focus more on my personal art and goals.

Normally, I think this stuff is cheesy and weird (photo competitions, etc.). However, this has a legitimate tone to it and if I do well, I’ll end up in Stockholm for the closing ceremonies and get a few Euros to help fund my project.

So, if you are interested in voting in the “People’s Choice Award” and you think I deserve six stars (how ironic), please take a minute to cast your vote. You have to register first, but it’s quick and easy. You can find my image on the third page.

GO HERE TO REGISTER or CLICK ON THE IMAGE!

Thanks! We’ll see what happens!

Self Portrait: Collodion & DNA

I have a couple of really important goals that I want to accomplish in the next few months. One of them is to make work for my project, exhibition and book.

I thought I would get creative with my time and my commitments. We are leaving Thursday for ten days and wanted to post the October Video Podcast on Chemical Pictures before we left. I also had an image in mind that I've wanted to make for a few weeks. I thought, why not make a few plates, create an image for my project and cover the podcast, too? So that's what I did today.

These image are about numbers, labeling, skulls & sockets, history, evilness, genetics and otherness. I distressed plate #3 a little bit. I varnished it shortly after making this copy and it cleaned up quite a bit - I was a little disappointed about that but I still like the image. I look so different in each image, it trips me out a wee bit.

It took four plates to get two that I really like.

"Self Portrait #3 - Jewish DNA" - 8"x10" Alumitype - Viernheim, Germany 2009 
Self Portrait #1 With Y-DNA Sequence Backwards (written by hand)