I have of late, wherefore, I know not, experienced a rebirth of my creative endeavors. Ideas seem to flow through my mind like water, and where once I scrambled for purchase on any idea I could find, now, I almost have too many to keep up with.
For a start, I am writing again. I've been pouring hours into a fiction piece, and enjoying my results. i know this site is focused more on my photography, but I feel like this is the point where the re-awakening started, and so bears mentioning.
On a more photographic bent, I had a breakthrough idea a few weeks back, a realization that alternative process photo printing might hold the key to achieving the look I wanted for a long tabled concept for a series of photos. Armed with this idea, and a gnawing desire to reacquaint myself with alt process printing, I went scrolling through old photos on my hard drive looking for worthy candidates for practice, and ordered a Cyanotype kit.
For a start, I am writing again. I've been pouring hours into a fiction piece, and enjoying my results. i know this site is focused more on my photography, but I feel like this is the point where the re-awakening started, and so bears mentioning.
On a more photographic bent, I had a breakthrough idea a few weeks back, a realization that alternative process photo printing might hold the key to achieving the look I wanted for a long tabled concept for a series of photos. Armed with this idea, and a gnawing desire to reacquaint myself with alt process printing, I went scrolling through old photos on my hard drive looking for worthy candidates for practice, and ordered a Cyanotype kit.
I started with some photos of my trip to Israel last spring. I don't have a proper photo printer, so I'm using a laser printer to produce paper negatives, then oiling the paper to make it translucent. The results are passable, a good start. It's been so long since I've been able to do cyanotypes I'm having to reteach myself a lot about technique, but in doing so I'm having new ideas of how to make better use of the process, the above images are only a place to start. I also built a print frame, it's rough, kind of ugly in that regard, but it works. It does exactly what I need it to.
I've also purchased a pair of studio lights. While it's only two so far, meaning I'm limited to two point lighting, it's a start, and they'll allow me to shoot comfortably into the evenings. I have people I'm talking to about modeling for projects starting immediately and going through the summer.
This is just one step along the way. I'm planning to use this time to grow, re-familiarize myself with the techniques and equipment. Once I've grown comfortable with my cyanotypes again, my next step will be gum bichromate. That's the tool of choice for the project that launched this rediscovery of my love for the camera. Being able to print full color, with the hazy, textural quality of a painting, and the not quite photo-memisis that I think will help me pull off my desired project.
In the meantime, you all get to watch along as I re-explore the joys of this process, and rediscover my passion for the work.
This is just one step along the way. I'm planning to use this time to grow, re-familiarize myself with the techniques and equipment. Once I've grown comfortable with my cyanotypes again, my next step will be gum bichromate. That's the tool of choice for the project that launched this rediscovery of my love for the camera. Being able to print full color, with the hazy, textural quality of a painting, and the not quite photo-memisis that I think will help me pull off my desired project.
In the meantime, you all get to watch along as I re-explore the joys of this process, and rediscover my passion for the work.
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