My initial instinct when shooting is to get the most pristine shot that I can. Something pretty, something that your typical viewer will do the eww and ahh that is so coveted by most photographers.  However, I’m immobilized by the frustration of missing images when trying to accomplish this “glossy” magazine look. The standard excuses occur, “the light isn’t right” or “I don’t want too much grain from a high ISO” or “its just going to be blurry“. But whats more important, getting a grungy shot or missing the moment all together?

ƒ/5.6 at 1/40 sec ISO 400

ƒ2.8 at 1/40 sec ISO 320

These shots were taken at high ISO and has noticeable grain, especially when viewing at a higher resolution, but it plays into the rawness of the moment. The contrast, the blown out edges, etc. are all part of the overall scene that is speaking to the viewer. We don’t always see life visually picturesque but we do see the beauty in the content of the moment. This realization has been key in developing the next aspect of my style.

ƒ/5 at 1/80 sec ISO 1600

I was invited to attend a POW-WOW outside of Bandera, Texas this past September by a good friend of mine who was attending. I attended that Saturday, observed and documented some aspects of the ceremony.

ƒ/2.8 at 1/60 sec ISO 100

Many Photographers where attending, many of non-native decent. It was a public event and it was expected for many non-natives to attend, that was not what stuck me. What surprised me was what I perceived to be photographic disrespect.

The kind of disrespect when people are treated as merely subjects in the eyes of the photographer. Photographers coming for the sake of subject matter instead of observing the sacred festival. However, thats why I was there.

ƒ/2.8 at 1/60 sec ISO 100

“Lovely,” I thought, “I’m treating  these people like that rock that I  found on top of Guadalupe Peak.”  To counter my mindset, I passed  up more shots than I care to  admit  that day because I refused  to take  a shot that I did not first  ask  permission for. Asking can be  verbal but many times it can be  agreed upon through hand  motions, eye  contact and easing  into a shot, or a simple nod.

I might had lost several ‘amazing’ images, however, I did trade it for the respect I gained within the community. This project that I want to accomplish with this Native  community of Texas will take time, patience and respect to be able to tell their story best.

I am still in the developing stages of my feelings toward this subject. I can see some situations where this is viable, but other instances perhaps intrusion is needed. I am  unsure on the universalism of this concept but I know its place within the context of the POW-WOW and the Native Community here in Central Texas.

So it hasn’t been pretty, educational, but not pretty. This blog meanders through my first four rolls, three B/W and one color.  A friend of my family has lent me his Yashica MAT-124 Twin Lens camera. The camera hasn’t been shot since the 1970s and it needed little sprucing to get it shoot worthy.

Yashica Mat-124

This camera uses a medium format film – 120 or 220 works just fine. I have only shot 120 ISO 100 at this point, which gives me a total of 12 shots per roll and cleaner frames. The MAT-124 has a built in light meter but it doesn’t work, on account of the battery that is no longer made. Nevertheless, I have been shooting it without a meter while experiencing my adventure into the world of film.

Driftwood, Texas

You’ve got to watch your light sources and plan for their intensity. There is no Active D-Lighting nor do overs with film. Duh… I know this but its one thing to know and to do it consciously. Film Lesson #1: Wait for the right moment and plan for light sources such  as the sky, especially if you don’t have a light meter.

The second roll was better. I switched from Ilford 120 BW ISO 100 to the Kodak brand of the same. I am not sure of how the difference is at this time but the Kodak gave me better contrast. But it was probably a better roll because I was more aware of my framing.

I love film! Really, it has created a passion in me about the art of photography. The detail, the planning, the vision of what it will look like printed. I started to see subjects that I didn’t see the first time when I started to slow down my process. Film lesson #2: Slow down and look at everything in the frame and ponder the correct exposure. As the lovely Nevada Wier says, “everything has to matter in a frame.” Visit www.nevadawier.com for more insight into this art.

Outside of Blanco, texas

Film Lesson #3: Get a notebook that fits in your pocket and record all your exposures, include: frame number, shutter speed, aperture, date taken, and notes. We digital shooters forget that there isn’t metadata with film and to get a good look at how you are exposing, you obviously need to write the exposures down.

Opening up the aperture by two extra stops in the shadows.

ƒ/3.5 @ 30 sec. ISO 100 Kodak Film.

Color – I though this color roll was going to come out awful. I expected that it wouldn’t have sharp edges or great definition. I was proved wrong. Some of my frames from this roll were some of my better images thus far. Sharp and crisp with a good color balance.

ƒ/5.6 @ 30 sec. ISO 100 Kodak Film.

ƒ/5.6 at 30 sec. ISO 100 Kodak film.

I am still learning about film and I am a bit uncomfortable with some aspects of it and very comfortable with other aspects. I’m still trying to feel the light out without a meter, that has been the most nerve-racking thing. On the shots above I was testing out its capabilities in low lighting situations and they came out just fine. The depth and romantic feel of the film is priceless.

This learning process of film is advancing my knowledge in the art of photography. I look forward to sharing my experiances in the future.

I often get inspired by the most mundane things.

Scan Me

I have been exploring my intellect while simultaneously endeavoring into my subconscious to find what is bouncing around in there. My first plan at accomplishing this is simple: no plan. Instead of planning too much or straining to be “artsy”, I am simply letting my subconscious do its thing. When I am stimulated to do something, not even something logical or that I think will be satisfactory, I do it. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s a train wreck.

When I was scanning something for a class, I had the urge to push my face on the glass and hit the “scan” button.  I did. The hands and writing followed.

There is no statement, as my mother asked when I sent it to her. Just goofiness.