Monday 30 June 2008

Film is not dead, it just smells funny...

Just recently I seem to be more inspired by the images produced by photographers using film, than the output from digital cameras.

Is it because I know how difficult it is to produce a good image on film, that I know the amount of time and dedication it takes to learn and develop this skill and therefore I have an inherent admiration of photographers that can take such good photo's with what the clueless may call an obsolete format... I don't know....

Anyway, I had been a follower of a website called 'Film is not Dead it just smell funny' for some time now... which unfortunately has shutdown recently... not due to lack of interest as you might think... quite the opposite in fact.... read the following statement from one of the founders Frans Verter Verheyen :

" After a year of “Film is not dead it just smells funny” web site we made the following decision. If you look at the web site it's nice, cool and with a great number of visitors. But it is just a blog. And besides the fact that we show high quality of pictures to the world, it is just that. We would like to do more and more structured. With the summer holidays on the way we have decided to shut down the web site. And to come back in September with a new concept. A bigger and more international staff and a more organized structure. (also in technical way, the structure of this web site is too focused on a blog) More in-depth article's and interviews, an online magazine and a print magazine. We are planning of starting “The International Analogue Photographic Society” And no it will not be another APUG. The web site "Film is not dead it just smells funny" will come back and so will the Featured Artists. This will take some time, although we are already working on it. This group will stay unchanged So we wish you a good summer and hope to surprise you all with a new concept in September"

In the meantime, you can visit their flickr site here, if you would like to get a small taste of what its all about... I recommend going to the discussion section first.

And while you at it, go out and buy a secondhand film camera (they are really rather cheap at the moment), then use it like mad and after you have gone through a number of films you will begin to slow down, think about what your doing, learn to understand the quality of light and how different films react to it... You not going to get instant satisfaction from a screen on the back of the camera... but your not going to take 50 photo's (because you can and just in case) when more often than not, one or two is more than sufficient... and the wait for you photo's to be developed is really quite exciting and actually quite gratifying....

Go on..... I dare you.... ;-)

Tuesday 24 June 2008

Dustin Humphrey, Surf Photographer extraordinaire...

Dustin Humphrey's work is very much sort after by the many surfing publications which exist in the marketplace today.

His fresh, original style has separated him from the rest of his fellow surf photographers, due to his experimental approach to the images he takes, his choice of equipment (mainly film cameras) and how he often chooses to cross process his film.

He could be well considered more of a surf photojournalist as his images encapsulate not only surfing but the cultures and people he meets on his travels.














His collaboration with Taylor Steele and the production of the book 'Sipping Jetstreams' is a must have for any one who not only appreciates surfing, but the travel and adventure that often goes hand in hand.













In fact I would also get the DVD that accompanies the book, as apart from being lavishly shot on 16mm film it contains extra's showing the concept and the idea's behind the Sipping Jetstreams movement.

Thursday 12 June 2008

Photography night (PHE08)


Dear all

As you all now, PhotoEspaña 2008 started last week and there are plenty of exhibitions all around Madrid (and Cuenca, you always get surprised by that city).

Within its activities there is a "photography night" (Noche de la fotografía) taking place next friday 13th of June, including a photo marathon with both cameras and "shoebox cameras"... I think it is worth to have a look.

Have fun.
(And don't deconstruct yourselves too much :) )

Ricardo

Monday 9 June 2008

Triptych...

The 'Triptych' turned out to be another difficult task with even the Club President failing to heed his own advice regarding leaving things to the last minute causing him not to show up with any images... (hangs his head in shame... :-(....)

However, this didn't prevent the newer members of the club like Bjoern, from coming up with original idea's like the 'cube' triptych above and Alberto with his colourful interpretation of 'corners' below...

Jose Manuel, showed his prowess with a polarising filter and once again turned up with some images from yet another holiday !...... this time in Switzerland... He assured us that the helicopter wasn't off to bring him more compact flash cards after he had filled up all his.!..
Ricardo's 'deconstructing apollo' caused some interesting conversation....... and pysicoanalysis as you might expect after seeing the image below.... Jose Manuel provided a good interpretation.... you'll have to ask him personally what it was though... ;-)


As always congratulations to all of you who presented images and for all the people who turned up to view the slideshow as well....... I continue to look forward to more and more images being presented in future themes (maybe even the club president will participate who knows...?!?)..
So........ our next theme is 'through the window'... that is to say... photo's taken through windows....
One can only imagine what Ricardo will come up with next...... :-)