3,920 Millimeters Square

Las Vegas

2012-01-29T08:59:00.001-08:00

Portrait in front of Planet Hollywood. Spent 2 nights at Planet Hollywood for my wife's birthday. It was great to get away for a couple days and enjoy some time together.

I thought this was an interesting statue.

The low winter sun at work. I also like the geometry of the stone work.

Trying to use the dragons back as a hat. The Mamiya 7 has parallax though. DOH!

Self-portrait before dinner. We had an amazing meal at Lavo. The Sea Bass is to die for.

This sign is ridiculous. Someone makes too much money by copying designers and ripping off fabricators.

The year of the dragon.

Happy New Year!

Aces wild.

Faux waterfall at the Wynn Casino.

Accidental long exposure goodness.

Architectural details.

Even more architectural details.

Exhaustedly awaiting our flight home.

Photographed with my new 7ii with 65mm lens.

The calm before the storm...

2012-01-18T11:55:00.000-08:00

Below the Bridge

2012-01-15T09:42:00.000-08:00

Snapped some shots this week under the Ballard Bridge.

Downtown Seattle

2012-01-14T09:58:00.001-08:00

Spent this past Sunday at the Pike Place Market and around downtown with my wife. We had lots of great light and it was a fun time. I shot my Mamiya 7 with 65mm lens and Portra 400 film. Definitely looking forward to shooting this system in Eastern Europe this April.

104 weeks, 104 cameras, 1 awesome book

2012-01-10T21:38:00.000-08:00

For the past 2 years artist Tony Kemplen has been using a different camera every week and then making a double page spread for this book. It started out as 52 cameras in 52 weeks and eventually turned into a 2 year project. The results are quite good and the photos (particularly the self-portraits in year 2) are humorous. I really like all of the toy cameras used and in my opinion, this book would not be as successful if all of the cameras were the same format with the same type of shots. As a shooter of primarily 6x7 and 4x5 it is refreshing to see all these great shots made with these fun and unique cameras. I highly recommend taking a glance through the preview and picking up a copy if you enjoy it. It really is not about the camera and all about the artist. Good artists will make good art with whatever tools they have. Who thinks he can keep it up for a 3rd year?? That is a lot of cameras!

Check it out here!

More of his photography can be seen on FLICKR

One more!

2012-01-06T19:53:00.001-08:00

Kam & Krista

2012-01-03T21:03:00.000-08:00

Had a fun photo shoot on Monday afternoon with Kam and Krista. We were rained out pretty quick but still managed to get a few good shots in a short time frame. The color film hasn't gone to the lab yet so stay tuned for more shots.

Becca and Tony

2012-01-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

Got together with a couple of friends for a quick photo shoot this weekend. I've worked with Tony and Becca before so it was fun getting out together for another shoot. I've been wanting to test out my Mamiya 7 with black and white film for portraiture so this was a great opportunity to work on my style. I used a tripod to get a little extra quality out of the big negative and placed a yellow filter on the lens to enhance their skin tones. During the film development, I agitated about 20 seconds per minute instead of 10 to bring out the grain of the Ilford HP5+. Thanks to Tony and Becca for modeling for me. If anyone else wants to do a photo shoot, send me an email and we can chat.

They also brought their dachshund "Lucky" along. I'm a huge weiner dog fan so this was a great opportunity to incorporate a pup into a photo shoot.

4x5 Contact Print

2011-12-30T15:01:00.000-08:00

I spent last weekend working in my darkroom and made a ton of prints. I'm not setup yet to make enlargements from 4x5 negatives so I made a few contact prints. Here is a scan of my favorite contact print digitized on the Epson V700 scanner.

Mamiya 7

2011-12-29T10:56:00.000-08:00

I've owned my Mamiya 7 for a few months and I wanted to share some sample photos from each lens as well as my thoughts on this camera system.

I picked up my Mamiya 7 off of ebay for $932 and that included the 80mm lens. My first impression is that it is a nice size, kind of boxy and very small compared to other 6x7 cameras that I am familiar with. I immediately noticed that the camera does not have dual top strap lugs for hanging it around your neck in the standard position. Instead, both camera strap ends connect to the same side of the camera which actually makes it ideal for street shooting. Hanging the camera off of one shoulder allows it to be much more stealth and it begins to shoot more like a 35mm camera than your typical 6x7 or large format camera. Overall, the Mamiya 7 is pretty basic. It takes 120, 220 or 135 film (with adapter). It operates in manual, aperture priority and shutter priority. The ISO and exposure compensation can be set manually on the top dial. It also has a self timer which I find very handy for tripod work when I don't feel like hooking up a cable release.

The 80mm lens is considered one of the sharpest lenses ever made for any camera system ever. It can be use for portraits, street photography and landscape work. It is equivalent to 40mm on 135 and is a great everyday shooting lens. Here are some samples from this amazing lens.

I'm a wide angle nut, so naturally, I went after the 43mm next and picked one up used on ebay with no caps or viewfinder for $676 (a steal). I immediately purchased all of the accessories and put it to work ($100 for the viewfinder, $15 for each cap). Around this time I realized that I could use my Nikon SB-28DX flash with this system. It had been rotting away in a camera bag for about 6 years, so this was great news. The 80mm and 43mm were just as good as everyone says. I am still astounded by how sharp the 43mm is corner to corner. I photograph a lot of construction and architecture for work so this lens is essential for me, but may be too wide for some shooters. The 43mm is the equivalent of a 21mm on 135 film (super wide!). Here are some sample shots to show the way this lens renders space.

Here is a sample using the SB-28DX flash off camera.

For my birthday my wife bought me the 150mm portrait lens, which is a 75mm equivalent on 135. To be very honest, this lens has only seen minimal use in the 3 months I've had it. This lens was $465 from KEH.com and did not include a lens hood. Here are a couple of samples. As you can see it is optical perfection just like its sisters.

The Mamiya 7 also offers a 35mm panoramic adapter. I agree that it is kind of weird to crop down such a beautiful 56x70mm (3920 millimeters square!) negative to a panoramic mode, however in use it is actually a lot of fun. This adapter adds even more versatility to an already awesome system. It is interesting to think about such a wide composition when you are accustomed to shooting nearly square. I also discovered that if you don't use the 7's negative mask you can shoot straight through the film sprockets which is a unique artistic element of this kit. I picked up my adapter from KEH.com for $79. I've seen them sell for even cheaper on ebay since then. Here a few samples from the two rolls I shot with this adapter. All of these shots were taken with the 43mm lens.

For Christmas I bought myself the 65mm lens. The 65mm is roughly a 32mm equivalent on 135 and seems to be the ideal focal length for most of my shots. I'm planning to mount this lens to my 7 for a 2 week trip to Europe this spring. I purchase it from KEH.com for $616 in beautiful condition with all the accessories. This lens is all most people will need for this system. It is slightly wide angle, but can still pull a decent environmental portrait. Here are a couple of samples from the past week.

(cropped)

Here is the current family photo of my system.

The only con I have found with this camera system is that I can't shoot B&W and Color film at the same time. I'm hoping to pick up a second body soon to fix this small issue.

Final Thought:

This is my favorite camera ever. The lenses are great, the feature list is minimal, the camera size is portable and the prints are amazing. I have shot Nikon for most of my life and I am very happy I decided to sell off the majority of my gear in order to afford this fabulous system. I plan on using it for many years to come and I hope I've given you a good idea about what this system has to offer.

Thanks,
Jeff

4x5 Darkroom Contact Prints

2011-12-27T07:49:00.001-08:00

After making a dozen or so enlargements over the weekend I decided to try out some 4x5 contact prints. The process was interesting and the results were spectacular. My prints from 6x7 look great, but I am looking forward to buying a 150mm lens so I can make prints from 4x5 and compare them head to head.

Here is a shot of some of the 11x14 inch fiber prints doing their final wash. I made some prints on RC paper on Friday and I'm looking forward to comparing them to see if fiber paper is worth the extra hassle.

Look at this people!

2011-12-21T16:59:00.000-08:00

I love this video. Eric is a great photographer and his style is super fun. Check out this video of him in action. He shoots a Mamiya 7 with a 65mm or 80mm lens and pops a metz flash. One thing I noticed in the video is how seamlessly he cruises through the crowd. I imagine if I shot like this lots of people would stop me to ask questions and complain that I took their photo. Somehow he pulls it off and I admire that. If you have 5 mins to spare, you should check it out. The music is super cool too.

Check him out on YOU TUBE.

You can see more of his photos HERE.

Dan Winters

2011-12-19T20:51:00.001-08:00

I read a really great interview with Dan Winters today that I highly recommend to anyone who is interested in working as a pro photographer.

The above photo of Denzel Washington was one of Dan's first big time shoots. He always gives it his all and treats every shoot like it is for a major publication. With this great opportunity he decided to build this fantasy set/backdrop and use a wide angle lens to render a very dynamic composition.

I like this photo for many reasons. The two main things I like is the use of complimentary colors and the perspective. He uses a cool blue tone for the background and a warmer yellowish brown in Denzel's suit. When yellow and blue are in the same scene, yellow will pop. His use of complimentary tones is a sophisticated choice. The perspective of this image is ridiculous. I always loved the paintings where you can see three walls, the floor and the ceiling all in one tight portrait. So to see this type of composition in a photo is refreshing. Granted, this isn't a real space. Who says we can't create our own world in the name of good art?

Here is another set that was created for a shoot. This space was inspired by a photograph he came across that was more than a hundred years old. He couldn't get that beautiful window out of his head so he decided to create his own. Another masterpiece.

I appreciate his efforts and admire his ability to create an image in his head and bring it to reality. Granted these shoots cost buck$$$$, but I think all of us artists need to step up our game a bit.

To read the full interview, check it out here: http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2011/04/13/dan-winters-interview-part-1/

The Shot

2011-12-17T12:28:00.001-08:00

1105SEVILLE-348, a photo by 3,920 Millimeters Square on Flickr.

I created this photo by chance in Seville, Spain. As I was framing my composition this young lady entered the frame. Overall, the shot leaves a lot to be desired. However, it reminds me of the chance elements of photography and how we don't always get what we expect.

As an artist, I always need to be ready to create the perfect shot. Being in tune with my environment is an essential part of the creative process. It doesn't matter what happens, it is all about how you react to it and how you use it to your advantage.

If her face was slightly turned towards me, I think this shot would be much more powerful. Instead she falls into the background and the shot is a failure.

Creating THE shot is an ongoing battle. Ansel Adams once said that if you create 1 great shot a year your are doing pretty good.

Travel Cameras - Lessons Learned and Ideas for the Future

2011-12-14T20:50:00.000-08:00

I'm always debating what the best travel camera is. Before we have kids, my wife and I want to see as much of the world as possible and I'm constantly trying to figure out what the right piece of gear is for traveling. On our first trip to Europe I brought my Nikon D40 which worked great. However, when you start making prints in the 11x14 range, this sensor leaves quite a bit to be desired with only 6 megapixels. On our next trip we went to Vietnam and I brought my Canon S90 and Nikon F100. The F100 got some light use, however I primarily shot the S90 due to the attention my F100 got from local merchants. I felt like I stuck at like a sore thumb at 240 lbs. wielding a fancy japanese camera. Due to the sunny weather and portability, I was able to shoot most of the trip with my S90 with much success. I was initially pleased with many of the photos we took. My background is digital manipulation and fine print making. Once enlarged beyond 8x10 I was VERY disappointed with the blocky and cartoony renderings I got.

Last Spring we went to Spain and France and I decided to step up my game and shoot a Fuji GA645 (with 60mm f/4 lens) which is damn near the best travel camera ever invented. I put 30 rolls of 120 through this little gem in 2 weeks time and was super pleased with the results. The prints look great and it was very versatile considering it has a pop up flash and you can comfortably push film to 1600 if necessary. I also brought the S90 to take photos of food and interiors at night (drunken photos).

Today, my wife and I are currently in the preliminary planning stage of a trip to Paris, Munich, Prague and Amsterdamn. I've been eyeing the 65 mm lens for my Mamiya 7 for quite some time and finally picked one up (using my losses from my D200 and profits from Nikon 35TI I sold). This lens is roughly a 32mm equivalent and should be the PERFECT travel lens. When I'm on the road I hate to change lenses (I rarely bring more than one on an overnight trip) and I'm thinking this will be the just about right focal length for everything I shoot and I don't plan to bring any other lenses (it is similar to the Fuji). Why the Mamiya over the Fuji you ask?? manual focus! I like to be in control of the hyperfocal distance when out shooting which is a laborious task with an auto focus camera.

Of course I am very excited and I can't wait to take my Mamiya (and wife ;-)) on a substantial vacation that we are all 3 deeply in need of! We are looking at dates in May right now and if all goes to plan a bag of 220 film will accompany us.

Beseler 45 MCRX Enlarger

2011-12-11T21:04:00.000-08:00

I made a huge jump toward having my own darkroom tonight. I was eyeing craigslist this afternoon for deals and came across this great Beseler 45 enlarger. I have been shopping around for this model for a while because it has the ability to print 4x5, 6x7, 6x6, 645 and 35mm. This makes it compatible with all of my cameras. Glazers camera has one of these used for $500 at their shop. I picked up this enlarger along with (3) lenses, (2) film holders, hundreds of film sleeves, (7) boxes of paper, (1) grain finder, (3) 11x14 developing trays, (2) developing tank, (1) timer, (1) safety light, (1) roll of film and (3) tongs for $100 cash. I was just as surprised to find this good deal as the seller was surprised that someone would want all of this stuff now that digital imaging is so popular.

I got to talking with the seller and it turns out we attended the same photography BFA program at UW and graduated only 2 years apart. After shooting weddings professionally for 3 years he got burned out on photography and now does more sculpting that photographing. I assured him this setup was going to a good home and that I will have it up and running again in no time. Here she is!

Self-Portrait #2

2011-12-06T18:56:00.001-08:00

1111-1293, a photo by 3,920 Millimeters Square on Flickr.

I was drawn to this scene by the arches and dull complimentary colors mixed with the street lights. I also like the ninjas, of course.

Overlake Hospital Starbucks

2011-12-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

Andersen Construction just finished the new Starbucks at Overlake Hospital. This Tenant Improvement is located within the new tower on the East side of Overlake's campus. This tower was also built by Andersen Construction over the past couple of years and I believe this to be the first completed interior project.

Nice work guys!

Sammamish Boys and Club Teen Center

2011-12-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

Andersen Construction just completed the Sammamish Boys and Girls Club's Teen Center. This is a unique site because it includes a large stage for live music and other performances.

Self-Portrait

2011-12-03T15:34:00.001-08:00

1111-1288, a photo by 3,920 Millimeters Square on Flickr.

A frosty night in the city. I like the way the complimentary colors showed up in the final image. I decided to jump in the frame in an attempt to make the shot more interesting. I think it improved the photo by adding a more direct focal point of interest and creating more questions for the viewer, thus holding their attention for a moment longer than if it was just a vacant alley. No model = Jeff in the photo.

Frost Shadow on Roof

2011-12-03T09:04:00.001-08:00

1111-1281, a photo by 3,920 Millimeters Square on Flickr.

I saw this moment from my living room and couldn't resist using my telephoto lens while still in my pajamas from my front porch. I was actually wishing that I had color film loaded, but the yellow filter really made the blueish shadows pop, so in the end, I'm happy. This is only the second time I've used the 150mm on my Mamiya so it is great to see how well it works.

So long D200...The end of an era.

2011-12-02T22:02:00.000-08:00

I've been going through a photo gear cleansing process over the past year. I sold off many great cameras; my Bronica RF645 system, Contax T2, Nikon 35TI, Yashica TLR, Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8 and now my Nikon D200. Throughout this process I've only found 2 cameras worth keeping and only lost money on two transactions. My Bronica system netted me about $300 which was my biggest gain and my D200 system lost me about $2,000, by far my largest loss. Throughout this ordeal the Mamiya 7 and the Fuji GA645 were the only two cameras I felt I couldn't live without.

Due to a few recent sales, I have about a grand in my paypal account and I'm already browsing the net looking for just the right camera to recycle this money into. As of now I'm debating between a 2nd Mamiya 7 body so I can run color and B&W film at the same time, a Leica M body, a Fuji X100 or an Epson 3880 printer. Any thoughts??

Street Portrait #1

2011-12-02T15:24:00.000-08:00

I met Bert in downtown Ballard last night. He saw me doing some long exposures with my Mamiya 7 and jumping in the photos during the exposure. He asked if i was doing long exposures and proceeded to tell me how much he used to love shooting 35mm film. After chatting for a bit I offered to take his portrait. He told me that he hasn't had a photo taken in 4 years and he jumped at the opportunity. I used some available light from a street light with a 4 second exposure at f/8.

I developed and scanned the photo same day and emailed it to him.

Night shooting

2011-12-01T20:20:00.000-08:00

Just got back from a great night of shooting in Ballard. Developed the black and white film and now I am eagerly waiting for it to dry. I took my first street portrait tonight, so naturally I am really excited to post it.

Here is a few more shots from last Friday night near the Ballard docks.

10 pointed stars with this lens... booyah!

Fuji Velvia 50 at night

2011-11-30T17:27:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed some night shooting around the Ballard docks over the weekend. When I was in high school I used to shoot at night a lot. I haven't done much night photography in the past 5 years and it felt great to be out there. The act of calculating exposures and shooting with a tripod / shutter release cable is a unique meditative experience that is quite enjoyable.

I used some advanced exposure calculating tricks that I read about on the internet and all of the shots ended up being exposed fairly well. I made the exposures at F/8 and 1/15 of a second on up to about 4 minutes. Although I had a fun time, I'm still working on finding the right subject and instead of just enjoying the process.

Mamiya 7, 80mm, Velvia 50

Mamiya 7, 80mm, Velvia 50

Mamiya 7, 80mm, Velvia 50

Mamiya 7, 80mm, Velvia 50

First run with the 35mm adapter

2011-11-27T17:47:00.000-08:00

After putting two rolls through my new 35mm adapter, I must say I am quite pleased with it. Using the superior Mamiya 7 optics I'm getting better results on 35mm than I've ever had using my Nikon F100. As a result, I now need to get a second Mamiya 7 so I can run 35mm and 120mm film at the same time. I think it may be time to sell off the rest of my 35mm gear since I doubt I will ever use it anymore.

I also realized that if I don't use the 35mm mask with my Mamiya I can shoot the frame clear to the edge of the film and get the cool sprockets and film information built into my image. Check out the results from my first roll below.

Click the image to see a larger view.

A new toy - Mamiya 7 35mm adapter

2011-11-22T17:43:00.001-08:00

Sometimes it is fun to buy toys. This is an adapter that allows me to shoot two frames side by side of 35mm film with my Mamiya 7. I have a couple dozen rolls of expired 35mm film in my freezer that are begging to be used. This adapter presents a unique composition challenge for me. I am accustomed to shooting 6x7, so the 1:2 format will be very foreign and fun. Additionally as a consumer, I have definitely bought into the Mamiya 7 system, so this feels useful to have for the sake of having every accessory possible to enjoy. Sometimes when I'm out shooting I burn through all my film and can't get my hands on 120 film. With this adapter I might be able to get 35mm instead and use this adapter to keep shooting. I picked it up cheap at KEH.com ($80).

For a while I have lusted over a Hasselblad XPan (which runs around $3,000). The idea of two frames of 35mm side by side always intrigued me, however I have yet to give it a try to see how I like it in reality. This is a much more cost effective solution compared to buying into another camera system just to play with it a few times for fun. I am planning to load up my first roll this weekend and I will post some panoramic photos soon.

More around town pics

2011-11-17T21:11:00.000-08:00

Mamiya 7, 43mm, HP5
Bop Street records in downtown Ballard. Festivally selling vinyl like its the 1980s. This is the place to go for CDs, tapes and records. Check it out if you are ever in the area.

Mamiya 7, 43mm, HP5
Tucker eagerly waiting for the mail lady (rather, the treat lady, since he eats the mail).

Mamiya 7, 43mm, HP5
Fancy shop in Ballard. Love the exposed bricks and single bulbs.

Mamiya 7, 43mm, HP5
Nice reflection I spotted while hanging around downtown Seattle.

Mamiya 7, 43mm, HP5
Patiently waiting for his Owner to finish brunch. Taking in the sights.

Mamiya 7, 43mm, HP5
My cute wife sittng in a fancy furniture store. Off camera flash worked great. Super easy running the operation manually. Who needs TTL metering and autofocus??

Around Town

2011-11-15T06:47:00.000-08:00

Here are a few photos from over the weekend. This weekend I discovered that I can use my Nikon SB28 flash with sync cord on my Mamiya 7.

Mamiya 7, 43mm, HP5
At the Ballard Farmers Market.

Mamiya 7, 43mm, HP5

Tucker
Mamiya 7, 43mm, TRI-X pushed to 1600. For the push, I developed in Rodinal with a dilution of 1+200 at 70 degrees. I agitated for the first minute and then inverted the tank 3 times every half hour. In my opinion, it turned out just grainy enough to be pleasant while maintaining the subtle tonality of medium format film. In my opinion, grain on 6x7 enhances the image, while on 35mm it tends to overwhelm it.

Here is a sample photo using the off camera flash. I read a quick online tutorial on how to use the flash manually and the first shots turned out great. Basically you just shoot in Aperture priority mode and set the aperture on the flash 1 stop slower than on the camera. For example, if you are shooting at F8, set the flash to F11 and you are good to go.

I've been playing with this a lot, lots more to come!

2 weeks in Europe

2011-11-12T21:25:00.001-08:00

Here a few of my favorite shots from my recent trip to France and Spain. Instead of flooding you with hundreds of shots, I've decided to post just a few of my favorites. Enjoy! Thanks for looking.

Our first hotel room was barely larger than a full size bed. Large windows let in a flood of light and the location was great. My profile photo was taken by my wife just seconds later using her iphone 4 and some type of lomography filter. Here it is!

Me. Enjoying my sweet Fuji GA645 while in Paris. I am still to this day very impressed with this plasticy, toy camera. It does a great job and is truly a guilty pleasure to use.

I think this is Seville. Some times places and names blend together. I easily recall the way the texture of the road felt on my feet though.

Speaking of feet; the shore of Barcelona was packed with fish. I was eating one of the worst hot dogs I've ever eaten while I took this photo. It was topped with mayonnaise and some type of straw onions that tasted like funions.

This was hands down the best beef I have ever had... Canon S90

The wife and I. View from the Alhambra looking toward the Sacromonte. Canon S90

Super delicious fried fish. It is a specialty that is served throughout Spain.

While Michelle shopped in Paris, I came across this piece of installation art. Or was it a crazy persons house and belongings?

Eiffel Tower shot with the wife. Canon S90

I took this photo to commemorate our victory climbing the Albazin hill in Granada. Michelle chose not to celebrate. :D This day was about 90 degrees and the most painful part was watching all the buses fly past us every few minutes while we labored on up.

First phone booth I'd seen in what feels like years. I imagine someone slamming the phone down with such anger and force the entire phone booth shatters. Pieces of glass were all around. I guess this is why we can't have nice things...

scurry, scurry, scurry

This photo was taken in the garden at the Alcazar. She walked into my shot right when I pressed the shutter and actually improved my photo I think.

Outside the Alcazar. Canon S90

Protestors and police had a constant presence on the streets in Spain.

Detail of tile and carving at the Alhambra. I'm not sure whether they used slave labor, but I don't know how else this place could have been built with such amazing detail.

See what I mean???

View from my pint of Magners after a long day on the beach in Barcelona.

Brick wall, somewhere. Could possibly use some tuck pointing.

The loud wheez of my Fuji GA645 startled this dog pretty good. Crouched down to get the exact shot I was looking for. It feels good when you know you created the shot instead of just snapping the first one you see (like most of mine!).

Enjoying one of many delicious pitchers of Sangria. Canon S90

Near the Louvre. I find the geometry and centuries shown in this image really pleasing. I waited a while for the people to enter the frame, but I'm afraid the shot is still a failure. Canon S90

The Cathedral in Seville. I love how I can shoot my Fuji at 1/8 of a second with ISO 160 film and get decent results. Rangefinders officially rule.

Ancient irrigation system. I think the verticals of the trees break up the pattern nicely and help the image become interesting instead of JUST a pattern.

Art for sale. This was one of the most beautiful and lively squares I have ever been to. I've actually been here twice and I think I could sit here with Michelle eating snails and cheese while drinking wine, forever. I recently printed this shot for my house. This is how to live.

Souvenirs for sale. I often visit these shops while abroad, however rarely buy more than a cold beer for the road.

It is rare to see this type of art stateside. The entire floor of this courtyard was a mosaic flower garden created out of rocks. It was on the surface of an old Moorish bathhouse.

A long hall at the Alcazar. I wish I would have spent a little more time here. We arrived near closing time after a long day of flying / sightseeing and only spent about 45 minutes inside.

This is my favorite photo from the trip. Taken in Seville. I find the decay, texture and geometry quite nice. I made a 16x20 of this for my house.

I photographed this trip with my Fuji GA645 and used a yellow filter for most of the B&W. All in all I am very impressed with this cameras auto exposure and auto focus capabilities. All shots were done with Portra 160 (I shot 10 rolls of 220) or TMAX 400 (10 rolls of 120). This was before I fell in love with HP5 and before I realized that Portra 400 is even better for this type of work. Live and learn.

Thanks for looking! We had a great time and are in the process of planning our return to Europe already.

Capitol Hill

2011-11-12T15:59:00.000-08:00

I took these photos back in August on Capitol Hill. A long drunken day carrying my Mamiya 7 with 80mm lens.

Ideal Format

2011-11-11T11:06:00.000-08:00

The thing I hate most about 35mm film is that I am forced to crop my shots to fit the standard enlargement sizes.

6x7cm film is considered the "ideal format". It enlarges perfectly to 8x10, 11x14 and 16x20 without cropping. The actual image size in my Mamiya 7 is 56x70mm which equals 3,920 millimeters square. I also consider this camera ideal because it produces the highest technical image quality that I can easily shoot handheld. The lenses are super sharp, the rangefinder is smooth and accurate and the leaf shutter is basically silent.

4x5 is great too, but waaaay to slow for my style of shooting.

Long live ideal format!

Late October

2011-11-10T13:03:00.000-08:00

Boarded House at Discovery Park
Mamiya 7, 43mm, HP5 pushed to 1600 soaked in Rodinal 1+100 for 2 hours

Forest at Discovery Park
Mamiya 7, 43mm, HP5 pushed to 1600 soaked in Rodinal 1+100 for 2 hours

At the Matador
Nikon 35TI, HP5

FILM!

2011-11-08T14:54:00.000-08:00

Glazers Camera, Seattle, WA
This is just the black and white section! I develop all my own black and white film and I've been toying with the idea of setting up a small darkroom in my laundry room for printing.... Maybe one day I will make it happen.

Today I picked up 10 rolls of HP5 120.

The sales clerk tried hard to send me home with a minty Leica M2 that he had stowed in a drawer behind the counter for special customers. I passed since I prefer medium format, however I was impressed by the craftsmanship of the Leica. $2,500 with a 50 f2 lens is completely unreasonable in my book though. I abuse the crap out of my cameras so high craftsmanship and worrying about resale value is considered a negative for me.

Sheraton Meeting Rooms Renovation

2011-11-08T06:26:00.001-08:00

I'm currently working on a 6 month project to renovate 8 of the meeting rooms at the Sheraton Seattle one room at a time. Here are a few shots I took with my super wide 43mm lens. Distortion? Not with this lens.

Tokyo Camera Style

2011-11-07T18:17:00.000-08:00

I love this blog. The only bad part about being a regular viewer is that I keep getting introduced to new cameras that I want to buy (and I keep buying them!). Thanks John Sypal for this guilty pleasure!

http://tokyocamerastyle.com/

He also has great photography if you want to check out his blog: BLOG

I was inspired to purchase this year:

Contax T2
Yashica TLR
Nikon 35TI
Mamiya 7
Mamiya 7 150mm
Mamiya 7 80mm
Mamiya 7 43mm
Fuji GA 645

I've already sold the Contax, Yashica and Nikon but they were fun to toy with while I had them. Once you shoot a 6x7, you'll never look at 35mm/digital the same.

Occupy Seattle

2011-10-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

Mamiya 7 Bag Shot

2011-10-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

I know everyone loves these types of shots.

Mamiya 7
43mm
80mm
150mm

Do the Puyallup

2011-09-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

My Little Pony

Spent

Pictures

2011-09-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

No matter how much I shoot, I'm always surprised by the pictures.

The boys

The Carver

The Magician

The Guardians

The Fair and The Streets

2011-09-17T23:28:00.000-07:00

Cameras for sale

2011-09-12T18:17:00.000-07:00

Cleaning house on photo gear. Let me know if you are interested in the following.

Yashica Mat 124G TLR $275
Nikon D40 with 18-55 lens $275
Nikon F100 with 50 f1.8 $325
Fuji GA645 $475

Thanks for shopping!
Jeff

Downtown

2011-09-08T21:54:00.000-07:00

I love the bokeh and slow shutter handling on my Mamiya! Even better having such a beautiful model to hang with.

Paris

2011-09-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

The Eiffel Tower as seen from the Arc De Triumph. Just ordered an enlargement of this image to frame and hang in my house.

Mamiya 7, 43mm Downtown Seattle

2011-08-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

I got out this weekend to do some street photography in downtown Seattle. I shot these photos my 43mm f4.5 lens for the Mamiya 7. Since I am using a 6x7 negative, this is roughly a 21mm lens on 35mm. Thanks for looking.

Mamiya 7

2011-08-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

Here are a few shots I took with my new Mamiya 7 recently. This is truly a fantastic camera. The shot of Thomas was takem at F4 and 1/15 of a second handheld. This is one super sharp lens and a great camera for handheld shooting.

Flickr

2011-04-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

I've started posting my new work on Flickr. This blog will continue on a more limited basis. Add me as a friend on Flickr if you would like to continue getting my photo updates. I've already put up a lot of new work that never made it to the blog. FLICKR! www.flickr.com

Film development

2011-04-01T17:36:00.001-07:00

I have started acquiring all of the pieces I need to develop and scan film from 35mm on up to 4x5. I picked up an Epson V700 from adorama.com and now I just need to get a 4x5 tank. Hoping to get the remaining pieces and chemistry over the next couple of weeks.

Springs

2011-03-31T18:02:00.001-07:00

New phone

2011-03-30T21:57:00.001-07:00

I am having waaaay too much fun with my new galaxy phone tonight.

Hood

2011-03-30T19:25:00.000-07:00

I love the warm vibrant colors of this hood
Fuji GA645, Portra 160 +warming filter

Portrait

2011-03-29T20:40:00.001-07:00

Fine Art Photographer, Thomas Krueger http://kruegerphotos.com/
Fuji GA645, Portra 160

Speaking of portraits... I am available for portrait sessions next weekend to earn extra spending money for my upcoming Euro trip...First come, first serve. As many of you know I'm working as a construction engineer these days and have very limited time for portrait sessions / weddings. Conceptually my goal is to create environmental portraits about my subject (not your typical portrait session). I will give you super high res files from medium format film that are perfect for making nice large prints... other photographers don't offer this anymore. I will even shoot 1 image on 4x5 film. You won't find quality like this since the early 1900s!

$300 per 2 hour session. Medium format film with digital files and proof prints.
Email: jeffwieser@gmail.com for more details.

Snohomish County

2011-03-29T18:17:00.000-07:00

Here are a few shots I made on Sunday up North in Snohomish County.

Crown Graphic, 4x5, Efke 100

Garden

2011-03-27T18:28:00.000-07:00

Here is one of my compost bins. This batch should be ready in about 4 weeks. Just in time to plant my tomatoes and peppers.

Garden Overview

Fields of greens. Seriously, let me know if you want some.

Mustard Greens. They taste great, but we don't eat a ton of them in this house. They are spicy like chinese hot mustard and Michelle doesn't like them.

Here are some various tomatoes. I have between 50-70 seedlings. I think there are 7 different types.

I have about a dozen Kale seedlings and two dozen lettuce seedlings.

The chives came back! I love these in all sorts of dishes.

Broccoli

I have about 20 Kale plants that came out of the winter strong.

Down in the basement I have Banana Peppers, Bell Peppers and Habaneros under grow lights.

I also have about 2 dozen tomatoes under the grow lights. I'm slowly transitioning them all outside.

Here are a few of my 2 dozen sugar snap peas. These grew and tasted great last year. I'm really looking forward to having fresh snap peas for 5 months straight.

Fields of greens. Roughly 50 mustard greens, 20 lettuce, 20 kale and 60 radishes. The roots of the radishes aren't growning that well but the greens are gigantic. Sadly, a lot of these are going to end up in my compost bin....

Crown Graphic 4x5

2011-03-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

Went shooting up around Marysville this morning with my good friend Thomas Krueger. I got out my 4x5 camera for the first time in a long time. Its a great camera and fun to use. After blowing through 6 rolls of medium format last weekend in Vegas, I decided to slow things down and shoot some large format. It was definitely a nice time and I'm looking forward to getting these developed tomorrow. I might buy some chemistry and develop them myself.

For those of you that don't know, 4x5 film is lightyears beyond anything digital today. It is equivalent to roughly a 1,000 megapixel digital camera. I bought this camera for $250 when I was in college and I got some expired Efke 100 film for 50 cents a sheet. My new Epson V700 scanner can get great quality scans of 4x5 film, so I'm looking forward to using this camera a lot in the future. Here are some snaps from the point and shoot digital Thomas brought along.

Here I am showing how small the Rollei is in comparison.

This was private property so I left the view camera in the car and went stealth with my Fuji GA645.

Portrait of Thomas

Lazy Saturday

2011-03-26T13:14:00.000-07:00

Pastels and Graphite, 18"x24"

Lazy Saturday

Click the image to enlarge. i think it is worth a closer look.

Long Term Marketing

2011-03-24T21:52:00.000-07:00

I love the idea that this yellowed, old, newspaper ad that is falling down is serving a marketing purpose. Sure makes for a great subject along with these great windows though.

Fence with Sunburst

2011-03-24T21:41:00.000-07:00

I went outside to check out a rainbow but found this sunburst more interesting.

Contax T2, Porta 160

Addiction

2011-03-24T21:34:00.001-07:00

The remains of a habitual garbage burning ritual by a meth addict. Sometimes people don't want help and can't be helped.

Around the hood

2011-03-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

I carry a camera with me everyday when I take my dog on a walk. I'm going to start posting a lot more of the shots around my neighborhood. Its a subject that I'm always continuing to explore and is slowly becoming the theme of most of my work.

Mill Creek Exterior

2011-03-23T07:41:00.000-07:00

Yashica Mat 124G, Kodak Portra 400

The remaining images were done with my Bronica RF645... RIP. Only a couple more rolls left to post from this fallen soldier.

We are finally all wrapped up at Swedish Mill Creek. This is my first week back at the main office in Georgetown. It is nice to be back in the city and great being around all my co-workers again. So long Mill Creek!

Around town...

2011-03-16T13:16:00.000-07:00

This is a collection of shots that I created with my new Fuji GA645. Shot with Kodak Portra 400. No time to retouch any.

Fuji GA645

2011-03-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

Talk about a joke of a camera! It looks like a toy, it feels like a toy, is it a toy? Not according to sources such as "the internet".

I picked one of these up cheap from KEH.com this week. It arrived on Wednesday with batteries already in it, ready to shoot. My first reaction was holy crap, this thing is 3 times as big as my Contax. I was disappointed at first.

After putting the camera through a bit of a workout I have to say, its a toy, but a professional toy. Its a huge point and shoot that produces a negative 3 times as big as my Contax. This camera can run on full auto exposure including autofocus. The autofocus is as fast as I would ever need, and I love how this camera displays the focus distance right in the viewfinder. It has a fun pop up flash and even though its a beast, can still fit inside a large jacket pocket. The lens is a fixed 60mm f4 which is the equivalent of a 35mm f2.8 on 35mm film. I'm becoming a sucker for the big negative and this is the easiest way I've found to shoot medium format.

I haven't had any of my film developed yet. Pictures to come. If you would like to know more about it, here is a more thorough review: Dante Stella GA645

And here is an article comparing it to the Mamiya 6: Fuji GA645 vs. Mamiya 6

Fremont

2011-03-12T08:44:00.000-08:00

Contax T2, Ilford HP5 400 Speed

The Lobster

2011-03-12T08:29:00.000-08:00

The Orchid

2011-03-08T21:01:00.000-08:00

We have somehow managed to keep this beautiful orchid alive for 13 months. It keeps getting better with age.

Drapery?

2011-03-07T19:32:00.000-08:00

One Saturday morning I was compelled by the sunrise to photograph many of the windows in my house. These are those pictures. ha

Bronica RF645 & Yashica Mat TLR (thats right, I was so compelled that I used TWO cameras)

Around the House

2011-03-06T17:11:00.000-08:00

NCPS tends to blow the highlights on my B&W film. I am considering getting setup to scan my own work. It would be nice to have more control so that I can really maximize the great dynamic range. Thinking about getting an Epson V700.

Yashica 124G, 400 TMAX

Michelle

2011-03-03T09:34:00.000-08:00

Here are some shots of my jobsite and some of my favorite muse, Michelle.

Bronica RF645, TMAX 400

Contax T2 2nd Roll

2011-03-01T20:08:00.000-08:00

Contax T2 2nd roll. I'm loving this little camera.

Contax T2 Test Roll

2011-03-01T18:22:00.000-08:00

Here are the shots from my first roll shot with the Contax T2. What a great point and shoot 35mm rangefinder!

My backlog of scanned rolls to post is about to balloon up to 21 rolls tomorrow when I get my scans back, so I guess I need to do step it up with some larger posts. The good news is that I have no shortage of photos to share, the bad news is that you might see a lot of crappy ones. Enjoy!

Cigs

2011-03-01T08:07:00.001-08:00

Contax T2, Kodak Portra 400. The Contax has a fixed 38mm f2.8 lens.

Cigs, Ballard

I've never been a big fan of cigarettes. I do enjoy the occasional cigar, however a landscape like this is both odd and gross. I would think that this planter would be better suited for some spring lettuce or kale rather than a wasteland of corporate poison. Can you imagine if I snuck in and filled this planter with lettuce and vegetables? Would they keep trashing their cigarettes in it? I think so.

I don't have the time to retouch anything these days, so I'm just going to keep posting random images as shot with the Contax T2. I'm not much for techie bullshit so consider the results my camera review.

Contax T2 Self Portrait

2011-02-28T14:10:00.000-08:00

Just got back my first couple of test rolls that I shot with the Contax T2. Here is a self-portrait that I liked straight out of the camera. I threw in some other 35 mm rolls from my F100 and I must say that the Contax holds it own very well head to head.

Lighthouse - Magnolia

2011-02-27T07:05:00.000-08:00

Ice Rings

2011-02-25T10:08:00.000-08:00

These cool ice rings were spotted just outside my trailer. I love when nature creates art.

Discovery Park

2011-02-24T14:48:00.000-08:00

Here are a few shots from Discovery Park. I can never help but marvel at the beautiful, old, boarded up houses.

Maui Sunset

2011-02-23T19:39:00.000-08:00

Bronica RF 645, Fuji Velvia 50

'Most Tourists Take Pictures from the Same Spot'

2011-02-19T22:29:00.000-08:00

These two pieces were created by Corrine Vionnet under the concept that most tourists take pictures from the same spot. She collected the photos from photo sharing sites like facebook and flicker and then layered hundreds of images together in photoshop.

I think that this is a great concept and the final result makes me laugh a little. These two pieces are great inspiration to be creative and not settle for the typical easy shot.

At the market

2011-02-19T09:55:00.000-08:00

This collection of shots were taken at the Pike Place Market back in November. More great colors with Fuji Velvia 50 film on 120 film.

Mill Creek MOB

2011-02-18T10:05:00.000-08:00

We are open for business! Swedish Mill Creek opened Thursday morning at 12:01AM. Here are a ton of interior shots. Thanks for looking!

Sunrise over Grays Harbor

2011-02-17T16:38:00.000-08:00

I got snowed in out in Aberdeen right before Thanksgiving while working on a radiology suite at Grays Harbor Community Hospital. After the snow stopped falling we were given this beautiful sunrise. I've blogged similar images in the past, but these are the 120mm Fuji Velvia 50 slides. Fuji Velvia 50 is the ultimate film for vibrant colors. Now you know what the pros use to get the super saturated colors in their images while all the gear heads tinker in photoshop.

Near the UW Med Center

2011-02-16T19:14:00.000-08:00

I created these 4 images on Thanksgiving day. I had a loved one in the hospital and spent the entire Thanksgiving break at the hospital showing my support. Around noon on Thanksgiving I decided to take a little break from visiting to go out and explore the snowy afternoon.

Bronica 645, 120mm Velvia 50, 65mm lens.

Grow Lights and Heat Pad

2011-02-13T17:16:00.000-08:00

I added a couple of grow lights and a seed starting pad today. I have around 150 seedlings that I just moved out to the greenhouse this afternoon. I know Michelle is happy to have her dining room table back and my costs were only around 70 dollars for the equipment. Now lets see if these seedlings can survive the cold winter nights!

The heating pad will run 24 hours a day for the next 6 weeks. I am running the grow lights on a dusk till dawn timer (the same one I use on my xmas lights).

Swedish Mill Creek ACC

2011-02-10T08:49:00.001-08:00

Here are some interior shots from this morning. The whole building was spit shined for the VIP opening today.

Alley - University District

2011-02-09T21:34:00.000-08:00

This is a photograhic I took while in college with my Crown Graphic 4x5 camera. I used the polaroid print/neg film and this is a digital photo I took of the print.

I created this shot while working on my "Residence" series. A lot of weird things went on right in this spot. I think the mood of this image is quite fitting of this time and place.

Tire - Georgetown

2011-02-08T19:05:00.000-08:00

First off, I have just added the follow button back to my page. If you are a fan, let me know it! 6 followers is pretty pathetic! Now on to the post...

This is one of my favorite images from my last batch of 10 rolls. The green and red are perfect compliments (this is what the colors actually look like) and the slogan in white reads "mean something". Talk about good advice on how to live!

Medium Format, Fuji Velvia 50 (Click on the image twice to really enjoy the detail)

Fuji GF670

2011-02-07T20:25:00.000-08:00

Back story

As many of you know, I have been lusting over folder cameras for about 2 months. I bought a Kodak Retina IIIc back in December, however it had major problems and it was easier to return it instead of dealing with repairs. During this same period I have been thinking about unloading my Bronica system and upgrading to the Mamiya 7 because I can't find a single shop that will repair my Bronica RF after 12/2011 (thanks Tamron!) >:(

Meanwhile I have been eyeing the Fuji GS645 because it is a nice folder that I can pocket, however the 75mm lens is close to a 50mm and I really prefer a 40mm. The GS also feels like a plastic piece of crap in my hand. I have read lots of info online stating that it is hard to get these cameras repaired just like my Bronica....

Fast forward to today.

I came across the Fuji GF670 on www.tokyocamerastyle.com. My first impression was that it was a great looking old camera. I googled it and discovered that it came out in 2010. What??? Fuji is still coming out with new film cameras?? I can now say that I love Fuji and would like to thank them for considering the artist instead of only creating tools for snapshooters and pros.

Why do I like this camera so much? Let me count the ways...

1. 40 mm is my ideal focal length for anything I shoot. I never want to change my lens and this camera takes away my option to.
2. The lens fully retracts into the camera when folded shut and can easily be stored in my pocket.
3. This camera can shoot both 6x6 or 6x7 images. I'm a huge fan of square images and this is one of the only 6x6 rangefinder cameras I know of. The Mamiya 6 also shoots square images but many of its parts are already out of production and lots of people are being forced to trash this great camera.
4. Repairable! my biggest gripe with old gear is the lack of repair accommodations.
5. ISO 3200 film on 6x7 looks like 400 speed film on 35mm. This camera can be hand-held after dusk and still get acceptable results.

This camera is also a great deal at $1600 brand spankin new from Adorama.com. I paid more than that for my D200 which no longer has any value. If I'm not going to buy a new DSLR, this is the least I could do for myself, right?

I haven't decided yet if I will upgrade, but the Fuji GF670 seems to have everything I want in one little fold-able package. Thanks for reading!

Seed Starting

2011-02-05T15:55:00.000-08:00

I decided to spend this rainy afternoon starting a large amount of my seedlings for this growing season. Here is a breakdown of what I am growing and why.

Gold Nugget Tomato - The Gold Nugget is a prolific, early season, determinate tomato plant. I chose this short and stout plant because it will grow on the Southside of my green house and not block the sun that the Northern plants will need to thrive. This plant will start producing early and continue all season. I like lots of tomatoes so the earlier and higher quantity the better. The Gold Nugget will grow very well in pots. I'm hoping to add a few of these decorative plants to my patio this summer. Great for snacking on fresh off the vine while enjoying some brew and bbq.

Cherokee Purple Heirloom Tomato - This large purplish pink and brown tomato has a great sweet and slightly smoky flavor. I read online that this plant should do well in our climate. I had very bad luck with my heirlooms last year, so this year I tried to zero in on one that should work for me. It matures moderately early but it is by far my riskiest choice this year.

Martino's Roma Tomato - Since I am growing so many plants this year (I will personally plant around 25) I thought I would grow a good saucing and canning tomato. Martino's Roma is a short, determinate plant that should be a solid producer.

Early Girl VF Improved Hybrid Tomato - This is an early producing, indeterminate, vineing style plant that producs uniform 4 to 5 ounce fruit. I chose this plant because of my urge for control. It is disease resistant and early season producing. This medium sized tomato appears to be perfect for this climate and practically guarantees results.

Red Cherry Tomato - This is the classic salad tomato that is not exciting but will produce no matter how crappy our weather is and always tastes sweet and delicious.

Sweet Banana Pepper - This is an excellent pepper to grow in cool, short season climates. They are good in salads, raw off the vine, in sauces and pickled. After a few failed pepper plants last year I'm hoping the Sweet Banana Pepper will be a staple in my garden for years to come.

California Wonder Pepper - I tried growning this pepper last year but I just kept screwing up the starts and didn't get a solid plant going until mid May. In the end I didn't get a single Bell Pepper. This year I am starting them on February 5th and I have high hopes for good results.

Twilight Hybrid Eggplant - Eggplant generally loves sun. This early, cool variety seems to be the best option for the Pacific Northwest.

And last, but certainly not least, the Korean Pepper. I grew 3 of these last year and harvested about 300 of these crunchy sweet and spicy peppers. They are my favorite and I plan to grow 6 of them this year.

I also started around 20 types of Lettuce and two kinds of Kale today. I've decided not to not start Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cabbage this year. They take too long and I don't like waiting for these to finish before my summer crops can go in. I have a few Broccoli and Cauliflower plants that have been growing slowly all winter along with some Lettuce and Mustard Greens. Once these ripen and go away all of my late spring plants will be ready to shuffle right in.

I also have plans for a few types of Squash and Cucumbers this summer, however those will not be getting started for a few more weeks.

Thanks for reading! I might have some extra plants around May so let me know if you are interested and I will let you know if I have extra Tomatoes and Peppers that need homes.

Andersen sets a new standard

2011-02-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

We have until Monday at 8am to finish up. It's going to be a long weekend! Andersen completed this project in 8 months and similar structures generally take about 12 months. Want to know the trick? Everyone works 60 hours a week instead of 40.

Ballard

2011-02-02T19:19:00.000-08:00

Oliver's Holiday Portrait

2011-01-31T19:12:00.000-08:00

He won't pose like this unless the sun is shining on his back.. haha

Compost

2011-01-30T21:44:00.000-08:00

With my compost bin filled to the brim I finally setup my second composter today. I quickly filled it up with leaves and brush. All I need now is a few weeks worth of food scraps and about 10 lbs. of coffee grounds from Starbucks. I am hoping to expand my garden slightly this year by planting some squash in the raised beds along our fence. More compost will be needed to supply all of these areas and I should have about 100 gallons of finished black gold by early May.

I am starting my tomatoes and peppers next weekend so stay tuned for lots of gardening updates!

Mustard Greens

2011-01-29T15:08:00.000-08:00

As my greenhouse approaches its 1 year anniversary I am long overdue for an update. The reason why I haven't said much lately is because my plants are growing at a snails pace. Talk about the slow food movement! I basically just water every 2 weeks or so and the plants just keep on chugging along. Mustard greens are the break out star of this winter. In another 4-6 weeks I should have around 100 fully developed mustard green plants. I sampled some while I was taking these photos and this green has a kick to it just like chinese hot mustard. I'm a big fan of the flavor, now I just need to figure out how to cook them!

My Bay Laurel Tree has been plugging along all winter and is surviving very well. It seems to produce leaves at the exact same rate that they are used. If anyone needs a few fresh bay leaves let me know. I think they are impossible to find in stores and I prefer them to the dried product.

Gardens

2011-01-29T09:11:00.000-08:00

These shots were taken one morning when I was really missing all of my plants. Some are from my local pea patch and others are of the new rain gardens popping up over Ballard.

The jury is still out on these. Most people think they are ugly and not functional, but I for one think it is a refreshing change from the usual grass strip. Not saying I want one in front of my house... but I do like it when people think outside of the box.

Enlarge this shot to see the art of nature. On this icy morning a very nice design developed on my greenhouse.

I will get some shots later today of my plants. They are surviving the winter ok and I can't wait to eat them. I have plans to start my tomatoes next weekend.

Throwback

2011-01-28T10:41:00.000-08:00

I created this piece several years ago while in college. I have a small obsession with the way certain images juxtapose with one another and getting 4x6 images is a great way to play with them and try different arrangements. I definitely miss working like that.

Kodak Portra 160NC

2011-01-26T19:33:00.000-08:00

I was recently given a large quantity of Portra 160NC film from my good friend Adam Satushek <--Check out his work!. He no longer shoots medium format and is strictly large format so he gave me 60 rolls of film as a gift. All of his work on his website was created on a 4x5 view camera and he routinely makes prints 6 feet tall. I'm a huge fan.

Here is the first roll of Portra. I used a warming filter and I think it turned out nice.

As you will start to see in this post, I've started to become obsessed with photographing other people's street side gardens. Stay tuned for more on this subject.

Primary house. Finally someone is going back to the basics!

A quote from Edward Weston

2011-01-26T16:01:00.000-08:00

"...few photographers ever master their medium. Instead they allow the medium to master them and go on an endless squirrel cage chase from new lens to new paper to new developer to new gadget, never staying with one piece of equipment long enough to learn its full capacities, becoming lost in a maze of technical information that is of little or no use since they don't know what to do with it."

"...the task can be made immeasurably easier by selecting the simplest possible equipment and procedures and staying with them. Learning to see in terms of the field of one lens, the scale of one film and one paper, will accomplish a good deal more than gathering a smattering of knowledge about several sets of tools."

-Edward Weston

The Yashica Mat 124G first roll

2011-01-25T18:35:00.000-08:00

Here are the images from my first roll with the new TLR. A few of the shots didn't turn out because I was doing a bulb exposure outdoors and I just didn't expose the film long enough. The rest of these shots were snapped as part of the test roll. I also did a couple of self portraits to finish off the roll.

Having the waist level finder is great for doing self portraits. I sat the camera on a table near my desk at work, no tripod required. It is trivial to adjust exposure and focus with the waist level setup even when the camera is sitting on a table. Practically all of these were shot with the lens wide open handheld at less than 1/30 of a second shutter speed. The sharpness of the lens can easily be seen in the first shot. The light meter appears to be dead on and the focus is also very accurate when done properly at a reasonable shutter speed. Camera Techs in Ballard converted this cameras light meter to work with a modern battery and I am very pleased with the quality of work. They also fixed the focusing knob and cleaned all of the gunk off the lens. This camera is like new and I give it (and Camera Techs) two thumbs up.

Keep in mind that these are low res scans that are the equivalent to about a 5MP camera. When scanned at the highest possible resolution this camera can produce files the equivalent of 343MPs. I almost forgot to mention that this film expired in 2009 and was given to me for free. :-D

Saturday Morning

2011-01-22T09:40:00.000-08:00

I think this self-portrait sums up how I feel this morning. Working on the weekend is never fun but sometimes you have to step it up before you can back it off.

I am already looking forward to next weekend and celebrating my Wife's birthday as well as the Vietnamese New Year (lots of delicious food). Only seven more work days to go! The biggest pain in all of this mess is that I can never find time to use my new TLR. It is ALWAYS dark when I am off work. I ran a test roll through it this week doing longer exposures on a tripod and dropped it off at Panda Lab yesterday. I can't wait until the sun stays out longer or I get a day off to fully enjoy my new camera and create some art.

Pioneer Square and Phinney Ridge

2011-01-20T18:34:00.000-08:00

mmm. Rainier!

This is my favorite image from this roll. The tail/butt of the ceramic horse punctuate this neighborhood nicely.

This is my second favorite shot of the roll. I love vining type plants than know how to climb.

I thought these chairs were a hilarious way to block off a hole. If anything they invite people to step right in and enjoy the new open space.