New York 2018 February Camera Carnival/Meet-Up

Today I am a 147 pound 5'9" Welterweight Photographer (Not off-topic, photo related).

Last night "Maggie" had 402K followers, so she gained over 100K followers in a week and a day. This morning it became 406K followers. Today is a Fashion Show for her to attend. She had to pick up a garment being lent to her to wear for the event. (Instagram/Social Media related)

Last night loaded new curves and made a test print with the "Jersey Barrier." I'm very pleased. The new blacker-black seems to save mucho ink, and printing big means the contrast won't get washed out. This new system of curves and new darker black seems to have an expanded midrange, and even more shadow detail. Very-very high dynamic range. (Printing related)

I got another event that I'm applying for. I have good feelings that this will be a very big year for me. (Photo related)

Cal
 
Last night "Maggie" had 410K followers, and by this morning 414K. The surge continues.

After attending a show "dressed" the day was topped off by a fancy formal dinner. The 100 guests were "gifted" some expensive ear rings presented in a glass box. Maggie's name was scripted on the lid in gold leaf on her's.

I spent the night working on printing. I'm excited by my recent work. I toned down the warmth to only one ink shade, and I broadened the range of blacks so my split tone is blacks to a neutral upper shadows/lower mids, to a cool selenium highlights in the upper mids and highlights. I am trying to create a warm highlight in the upper shadows that extends into the lower mids.

This is all exploiting 7 shades of black and the new darker black that adds about a stop to my dynamic range. The print looks like a nice matte print presently, so I'm excited about the tonality. The bronzing and gloss differential will disappear when I print the Gloss Overcoat tonight. Also the blacks and the contrast will become even more evident.

Seems like I learned from the Piezography Pro inkset in my smaller printer that exploiting the new blacker-black and hitting the right amount of contrast really makes everything else in the print stand out more as detail.

My immediate goal here is to make a portfolio of prints in February. If I win a New York Times Portfolio Review I will need impressive prints to show my six reviewers by April 21st.

I also might have to print for exhibition if am awarded a En Foco Fellowship. Might want to be ready in advance. Rushing or stress is not the best way to work.

Meanwhile I'm printing pages for my book using 100% cotton rag papers. These prints could be used for an exhibition and are designed to fit stock frames, but if I have the opportunity I want to have "monster prints" on hand for impact and that billboard effect.

Maggie got a solicitation to consult for a record company to assist in developing their social media. So now this points to being an art director gig, but also includes photography. My guess is that they like the NYC urban style that riffs off of my urban landscape and street shooting. Already they say, "We have money." This could be a very cool gig for me. I'm not new to the music scene either. They specifically mentioned they want photography BTW. Interesting that now I'm included in Maggie's branding, and I can see how a record company would want to catch the urban NYC vibe and exploit street culture.

Cal
 
OFF TOPIC: So I loved the Pastrami Rueben and the Truffle Parm Fries I had at the Rochard. I wish I had one right now.

What did you guys think of the food. Seems like they had a good selection of Micro Brews. Also had some odd/strange stuff. Sour beer I overheard.

Please add food and beer reviews January attendee's.

Cal
 
Phil_F_NM said:
The city of Philadelphia is still standing. Even though a few hundred thousand people mobbed the streets, lit fires, tore down light poles, vandalized shops and stole mannequins from Macy's, the rain kept the flames at bay.
Philly loves a winner because Philly loves a riot.

Phil Forrest
Click to expand...

It's Philly. It's who we are, and part of the city's charm is that in spite of the new office and apartment towers, bike riding millennials, and 46,000 locally sourced craft beers, it's still lout central. Where else would you find "**** Tom Brady" t-shirts with the u and c as underdog heads?
 
Really great results last night printing. Somehow I created a "shadow highlight" of exploiting and limiting the warmth to just one cart of ink just where I want it. In this one shot "Selfie-Girl" the black woman's face and cleavage draws in the eye, where before in other prints these details got blended in with the blacks.

There is also all this wonderful detail in this blonde Latina in her bare shoulders (she is wearing a tube like top at a fashion event held on the rooftop of the "Public" Hotel).

In the vista of surrounding low rise downtown the splitone is just where I want it. In D-5000 daylight the effect is very subtle as far as the warmth. the blacks, the neutral shadows, the shadow highlight, and the long transition to cool highlights adds a lot of complex information of captured light.

I want to see how this renders in a 20x30 image size. This is crazy good. I think these images and prints kinda sell themselves, so I think anything can happen. My best prints are happening now. Piezography Pro really taught me a lot. What I'm doing now is a lot more advanced, and my prints stand out with my signature. I'm kinda painting with an inkjet printer with carbon based inks in definitely a fine art manner.

A courier delivered "two-looks" last night that included coats. Delivery was around 10:00 PM. These are clothes "Maggie" needs to wear to a fashion show today at 5:00 PM, and she will likely have to wear these clothes to teach a class at Fordham today. After the show she will get Pov-O-rot-zeed and shot in these borrowed clothes from a designer.

Last night 420K followers. The surge continues. A half million followers is the next milestone.

Cal
 
I’ll be there of course on the 25th with both of the wide angle cameras that I completed recently out of Linhof parts. I’ve been adding some refinements like custom focus scales, and some feet that help the bigger one stand without tipping backwards.

GEAR ALERT! I just noticed that the Technika 70 I sold last year is back on eBay. It’s the one with the 80mm planar.
 
Range-rover said:
Guy's I just chickened out, I had my Hasselblad on ebay to sell and pulled it off.
Click to expand...

Bob,

Nothing wrong with selling gear. I too have more than I need. Cameras need to be used and can become liabilities.

Last night "Maggie" had 434K followers. Looks like she is closing in on half a million soon.

Tonight I have to meet her between shows after work and bring a wardrobe change. There are all these lent clothing brought by couriers that must be worn for certain shows. I'll be attending a show tonight at 8:00 PM.

On February 20th I find out if I'm one one the hundred selected for the New York Times Portfolio Review. If selected I'll get reviewed by six different reviewers. Some of these reviewers I'll be able to select out of a list of 84. The actual portfolio reviews is held on Saturday April 21st.

Currently I'm working on printing a portfolio in advance.

Cal
 
That's great Cal good to hear, I get this bug in my head on selling stuff.
I finally finished the Rolleiflex 3.5F 12/24 and even ordered side leatherette
from Germany that match the other side perfect. all I need is a new screen
but there's so many different models made and a few from China or make my
own. The Rollei camera's are so compact compared to the Hassey (Let's part's
to worry about) it's so easy to throw into a bag and go the hassey needs more
space.
 
Range-rover said:
That's great Cal good to hear, I get this bug in my head on selling stuff.
I finally finished the Rolleiflex 3.5F 12/24 and even ordered side leatherette
from Germany that match the other side perfect. all I need is a new screen
but there's so many different models made and a few from China or make my
own. The Rollei camera's are so compact compared to the Hassey (Let's part's
to worry about) it's so easy to throw into a bag and go the hassey needs more
space.
Click to expand...

Bob,

I like the Rollie 3.5's. They are small, compact, and lighter than the 2.8's.

645 is inbetween and to me is not medium format, but the square is an interesting format.

Cal
 
BOOK ALERT: On May 10th "American Romance" will be released and published. "Maggie" and I represent the old couple in this book that is inclusive that Mike Pence likely would not approve. LOL. Fug-him.

Kinda funny how when followers meet Maggie in person sometimes they blurt out without thinking, "You're short." LOL. One follower wrote to her asking, "Could you cover petites because I'm only 5"1"," and Maggie replied, "I'm only five foot two."

In this shoot that included video and a rather big crew was shot near Greenpoint Terminal and in Williamsburg very near where I use to live by the Domino Sugar Refinery. My stage presence from when I was a performance artist (nearly a decade) comes across, and because Maggie is so small I kinda look like one of those muscular guys from "Canadian Ninja Warriors" with the great upper body strength, and I don't look like a 15 year old.

I look mighty cool with "my car" a vintage two-seater Mercedes 560 SL with the "Calzone" monster supersized motor.

So Maggie believes that this book might get us some gigs as a couple.

Yesterday afternoon after work ran home and jumped on a subway with a garment bag as a wardrobe change for Maggie. I learned some smut that this one designer normally does not lend out clothes because they are mucho expensive. The pants alone cost $4K, and a matching jacket likely a lot more. Maggie is important enough that he made an exception.

So at this first show she is sitting in the first row next to some famous designer who she would later find out is Tom Brown. She get Pov-O-rot-zeed after the show. I'm waiting outside Spring Street Studios on Varick near the Holland Tunnel to meet her.

There is a generator on the street running to power the lights of the show, and a limo line for VIP's that have to shuffle to too many events. I exploit 1600 ISO, F1.4, and hand held skills to get a few head to toe shots of Maggie wearing this one designer's outfit while walking to find a place to eat and change. On the way back to the event space I shoot this second look in a dark street near the Holland Tunnel.

The line to the show is outside and it is a mob scene. We are the lucky ones that have "seats," and our seats are particularly great ones: first row; section "C"; and on the best side for the entrance and walk back.

At the end of the runway is the press pool: a crowd of about 30 photographers piled on top of each other. Where I'm positioned I get two opportunities to get each look. I set up my kill zones while "Maggie" gets herded by fans and gushed over.

I got a lot better than last year in nailing the head to toe look during a show. It all happens so fast. After the show we get escorted backstage. I meet the designer. Back there are other people I know from previous seasons and other events. There is this woman who I saw who sat across the runway, she approaches me, and asks me about my Leica.

She is a fashion photographer and was inquiring about my SL. I showed her the images shot at 1600 ISO at F1.4 with no flash. My handheld skills were very evident and were impressive. This woman was considering a M10, but I mentioned the need for AF makes the SL a better choice.

So I had lots of fun last night. Seems that I'm part of this world. The guy sitting to my right was this stylish black man with a crazy hat and glasses. He was getting shot a lot. Some pho-togs shot the two of us because I was wearing my white alpaca hat.

Leaving it was hard trying to make it to the exit. We got stopped a lot on our way out. Seems like I too am getting widely known in the fashion world.

Cal
 
Chinese New Years Party tonight. Red and gold attire.

I'll be going ghetto. I'll wear my old mine-cut diamonds and do the post-colonial thing.

Red and white thin stripped Paul Smith shirt; blue Paul Smith blazer; and I'll wear my long hair down for that look of the youth gangs of the 70's retro look with my Japanese gangsta cloak.

Of course the last moment invite. Just came in.

Cal
 
STREET PHOTOGRAPHY: I was walking to work, minding my own business, when I find a vintage framed retro B&W print on the UES.

The image has these crusty group sitting in what one could assume is a mansion wearing suits, some of them bad plaid from perhaps the early 60's. The men sport a kinda Woody Allen do.

The image size is only about 5x7, but it is a cool retro print that I will gift as a prize. Time era I believe is early 60's.

So I define this as street photography because that's where I found the shot. It was sitting on a bench at a bus stop. Kinda strange place to find a shot.

Cal
 
MrFujicaman said:
You find the damnest stuff..
Click to expand...

MFM,

When I lived in Williamsburg on the Southside the Hipsters who lived on the Northside use to walk their dogs in my hood and leave the place booby trapped with dog-turds.

I was walking along, "minding my own business" when I shuffle stepped to avoid what I thought was another dog-turd, but it ended up being a black case about the size of a pack of cigarettes. It ended up being a Contax T-3 likely lost by some clueless hipster. LOL.

I never got along with the shutter delay and all the automation. I like/prefer manual cameras. Ended up selling the camera.

I have more than my fair share of luck it seems, and all kinds of strange stuff seems to happen to me, "when I'm just trying to mind my own business."

Cal
 
Kinda funny how if you are famous how people also think you are rich and wealthy. Don't get me wrong: I have a comfortable life; and I'm not complaining; but some people think we live in a mansion.

I'm a very lucky guy. Just when I need to order ink and paper I get an e-mail blast for a one day Valentine's Day sale that provides me with 15% off. Of course I take advantage and load up the truck. Saved a couple of hundred dollars.

700 ml bottles of ink don't last when the refillable carts hold 400 ml. Had to order two shades to have some stock.

Bought 4 24" x 50 foot rolls of paper. I still have a stockpile of 17 inch paper that I'm phasing out. I'll be using this 17 inch wide rolls for book pages and I'll print 12x18 images on 18x24 paper and save money as well as enjoy 3 inch borders.

Pretty much I'm using tax return money. I figure the next sale is generally in the summer. Anxious about making some "Monster Prints."

Cal
 
So I just fiiled out the L.A. Billboard application, sending in 4 images.

Oddly for me one was a color shot. Subway-Girl is "Maggie" coming down the subway stairs at night in Fort Green, Brooklyn wearing a vintage S-Scott-A blazer, black leather pants, and sporting a YSL "blogger's bag" which is designed to hold a cell phone, keys, and a metro card and nothing else.

This shot was 3200 ISO and I bumped up the post processing where Pro-Mone says it looks like it was shot with a flash.

It seems like I had to limit my submissions to only 4 because I required permissions from anyone recognizable in the shot. Anyways it would be mucho fun to have Maggie spackled on a billboard for a month in L.A.

My other shots were basically urban landscapes, although John is recognizable in this dusky shot underneath the Highline.

I'm glad NYC Fashion Week is over for me. I'm tired.

More things to apply for to get my work exposed comes into my e-mail. This is a lot of work for a lazy slacker like me, but today I have "Bonus Vacation" meaning my boss, "How-Wierd" who is like "Mister McGoo" the blind cartoon character, except he makes no sense, is off today, so basically I don't have to deal with being around and cope with someone crazy anxious who makes no sense.

Maggie posted a shot that is from the book "American Romance" that will launch on May 10th. The two-door Mercedes 560SEL really matches my old vintage hipster style/image really well. Lots of comments. Got 15K likes right away within a few hours.

Cal
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom