New York January NYC Meet-Up

[Calzone]

I want to know if you guys would be willing to meet-up uptown.

Rochard is a bar that was formally AVT another bar on 97th and Lex. It is one block from the 6 Train subway and three blocks away from the "Q" on Second Avenue. The M96 bus works for people who want to go crosstown coming from the Westside. The Rochard is easy to get to and will likely be less crowded than Lorelie's. Could we do a trial Meet-Up to see if it is more suitable for our annual "Camera Convention?"

Lorelie's last month was not crowded, but sometimes it gets so crowded and loud. The Rochard is more flavored like Puck Fair IMHO and is low keyed.

Also the beginning of January is generally the coldest part of the year. Let's try and make the date later in January to avoid the coldest part of the year.

Cal

 

[Range-rover]

Hey Cal That's fine, that would be no problem as long as I could get there by train.

 

[Calzone]

Hey Cal That's fine, that would be no problem as long as I could get there by train.

Bob,

A straight shot on the 6 train from 125th Street for you. You also can walk from Metro North.

Cal

 

[dshfoto]

Cal,
Works for me. In fact a shorter walk because I can catch an M96 Bus Cross town.
Less noise, less crowd, and less large screen sports would be +++.
Are you thinking the same time.
Facebook link at https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheRochardNYC/posts/
Address: The Rochard: 1504 Lexington Ave. (97th St.) (212) 722-8959
Jan 21st or 28th ? Or some other Sunday?
Steve H.

 

[helen.HH]

have bot been to a meet up in a looooong tine
Uptown is Cool

set a Date...

 

[Calzone]

have bot been to a meet up in a looooong tine
Uptown is Cool

set a Date...

Helen,

It would be mucho good to see you. Always fun.

Lorelie's is soooo dreary. I'm tired of that place.

Hope to see you soon.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Cal,
Works for me. In fact a shorter walk because I can catch an M96 Bus Cross town.
Less noise, less crowd, and less large screen sports would be +++.
Are you thinking the same time.
Facebook link at https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheRochardNYC/posts/
Address: The Rochard: 1504 Lexington Ave. (97th St.) (212) 722-8959
Jan 21st or 28th ? Or some other Sunday?
Steve H.

Steve,

Easy is good for me too. I only live a few blocks away. I'm also thinking of some logistics. I have a community recreation room and outdoor patio that is part of my building's shared space. We could easily do a Meet-Up BBQ, and perhaps shoot underneath Hell Gate Bridge and walk to Mott Haven and Port Morris.

The best light in the Bronx is in the early morning, and in the summer the shadows are perfect around 2:00 PM in the summer under Hell Gate. There is a new pedestrian bridge that goes from Randel's/Ward's Island into the South Bronx.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

GEAR ALERT: Bought a JOBO 3013 tank. It is about the size of a one gallon glass cider jug, and it fits three of my fifteen foot 70mm reels. The tank filled with the three reels and water weighs about 12 pounds as an inversion tank. LOL.

Anyways only paid $122.50 including shipping. Last JOBO I bid on sold for $275.00, so I got a great deal (3010 tank).

Anyways 70mm will be mucho crazy. Takes about 6 liters to fill the tank.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

"Maggie" now has 280K followers.

The first year in January I'll be setting up a second Mac (desktop) with the latest Lightroom, Piezography Pro Edition, and Quadtone RIP with Print Tool. More or less this computer will be a stand alone for using my Epson 7800 with enhanced K-7 HD inkset.

Next step is buying an I1 Pro so I can calibrate my entire system. This will be printing at the next level.

For $50.00 worth of software I'll be able to print digital negatives for contact printing.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

"Maggie" now has 281K followers.

I'm really excited about upgrading to Enhanced K-7 HD on my Epson 7800. Should really advance my printing by deeper contrast and expanded dynamic range. Also through experience I have become a much better printer. I have to do a bit of work to do this upgrade involving mucho software.

I'll be softening down the warmth a bit in my splitone by further blending involving shade 2. Understand that Piezography utilizes a series of seven overlapping curves, and it is in images that have lots of shadows that my prints sometimes get overly warm.

Do you guys and Helen want to Meet-Up on Sunday the 21st or 28th?

Cal

 

[Particular]

Either date will work for me. Hopefully by that time my laser guy will have gotten round to sending the parts I need to complete the ‘counterfeit Technar’. I just need to re-shutter the super-angulon and give the board a paint job. With a 6x9 back it will be kind of a giant Leica 1 with 21mm.

 

[Calzone]

Either date will work for me. Hopefully by that time my laser guy will have gotten round to sending the parts I need to complete the ‘counterfeit Technar’. I just need to re-shutter the super-angulon and give the board a paint job. With a 6x9 back it will be kind of a giant Leica 1 with 21mm.

Christian,

For 21mm FOV in 6x9 I have my Plaubel 69W Proshift.

"Maggie" now has 282K followers. In Vogue China, in print, Maggie is featured. Somehow Maggie will be attending some fashion school and podcasting video.

Lost about 5 pounds. I'm at that tipping point where I loose flab, but gain strength and muscle. 151 pounds. Getting in shape to shoot my bay-Linhof's.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

So after not getting photo credit for a full page shot in Vogue Italia there is a turning point where "Maggie" and I no longer work for free. Understand that in the beginning we worked to get exposure and to develop a following.

A lesson to be learned is that the powers at hand exploit the hungry, and their claims of not having money is just a lie. Once you know this it becomes more like fishing where you try to catch a big fish with a baited hook. This requires patience and skill with timing to set the hook.

Understand that I am a rather gifted fisherman, was known as a "pinhooker" and that I have deep sea offshore experience.

I heard a distressing story of a photog who has a talent to capture NYC festive events like Christmas and Thanksgiving, but he undermined his work by selling cheap. I strongly feel that he hurt his branding and that his prices cheapened the true market value.

I kinda learned that a lot of marketing is "percieved value" which I think this photographer undermined his work. I can also say that he is kinda flooding the market by kinda giving away his photography.

The moral of the story here is that one should seriously consider an imaginary "day-rate" and value for their works as a commodity and regulation of pricing to create a market.

Christmas Eve Maggie and I did some shooting for a campaign that included an account to buy clothes that are gifted and pay. Our hope is to gain and win favor that will lead to further work. The ad director gave some guidance, but we had creative control in execution. I think we set up a great baited hook for the kind of work we do.

We utilized some grand luxury midtown hotels shooting inside the lobby and outside exploiting the festive lighting. There is a bit of a timeline that involves a deadline, and know that any posted shots need the art director's approval.

Believe it or not my SL at ISO 1600 hand held has a great look right out of the camera. The setting we utilize look like elaborate studio shots because the level of control and the lighting seems so intentional, but there is also a street sensibility that is very evident. I feel really confident that this will lead to further paid work.

We has to create something "festive" that was suitable to promote a brand in a timely way for the new year. Figure we need aproval before the weekend, and we gave the art director choices and options.

There are also a few shots that pretty much are just great street shots that can be "evergreens" for Instagram posts or blog posts.

I like the enhanced contrast in the night shots. The SL captures lots of detail, and the rendering of colors is great right out of the camera. You know me as a lazy slacker. I want the images to look great right out of the camera.

Looks like I'll have additional income in 2018. I'll be looking into tax advantages to shelter this income. I might set up a LLC as a "pass through" and will begin setting myself up as a real business. "No one ever got rich by paying taxes," the rich say.

In 2017 I surely learned a lot. I think going forward I will not feel so taken advantage of. The time of working for free or no-money is in the past. Moral of the story is to get to the point where one has enough reputation to command a decent day-rate and pricing for the rights to utilize an image.

In a little more than a week I'll be 60 years old. Since the NYC Marathon in the beginning of November I lost about 5 pounds and I have gained some strength using an elyptical to do full body workouts. My goal is to get abs and a swimsuit body. I'm already skinny at 5' 9" (shrunk an inch) 150-151 pounds. I figure I can be a welterweight if I loose a few more pounds and convert some flabbiness into cut muscle.

Next year we want to photograph and promote ourselves more as a couple.

Many thanks to all those at the NYC Meet-Up that provided feedback and support. Hopefully we all grew together.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Kinda crazy getting an E-mail RSVP for some pop-up event in London. I feel like somehow I have gotten "A-listed" again.

Seems like in my printing I will tone down the gloss. I love Baryta papers because they resemble silver wet prints, and when prints are viewed without framing the glossy prints show a lot of fine detail, but behind glass this glossiness can be a problem.

There is this Jon Cone Type 5 that has a satin finish that in the past I kinda utilize as my matte paper. I learned that I have to begin making "viewing prints" that are meant to be handled and replaced should be the same as the prints I will sell as limited editions.

Interesting to note that the Jon Cone Type 5 I use is kinda optimized for Piezography. I like the Canson papers because of cost, but the glossiness is rather pronounced to my eye after years of printing. Seems like I have grown through experience. First I thought I outgrew Jon Cone Type 5, and now I return. Kind of simple to optimize on just one paper, although not inexpensive.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I have gotten some corespondance about protecting myself from the cold. Yesterday was cold enough to trigger a mild "Blue Attack" so today I started taking the bus. The walk from Lexington to York is enough exposure to make me uncomfortable in my face, hands, and feet.

The first week in January generally is the coldest week in winter generally. Every year I take this week off to avoid the exposure to the cold. If you don't see me posting know that I'm at home avoiding the cold.

Cal

 

[Range-rover]

Cal, being 6'6 and being in a higher atmosphere I have to really cover up
Hat, Scarf, Gloves and Long Johns usual does the trick.

 

[jsrockit]

You guys really have some **** weather a bit too early. Finally, after two winters (NYC, then Santiago) in a row, I'm chilling in 80-90 degree weather without humidity. The Sun here is a killer though... hole in the ozone focuses on Santiago. GRRRR!

 

[Range-rover]

You guys really have some **** weather a bit too early. Finally, after two winters (NYC, then Santiago) in a row, I'm chilling in 80-90 degree weather without humidity. The Sun here is a killer though... hole in the ozone focuses on Santiago. GRRRR!

You'll get a real good suntan down there john!

 

[Calzone]

You guys really have some **** weather a bit too early. Finally, after two winters (NYC, then Santiago) in a row, I'm chilling in 80-90 degree weather without humidity. The Sun here is a killer though... hole in the ozone focuses on Santiago. GRRRR!

John,

"Maggie" has the beginnings of a catarac in her right eye. It seems fair skinned people with light colored eyes need to really protect themselves from bright sun for their eyes and skin.

At altitude there is less atmosphere to filter down the light. The sun and light surely is brighter. Please take care and think of when you get old like me. Every year Maggie gets some pre-skin Cancer removed.

Please take good care of yourself.

Cal

 

[Prest_400]

Christmas over here in the Mediterranean feels quite fake without the snow and dark. The lowest we get in the coast is around 35-40F at night. This year I haven't yet done a 57F cold dip at sea. I'm enjoying the relative warmth before I move to Northern Europe.

Saturday I'll meet my friend who is over from NY and enjoyed a taste of the cold you got there. When I see this (and the January '16 blizzards) I really see that my visit on early December '15 was blessed weather wise.

I wouldn't head down to the southern hemisphere yet, as peak summers are HOT and hotter everywhere. Blame climate change, that is making the mild seasons quite enjoyable.

Sunburn wise, I find unsettingly amusing the fact of people going to the beach and toasting themselves. In summer it is quite productive to get up early, rest at noon, and go out again late afternoon. Midday summer sun is terribly powerful, and that coming from someone with a darker complexion that never got sunburns here.