New York September NYC Meet-Up/Photoville

WOW, Film prices have esculated.

Looks like a game changer for me. The CF in me says the end of Tri-X and I will adapt to HP5 and FP4 as staples for 120.

At Photoware House Kodak 5222 makes buying bulk rolls the only way to cost feasibly shoot this film. In the past I bought loaded cassettes for about $5.00 a roll. I'm cool with this being my only film for 135.

Anyways I'm adapting to the price increases.

Cal
 
Emile de Leon said:
I remember when I bulk loaded Pan F for about 3 cents per shot..those days are long gone...
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Emile,

I'm still holding on. I loaded up the truck when Arista Premium (rebranded Tri-X) was available at Freestyle for $2.89 a roll. I think I still have a handfull of these rolls left. Then there was this close dated sale on Aristo Pro (rebranded Acros) for $1.89 a roll.

At those prices at one point I was shooting about 150 rolls a month (135 and 120) for 8-9 months.

I annoyed mucho people because all I cared about was making negatives, and I had a total disregard for printing, posting, scanning or editing. All I wanted to do was create a film archive exploiting film when it was inexpensive.

Somehow the Ilford prices seem stable. Might be wise to load up the truck again.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
Jorde,

You have Financial Spam. LOL.

Cal
Click to expand...
Thanks Cal, got it! Read a couple of them and am Halfway into the Sand article. Very interesting. Have the email open but while at it I just reply here.

Will have ears and eyes alert. Good to know the expectations about a couple of years of stability. I last heard about it coming later this year, but if markets expect it later then it will be.


Not quite off topic but another economic fart wouldn't be nice for the film manufacturers, most namely Kodak. Good to know they are feeling a bit of a rebound and Ektachrome coming eventually back.


I somehow got 2014 as a reference on film prices, and the last couple of years saw quite an increase. There are some distribution discrepancies. Ilford seems to be quite homogeneously priced around... except Japan. On that year I recall thinking it was a very attractive place for film shooters, but in just a year or so the prices soared and it's quite expensive.



BTW an interview with Jeff Clarke said Kodak were on the verge of shutting down film for good in 2014. Maybe that's why it's anchored on me.
 
Hello Everyone .. I'll try to make Photoville this Sun but dont think it will be possible unfortunately because of a family visit . I just returned from Mexico City . Fantastic place, loved it, can't believe that in 20+ years in the U.S. I had never visited. Great town for photography but I didn't get to shoot much because I was with my wife.
I shoot Tri-X exclusively these days and yes I noticed the price hike.. it hurts. Btw, I found out that the price of Tri-X in Mexico is identical to the NY price.
Philippe
 
lamefrog said:
Hello Everyone .. I'll try to make Photoville this Sun but dont think it will be possible unfortunately because of a family visit . I just returned from Mexico City . Fantastic place, loved it, can't believe that in 20+ years in the U.S. I had never visited. Great town for photography but I didn't get to shoot much because I was with my wife.
I shoot Tri-X exclusively these days and yes I noticed the price hike.. it hurts. Btw, I found out that the price of Tri-X in Mexico is identical to the NY price.
Philippe
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Philippe,

If you can't make it Sunday I would take your guests at some other time. Last year 90K people attended.

I am getting in a Portfolio Review out of this. Pretty much I got a follow through from this foundation. Have a folio of twenty images that make up a body of work, but also have on hand 40-60 other images in case further inquiries are made.

Pretty much they outline doing this digitally with two specific programs, but I have this workbook of prints that I can reconfigure easily. Sessions are expected to last about 20 minutes.

If anyone is interested PM me and I'll forward you the email. I need your e-mail address.

Cal
 
I'm dressed like a rock climber today wearing some new Patagonia knickers (size 28). Pretty much looked out of place walking to work this morning, and it is as if I'm dressed for the "Gunks" in New Paltz.

Been taking advantage of clearance sales lately. Replaced my more than two decades old bike helmet with a modern Giro that is MIPS engineered.

Been in CF mode not spending money. As far as camera gear I have a practical limit, so no need to spend/waste money. I'm perfectly happy with my Monochrom (now going on 6 years old) and my SL (3 years). Then I have all these film cameras...

I went to Nippon Camera Clinic with the Baby Linhof I had overhauled last year. The front window for the aperture rotated with the aperture setting. Something came loose. I was surprise when I got the call to pick up my repaired lens because there was no-charge, even though my overhaul was well over a year ago.

Really proud of this most recent print I made this week. What depth and another iconic image. This is of that Filipino religious nut that use to hang out in Union Square. On this rainy day the park was empty, and this guy is yelling at John and me in an angry and hostile manner.

I have my 35/1.8 Nikkor in LTM mounted on my Monochrom with F5.6 and 1/30th second. I focus on the Bible held in his right hand standing kinda close so he could of slapped me down. He held a black umbrella in the other hand and wore a black leather jacket. The strong contrast is acute because the background is kinda washed out and due to the close focus displays this dreamy/busy bokeh.

The best is that this crazed man's lower jaw is all motion blurred.

It is as if he was yelling at John and me, "You two are sinners, you suck. Go to hell." LOL.

Cal
 
Cal ,

I'd be very careful about who reviews your photography. Photography is a highly fragmented field with many aesthetic trends , most critique is highly dependent on personal criteria as well as fads and structures of domination within the field. You'll get entirely different evaluations from different reviewers, and I can imagine that a negative or positive review can have damaging , maybe castrating, effect on your work.

I had my photography reviewed only once, by a well-known Swedish photographer whose initials are A.P., as part of a 3-day workshop that included full critiques of the works of 9 other participants. I'm not prepared at all to have my work reviewed formally unless its someone whose judgement I trust entirely and whose outlook I generally align with (I don't mind other reviews its just that I won't seek them and I'll give them no weight)

Philippe
 
lamefrog said:
Cal ,

I'd be very careful about who reviews your photography. Photography is a highly fragmented field with many aesthetic trends , most critique is highly dependent on personal criteria as well as fads and structures of domination within the field. You'll get entirely different evaluations from different reviewers, and I can imagine that a negative or positive review can have damaging , maybe castrating, effect on your work.

I had my photography reviewed only once, by a well-known Swedish photographer whose initials are A.P., as part of a 3-day workshop that included full critiques of the works of 9 other participants. I'm not prepared at all to have my work reviewed formally unless its someone whose judgement I trust entirely and whose outlook I generally align with (I don't mind other reviews its just that I won't seek them and I'll give them no weight)

Philippe
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Philippe,

Thanks for your insights. I acknowledge your points.

I went to art school and even though it was an undergraduate program it was set up like a graduate MFA program which was set up with monthly "Art Tutorials." This involved peer review as well as academic (professors) and at time was very blunt and harsh. Really unforgiving, but builds a lot of character, convictions and strength.

Some students choose other majors. Art was no longer fun anymore. BTW some of this blunt harsh criticism was really helpful. My photography professor sternly spoke to me privately and asked why I did things at the last minute at the last minute right before the monthly tutorials.

"You have real talent, and you are better than that. Tell me you do your best work under a deadline and at the last minute. I really expect better from you because you have talent."

This is when I learned a lot about how to be a serious artist, and to take myself seriously. The above lesson really informed me.

Another professor named Ken was this intimadating jazz professor who I judged as mean. He made people cry in his class, people would drop out left and right, and one day I stopped by his office to ask him why he was so mean. He had me sit down and we had a talk. Ken was a Basson player and he yelled at the students. Pretty much was a bully, but he explained to me that these students that were not serious ones he wanted to drop out.

He told me he wanted only the muscians that were serious and who wanted to be like Louis Armstrong and take 2 years out of their life to dedicate themselves to music and the only thing important to live for was music. I decided that Ken spoke some truth and I made an important decision when I was 19, to be a visual artist. I soon dropped out of the music program.

These men kinda informed me, nurtured me, and changed my life. I learned to be serious and committed to an internal life of struggle.

Pretty much I'm doing this Portfolio Review as an "exercise" because I really don't seem to fit in anywhere, this is the story of my life, and in my case I'm cool with that. I realize that very few people know about, understand, or see any meaning to my work. Pretty much I expect no difference or any miracle. This is the real truth and the harsh reality.

Truthfully I don't see many galleries where my work fits in. A lot of the "Fine Art" work I see represented is so vastly digitally manipulated that I would say the image is no longer a photograph. I understand that I am old school and what I do is somewhat documentary and archival.

Don't call me a photojournalist, which to me is a way overused term.

At Photoville I see how they promote social issues/conciousness. I don't see my work fitting in there. They deal with big issues like climate change, wars, refugees, atrocities, oppressions, injustices...

Anyways thanks for your concerns. They are not without merit. I'm at a point though that is way beyond cynical. If a gallery wanted to represent me I would likely refuse. I don't need the exposure or affirmation that my work is worthy, and I have deep feelings about paying a 50% commision on any sales. Pretty much for a 50% commission I expect an art dealer to come to my apartment to scrub my toilet because I don't see the value here.

Like I said before I don't see many places where I think my work fits in.

Had a talk with "Maggie" last night. After dedicating her life to a career of trying to make a better world, helping people, and improving society in a job as Social Worker and Professor making no money, now with her using her fashion blog, her artistic direction, and her creativity the money and getting wealthy is mighty important to her.

I inquired because for me the exact opposite is true. I compromised my artistic career to some extent to build a sustainable life and for some comfort. I have no need for getting wealthy, no need for getting paid for my creative work, nor after seeing what happened to Maggie I don't want to be famous, well known or A-listed.

So I have a strong footing. I have no expectation, there can be no artistic despair, and know that I'm really happy the way things are with me keeping my work somewhat to myself.

No sweat off my balls. Pretty much in retirement I'll keep doing what I'm doing.

Cal
 
A photo review is a status play. The reviewer is gifted with the higher status. Doesn't matter who or what is before him/her--they will pontificate. For a photographer the only goal of a review is to make a connection that yields assignments, book deal, representation or something else that's tangible. If a review is free, then okay, what the hell. If you have to pay--get back Jack--no way. Want a portfolio review? Work your ass off to get a face-to-face with a photo buyer--be they magazine, design firm, art director, gallery owner. Seriously, going to a review is like speed dating where everyone sitting across from you has bad breath. The market will decide what's marketable. Love photography? Fantastic. Shoot for yourself. Look, think, and experiment. Commerce will make it something else--not from you photography. Want to know if a photo is "good" look at someone while they're looking at the photo--if their eyes light up--it's good. If they look bored--it's bad. Now not bad in all truth, but bad in their truth. Show the same photo to ten people without any eyes lighting up--probably a bad photo. However, if you like it--keep doing what you're doing. You have to look at the photo many times--but they only see it once. Does a photo tell a story? Um-to a degree--compared to cinema, a photo tells one word in a story. What came before or after is up to imagination--their imagination. What was the question?
 
This Sunday the weather is predicted to be sunny with a high of 78 degrees and a low of 69. Seems like ideal weather for the Meet-Up.

I really understand why my work is not understood. The "bubble" I live in is of a longer timeline and is perhaps the "long" view. In today's world most people are wired, attention spans have been shortened, and the world in many ways has sped up. I see the same in the financial markets and in our government: short sightedness.

Because I'm a throwback with my retro attitude and style my form of documentary photography is not really news or have any timeliness, and because of this it seems to lack relevance or importance. In the end it seems to get dismissed as noise.

So I see the relevance of documenting a changing and disappearing NYC. I believe I have seen more change in the past decade than any other.

I know my documenting and inadvertent archiving is really my overcompensating to create a sense of home/permanence that follows my lifestyle as a gentrifier who gets displaced and moves around a lot.

My photography provides a sense of permanence that otherwise is lacking. In a way my life is about a different kind of homelessness, where I define home as a place where I belong where I can feel safe. These two feelings over my lifetime of belonging and not feeling like an outsider seem momentary, and the sense of security free from worry never remains.

Perhaps photography has been the only thing that has remained enduring.

Cal
 
I agree on the rapid change - walking in the Fifth Ave - Madison - Park Ave -- from 32nd to 23rd -- and there's so much construction. Everywhere these for the most part huge ugly buildings are being wedged in. It's overwhelming.

And as an oldie, I hear you on the pace of things. In the 70's the movies were paced so slow--can't watch them like I could because my attention span has shortened. People can't even cross a street without being glued to their phones. I see men at urinals Face-timing. Serious. It's insane. How's a photo to compete for attention? You want your photos seen--print them on urinal cakes--however even then the urinator will be too pee occupied to notice!
 
NY_Dan said:
A photo review is a status play. The reviewer is gifted with the higher status. Doesn't matter who or what is before him/her--they will pontificate. For a photographer the only goal of a review is to make a connection that yields assignments, book deal, representation or something else that's tangible. If a review is free, then okay, what the hell. If you have to pay--get back Jack--no way. Want a portfolio review? Work your ass off to get a face-to-face with a photo buyer--be they magazine, design firm, art director, gallery owner. Seriously, going to a review is like speed dating where everyone sitting across from you has bad breath. The market will decide what's marketable. Love photography? Fantastic. Shoot for yourself. Look, think, and experiment. Commerce will make it something else--not from you photography. Want to know if a photo is "good" look at someone while they're looking at the photo--if their eyes light up--it's good. If they look bored--it's bad. Now not bad in all truth, but bad in their truth. Show the same photo to ten people without any eyes lighting up--probably a bad photo. However, if you like it--keep doing what you're doing. You have to look at the photo many times--but they only see it once. Does a photo tell a story? Um-to a degree--compared to cinema, a photo tells one word in a story. What came before or after is up to imagination--their imagination. What was the question?
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Dan,

This is a free Portfolio Review. Cost is nothing but time. This speed-date should be about 20 minutes.

Paying for a show or portfolio review is really about "vanity" and paying to get attention. I would even extend this to paying fees for a contest like being part of "The Fence" at Photoville.

It is not with bitterness that I tell the following story: it is laughter.

In a speed-date with an art dealer I showed some of my large B&W prints, 20x30 image size on 24x36 sheet.

"Why are these prints so big?" he asked.

I really did not understand his response and inquired what context was he coming from.

"Generally street photography are smaller images," he said.

So to my amazement this art dealer who owned a gallery and was also a professor at a major NYC art school totally overlooked the image quality, skill and experience required to make that large print.

I tried to demonstrate the reason why I basically print in two sizes: one purposely hand holdable for an intimate experance; and large for a "billboard" like effect to draw in a viewer from afar for a closer look for exhibition size.

I also defended my two sizes as far as price point also.

Kinda funny how my skill and the ability to make a remarkable print was dismissed, overlooked and was not recognized by someone who should of known better. A college professor none the less, an art dealer, a gallery owner, a curator.

How can I take insult? I can't say I could elevate this person as being my superior. He is just a "gatekeeper" and part of a system I'm not part of.

I find this really amusing and also funny.

Cal
 
I hear you Cal - that dude was a dud. Maybe he should take a time machine back in time and tell Avedon to print smaller. Or tell Chuck Close the same thing. One thing for sure--if he could sell the print and take 1/2 the profit--he would be saying big street photo prints bucking the trend (in his mind) was the best thing since sliced bread.

And do I agree with fees to enter contests? YES!
 
NY_Dan said:
I agree on the rapid change - walking in the Fifth Ave - Madison - Park Ave -- from 32nd to 23rd -- and there's so much construction. Everywhere these for the most part huge ugly buildings are being wedged in. It's overwhelming.

And as an oldie, I hear you on the pace of things. In the 70's the movies were paced so slow--can't watch them like I could because my attention span has shortened. People can't even cross a street without being glued to their phones. I see men at urinals Face-timing. Serious. It's insane. How's a photo to compete for attention? You want your photos seen--print them on urinal cakes--however even then the urinator will be too pee occupied to notice!
Click to expand...

Dan,

When I worked at Brookhaven National Labs this one scientist or engineer was diagnosed with some type of rare inoperable brain tumor. What is a notable contribution is that this man worked around very powerful magnets. The Relitivistic Heavy Ion Collider had 4 buildings around the 2.7 mile collider ring that utilized strong magnets set up as gigantic mass spectrometers to deflect charged particles traveling near the speed of light.

I see how "Maggie" is a slave to social media.

I know that cell phone usage can have some bad health effects. Pretty much I don't want to microwave my brain. I think my memory gets more forced exercise because I don't Google an address or use a map on a cell phone to walk around. I think I am less "clueless" than people who are wired.

Then there is this sense of immediate gratification that proliferates our lives. What ever happened to being patient or waiting for a big payoff?

So here is a story where I go to drop off a camera at Nippon Camera Clinic in Chelsea. I go there but on this particular day I can't find it. Know that over the years I have been there countless times. I become feeling really out of it and a bit confused and disoriented.

On the news we see all those people who leave the house and disappear in NYC. We see all the missing person fliers spackeled throughout the city. I wonder, "Is this it? Is this happening to me? Am I loosing it?"

I somehow find myself home, but I'm still in a panic. I grab my cell phone, a dumb flip phone I use as an answering machine that Maggie pays for, and I call Nippon.

It is after 5:00 PM, but someone answers the phone anyways.

"Did you guys relocate?" I ask.

Evidently they moved a few months before, and they did nothing to notify their clients. I was much relieved. LOL.

I wonder if cell phone usage will increase the advance of "Old-Timer's Disease." Seems like people are getting dumber by the moment. I for one do not want to waste my life using a cell phone. I would say if you took a cell phone from some people that basically they would not have a life. That is really sad considering that it is a choice to be removed from the world/reality fully and needing to be constantly occupied with a distraction with the handicap of not being able to concentrate.

Cal
 
NY_Dan said:
I hear you Cal - that dude was a dud. Maybe he should take a time machine back in time and tell Avedon to print smaller. Or tell Chuck Close the same thing. One thing for sure--if he could sell the print and take 1/2 the profit--he would be saying big street photo prints bucking the trend (in his mind) was the best thing since sliced bread.

And do I agree with fees to enter contests? YES!
Click to expand...

Dan,

There are many fools out there. Perhaps I'm one of them. LOL.

Pretty much you can get a full page shot in Vogue Italia (happened to me) which is an exclusive big deal thing to happen, but in your life nothing changes. Even someone like Garry Winnogrand after he got established resorted to teaching photography in universities.

"We are all hoes." I say.

Cal
 
For Dan,

Raghuran Rajan, a former IMF Chief Economist once said,

"I felt like an early Christian who had wandered into a convention of half-starved lions."

He is cited as being someone who warned about the housing bubble and ensuing credit crisis.

Larry Summers, former Treasury Secretary, once called Rajan a "Luddite" because he was critical of Greenspan.

Although in reference to finance I have to remember this expression for the world of art.

Also did you see the big Avedone Retrospective at MOMA in the 70's? Life sized portraits shot with an 8x10 performed masterfully. What an impact and inspiration. Really unforgettable.

My favorite was Andy Warhol's portrait. Avedone had Andy pull up his shirt to expose the bullet scars from when "Viva," a groupie, caught Andy in an elevator and emptied a 38 into his torso.

Cal
 
Yeah, that Warhol photo was sick. Yes, I went to that show at MOMA--what an experience! I have the book from the show. I should sit down and look at my books. It's been a while. This November will mark a year of hardly shooting. It feels kinda pointless.
 
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