the light in the darkness...

A few words about further stage of acquiring an image - printing...
Or it’s rather about my little struggle to get it right ;)
I was usually renting darkroom in Gallery of Photography . Well arranged and quite comfortable until it’s getting too crowdy...
Then in my head appears an idea of creating such a magic space in my place. Darkroom with unlimited access ;)

Slowly all equipment starts to arrive. First was obviously enlarger - fantastic LPL C6700 in great condition, then the remaining bits and pieces. After a few weeks I was ready to fly ;)
Just a quick visit in the best photography shop in Dublin - John Gunn Camera Shop and after a very nice conversation with John (as usually) i left it with big bags full of chemicals and papers.
That’s the end of nice part for a while. First few hours were totally wasted - flat images and very strange way of producing them, extremely different that the ones i knew from gallery...
Something was wrong with “spotless” (at the beginning) LPL.
I checked color switches, lamp and other bits and pieces.I made little cleaning. Got even fantastic Rodenstock Rodagon 80mm f4 (Thanks David!)... all seams to be fine.
Another try and another few hours wasted...unfortunately.
I decided to buy filters and try it as B&W enlarger. At the same time i bought a couple of bulbs...just in case.
And that was it!!!

....Bulb mounted in enlarger was obviously veeery old. I was misled by its look.
My darkroom finally works perfectly as it should. It became truly magic capsule where the time is not important anymore.

...retrospection

Some time ago i wrote a few words about shifting of interest and leaving architecture aside. That's true but it concerns work rather than subject matter. Architecture will always fill my head and soul in both ways - design and photography of course. It's probably one of this profession you are keeping forever. Doesn't matter where you are and what you are doing, there is a strange power forcing you to think about surrounding space and forms.

Presented in this post photographs are a kind of record of such observations and thoughts during period 2006-2008. That was the time when i could consider myself as an architectural photographer. (to see a few more photographs please click  HERE).
After that i decided to face many other subjects: street photography, portraits and so on... Architectural photography however stays as a very important one.

Next month starts Open House Dublin 2010 - Ireland’s biggest architecture festival. I am looking forward to it. Its an amazing opportunity to visit different buildings where usually access is denied, its an opportunity to talk to people about it and to exchange point of views and finally to photograph places and forms :)
I have my list of buildings i’d love to see...unfortunately many tours were booked out in first hour :( 

Well, I hope to see some of them anyway...

walking through the streets

So called “bad” part of the autumn is here. Time of dark, rainy and very humid days. It may be considered as a depressing but not for me ;)
It's rather inspiring ...
Dublin looks very special and so different in such an aura. It sounds and smell different.
I love city. It’s not only about Dublin but generally. I feel good surrounded by concrete, noise, lights. I know it may sound strange... but that's Me ;)

Such a mood makes me go on the street with my old good Holga 120GN again. This little (sort of), plastic camera with its imperfect or even crappy lens adds something special into images taken with it. They are darker, stronger in a mood way and very soft in perception. These photographs runs the other senses.
I decided to keep it in my bag for at least next few weeks. I couldn’t really find the time lately for documenting streets but this is solution and actually the right time.
I don't need heavy equipment or light meter. All i have to do is watch everything around, soak up the atmosphere of the city and concentrate... then estimate distance (the way of focusing in Holga) and record it.

Beside that i can keep shooting in my favorite square format :)
It is like traveling in time...

faces...

I know Edita and Mel since 2006. We shared office space spending all days at computers and tones of paper. We shared passion to architecture. It’s still there (somewhere) but it has been slightly shifted aside...at least in my case. Let’s say - different sort of priority.
Now is the time when we can express ourselves in more personal way.
Edita and Mel created Monofaces. Their form of expression became painting portraits. Each of them is exceptional and the only one. They call it "Snap shots" as a record of one particular moment.

We arranged photo session over a week ego. Since then i wasn't really able to develop films. Preparations to mentioned in previous post exhibition kept me quite busy for a while. Its done now anyway :)
That was the third portrait session with artists after Qasim Riza Shaheen and David Noone .
It’s always a big pleasure to work with such people as they seam to read in your mind, guessing your ideas which makes cooperation very smooth.

 

..some technicalities ;)
Two cameras - Graflex Crown Graphic and Hasselblad 500c/m, two films - HP5 Plus 4x5 and TMY-2 400 (tmax 400) 120 ...and as always only existing light. TMax 400 is my kind of film. Always doing the job perfectly.
We had nicely lightened spaces however i was pushing films to ISO1600. I am always doing it. Shooting with box indicated speed is almost impossible to me, especially with faster films ;) heh...
It always gives a kick and image looks better, it’s more expressive.

At the end have a look at Monofaces webpage please: www.monofaces.net

weekend in St. Stephen’s Green

...yes, two days spent in the park, well...almost. That was the first time i took part in Peoples Photography Ireland. For the first time it was not only about exhibiting but about interaction with viewers as well. That’s really fantastic experience to be with people to see their reaction and talk to them.
I am looking forward to next year edition and at the same time i would like to thank all who managed to be there.