Heading North...

Waking up at 6am on Saturday morning sounds like a crazy plan considering the fact that I do it every day during the week. This time however it was something special on the way - A photo trip with my good friend and excellent photographer Jim Leonard, who came up with this idea a few weeks earlier.

The day before I packed my Rollei, Holga (yes, just two cameras this time) and box of films. It was still dark and pleasantly mild when I left my place. An hour later I met Jim. We packed our bags into the trunk and soon after that we’ve been on the road to Belfast. 

Forecast was rather unfavourable. Once we arrived, to our surprise, Belfast was literally shining. The streets were filled with beautiful light reflecting off buildings and illuminating surroundings. It couldn't be better.

Belfast © Artur Sikora

I don’t remember when last time I was wandering the streets just for pure photography and enjoyment, without any other particular purpose. 

What made it special however was the fact that we were not on our own. We have met a fantastic local photographers who showed us Belfast from completely different perspective - Sean Allen, Patrick O’Lean and Alistair Prentice. 

(Links to their websites/public profiles are at the bottom of this text so please have a look) 

Walking, photographing and listen to great stories... Just a perfect day! It was also a great experience to see them in action portraying strangers on the streets in such an interesting manner and with full confidence. I was surprised how positive all approached strangers reacted asked to being photographed.

And of course I was the odd one avoiding people and pointing my camera towards concrete and brick walls ;)

Belfast, Gate in Peace Wall © Artur Sikora

Belfast, Peace Wall © Artur Sikora 

Belfast, Divis Street © Artur Sikora

Belfast © Artur Sikora

This is just a glimpse of what I photographed over there. Still have 2 rolls of films to process (out of 5 in total). This includes photographs of couple of architectural gems. 

As usually all images will be presented soon on my social media: FB, Twitter, Instagram and also LinkedIn. 

At the end we visited Ulster Museum and extraordinary exhibition 'Temporary/Permanent' by Frankie Quinn, marking the 50th anniversary of the erection of the first Belfast peace wall. Exhibition is open until 10th of November so go for it if you will be in the area.

© Artur Sikora

I guess we were very lucky with weather. Late afternoon, as we got back into the car, heavy rain started...  

At the end I wanted to thank here Jim, Sean, Patrick and Alistair for wonderful day!

Please don’t forget to check links below:

Jim Leonard:

FB page:  https://www.facebook.com/jimleonardphotography/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jim_leonard53/

Sean Allen:

Website: https://rambleswithmycamera.com
FB page:  https://www.facebook.com/RamblesWithMyCamera/

Patrick O'Loan:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrickoloan/

Alistair Prentice:

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/StreetStrangersOfNorthernIreland/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alistairprenticephoto/

Thank you! 

Back to the East...

August 2016 ... 'Journey to the East...' (please use this link to read old blog post). 
That was a very hot summer. Strong sunlingt, blue sky and incisive shadows from early morning. Perfect weather for Holga .
Last night I found a few more photographs from that time. As usually these images had to mature to be ready for presentation. 
... 13 photographs which I decided keep in drawer until now.
Eastern Poland: Hrubieszow, Zamosc and Lublin once again... and its mostly old buildings sometimes typical for this particular region.

Lublin © Artur Sikora

Zamosc © Artur Sikora

Hrubieszow © Artur Sikora

Zamosc © Artur Sikora

Zamosc © Artur Sikora

Hrubieszow. Abandoned factory 'Hakon' © Artur Sikora

Hrubieszow. Abandoned factory 'Hakon' © Artur Sikora

Hrubieszow © Artur Sikora

Hrubieszow © Artur Sikora

Hrubieszow © Artur Sikora

Hrubieszow © Artur Sikora

Hrubieszow © Artur Sikora

Lublin © Artur Sikora

Thank you!

Strolling in the snow...

I spent a few days in Eastern Poland over a week ago. Very short and almost unexpected visit to Hrubieszow and area. Whole place was covered in snow. Temperature just below 0C during the day and a bit lower at night with snow fall. 

White streets every morning and the most beautiful meadows, forests and nearby villages where snow stays all the time.

I recently realised how much I enjoy visiting places related to my childhood as I am getting older. That must be natural process … 

The same about spending more time with parents I usually can see only once a year. 

My perception of surrounding has changed over the years and I can see more I suppose then I used to when I was not even 20. Lots of memories comes back. I appreciate things I did not back then.

Now I always have a camera (or a few) with me which makes it easier to memorise it in the way I want to.

Entire short stay was filled with long walks with my father where we could talk a lot and I could soak in surrounding nature with all senses. Wonderful experience.

'A must selfie' with my father ;)

Landscape, old churches and houses or rather whatever left ... this is what I was focused on.
All materials are processed now. Need to scan everything which is actually the most time consuming part. I will slowly present all photographs on my so called social media channels: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (please follow the links) 

Thanks!

'Somewhere in Dublin' - prints

'Somewhere in Dublin', It's a collection of photographs I made using Holga 120GN camera and B&W negative film (various) while walking or cycling through the streets of Dublin for the last few years. 

This particular constantly growing collection is now available for sale in a form of small but beautiful and affordable prints.
These are signed Fine Art Archival unmounted prints on Canson Photosatin Premium RC museum grade semigloss paper (270g/m2).

Paper size: A4
Print size: 6x6 inch (apx 15x15cm)

Price EUR 35 (per print) includes postage worldwide.

If you would like to purchase such print just contact me please with the title of selected photograph and I will forward details with payment methods (PayPal, bank transfer or cash) and estimated delivery time.

You can also have a look at selection of Limited Edition prints (most of them framed) available HERE or original one of a kind wet prints made in large format camera and wet processed (framed) available HERE . Please click links attached.

Thank you!

Tests with Holga 120 Pan

I bought my first Holga at the very beginning of 2009. It was a classic model 120GN with glass lens which suppose to be a bit sharper comparing to original plastic one.

And it is very sharp indeed as for toy camera once you manage to judge distance to your subject properly.

Extremely light, small and easy to use makes it perfect portable medium format camera.

My 120GN allowed me to record many great photograph in the last years. Some of them like ‘Film House’ received quite serious appreciation.

In mid 2013 looking at some work of other photographers my attention caught series of photographs taken by Phil Kneen with his wide Holga called 120 pan. Link is HERE.

That was something totally new for me especially in this format. I love wide aspect ratio like the one in fantastic Hasselblad XPan but this time it was medium format and what is very important - very affordable medium format. Of course there is no comparison in optics haha ;) 

It took me over a year to get this camera into my hands. I did it anyway ;)

First impression - simply stretched 120GN ;)

I have to ad that I was using for a while pinhole model but it’s not the same. I am not a huge fan of pinhole photography as I really like to have as much control as possible over the frame I am going to record. 

Last weekend weather was just perfect for the experiment with my 120 Pan.

Destination? UCD campus - the best place ever ;) Beautiful sunny day, modernist forms of an old campus, lines, shadows …

Couple of hours of shooting, 2 rolls of film (6 photographs in each! love it) all with a big excitement.

Next day another roll and …processing time in the evening.

And that’s it …

All mentioned excitement has gone. I did the most ridiculous mistake or maybe oversight is a better word. 

Doesn't matter - ridiculous is how I describe it. I did something which I am always talking about in a form of warning when somebody is asking me about using Holga. 

I switched it into BULB mode ;) Yes. all of you who own Holga know this little switch at the bottom of the lens ;)

Position of mention switch is very easy to mix up especially when another switch theoretically responsible for aperture works in sort of inverted way.

All this time was wasted. Films ruined…well almost. I quite like photograph presented below which was made outside campus, on the way to Blackrock. 

I am coming back next weekend to UCD if weather allows of course! 
For now however I couldn't wait and had to make some images before that.
I simply had to check if it really works in the way I want. 

And... it does work  ;)

Yesterday I went outside my place and made a few photographs in the area. Images are still not perfect as film was expired and didn't gave me desired quality but I am really happy with it anyway.

So.. camera is fantastic! 
If any of you is thinking about it just give it a go! 

Pleasure guaranteed ...once you will remember about all switches ;)

Next weekend in St.Stephen's Green

Just a few days left to Peoples Photography 2011 in Stephen's Green. Lots of fantastic photographs to look at, to buy and good opportunity to talk to their authors.
I will show there some of my favourite pieces all set in one series called “Places” (just like last year), including couple of photographs i wasn't exhibiting during 2010 edition.
Hope to see you there! ;)

27th - 28th of August, Spot 110 again (across The Shelbourne Hotel), 9am-6pm

...a journey through time

Looks like i had quite a break since last post. Every time i though about new one i ended up doing something “more important”, which apparently distracted me from writing. But hey I am still here ;)
Me and my “specific” visual perception, with emphasized slightly darker, very often disliked part of the surrounding. Especially if we are talking about urban landscapes or landscapes at all. Such a places always draws my attention as they are obviously much more interesting. It's forcing to think deeply, to imagine...
During last couple of months I spent a few days in Poland. Even in that typical happy summery weather over there - about 30°C, sunny and stuffy days i managed to find and show places matching my aesthetic...empty, dark and in some way mysterious.
Truly short time. I can consider it however as a journey through the past. Through the places i know, where i grew up ... 

 

stills from film...

Cloudy and often rainy streets seams to have mysterious power of attraction. Visual perception is getting stronger and more absorbent. Maybe it's just an imagination but very inspiring. It’s like a stills from film. Every step brings different scene. All you can do it's wait to see what happens next. Dublin is a place full of surprises. Each corner never looks the same.  Especially in such a weather...
...I keep  “walking through the streets” (following my September post), trying to document it with my reliable Holga

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.