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

The power of coffee

I just finished scanning negatives developed in “coffee”...certainly not the one I am drinking at the moment ;)
Caffenol is a home made film developer based on instant coffee (NOT decaf). Very new and exciting experiment even if such a way of developing is well known since while. I bought all ingredients after very short online research. I've had a some trouble finding washing soda but got it on ebay at last. Here i need to point very halpful websites: Caffenol blog and Maciek Lesniak Fotografia (in polish). Good set of information!

instant coffee, pure vitamin C powder, washing soda

Caffenol, once mixed is supposed to be used within half an hour. Storage is not recommended.  Well I didn't test it so far but I have to trust the experience of others.
I am using Paterson dev tank which holds 0.5 l of dilution for one 120 film so my proportions (for 0.5L dev) are as follows:

- 27g of washing soda
- 8g of vitamin C
- 20g of instant coffee

This gives me Caffenol-C-M - for medium fast film. Tested here on Ilford Pan F Plus 50 and Ilford FP4+ 125.
Recommended dev - 15min, 20°C.
Proportions are adjustable depending obviously on quantity needed.

ready developer, Caffenol-C-M

It rather smells bad (maybe because of instant coffee which is obviously a fake one ;D haha) and makes quite a mess when spilled. Dilution however is very easy to prepare, extremely cheap, very efficient and gives just wonderful results. Beside that it’s quite flexible. Usually I have to be careful with average developer. Sometimes 2° or 3°C makes a huge difference, even in tolerant black and white negatives. The same with proportions. During my tests I developed two different films in developer mixed in the same way, with the same time and almost the same temperature. I am a bit impatient so I decided to go with a few degrees warmer dilution (warmer water makes everything easier to mix) and 1 min shorter dev time then recommended (Pan F Plus 50 - 14min, 22°C, FP4+ 14min 23°C). Stop bath and fixing is exactly the same as with ordinary developer.
I must admit I am more then happy with the results.
Looks like I am gonna remove all other developers from my monthly (photo) shopping list.
So now just a few random photographs as a proof of my words:

Yashica Mat-124G with Yashinon 80mm 3.5,
Ilford Pan F Plus 50 in Caffenol-C-M 14min, 22°C

Yashica Mat-124G with Yashinon 80mm 3.5,
Ilford Pan F Plus 50 in Caffenol-C-M 14min, 22°C

Hasselblad 500C/M with Planar 80mm T* CF 2.8,
Ilford FP4+ in Caffenol-C-M 14min, 23°C

Victorian Market

Walking through Dublin's north inner-city area, from O’Connell Street (Dublin’s main thoroughfare) towards Smithfield  we will see a beautiful Victorian building - The Fruit and Vegetable Market.

Main entrance, Mary's Lane

Building, opened in 1892, was designed by Spencer Harty (Dublin City Engineer, 1887-1910) and William Cranwill Wilson (Engineer and architect, of Dublin).

Market hall

The Market, owned now by Dublin City Council "is considered to be one of the finest expressions of the late Victorian approach to open plan buildings. The use of cast iron and glass was characteristic of the buildings of the time, epitomised by the Crystal Palace in London which was built for the Great Exhibition of 1851.” (info: The Capel Building).

Market hall, detail - the head of a column

You can have a look also at development plan for this area (DCC website): please click HERE (dowloadable in pdf format). Personally I found these documents quite dangerous (especially here in boom times) - demolish Everything and build..."something"! In this case looks like The Market is preserved. However everything around is dramatically over scaled. It's a history now anyway... at least for a while.

Gate, corner of St.Michan's Street and Mary's lane

I was photographing The Market Hall (second and third image) during a quiet afternoon. Ironically the most challenging to photograph was the most obvious place - main entrance (first image). It took me over two weeks since first visit there. It was almost impossible to set camera due to constant traffic, delivery trucks etc. Last Sunday (very early morning) I made another approach and finally I succeeded.


I would like to know a bit more about history of that
beautiful building, place full of life and bustle. Unfortunately available sources are a bit poor so if any of you have an access to some interesting information or details, please feel free to post it here in comments area or just email me. Thank you!

...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 ... 

 

...a cup of coffee?

Looks like my "coffee flavour" project is gaining momentum. Fantastic! ...So if you are fancy a cup of coffee in the front of my camera just let me know please by leaving comment or simply by email (for contact details please click HERE ). Thanks a lot!
 

...white and black

Infrared photography - my new experience. It's amazing how different everything looks like when you blocks the visible light spectrum. Everything getting colder, almost unreal.
I saw this kind of images many times but i wanted to try it myself.
Weather is beautiful since while which is perfect for such tests.
Some time ago i’ve got couple of rolls of Rollei Infrared 400 in Gunns (of course). First one went without IR filter required for such effect. I was really surprised how nice rendering is, good contrast and very nice, reach grays but...it wasn’t IR. Suddenly I’ve got  the IR filter into my hand ( Hoya IR R72 ) some time ago. Thanks David ;)
With that combination I gave it a go once again. Destination? Phoenix Park this time. Just about 20min cycling from my place. I am not green person at all. Concrete is my natural environment as most of you already know but this location seemed to be good for the beginning.
I read a bit about different ways of shooting IR but i decided to go with the simplest one. The only detail i kept was a film speed rating. in my case it was ISO 12. Aperture f16 on all images. Following Light meter indications it gave me shutter speed 1/4 -1/2 on all film.
Yesterday was really really bright day so longer exposure wasn't necessary.
In the afternoon quick film souping following instruction from massive dev chart on digitaltruth.com   and that’s it :)
(please click on each photograph to see it bigger)

coffee flavour...

“Cigarettes and coffee, man, that's a combination” . The essence of a good taste ;) haha. Iggy was so right.
We all remember this absolutely classic film - “Coffee and Cigarettes” . Little table, coffee with its aroma allover the place and that’s it...
Perfect time to have a nice chat or just simply to think about...anything, if you are the only person at the table. There is no better time during the day then celebration of coffee and its flavour... time for your minds.
I am coming back with an old project I started over year ago. Portraits of thoughts and personalities. Untold story of photographed person coming along with each photograph.

...

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

...instantly

It was quite late yesterday (or rather very early today) when I scanned fresh large format negative.Very special one.
Word “fresh” is related rather to developing process then its age...expired in November 1996!
Why special? Its Polaroid Type 55.
This film rocks! That’s more or less the best short description of this material. What is so unique about it?
It’s the only large format panchromatic black and white film that produces both a positive print and a negative image (which can be used in an enlarger), its large format :), it has an amazing sensitivity (ISO 50 for prints and ISO 25-32 for negs,) and incredible details reproduction.
Presented test photograph is the 6th one from box of 20 sheets and the first i am happy with. Almost 15 years after expiry date made very little damage to it. All whats happen is emulsion got a bit dry and a few sheets were not tight enough (easy to open accidentally) what is visible here at the bottom (white glow).
So what i did with dried emulsion? Hair dryer comes with help :) A few seconds of heating up makes emulsion back to action. Probably day or two out of fridge would do the same job .The other important detail is the way of taking sheet out of holder after switching to “Process” mode. It has to be done really slow to help spread entire emulsion properly. First sheet i took out too fast and got just a few square centimeters developed on the top of photograph.
If you won't check you won't learn...hah. as always ;) 

Irregularly spread emulsion and other little imperfections or even mentioned glow (all of it happen sometimes), gives very special and unique look to photograph taken with T55. ...and I really like it!

Have a look please at David Monahan's posts about Type 55 and some beautiful photographs linked with it (click HERE) and fantastic New55Peject website (click HERE).
Thanks!

...awakening

It's time to wake up from winter hibernation and get back to life. The only sort of resolution i decided to make this year it’s to be more busy ;)
I will carry on old projects as well as start some completely new.
At the beginning I am gonna concentrate mainly on portraits. In my case it's mostly environmental portraits however I decided recently to get more studio works as well.
I am converting part of my living space into a little studio which is absolutely enough for the purpose I am gonna use it.

First session (this year) last Sunday was fantastic. Perfect day especially for an outdoor shots. Lots of enthusiasm on both sides of the lens which is the best what can happen. Its especially much appreciated as it took over four hours(!). Thanks Magda, also for the patience ;)

...a few more sessions on the way. Edited photographs will be always visible on my Portraits Gallery , “face to face” gallery on my website or Artur Sikora Photography facebook profile with the most recent updates. (please click the links)
...and here of course....from time to time ;) 

...another to go

Snow, mentioned at the end of previous post, apparently came back for a while covering in white entire town. Looks like forecast works very well, hah...

Just wanted to say Thank You and wish a very Happy New Year to all who visiting this blog from time to time. I hope the next one will bring more creativity and good opportunities to all of us. Cheers!

the magic box...

It came with morning post. I remember when i opened parcel delivered by Frank, our great postman. That was about two years ago. All this excitement and impatience as the content was extraordinary. Beautiful hand-made box...magic box as it is possible to take photographs with it (in obvious for me, most beautiful format 6x6 ;D )
I was really impressed and I am every time I have this camera in my hands.
I always admired pinhole photography for its appearance and uniqueness. It is just like handling Holga. Well...almost. In this case, however, lack the lens is not the only difference. Also different built quality and... there is no viewfinder. Here you can only rely on your own intuition. A bit of practice and the effects are fantastic.
Snow has gone at least for now. it’s quite nice feeling to have slightly higher temperature for a change. I decided to go out then with my long time unused pinhole camera.
I had a sort of tension to photograph industrial objects or at least something industrial like.
Not easy subject here. Although Port is very close however there is no access so I had to think about something else...

Scherzer Bridges (1912) on North Wall Quay area - that was the first thought which came into my mind . Very close location and beautiful objects.  Both of them were “Built to allow water based traffic to access the Royal Canal and Spencer Docks, these unusual bridges are also designed to keep seawater out of the docks. No longer operational due to the removal of their diesel engines and their roadway surfaces, they could stop traffic, allow a ship through and close again in four and a half minutes. Now they serve as a reminder of the industrial past of the area” (info archiseek.com).

 

I spent there over an hour. Sun was about setting down so hard lighting condition especially for my choice of film - Ilford Pan F Plus 50

Over 5 minutes exposure did the job nicely.
Time to go home and get images out of the box ;)
...15 minutes bath in Perceptol and after fixing and washing film was hanging getting ready to scan.
Pan F plus and Perceptol are an amazing combo. It gets out of negative incredible amount of details and great tones.

Please click HERE to see short slideshow with some old photographs taken with zero2000.

...just saw newest forecast. Snow is coming back

...back to the roots (cyanotype prints)

I should try it long time ago. Anyway. It's never too late ;)
Chemicals in my drawer were waiting over 2 months. I made a first attempt yesterday. Weather wasn't  good. Too dark.
First image came out with no contrast after almost 30minutes exposure. Paper wasn’t properly coated as well.
I end up with hope that another day will be little bit brighter.
“Hope often blinks at a fool” didn’t work this time. Very bright, sunny day since morning.
I had just a little bit over an hour and half during the day for this experiment. It's just enough time for few prints. I had three negatives digitally upscaled and ready.
First - 10min exposure...not sharp enough.
(I have to find better way of printing negatives in larger scale... )
Second and third about 8 minutes.

This time seeing result i was so excited... almost as when i was opening developing tank with first self developed film. hah...
All images were printed on The Langton Watercolor Aquarelle paper.

before they will vanish...

There are some things that will never fade away. You just feel it and you know that this is IT.
...taste and flavour of good coffee, sound of vinyl record, analogue photography and modernism, especially expressed by the architecture. That's My Things.
I would like to stop here for a while. Modernist architecture.
It is interesting how much the form may affect the senses. When i am entering into such a place i am shivering. I am amazed by simplicity and functionality of surrounding forms. Everything is so fresh, so thoughtful, so genuine. I would say there is even something mystical in it.
I tried to pass these feeling some time ago during work on one of my projects. To see results please click HERE.
Over a week ago I had the opportunity to admire a few such structures. Actually two...just two... Mentioned some time ago on this blog Open House Dublin 2010 made it possible.
The Original Dublin Airport Terminal (Desmond FitzGerald, completed in 1940), Berkeley Library (ABK Architects, completed in 1967), Busáras (Michael Scott, completed in 1953) and Liberty Hall (Desmond Rea O’Kelly, completed in 1965). That was my short list. Unfortunately I couldn't make it into the first two.  Very busy time. But i celebrated every minute in the other two.
Busáras by Michael Scott - real office machine, full of live. It's one of the first post Second World War examples of the International Modern style in Europe. During the tour which took over half an hour i  felt like traveling in time.

Busaras, entrance to the offices

Busaras, canteen

 ...and Liberty Hall - fantastic, simple structure...forgotten and totally underrated. I know, i know - there is just little percentage of people who appreciate Beauty of its form. I am one of them!
Unfortunately I could see there just the entrance hall and the top floor. Admittedly we could soak up the magnificent panorama of Dublin (please see photographs - just click HERE) over there, but it was not what I was looking for. I wanted to see more within the building itself, i wanted to feel it...not enough time and no access made it impossible.

Liberty Hall, entrance hall

The sad thing is that Liberty Hall may be demolished in the nearest future to be replaced by “something new”. Why? Why not renovate it, restore the former splendor and adapt to modern requirements? Its so simple...
I found a very comprehensive website with lots of information about this disappearing symbol of Dublin. If you will have some spare time please watch this FILM (click the link). Fantastic document!
I am still thinking about photographing these buildings in a broader aspect. Maybe it will happen one day...before some of them will vanish...

moving fast...

Friday’s morning alarm clock rang at 4.15am. Last overview of the equipment, quick coffee and about an hour later i was already on the airport waiting for my flight to Dusseldorf.
I was hired by Marlin IT Ltd to photograph one of their energy trading workshops. Marlin IT is a UK based company specialized in real time energy market simulations, operational trading software and IT services.
The last stage of my trip was 2 hours in train from Dusseldorf to Aachen, my final destination. Workshops (one of many conducted by Marlin in various European cities ) took a place in Trianel headquarters. I managed to get there just after lunch. Beautiful, sunny, bright day, nice and spacious room surrounded by glass walls gave very good light for my work. Another over two hours were fulfilled with concentration and at the same time fantastic atmosphere and vivid reactions of participants. About 4.30pm workshops were finished.

Now the trickiest part - i had just about four hours for the departure of my plane to Dublin.
Before i had to get to train station, then again about 2 hours in the train to Dusseldorf, then get to the airport and break through few security stages. I found it more time consuming and complicated then even on Heathrow Airport which was the busiest one in my opinion...up to now ;)

I made it! Everything on time. Busy and very exciting day

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.

bigger, heavier, slower

It's been a long time since last post. Hopefully you are still there, all of you who read this blog ;)
I am trying to slow down being very busy for the last few weeks. It's time to come back online ;)

“Bigger, Heavier, Slower” - ints not necessary about me...(well,  maybe a little bit haha) but about next step into the magic world of film... large format photography.
More to carry around, longer time to take a one shot and sometimes the only shot. 
Yesterday i spent few hours at UCD campus. Quiet area during weekend. It was my second day of shooting with Graflex Crown Graphic so it’s still just a beginning but very exciting one. Four loaded film holders, lots of optimism and zest.
At some point two guys approached to me. I was setting camera for my second shot this day. They were very interested what am i doing with this weird looking thing ;). They start to ask questions: where am i setting aperture and shutter speed, how many shots can i take at once and so on...? Conversation began to evolve. Suddenly one of them switched on his digital camera and took a photograph in the same direction i was taking just before our chat has started. Then he turned to me and shrugging says “it’s so handy”, pointing the time he spend doing it (one or two seconds) and showing an image on screen ;)
They couldn't really get it why am i using film, why this sort of camera, why am i spending so much time to get an image.
The only answer, the only word describing it is -  Passion.
Photography for me is something special, something more then just a quick snapshots.
I like to slow down to take a photograph, i like to think and focus on every frame. Finally i like to play with all chemicals in darkroom looking as the picture appears.
...after all satisfaction is guaranteed.
4x5inch is a totally different format then the one i use to shoot with, 6x6cm. I am still a big admirer of square images however large format makes everything more complex, maybe a little bit more complicated but amount of details and quality i can get with it is incredible.
...so, two days it’s really nothing yet. more practice is indispensable. No questions about that.