Fallow up on WTCD

This was the only photo that came out from the film shot on world camera day, which was months ago. It could not have been better, a television on the side of the street in a trash pile on world toy camera day weekend! It was in front of a gallery space on South Street. They seemed to be cleaning up from a show, unfortunately I did not see the show or know what the gallery name was called. I was tipsy and too excited to see this screen! This holiday season I already have lots more shots to share. Stay tuned!

World Toy Camera Day

This was actually last Saturday, but I ofcourse did my part to participate with my holga! Though any pinhole, brownie or plastic camera would have been acceptable.

I wanted to get the film developed that day, but got to the lab too late, so I will get them developed soon. Just loved the poster for it, so 60's.

busy

Well, after saying I am going to be really good about updating this 'cause I have the time and energy, I then become super busy, but with super great things! Two internships are keeping my hands in the conservation/preservation world. Working at the Barnes Foundation is keeping my mind in accession mode, along with the interesting ethical dilemmas that are going on now, and just being in awe of my surroundings. Back in Newark, DE I am digitizing, rehousing and treating a photo album and could not be more excited. I also am given the time to research how to properly digitize negatives and turn them into positives on the computer. All things that I was hoping to research on my own. Couldn't ask for a better situation. Lots of traveling around, different settings, new people and connections, which is always a great thing.

I promise to keep this up to date with my photos at least, when I actually get the chance to develop them! I am sure after this month things will slow down a bit, which will leave room for more printing and photo taking!

my entries

These are the holgapalooza entries that were submitted today!

electric eye

Walking around a flea market this last weekend I found this amazingly beautiful modern looking Polaroid camera with a case in perfect condition and manual. (This pic was take from the internets, an upload of mine will happen soon.)
It is the J33 Electric Eye model that came out as the second model of the automatic exposure cameras in 1961, but the film has been discontinued at least since the early 1970's. I was able to find some on ebay that had expired in 1972, but that was all I could find. The chemicals of any Polaroid 37 3000 speed film that is still around today would be flaking off and unprintable.
I am in the middle of research on how put 120 film inside, which would not make it instant anymore, but this descriptions sounds easy enough. I may convert the camera to take pack film from this process from a guy who is a master at this stuff. Otherwise it may just have to be an addition to my collection, at least its pretty to look at!

changes

I am planning on using this space mainly for my photographs in the very near future.
This will soon be a place that will look like a portfolio of my work, random photos of crazy happenings and experiments.
Updated soon, stay tuned!

Recycling Photographs

I googled the question: Can I recycle photographs?
This is the answer I got from The Times Online by Anna Shepard. I liked her options to the problem, but do not agree to her thinking that film is dead. I love film more than anything, but we all get those crappy shots that are way too dark or too light, and if you pay someone else to develop your film you know that it is more expensive to get a couple of shots developed rather than the whole roll. So in my guilt of adding something to the trash I questioned what else could I do with these? This is what she had to say.

February 23, 2008

Can I recycle old photographs?

Anna Shepard Eco-Worrier

Recommend?

Q Is it OK to put old photographs in the paper recycling?

A No. Much like wrapping paper and the Yellow Pages, photographs cause problems at paper mills. In this case it is the chemicals used in the paper and the thin layer of polythene that coats a photo to stop it going wrinkly when it dries. These are classified as contaminants and clog up the recycling process.

My council suggested that I chuck them in my normal bin. But from my Google searches, which led me to frugal forums such as moneysavingexpert.com and recyclethis.co.uk , I have learnt that many people are opposed to chucking photographs in principle. They believe that there may come a time when a grandchild will be enthralled to flick through photos of any quality, even those of the back of people’s heads. I’m not so sure. I say cut them out and have a grand collage-making session; especially good if you have children – limbs and faces can be joined up to hilarious effect. Or you could try the old trick of turning them into a notebook to keep by the phone. This will depend on whether the reverse of the photo can be written on (some you may find to be too shiny for a ballpoint pen). Simply turn the photos over and staple the left-hand corner a couple of times.

With the digital age in full swing, piles of photos gathering dust will soon be a thing of the past. As we trade our traditional film-based cameras for skinny digital models, there will be less photographic waste. Films and the little capsules they came in will no longer lurk around the house. Instead we will be busy editing our photos on our laptops, maybe even airbrushing the odd blemish while we’re at it.

The Golden Half

This is the newest camera that I would LOVE to have. A new toy camera, but not Lomo (I don't think). Cuts your pics in half and is just so damn cute! There is a website to rent out designer purses, why can't there be one that rents out cameras. Who do I talk to about getting such a website up and running?!

Smartypants

Seattle is the #1 in terms of air quality, energy conservation, green building and over all smartness. I miss that city so much, the green space, clean air, fresh water all within the city scape, and all reasons why I blame my heightened health issues while out east. I feel that this kind of thinking has always been more of a way of life over there, and probably why most of the highly ranked cities were on the best (west) coast. Sustainable and environmental thinking had to become more mainstream and trendy for the east coast to even realize that these issue are important. I remember in 1st grade learning about recycling, water pollution and water quality! That was in the late 80's, a time when people where just starting to approach congress with these issues. I was living in an ivory tower for a long time, thinking that this was the way everyone lived; moving to Delaware helped me realize just how much the northwest is in its own world.
These cities should be praised for their work in thinking progressively, but it needs to become a normal way to live, not some rank that a city should strive for. Hopefully we soon will not need ranks and charts like these, because it will just be a boring normal way to live, but for now this is making me want to move back. (photo cred: lnz)

landfill

My birthday present was being taken to a location where electronics wait to be reincarnated, with a super fancy vegan dinner at Horizons after we cleaned up. These are some shots, and as always there are more on flicker.

Holgapalooza!

I am planning on entering this. I already have a few ideas for the main categories. This holga world is great. Its a community that I am unable to find locally. People are friendly and informative. I am really enjoying that the holga craze is going strong and I can not wait to see what I come up with and what others produce. I am approaching this as a learning experience; it will be the first time my photographs will be compared with others. Even an honorable mention will make me happy! Here is the link to Light Leaks Magazine that is putting it on and the link to the webpage for the Holgapalooza.

feelin' fresh

It has been awhile, I am done with school and have recently moved to the city of brotherly love and enjoying my new surroundings. Philly is great and gritty.
I have been stuck in a small town for way too long and am settling into my urban self again. My style has been more focused and I feel more creatively minded. I am fixing clothes that have been sitting on the sidelines, scanning photos that have been taken, while taking more and cleaning out clutter in my life. Maybe it is that I have the luxury of time on my side (my positive view to the fact that I am still job hunting) but I am feeling accomplished and wanting more hours during the day to achieve all that I set out to do! The pics here are just teasers, there are many more on myflicker, link to your right. ;) More about Philadelphia once more is experienced.

Polaroid week 2009

It was 'roid week last week and I played my part.
My new Polaroid Land Colorpack II came in the mail Monday morning to start off the week just right! Polaroid played it's part by being adorably unreliable, but that is we love you Polaroid film.
Hope you enjoy my picks, there are so many more great shots on the 'Roid Week group on flicker.
Check it!

Yashica!

I really should not be on here, I am coming up on my last month of school and am very behind in my work, but I finally got my Yashica-A photos back!!
I cannot wait to get more time to play, but for the time being here is a preview, there are only a couple more on my flicker, but check em out!

squares

Finally! My holga prints came in. They look great and I have figured that fuji film in a low speed like 160 gives me the best colors. These are a few, there are more on my flicker.

P.S. April 26 is World Pinhole day! This is the one I am going to try out on some extra 669 Polaroid film left over from my alternative photo, which I of course will post.

cyanotypes

this is my favorite form of printing lately because i do not have access to a dark room, so this is the only way i have total control over how my images get printed. by the beginning of the summer i should have a mini alternative process dark room including a light box, chemicals for cyanotypes and gum prints! so more to come.

wide lens

here are some pics from austin and toronto with my $16 35mm camera that came with a wide angle lens.
some shots came out, some did not. perfecting that perfect light is much more important with film than with digital, but i like what i got with my experimenting. the rest are on my flicker, link to the right.
my holga prints wont be ready for a few more weeks, most of my photos from my trip are on those three rolls and i have no idea how they turned out. so we will soon see...

Toronto

So Toronto was super! Its so multicultural, large, but not huge, easy to get around and urban.
The program gave me chills of excitement. I met the head of the program and she loved me, and wants me to come. The city brought out the urban in me that I have been suppressing and missed so much. Not to mention a clear mind and restored my sense of being. Delaware can be a soul killer. Not only do I want to go to school there, but I could see my self residing there if it was possible with visa issues and if the extreme weather did not kill me. Think Chicago extreme but further North.
It felt like a laid back New York City, but a bit smaller. It is a place full of forward thinking, international accents, slow food restaurants, cheap and good Korean and Vietnamese food, and great contemporary art!
I can not fully express my love for this city, but check out my flicker, which will continue to get updated as more shots get developed.

kh

this is the keith haring shirt, i felt it should be shared.

Austin

I am grad school shopping this week. Hitting Austin and Toronto, very different cities with very different programs. Austin was my fist stop and I am impressed. I came into the city with the head cold from hell and am coming out with a clear mind and good impression, I hope that my future plans with University of Austin come through. Austin has a north west feel, but with a man made water way. There is the feeling of Seattle when it first started growing. Strangers here are amazing too, I have never had so many random people say hello or compliment me. Maybe the city was on its best behavior for my visit, but I am crushing. It may not be the most metropolis, but there is culture down here and good salsa!
I hear Austin is not like any other place in Texas, so don't judge it by its cover. I know I did and was pleasantly surprised. Austin is the heart of the state in more ways than one.

I promised to give word of mouth about Big Bertha's. The best vintage in Austin. I found the ultimate Keith Haring top, black with strips of the barking dog fringing off of the shirt made in the 80's, and 2 other jackets. Not only did the owner give me a HUGE deal (pretty much giving away 2 items), he was also the best character I met in Austin.
It is work to get down to Bertha's, but worth the effort just to talk with the owner and to look among the vintage Victor and Rolf and Isaak Mizrahi. He weeds out all the tacky crap and only sells the good finds, which makes the hunt easy. Whether truth or fable, you will get a great story with your receipt.
I can see myself being part of the weirdness here, and adding to it in a positive way.

experimenting with fish eye holga

check out my flicker for more

Wow, am I missing some nature life, specifically in the north west. I am not living in any type of big city, but with out a car it is hard for me to get away from this flat boring land. I am craving mountains, camping and hiking. It was never a constant thing my whole life, but for awhile I had someone pulling me out into the wilderness at least two or three times a year, which I appreciated.
This would be the only reason for me to own a car, that and big grocery runs.
There are some pictures above to show what I miss the most, but those best moments in nature are hard to capture in a photo. Nature photography can be fun, but it is just so impossible to capture the not so common feeling of miniature and insignificance that you feel among the rising mountains or huge bodies of water. Ah! The nostalgia for a Seattle summer is just killing me.
The first pic is of is of Mt. Rainer taken in 2007(?). The other a sun set off of the Fremont Bridge in Seattle summer of '06.

I am really busy with school crap this week, but all the fashions going on right now are taking up my free moments. Though I may not be the most fashionable amongst my fashionista friends, I do love clothes and have always admired those with the confidence to fully express themselves through their wear, something I am always working towards.

So I leave you with a link to the Comme des Garcons show (because I love the colors, shapes, capes and construction of it all)

just a way of life

i find inspirational: **

holga

these are some recent holga shots i took through out of the sun roof of a car while driving through philly. i must have not ripped the tag off all the way when opening and rolling in the film, because when i opened the camera when finished i saw it laying there. i almost did not develop the roll but i am glad i did. these 2 came out nicely.
i am still experimenting with 120 medium sized film and the plastic holga was a great way to start, but i just bought a yashica-a twin lens! i still have my first roll to finish and will show the results when i get them developed.
i am so in love with film again and the square shape is just so much more pleasing to the eye, not to mention the great colors that come out!
keep checking my flicker account (link to right) for more photo fun!

Art CONSERVATION

I am sure some of my closest friends still do not understand what it is I am going to school for and why it prompted me to move all the way across the country from the comfortable north west. So here is some info about art conservation, what it means, what it is, and why I am so dedicated to it.

Art conservation is NOT restoration. The simple difference is that when a piece is restored it is restored to its original state, meaning that any foreign material is used to bring something back to its original pristine state. Sometimes, these foreign materials can do more harm than good. (It is just remaking an object with out the concern of preservation in mind.)
Conservation is making sure the object no longer deteriorates. This means that great amounts of research goes into an object before any type of treatment is done, even cleaning. Understanding the history of the object (what is made out of, why, where it has been, how and why it was damaged) is important to make educated decisions about what materials will be appropriate to use in its conservation treatment. All materials added to an object should be removable, so in the future it is possible to bring an object back to the state it was in before conservation treatment, if needed.

That is the simple explanation and I will not go further and bore you with the ethical issues or what preventative conservation is, but you may ask, or google it. This is a somewhat new field, and not many schools offer art conservation as a program, why I am all the way in Delaware. This is really one of the last jobs available that one would apprentice for, and why I already have 3 internships upon graduation.

I hope to go to grad school with a focus in paper and photography. Which are 2 different fields, but are similar in process treatments and chemistry. When most people think of art conservation they think of painting conservators like Sigourney Weaver in Ghostbusters 2. But paintings are full of chemicals that are so bad for the body that I have chosen to just not go that direction. There are SO many objects (not just paintings) that are apart of our cultural history that are soon going to be lost with out care. I became interested in this field while researching the destruction of the Kabul Museum in Afghanistan. There WAS some of the oldest pieces of history there and today it is still being used as a bunker in war. I came into the field wanting to help preserve history and culture, especially from one that was and still is being destroyed.

There will always be a need for paper conservators because of all the important documents that have to stick around and a photograph is so important because it can give a glimpse into a past world, and the chemicals used during these processes are not as harmful on my sensitive system. I won't be able to go to Afghanistan one day and help in all the rummage, but I can focus on other important articles of cultural history.

There is so much that I have left out, but now you are educated and can properly say my friend is going to school for art conservation NOT restoration, all the way in nowheresville Newark, Delawhere.

For more info links are to the right. Please ask me questions, I know more than I realize, I just do not know what people want to hear about.

In the beggining

I am the last person I ever thought would create a blog.
Maybe it is because I have ditched my person to person profiles and still crave the narcissistic urges we all have. I have no idea how I will keep this up, this is an experiment for me. To give my mind a place to go other than school, a place where I can show my amateur art projects, to put more information out there about health issues, to give my self a place to post internet findings and place for me to keep them.
This will become a mish-mash of things that interest me including art in all forms (but mostly photography and contemporary art), fashions, natural health, art conservation and minmal politics. Quite the mash, hope some thing keeps your interest.