Observation Bench III

“Observation Bench III” from the Tijeras Creek series, copyright of Douglas Stockdale

A SoFoBoMo 2008 production

Best regards, Doug

Observation Bench II

“Observation II” from the series Tijeras Creek, copyright of Douglas Stockdale

A SoFoBoMo 2008 production

Best regards, Doug

Observation Bench I

“Observation Bench I”  from the series Tijeras Creek, copyright Douglas Stockdale

A SoFoBoMo 2008 production.

Best retgards, Doug

Introduction: Tijeras Creek

Wel, I did have plans to visit some galleries today, but then I received a nice inviation to a Mother’s Day brunch at a cousin’s, nice. So change in plans (and the two galleries that I had thought about I find are closed on Sundays)

So instead, I worked on the introduction to my book, which I will share in its entirety. Especially since I cannot get it up on my web site due to my film scanner being such a hog of my desktop system.

Happy Mothersday & some odd ramblings

Here in the US we celebrate Mothers Day, a time to recogize Mom for all that she does, which is a LOT! So let me say Happy Mothers Day to all of you Moms out there.

Since the film scanner is back in the sloooow mode, and six rolls of film are at the lab, I have some extra time this Sunday morning, so I have finally been catching up on my blog reads. I do realize that my intereset in keeping my blog up has waned a bit. I just don’t feel as compelled to write as often, but nevertheless, I am right now. go figure.

SoFoBoMo day 10

Well, its finally turning into a nice day. Yes, some wonderful sunshine.

I had decided to treat myself to some Lemon Souffle Cakes over at the local bakery since it was appearing like another overcast day. I had loaded the film scanner and was off. I was even taken in by the chance of some fresh Beignets, but reluctently, not like those at New Orleans on the square at 2am on a sultry summer night after an evening of refreshments. I realized that I was starting to squint while reading the lastest PDN and it dawned on me, it was not the intestity of the glare, but there were shadows! Yep, the morning cloud cover was burning off this morning.

Now I have two collections of negatives/prints for SoFoBoMo, those taken in the sunshine with ample shadows and the flat-light images without the sunshine. So this may be relatively easy, as I am grabbing my stack of images for the do-over.

Best regards, Doug

SoFoBoMo day 9

Yuck, another overcast day, with the exception of about 15 minutes. You would think I was back in Michigan. And now the weather forecast for the end of next week is for bright and sunny days. hooey! By that time, I will be into some serious editing or else this book will not finish by the end of the month.

The film scanner went into sloooow mode again after brisking scanning the first three negatives this morning. So after three aborts and it is still running slooooow, I gave up. grrrrr. So it is working its way through negative number ten. hmmmmdeedum and twiddle my fingers.

But so far, I do like what I see. I think that this will work out fine. I am also noticing a couple of folks who made their SoFoBoMo deadline talk about continuing to tweak their project for a phase II edition. I suppose that’s okay, in as I am planning the softcover book for my SoFoBoMo completion and then working on the hard cover Limitied Edition version in conjunction with a Limited Edition folio after.

Speaking of softcover books, the printing proof for my softbound version of In Passing did not show up today. Bummer, as I was looking forward to reviewing that and allowing it to go to print. So maybe early next week, eh?

And speaking of books, while wearing my other Managing Editor hat for The Photo Exchange, today I did a phone interview with Jonathan Brown, the owner of Leadapron, a fine art book store, with an expertise in fine art photography, located in Los Angeles. You can find the interview here. As it always happens, after the interview, I think of another half dozen questions I could have asked. But that’s okay, there will be other opportunities;- )

Best regards, Doug

SoFoBoMo day 8

I don’t have an image to post with this as I am a little behind in scanning the film. For some reason, the second scan went into slooooow mode and tied up the computer/film scanner for about four hours. Quick look at the scanned file, everything seems okay. So keep pressing on….

So at this time, I have back four rolls of film that are in the review and choice of images to scan. I have two more rolls being processed and I have another roll to take in for processing as well as one mid-way through the back. So that takes me to 84+ exposures. And with only a couple of exceptions, no bracketing, one exposure per composition.

Very unlike the DSLR, which I am using most of the time to get an alternative photograph. Sometimes I get so engrossed in a potential image, I am back in the car and driving away and realize that I did not take a digital image along with the film exposure. hmmmm.

With a prime lens, no zoom, manual focus, manual film wind, I do move slower in setting up the photograph. Also using the tripod & cable release more.  And an occasional meter check to ensure that the exposure does not need to be modified. I feel that I am seeing the same stuff, but as I look at the proof prints, I am making different images. Such as compared to the recent shoot during my last trip to China.

With the DSLR, I am usually working the wide side of the zoom lens, in the 28mm equivalent or wider for the 35mm format. With this rig, I am very comfortable with the normal (80mm) lens and I don’t feel the need to back up, which would give me an wider view. In fact, it seems that I am walking up closer to take the photograph. I guess that this leads into ‘the chose of camera rig may influence your photography style’ discussion. But another day for that. Maybe it is just a change of pace that this rig creates something different for me.

Oh, and the sun came out just as I was to leave to get today’s film to the processing lab. Maybe I’ll see more of it tomorrow.

Best regards, Doug

Updated note: When I was thinking about a series for SoFoBoMo, I had anticipated heading down to Newport Beach pennisula and doing something with the strand. As the time approached, I found myself considering an alternative subject, which is what I am not working on. Nevertheless, I did make it down to Newport Beach this afternoon and I did find a bunch of things which did appeal to me and which I photographed. I can see where the idea for my Newport Beach series can still develop into a future series. Another nice bonus for me with SoFoBoMo this year, regardless of the final outcome.

Slow start for my SoFoBoMo

Not sure what was worse, the weather turning overcast and gray or busting a tooth and heading to the denist for a quicky repair.

What I pre-visualized for my SoFoBoMo series is not in line with this change in weather. Getting a pre-June Gloom that Southern California gets hit with next month at this time of year was not in my plans. I have one roll processed and two in the soup form the sunny days, but now this change of weather. hmmmm.

And one of my planned photography days will be spent getting a new crown. So that experienced might get reflected in my photographs to some degree. I know that looking forward to the two hours in the “chair’ is not an uplifting or helping my current frame of mind.

Oh well…I do have on order my printing of the softbound proof for In Passing.

Best regards, Doug

Updated note: Blurb has notified me that my book proof is in the mail, concurrently with a notification that their pricing is going up for this size book. So now I have to confirm the book layout and design and rethink my pricing strategy. Meanwhile, it appears that I have two sets of good images for SoFoBoMo and one potential set. So that makes it four down and at least thirty-one more to go.

And so SoFoBoMo starts

Nothing earth shartering today. The last group of us procrstonators get to try our hand at SoFoBoMo starting today. Or for you real die-hard procrastonators, next week?

Okay, I started with writing of two draft introductory statements. Eh?