John D.C. Masters Photography » Canon 50D http://johndcmasters.com The photography and travels of John D. C. Masters Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:14:58 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Angst, disconnection and the trials of youth… http://johndcmasters.com/angst-disconnection-and-the-trials-of-youth/ http://johndcmasters.com/angst-disconnection-and-the-trials-of-youth/#comments Tue, 11 May 2010 06:26:18 +0000 John http://johndcmasters.com/?p=172 There is a little over 4 weeks until I leave Paros and head back to America.  As I wrote before, my digital work has undergone an enormous transformation.  My film work has shifted as well, but more in terms of process and technical skill than any real artistic sense.  Socially I am still a 45-year old man in a school of predominantly women under the age of 25.  They are at that odd place in life when although society considers them adults, they have yet to suffer Hamlet’s slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.  Their emotional forms are soft and romantic, unsullied by the realities of daily life in the cold, dark world.  Granted, there will be joys and pains immeasurable in their future, but for now they are safely nurtured in their own cocoons.  The winds of inevitable winter will toughen their skins, as it always does.

In regards to that, my age and gender have kept me from being a part of their youthful gaggle.  My own work is more focused, my own energy more economized to slog through the next 28 days until the school show.  I have had some technical setbacks in the darkroom and unfortunately I am feeling the social disconnect there as well.  Much of this is in my head.  I will shake it out and get back to work.

More to come…

JDCM

]]> http://johndcmasters.com/angst-disconnection-and-the-trials-of-youth/feed/ 1 One week and I’m off… http://johndcmasters.com/one-week-and-im-off/ http://johndcmasters.com/one-week-and-im-off/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:30:56 +0000 John http://johndcmasters.com/?p=143 I am beginning to feel the tug and draw of the traveling jones.  I fly from JFK next Tuesday, non-stop to Athens and my next great adventure.  I have been reading a lot of photographic philosophy on the Webb’s photo blog and this is all good food for thought.  Things I need to remember–the sudden flow of geometry, the instance of emotional capture in the viewfinder and a need for patience.  I need to wait and see what happens.  I need to relax.  I am pretty hyper.  There has been a lot on my mind lately that does not feel so good, mostly to do with family and their emotions.  Nothing I can do about that except step back and let things happen.

I would like to have at least three new prints to add to the portfolio I am bringing with me.  I have been taking pictures of the interior of my home–bureaus, mantles, doors, windows, clocks…all very intimate and full of humanity.  If I can glean something from them, I will be happy.  Then I can finish packing on Monday night and go to sleep knowing that all is taken care of and well in hand during my absence.

I purchased another digital camera.  I decided to bring my 50D with me so I needed a smaller digital point-and-shoot for street work.  I chose the Canon G11.  It’s a great compliment to the Voigtlander, I feel.  I like that I can shoot in full manual and adjust my shutter and aperture like the Rebel.  I can also adjust the film speed from 80 to 3200ISO.  It fits in the palm of my hand.  Lovely, and not too dear.

More to come…canon_g11_front1JDCM

]]> http://johndcmasters.com/one-week-and-im-off/feed/ 0 Greek update… http://johndcmasters.com/greek-update/ http://johndcmasters.com/greek-update/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:27:31 +0000 John http://johndcmasters.com/?p=136 It is February, the month of my birth, as well as my father.  His birthday is today and he is 82.  I am heading into NYC tomorrow for lunch with him and two of my half-cousins from my grandfather’s first marriage.  They are very nice and we all get along just fine.  I am taking MetroNorth from Wassaic which puts me in to Grand Central.  Then I’ll walk uptown to the restaurant on Broadway and 105th.  Quite a hike, but I can take pictures along the way.  Maybe I’ll get two rolls done but three would be very cool indeed.  I could use some more urban images fro the portfolio.

In regards to that, and Greece, if the river don’t rise I’ll be flying off to Athens in 29 days.  I am very excited and have begun to do some test-packing.  I packed my camera bag once and will do so again until I get the optimal set-up.  I am taking my Canon 50D and the two L-series lenses I have for it.  I am also taking my Voigtlander with the 35mm lens I bought with it and a new 21mm lens that is arriving today.  A light meter, some lead film bags, batteries, etc…all round out the gear.  There is plenty of room for my notebook, documents, a book, pens and pencils, and some other odds-and-ends.  I’ll re-pack the night before I leave, I am sure.

I am going to buy a small refrigerator for my darkroom. This way I can put all my chemistry, paper and film away safely before I leave.  I have looked on-line and I can get a good one for less than $300 new from Lowes.  I can also get one locally from Campbell and Keeler in Millerton for a little more and support a local business.  I think I will do that.  Maybe even today!

Below is a new image.  I used Efke (ADOX) CHS 100 with my Voigtlander R4M.  For printing I used Edwal Platinum II for the soup on Fotokemika paper at f/16 for about 3 1/2 minutes.

rhinecliff-station-2

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