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Disaster, solutions, sadness and completions…

By on May 25, 2010 in Uncategorized

I had toned all of my silver prints with selenium.  This brings out the blacks and whites and makes them pop as well as extending the grey-scale throughout the image.  Unfortunately something happened and I eneded up having fingerprints all over them. Disaster.  Calamity.  I was all set to re-print 10 pieces in one week, a job that has taken me all term to accomplish.  Then an excellent fellow photographer told me to take a small step first.  Bathe the images in water for 5 minutes and them rub off the prints with my fingers.  She’s an ace that one.  Worth emulating if only for her humility and modesty.

Success!  Now all I have to do is spot my images, matte them and I’m done.  My digital work is finished as well.

There is bad news, however.  A fellow student’s family member has died in America and he has to leave to attend the funeral.  This is a big blow to our small community and it is more of a shock coming as it does so close to the end of the term.  He’s an excellent sort–a poet–young, full of piss and vinegar and a devotee of Jean-Paul Belmondo…that he knows French New Wave cinema at his age is a credit to him.  I wish him god-speed, safe travels.  May he write dangerous poetry forever.  Write when you get a chance Johnny.  I’ll keep an eye for your name in the press.

More to come…

JDCM

New directions, new work…

By on May 18, 2010 in Uncategorized

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As I have already written, my digital work here as undergone a profound fundamental change.  Gone are the days of treating travel snapshots with the contrived gravity that only my own mind could grasp.  Although my film work has changed as well, it remains more within the traditional scope of photography.  The other has become more abstract and modern.  The example I am posting is a close-up of the ground.  It is from the seaport of Piraeus on a sunny day.  The only manipulations I have performed are exposure and curve controls and some selective colors that augment rather than alter the reality of the image.  It was taken with my old Canon Digital Rebel XT with a fixed 50mm lens.  I tell you all these things because I do not believe that abstract art should be thought of as a riddle to unravel, but rather a representation of color and light.  Be aware that the actual image is 250 x 400cm and fits on an A3 piece of paper.  Also, the colors are much more vibrant.  The yellow is brighter with more orange rather than the mustardy color on the screen. I apologize for that.

More to come,

JDCM

3 1/2 weeks to go…

By on May 16, 2010 in Uncategorized

Tomorrow begins the final push to the end of the term.  I was thinking today on the beach how this is similar to a birth.  The contractions have been slowly increasing as the weeks have passed and now, as the end nears, we are all pushing more to get that baby out.  Alright, I have no idea what birth is like, after all I was very little at the time, but the pressure is on.  I have been working in the Digilab at night, cranking out the prints and in the darkroom exposing test strip after test strip and getting that portfolio finished.  This week I begin the selenium toning process and spotting.  Next week I matte the 22 pieces I will have for both courses.  Then the show…If all goes well I will have what I need to finish up this BA and move along onto something new for the summer and fall of 2010.

Speaking of that I am looking into an MA program in art history.  I am avoiding MFAs.   SUNY Purchase and SUNY Albany both have what I need and combined with two more terms at the Aegean Center the ticket I will end up holding would be First Class, round-trip.  My goal is set and it is only a matter of walking the walk, doing the footwork, to make it happen.  My goal is to apply to some programs, as well as the Aegean Center for spring and fall of 2011.  The spring would be another term here on Paros but the fall would be split between Italy and Greece.  The fall work is primarily art history so I could transfer massive credits towards the 30 I need for my MA.   This could be a great thing but so far it is still on the drawing board.  It seems as if I am on track for the big goal…my Ph.D by 50.  Stranger things have happened in my life.

As this is a personal blog as well as photographic I might as well mention that my bisexual tendencies have been rising to the surface.  Odd, since I haven’t even thought of men in many years that way.  Have I been so consumed with work at home and abroad that I had forgotten?  Oh well…old memories, some quite fond, steal into my thinking.  Maybe it’s the light here in Greece.  I had a long talk with my friend K in Athens about it and she and I both agreed that labels of any sort can be damaging in many ways.  Let’s just say that I am open to many of life’s experiences.  You never know what door love (or sex, for that matter) will walk through.  Take it before it slips away.

More to come…

JDCM

Angst, disconnection and the trials of youth…

By on May 11, 2010 in Uncategorized

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

Finding the forest spring…

By on April 27, 2010 in Uncategorized

As I said last time, I had become blind to the obvious around me and had lost my artistic sense.  To be honest I was angry and self-absorbed by this conundrum, thinking that the logical solution was to just pack it in and split-take the boat off the island.  That is the easier, softer way and has no reward other than glum arrogance.

I received my assignment from the director.  He sent me out to take pictures of ‘negative space’.  Now, I figured this was a trick, and it was, but it got me out of the rut and onto a path worth following.  We looked at my results and he pointed out that I should be taking pictures of what I wanted to take pictures of, i.e. the specific elements of the image, not the meta. which has been my MO all these years.  So I am now taking pictures s close as I can with my 50mm lens (abut a foot away) and discovering abstract landscapes and textures in the peeling paint and gritty asphalt of Athens and other places.   I have discovered a hidden spring in the dark forest and am being nourished by its life-giving water.

What a relief.  This makes my portfolios possible.  I’ll post an image when I can.  God, I am so much happier than I was.

More to come…

JDCM

Waiting for an assignment and off to Paris…

By on April 11, 2010 in Uncategorized

I am still enjoying being here.  This comes on the heels of a crisis of artistic faith in which I find myself seeing novelty and light in all things film and dull same-old-same-old in the digital realm.  The solution is simple.  Since I cannot see the forest for the trees I will be given an assignment by the director–actually we all will.  I hope it is soon because I am running out of time to complete my portfolio.  This is not entirely true.  I have almost 60 days until the term ends which is plenty of space.  The director, John Pack,  said that I take great pictures of many things but that they are all very comfortable and secure for me to photograph.  His challenge is to push me out of my comfort zone and see what comes of it.  I agree with his ideas but I am waiting for the assignment to arrive.  I am enthusiastic.  I was told by my other photography teacher that if it seems too agreeable to ask for something else.  That’ll work for me.

Our spring break begins next week.  I’ll be heading off to Paris for a few days to visit my father who is there for the spring on sabbatical from school.  He is there with his wife until June and they have a nice place in the 4th Arrondisement.  My goal is to shoot at least one roll of film per day while I am there and a lot of digital to work on when I get back.  Of course if I need more film I’m pretty sure I can get some there.  I’ll check on-line and find out.

Just a side note…How lucky am I to be living this life?  What blessed stars shine down upon me and guide me through the wilderness and into the light!

JDCM

Photography and Easter in the Eastern Orthodox Church…

By on April 2, 2010 in Uncategorized

I have been logging many hours in the darkroom and digital labs.  What I am learning in the DigiLab has made me aware of the serious shortcomings inherent in the US university system, one of which is laziness and the other is a jealous regard that some teachers have towards their students.  It is true.  There are many teachers who will not teach their students all they know, but rather keep information to themselves lest their students rise above.  I mean, I had never heard of ICC profiles before I came here, and that, as well as other tools, is essential for properly printing photography in the digital format.  Without these tools the computer and printer will never agree on the colors and tones appropriate for each brand and style of paper.  I know, for example, that Bard College never used this system until a student fro The Aegean Center went back there and told them they were doing it wrong.  So next time you go to a “professional printer” and give them some business, ask them what their paper stock is and whether they have an updated profile for that product.  If they give you a result on paper that doesn’t look right, watch out when they blame your camera…Ask to see the ICC profile.

This weekend is Easter and in the Eastern Orthodox Church it is the single largest holiday celebrated, without question.  The island is packed with people coming home for the event and ending their Lenten Fasts.  The primary church here on the island is called Panagia Ekatontapyliani or “Church of Our Lady of 100 Gates (or Doors) and no ordinary structure either.  It was built by the Emperor Constantine’s mother (St. Helen) and pre-dates any other Christian church in the world. Construction began in the 6th Century.  The story goes that St. Helen, the young Emperor’s mama, put in at Paros during a storm.  As is the custom in Greece, she vowed to build a church on the spot where her life was saved.  She died before that could happen, but she was able to inspire others to make it happen.  Pretty cool.  I’ll be there tonight and tomorrow for the festivities, along with about 300 other people.  I’ll try to get some good night shots, in RAW of course…

Tomorrow night at midnight, Lent ends and the whole town will descend on the restaurants and tavernas for the traditional meal of ‘Gut Soup’, which is a soup made from lamb tripe and vegetables–dee-lish.  A whole bunch of us will go out and experience this event as well.  Sunday is not a public day, but rather reserved for family.  We are having a lamb roast, with the whole lamb on a spit over a charcoal grill, turned by hand for several hours.  On Monday the bus and boat schedules change, heralding the real spring season with schedule and fare changes.

More to come…

JDCM

Jazz, cook-outs and leaky tanks…

By on March 14, 2010 in Uncategorized

My schedule is settling down and I have a very busy load. The two primary courses are the Digital Printing and the Silver Darkroom classes. These both meet, officially, twice a week, but as a student I have keys to all the labs, so I can go in there any time of the day or night and work. This is very nice. In the digital realm we are working with RAW, but in such a way I have never encountered. The secret is to over-expose the image in RAW to capture as much information as possible, then process on one of the Macs. First rate gear here…none of that buggy PC junk. The b/w darkroom is a real test of my abilities and patience. I am fine tuning so many variables it is hard to list, but ultimately it comes down to being precise with temperatures, times, and note-taking. We are using all Ilford chemistry, film and paper, which keeps developing as close to consistent as possible. The four lovely enlargers are all imprecise in their own way, so consistency is a must. As one fellow student reminded me, “We are doing fine art photography here…” So right, so true. Am I up for that task or am I the equivalent to a shoe-maker in the kitchen?

The rest of the course load is a series of hour-long lectures that run throughout the week. These are, in order, Creative Writing Workshop (twice a week), The History of Photography, The Camera (a tech course), Art History, Classical Greek Literature, and Documentary Photography. As a school, we all go on a hike on Fridays. This is the Socratic method at work, with time to not practice out crafts, but to have time for the self as well while we absorb the knowledge that is heaped upon us all week. There are other courses such as painting, figure studies, vocal ensemble and basic drawing, but that will have to wait until next time. At this point I want there to be a next time.

I was in the darkroom the other day I developed a roll of film and the metal tank leaked, not light, but developer. So this teaches me to check my gear before I work. Last night we all got together and had an amazing bar-b-que/cook-out/grill. A real potluck for 20 and it was a blast. I made grilled Dorado marinated in garlic, rosemary and olive oil. Others brought salads, kebabs, sausages, peppers stuffed with feta and oregano…Super! After that a few of us went out to see a jazz duo (piano and baritone sax) from Athens. What a great time we had. I was able to close my eyes and let the music just flow through my head, savoring every note and movement. As I listened I wrote the second half of a short story I am writing, but in my head. When I returned to my studio apartment I put most of it on paper and revised this morning. I’m doing pretty well.

The director of the Center, John Pack, had a meeting with us all the other day and he reminded us that for whatever reason, we all ended up here. I was directed here by a friend, and so many others are here due to some other twist of fate or fortune. We are all woven together like a creative fabric.

JDCM

Here on Paros…

By on March 8, 2010 in Uncategorized

I have been trying to log on my blog for almost 45 minutes.   For some reason I have to actually go to the blog first and then log on through the meta…Whatever.

Paros is amazing.  I am very lucky to be here and have this experience.  I thank my friend Jeanne for introducing me to the Aegean Center for the Fine Arts.  So far the student body is pretty amazing–all talented and many much younger than I, but still we are all in the same boat.  It is an unconventional type of place with a  dynamic teaching philosophy.  I am not going to try to describe it, but suffice to say that it would be grand if the whole of academia taught this way and not only this very special school.

I am taking 4 classes–The darkroom class, the digital class and probably the “camera class” as well as classical Greek Literature.  People tell me that this is manageable.

Jet lag was pretty bad this time and I am still not over it completely.  Maybe it is the weather.  The Sirocco has been blowing in from northern Libya and the warm Saharan air is full of smaller-than-talcum powder dust particles like a red fog.  It is supposed to end soon, but until then there is a strange surreal quality to the surroundings and people’s attitudes.

More to be revealed…

JDCM

Taking off…

By on February 28, 2010 in Uncategorized

I leave town for the next leg of the Great Adventure on Tuesday, a countable set of hours from now.  I am excited to be going, and very nervous.  I suppose I could look at these three classes as ‘workshops’ but they are really college courses that I will be attending with other students, many of whom will be a good deal younger than I.  I hope that I am not the eldest, but if I am I will try not to be the “weird old guy” and just be a student.

My backpack and camera bag are both packed.  Yesterday I took all the clothes out of the pack and re-evaluated my belongings.  I made a couple of changes and then threw everything in the wash.  Then I dried and folded it all again and re-packed.  All set.  The only thing I have left to do is go to the bank tomorrow and take out some traveling cash.  I’ll use my ATM card most of the time, but having some hard currency is always handy.

I went to the doctor on Friday and had a full physical.  I’m looking pretty good and I should have no problems while I am away.  My innards are working alright as is my noggin.  I will probably be eating more fish and veggies  and also hiking/walking a lot, so I’ll probably shed some weight–no great loss.  I could drop 7-8 pounds and not worry too much.

I am taking 5 rolls of Kodak 100ISO with me.  I can buy more there (probably Ilford), but I would like to have some with me when I arrive in Athens.  I’ll buy more the next day.  I have checked the situations with labor issues due to the economy and all seems to be working alright with few, if any, disruptions. What were reported here in the US last week as “massive strikes” were, according to all my friends in Athens little more than “worker’s holidays”, a common affair in places like Greece, Italy and the Balkans and nothing to worry about.

So now I just sit around and wait…

JDCM