19
Feb
2010
08
Feb
2010
2010 ADVENTURES IN THE DARKROOM
Time to start processing the film from the last trip to Utah. We spent 30 days on the road and photographed 20 days. That kind of working schedule generates a lot of LF and ULF film. Now comes the time to head to the darkroom for a little developing. Should take about 30 days to finish all of the film. Then we have to catalog and file, then proof to see what we have. Soon we will have some new film to start looking at with an eye toward making prints.
All film will be processed in a scratch-mixed Pyro developer, in small batches, by hand in open trays. Typically a day of processing will consist of 3-4 batches, normally totaling no more 30 sheets. We never try to push and do too many, if you get really fatigued, it is easy to make mistakes. This film is the culmination of hours of traveling and heaving heavy cameras in deep snow and ice, we do not want to do anything foolish now.
Hopefully we will find a few keepers in this batch of film. Watch here for more information and maybe a few new photos on the web site.
JB & Susan
JB & Susan
20
Jan
2010
2009-2010 ADVENTURES IN UTAH
Just in case anyone missed the link in the previous post to our 2009-2010 Utah Trip, HERE (or below) is the link that will take you directly to the album. We were on the road 30 days this time, traveled 4,363 miles, photographed 20 days. I exposed 155 sheets of 8×10 and 17 sheets of 11×14 film. Susan exposed 144 sheets of 4×10 and 14 sheets of 8×20. As usual, it will take the next month or so to get the film processed and filed. For now, we invite you to enjoy our snapshots.
UTAH 2009-2010 TRIP Snapshot Album
JB & Susan
14
Jan
2010
AN APPLE ON THE ROAD
Everyone that knows us has become accustomed to the fact that we travel in the winter. We have been on the road during the month of December for years now. We mostly travel to the great southwest and photograph the landscape in snow and ice. This year was no exception. We spent thirty days during the month of December 2009 and January 2010 in Utah photographing in deep snow and temperatures that never rose above freezing. But, that is another story that we will get into later.
This is a story of ongoing frustration and misery. Specifically, the misery of getting that PC laptop computer to work. We threw out our PCs in the office late last year and replaced them with new Mac boxes. What a breath of fresh air! A computer that works!
So, this trip we made the conscious decision that maybe we could use that old PC laptop one more time. We record all of our film and field notes using small digital recorders and download them daily to the laptop. We also each carry a small digi-snapper camera to make record photos and snapshots as we work each day. The laptop is also used to access the Internet and e-mail, since most every place we stay has access these days.
After a couple of weeks of frustration with the PC laptop never wanting to work and just being a complete waste of time waiting for it to decide to work, we gave up completely. Susan painfully and slowly, since she had to use the old PC, found the nearest Apple dealer and we took a day off to drive to Colorado to purchase a MacBook.
The experience was again what I would describe as a breath of fresh air! The thing just comes on and works! Instead of spending half an hour, or more, waiting and wondering if the thing is going to work, the Mac just comes on and is ready to go.
If you have ever been curious or tempted to look into Apple computers, all I can say is take a look. Go online, find an Apple Store, make an appointment and let them show you with a hands-on demo. The only regret I have about all of this is thinking of all of the time and frustration I have had to deal with in the past with M$.
End of story. . . source of frustration eliminated. . . my rant is over. . . my blood pressure has once again subsided and I have time in the evening for my favorite activity. . . a quick nap before dinner.
And, if that was not enough to keep you busy, HERE is the link to the snapshots from our 2009-2010 adventures in Utah. . . Enjoy!!
JB
11
Jan
2010
WE ARE BACK HOME
We are home! Don’t have all of the stats gathered from our trip, but suffice to say, we were gone four weeks. We spent time in Springdale, UT, Torrey, UT and Moab, UT this time out. There was snow. . . I should say. . . plenty of snow and we had a blast.
We kept getting e-mails from home talking about how cold it was and the snow on Christmas. . . all I can say is YOU ARE WELCOME!!! We sent that to everyone with our complements!!!
Once we have time to decompress from the road, we will be putting up some snapshots of our travels. Then, once the darkroom work is complete, hopefully some finished B&W work. Stay tuned, it will take some time to go through all of this and get things organized.
For now, hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year!
JB & Susan
20
Nov
2009
OUR AMERICA: Pictures from the Land
Last Monday Susan and I traveled to Stephenville to oversee the installation of our latest photo exhibition at the River North Gallery. We were
pleasantly surprised to find the gallery had just finished painting and removing cabinets from the gallery walls.
This allowed us to install 44 of our latest works, and we think it looks great.
We are now looking forward to December 6th and the show reception from 1-5 p.m. Again we would like to extend an invitation to everyone to drop by and join us. The exhibition will run through January 11, 2010, gallery hours are 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. For gallery information call 254-965-6190 or e-mail ctfac@our-town.com.
JB & Susan
12
Nov
2009
GETTING READY FOR AN EXHIBIT
Unless you have done one, you probably have little idea as to how much work goes into mounting a photography exhibition. We have done quite a bit of this,
yet every time we start a new one, it never ceases to amaze me just how much time and effort is involved.
It all starts with the idea, then progresses through image selection, sequencing, mounting, matting, framing, transporting and installing. This exhibition will be somewhere around 35-40 prints, depending on exactly how it fits the space available. We have been working on this for near a month now, with the last week completely taken up with print room work.
We would like to invite everyone to drop by and take a look and if you are able, please stop by Sunday December 6th for the Artist Reception.
As always, thanks to everyone for your support, and we look forward to hearing your comments and to seeing one and all December 6th!
JB & Susan
30
Oct
2009
EVERYONE IS INVITED!
18
Oct
2009
BELLOWS RIBS. . . RAILROAD BOARD???
I have had a lot of really positive feedback on my recent text titled Bellows Building. I would like to thank everyone for the kind comments. There have been several inquiries for more information regarding Railroad Board, exactly what it is and where to purchase.
Railroad Board is the best material for bellows ribs. It is a smooth, thin, Bristol-type board, colored on both sides, that is used for signs, posters, mailing cards, tickets, tags, and so forth. Thicknesses are 4 ply (about .017″ or .43 mm) and 6 ply (about .022″ or .56 mm) and is available in 22″ × 28″ sheets. I recommend 4 ply for small bellows smaller than 8×10 and 6 ply for larger bellows.
You can purchase Railroad Board by the sheet or in bulk packages from Dick Blick. I would recommend black material and here are the stock numbers and the direct link to their on line CATALOG ;
13105-2002 Black 22″ × 28″ 4 Ply
13105-2102 Black 22″ × 28″ 6 Ply
Hope this answers any questions and good luck with that camera rework and bellows building project.
JB
13
Oct
2009
