Jetty, New Jersey Shore
It was a cloudy, cold day. Winter. The photograph is a scan of the print made from 8x10 negative.
It was a cloudy, cold day. Winter. The photograph is a scan of the print made from 8x10 negative.
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Jan, 2017Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
The photograph was made near Longport, New Jersey. It was a cloudy, fairly dreary day with off-and-on gusts of wind. I was immediately struck by the jetty with its arrangement of light and dark rocks; and the gentle wash of fog and water. The 8x10 view camera gave me the ability to deal with focus without having to resort to a very small aperture and consequently very long exposure.Time
The photograph was made in the middle of the afternoon, but that's of little significance given the heavy cloud cover. The camera is looking SW.Lighting
The light was heavily diffused through dense overcast and some light fog. Very even lighting across the scene. This translated into about 2.5 stops across the whole scene. I processed the film to provide the increased range. I originally visualized a bit more detail in the black rocks, but once in the darkroom changed my mind and printed them almost black.Equipment
The camera is an Ebony 8x10; lens is the Schneider G-Claron 355. My tripod is the Gitzo really-big carbon fiber with the really-big flat head with two bolts for mounting the camera. Film was HP-5.Inspiration
I am what I (and others) call a contemplative, meditative, or mindful photographer. I wait for scenes; rock, trees, buildings, ruins.... to reach out to me. I spend what many consider an inordinate amount of time with a subject before even getting the camera out of the pack. This scene did just that. It took me awhile to leave behind all the (probably good) reasons to not even try to make this photograph. The light was as flat as light can be. The wind gusts were going to kill me using the 8x10 view camera. And the longer exposure was going to render the water somewhat blurred. It took me awhile to leave behind all the other things going on in life (it always does......)Editing
I processed the film for fairly significant increased contrast. I really wanted about 6-7 stops across the overall photograph, and when I metered (spot meter) the various elements there was only about 2.5, maybe 3 stops between the highest and lowest values. Subsequently, in printing the photograph (an 8x10 contact print), I decided that I liked the dark rocks to be almost completely black with just a few highlights (reflections) in the nearer rocks to provide some context. I think the most important thing to consider in post-processing is to understand when you are making the photograph, what you'll do in post-processing (whether in the darkroom or on the computer) to achieve your visualization. And, if when you're making the photograph you can't visualize what you want it to be, don't make it; it's not yours to make.In my camera bag
Ebony 8x10. 210mm 355mm 600mm Alternatively, depending upon what I think my reach out to me I'll bring or substitute a 150mm, a 1200mm, or a 300mm. I'll also have a set of filters and adapters (xx-95 or 105) (red, orange, green, yellow-green, and a polarizing filter. Cable releases (always carry an extra). Charts/tables for bellows extension and reciprocity corrections. A small notebook for writing down notes and thoughts on images. Canned air for blowing dust off of film holders, lenses, and filters. A bottle of water. A cigar. Something to eat. Bug repellant. Sometimes sunscreen. Hat. If going far from the car I'll usually carry about 4-5 film holders (2 sheets of film/holder). Mostly B&W, but depending on the day and the light, I may have a holder loaded with color transparency film.Feedback
Advice for someone trying to capture something similar. Don't Wait for that "something" to reach out to you and say, almost literally, "make a photograph of me." Be present, BE "where" you are. Be with what you are making a photograph of. Leave behind, let go of all the other jilliions of thoughts fighting for your attention. Listen and look with your heart. Keep in mind that rocks and trees have been around a very long time; but also that they "talk" very slowly. Patience is critical. Learn to meditate. Meditate. Learn to be mindful. Learn to recognize the many ways your mind tries to distract you. Learn to not follow all the threads of thoughts your mind weaves for you. Learn how to return to where you are. As Remez Sasson said, "Your mind is your instrument. Learn to be its master and not its slave."
