No.28- EyeWave -Olho d'gua Ilhabela A3+
On the rocks of Ilhabela a wave seemed to open its eye to see me and my camera.
On the rocks of Ilhabela a wave seemed to open its eye to see me and my camera.
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Aug, 2019Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
The Wave and rocks photo was taken at Ilhabela on the coast of Brazil. The eye belongs to my wife Sônia, whose eyes continue to amaze me! Both are black and white negatives. As professor of Photography I spend many hours in the laboratory. As a Photographer I have as my models Man Ray and Moholy-Nagy. Some of my favorite themes are water, eyes and eggs! I have other examples in Black and White. One of them is called Flight and is of pidgeons seen through the texture of a wing. I composited the two images in an "image fusion" projecting them separately onto the paper. I had tried the "sandwitch" technique but it didn't work. My laboratory protocol is based on Ansel Adams who taught me much about baths and retardants.Time
The water photo was taken on late afternoon and the eye photo in the morning sun (see reflection of a window on the eye !) We had just made love and as always my camera was under the pillow. For me there is no best time. I even experiment with exposures at midnight! I did a landscape by a river at full moon but the result looks like noon exept its blue.Lighting
As I said, the secret to lighting is light. Even when you see no light the camra does! What it reveals can be uncanny.Equipment
Both shots were taken with my Nikon FM. I now use an EOS 7D but still do a lot of work with my Toyo Field 4x5" and Neopan SS. The Nikon shots were taken on Plus X pan developed in Microdol (with a sodium metaborate retardant (given by Adams in his book The Negative). I don't do black and white on Digital. Only film. I am however a good Landscape photographer with the Canon. Tripod? I always use a tripod at this time a Benro with a Manfrotto ball head. In bed I never use a tripod.Inspiration
Inspiration? I am always at the landscape; earth clouds, water, mountains, valleys deserts (I love the desert). ALONE! No chatter, no small-talk no distractions just focus (the camera and the mind). Ansel Adams and Edward Weston are always with me. Outside that; Nature. The Landscape, the unsusual, the unexpected moment or event. Also the wind the sounds of silece the rustles. I don't carry a gun but I am afraid of wolves. That means respect and attention. Never been bitten by a snake. I saw them first!Editing
Silly question all processing is post. I always treat my negatives the best I can. When the film is in the spool it its film. When it has been processed it is POST. Do I do solarizations? Yes! I love after-effects (isn't that the name of a software too?). In this case I did no special effects besides the techniques already described.In my camera bag
Now you have me in a bind! I don't have a lot of equipment outside a Sinar P-2 (with Schneider Lenses) a Toyo Field with a Rodenstock 65mm f4,5 and a Caltar II-N 90mm f5,6, 20 4x5 inch Toyo filmhoders, a 6x8 roll film holder a Cano ESO 7D with a bunch of lenses my favorites being a 12-24mm DX II Tokina, a Canon EF 24-105mm f4 and a Nikon MicroNikkor 55mm macro (adapted). I also use a Kinon Flash on my Canon. UV filters and Polarizers with adapter rings to use on different lenses. Normally I don't carry only one bag Generally for a job I take a large format Case, a Canon bag with the EOS stuff and another small bag with my BW 35mm (Now I have a Nikon F-5)Feedback
Best advice. Look for inspiration first in great fotographers, Ansel Adams Sebestião Salgado, Cartier-Bresson, then look for insipiration in your environment. Know your equipment. Have it pré-set. I always have speed and aperture set at the middle then I can adjust up or down without having to run the full gamut each time. The zoom too when its not a prime Halfway. Depending on the subject it is easier to get it. Lastly, Get Lucky!
