Phantasmish, A Filmsie Exhibition, and a ??

[F.Gordon]

Got a variety of shots the last few days. Getting better at flowers. Vintage Car show. A local outdoor market. People (willing and candids). Night shots. I’m building my “portfolio”. But, I now have a new series to work on. I’m calling it Phantasmish. And no, I’m not obsessed with death. :eyes:

I was trying to get to a specific locale and I took a little short side trip though a cemetery. At the back was a huge Mausoleum. Walked up the main steps to get a wide shot of the tower from the bottom. Checked the front doors. Locked. As I was leaving I saw another door. What the hell. I checked it. Unlocked…

I explored 3 stories of this place and I was constantly looking behind my back for a little silver ball to come up and spike me. I was the only one in this massive building. (I didn't see or hear anyone "living") The odd lighting, the smell, the music. Very surreal. I’m still working on this shot. The place was a huge spooky maze.
:scared:
(Barrel Distortion because I shot at 24mm focal length. Also shot this at 1/60 sec. Should have used my tripod but I didn't bring it in with me)


During our recent “Great Mini-Mountain Adventure” we stopped at a number of small towns. In one town I saw a small sign advertising a photography exhibit. I located the little gallery where it was being held and had a long conversation with the owner.

The gallery had a display of photographs done by several people that made up a local photography group. The theme was “Cameras Made before 1960”. Everyone had to use a camera that was made prior to 1960. I bought one of the exhibit photographs (shown below). It was shot with a Graflex RB Series B 2 ¼ x 3 1/4

I felt pretty good after buying it because he said “I’m going to call ‘name’ and tell her that she is now a professional photographer”. I hope I made her day.

(The scan doesn’t do it justice. Done through glass. This group does their own matting and framing)



I talked with the gallery owner for over an hour. We talked about film vs. digital, B&W techniques, best places in Colorado to shoot. Bunch of stuff. The one part of the conversation I wanted to pass along here was on “contests”.

They had a regional contest coming up and the theme was “The Wild West”. He knew the “contest judge” fairly well. In past contests this “judge” had made it clear that he didn’t like certain types of photographs so the regional people all got together and decided to break up the theme with things like “black and white” “architecture” and “landscapes” so they’d force the judge to pick a winner from a photograph type that everyone knew he didn’t like.

My point? When you enter one of these challenges/contests don’t sweat the votes. If you get a bunch and “win”….great!!! But if you only get a couple or a few, don’t get too concerned. The only “judge” you should be concerned about is yourself. If you like the photo that’s all that matters. "Judging" isn't a precise science. It's personally biased, "political", and completely subjective.

Finally. A question? I’d like to get a decent 35mm film camera for doing long night exposures. 30 minutes or longer. I saw one today for $50. I didn’t recognize the brand, but it had a Zeiss lens. Can someone make a recommendation or two? I need one that I can attach a remote shutter release and I really don't want to spend more than 50 bucks if I can.

That’s all. Lots of words. I know. And I always seem to screw things up when I type too many words. I'll be amazed if I typed this and made no mistakes. :crazy:

:hi:

[ConsAreLiars]

1. You are far more talented

than you admit. Most of photography, it seems to me, is just "being there" coupled with the technical skill needed to control the camera enough to share the vision despite the limitations of the medium. I think the first is what turns people toward the medium - whether for family or pet pics or as a Look or National Geographic magazine photographer. The second is learnable, given the inclination.

I look forward to seeing your expanded gallery.

[F.Gordon]

2. Thank you. Coming from you.....

Appreciate it. It was a completely random event that brought me there. Had no intention of going there. I'm sure most people would rather see the flower shots I took today. Don't know if this place was officially closed or open but I felt like an alien visitor capturing images of this odd - very massive place. Like an explorer.

I'll try to get more of the shots up one of these days. Oh, did you happen to notice that the floor is all shiny and reflective?
;-)

[ConsAreLiars]

3. Yes - a rather dark reflection,

but sometimes honest reflections do turn rather dark.

[F.Gordon]

4. This was pretty dark

But other areas had some interesting "reflections". I have a very long shot of the entire building interior... through a few hallways and an entry. One long "different" reflection kind of shot. Might throw it in the pot.....