Blogodocious ramblings of a landscape photographer living in Maine.
Why Hipstamatic and Instagram are totally awesome:
Acadia Coast- shot with the Iphone4 developed with Hipstamatic while I was making long exposures with my real camera.
Hey there folkies- hope you're well. So just the other day I was talking with a buddy of mine over on G+, who's an excellent photographer, and I love his work- and he was slandering one of the more popular phone camera apps that we all like to use: saying that it's wicked lame that people are using filters to make the pictures look better, but they do look better! In my humble opinion at least.
I totally love my Iphone camera and mostly Hipstamatic but I've tried a bunch of the other camera apps, I'll use Snapseed in conjunction with the regular camera in the Iphone4 that I have if I ever feel the need for a straight shot that I can have more control over processing, but the thing about Hipstamatic and the apps that give you a look after you press the shutter button is that you're never quite sure what you're gonna get- which is all where all the fun is! It's just like using the cheap point and shoot cameras of the 70's and 80's, making pictures and dropping them off at the lab and waiting them to be developed then going back to see what came out a few days later. And the point here isn't making fine art imagery or even commercially saleable images, it's just to have fun and to take a snap of a thing or some moment or whatever. And the apps that are popular that people are using are making, (in this guy's humble opinion), snap shots which have mundane subjects and themes at least look somewhat interesting.?
Flag raising on the pier in Bar Harbor on the 4th of July- Iphone4 and Hipstamatic
And like are we supposed to expect that a casual shooter who is uploading to Facebook and Google Plus and Flickr (I have to renew my subscription with Flickr or else they hold the images hostage- isn't that lame?), are we to expect a casual phone shooter to take the time to white balance correct and selective sharpen and make contrast and exposure tweaks just to snap the shot of the big fish that their buddy just caught? So there you go! Find an app that you like and burn up them pixels! -Take that Oli!
The Post Office lady- too bad the phone cam and I missed the focus, but she's such a sweetheart!
The point is is that you always have your phone with you these days (if you are bipedal and under the age of 55), therefore there is no excuse to let an interesting moment go uncaptured.
Rosalie's Pizza in Bar Harbor, going to pick up a pie with Soph after we went to a gallery opening where I had some work.
What's up pizza guy!
Kids on phones
Someone always busts me!
Hahahha! I love making iphone camera pictures in the pizza parlor!
So if it gives the opportunity for someone to want to make a picture when they otherwise wouldn't have- then we should be all for it- and let's see what you got!
One more:
My buddy Mike and his wicked cool kid Connor and me in front of a stack of Tv's.
Now back to your regularly scheduled programming and have a nice day -Nate from Maine, Usa. Oh, and check out my buddy's amazing work here: http://www.olivierdutre.com/
It's Friday, so it's time to do some Rantin'!
"standing alone on the edge in the wind"
Right then. So this and last week I made some new local gallery connections and brought my work to them and enamored them undoubtably more with my personality and good looks then with my prints, because as I was trying to explain to one of them (a particularly nice one at that), that I'd be happy to have them show my work and collaborate with them, but that I only had a limited selection of ready-to-go matted prints left right now and that if they could only purchase one of them perhaps (at a wholesale rate at that) it would allow me to get a stack of mats cut to give them a nice cohesive selection that I would put time into curating, etc. to have the best possible product available, etc. etc. And I got the "oh we're short of funds now, you know how it is" bit that I've heard a lot before and this time it really struck me as crazy to think that all these storefronts are theoretically selling merchandise and stocking their shelves with product that they didn't pay for!? What? I mean: what's that all about?! Sure I'm new on the block and until I can somehow prove my selling potential and value then I wouldn't blame anybody for being hesitant to take on an artist in early career, but some of these places have actively sought me ought and came to me and asked for my work to have in their establishments, so I was trying to explain to them (and obviously I need to figure out a new way to communicate this point, cause it hasn't worked yet) that it costs me a fairly significant amount of cashola to produce these prints and to have the best stuff- then sometimes you gotta like "grease the wheels!" Because what I have left right now is like what I have left- got me? Plenty of paper, plenty of ink- no mats!
But it's the art consignment business here, ultimately one which entails me 10 percent extra (10 percent! Oh Boy!) more earning than through the traditional retail exchange of 50 percent, 60/40 vs. 50/50. And it is an extremely valuable (theoretically) opportunity to have my work on the wall of a nice gallery that hosts prospective customers, that is nicely lit, has people there to talk about and show the work, etc- while I go on to do whatever I want. Like drinking a beer while typing rants about not getting paid. Or make new work. And thank gawd that I'm making my own prints because if I had to go outsource that then forget about it!
Meet me on the sidebar:: I mean like, wouldn't it be sweet if we could have a stack of mats sent to us to display our prints and we payed the distributor when we got paid? Same thing with say: Canon, that maybe we get to use a 300mm 2.8 for a couple years until we nail the shot to pay for it. I mean it could be a great business model in itself that moves a lot of expensive camera gear- we just sign a contract or whatever stating that when we get the shot, we'll pay for it! Promise! Speaking of which, on a totally unrelated note: "what lens is your fantasy dream lens?!?!" My fellow photographer friends? I want the 300 2.8. it's like what: 11,000 dollars or something? But that's what I want. Then I want the 80 1.2, then a 45 2.8 ts-e, ....
Back to the news: I may be showing my ignorance herein through this, but someday I hope to be paid! Like maybe even up-front, for when I drop off my prints to a gallery. Huzzah! Wouldn't that be the thing!
Because when you really get down to it my ability to make photos is really a luxury, it's not a business, nobody's happiness or well being (other than my own) is dependent on if I make pictures or not and it's these gallerians who are suddenly almost threatening my ability to have a sustainable hobby as I'm gonna go broke outfitting these places! Rant over. Hope you don't think I'm overreacting too much and are chuckling along with me. :)
P.s. I don't want to breed negativity, and I only intended this to be a somewhat humorous commentary on my state of affairs- and that's what I think a good rant should be because there is enough negativity out there in the world that you can get for free, so I in no way condone or sponsor negative complaining behavior, unless it has to do with me not making enough money off photography. Oh Snap!
P.P.s. for those of you in the Maine or more specifically the Mount Desert Island area this weekend of July 27' there is a fantastic show of fine art and craft featuring a lot of my own friends and acquaintances which will be held at the M.D.I. High School:
"The Maine Craft Guild’s Mount Desert Island Directions Show is often referred to as the most outstanding, most successful, and longest running craft show in Maine. At the 37th Annual Show, 80 of Maine’s finest craftspeople will fill the newly renovated gymnasium and cafeteria at the Mount Desert Island High School with their work, transforming the space into a gallery-like setting of carefully designed individual displays. Come and meet extraordinary artisans and purchase work of heirloom quality handmade here in Maine. Admission: $5 adults; children under 12 free.
If you have questions about this event, please contact Show Coordinator Linda Perrin."
Hunter Beach shot Sunday morning, behind the scene.
"Hunter Beach July Twilight" last Sunday morning.
Before I get to the Hunter Beach stuff check this one out, a greatly informative documentary on Alfred Steiglitz and the 291 gallery in NYC and the Camerawork magazine (which apparently included actual prints of the artists works! What!) that I've been trying to finish watching over on the Youtube. And the really interesting thing is to me that the images and work featured in this are from 100 years ago and they are just as incredible and challenging if not even more so now. I mean the black and white photography that these people were making back then was pure art, amazing timeless and virtuoso imagery that makes me think of all the stuff that I see on the interwebs these days and I wonder if what we are making is even near on par with what they were making with absolutely untechnically assisted cumbersome cameras and films and emulsions. Sure we are producing a $#^@ ton more material then they but quantity over quality is lame. Not to say that you guys aren't killin' it, as at least once a week I see something that one of my peers has made that just is a life changing experience to view. But these guys were doing it 100 years ago! I just can't get over that. Like some part of me feels that the camera industry has been invented since they started converting photons onto pixels (ack!) but that's when I came into it, and that was long before Flickr and 500px and G+ and that stuff, which is one more chance for me to say that thank you my friends for participating in the worlds best camera club ever and keeping me inspired with your new ideas. Right then: to the video-
Afred Steiglitz: The Eloquent Eye (1999)
Watch it! You'll thank me, I swear!
Now for some thing completely different: Me. So Sunday is my wonderful day off in the summer months, which is a good day to have as a day off if you get to get one- and contrary to most peoples idea of fun whereby you sleep in on Sunday morning I set the alarm clock for 3 hours earlier (not that I use an alarm clock anyways as the birds always wake me up at 05:00 am, always.) So this Sunday the alarm goes off and I was beat beat beat and not eager to do it this time and my thoughts were: there's only a clear sky and high pressure so don't bother. But after the snooze went off 10 minutes later I did it and when I looked out the window on the way down the stairs I saw puffy clouds blocking the stars so we were in business, time to get moving! Shower plus 1.5 cups coffee and thermos to get on the road by 3:40 to drive a half hour to the trailhead. Deer on the road, BBC radio news, to flashlight through the woods, and out onto the beach in deep dark blue hour with time to spare. I've shot here really probably close to 15+ times in the last 12 years and this spot just has such great character that you almost will never fail here. Which is also why I try to not overdo it and only will visit every once in awhile.
Some explanation as to my outfit: I'm not trying to be a hoodlehum (hoodlum) sp? the hooded sweatshirt is as important to photography as a shutter release in my opinion as in the summer it keeps the bugs off and in the winter it keeps the wind out (on top of 2 wool hats, don't ya just love winter. :) ) And the bandana I wear at my dayjob and I've come to find that it really feels like it's cradling my brain nicely, so I've taken to wearing it while shooting as well. Awesome! And there were a lot of mosquitos out there that morning, a whole lot- Ack! So there ya go and have a nice day- Nate from Maine Usa.
Prices: like the limbo stick?> How low will you go?
Right then. Check this out. So recently I received an email inquiring about the purchase of an image of mine that was featured on the cover of a local newspaper, it was featured there because I sent it to them and I said something like: "hey wanna see a picture?" or something like that. I'll send them pictures every once in a while and this was the second time that they ran one- anyways, so like I said: this lady emails me to inquire about the purchasing of said picture for her enjoyment or whatever she wants to do with it, and I responded explaining that I currently have one size print available for $165 dollars on my website at 16"x24". ( the reason I have that one size and price is that I think that is the perfect print size although I think that an 11x17" or 14" is lovely as well and theres nothing wrong with an 6"x^" print if it is matted and displayed well, but like I said I like that size and I like that price point.) This is the price that I arrived at back when I originally decided on it from looking at other of my peers photography prices who live in Maine as well. There are cheaper prices and there are much more expensive prices, but I want to be modest and I want to sell some work! Here's the picture:
"Lupine cottage" 6/20/2012
Where was I... on the second email from the prospective purchaser it was clear that she thought the price too high. I explained something of what I just explained here then went on to natter on about my approach and dedication to detail and quality and the archival glicee qualities of the print etc, etc. and explained to her that her purchase helps me to make more work and put food on the table etc. So, on her third reply it gets worse. Here I'll quote directly from a section of the email not for the sake of embarrassing anybody (I'm sure the person will never see or read this anyways), but for the sake of sharing with you what it's like to try and sell prints:
Prospective Customer: "Do you ever print on canvas? What would the price be on canvas? I would probably be interested in an 11x 14, not 11 x 17. I already have a 16 x 20 inch pink frame that I’m assuming will match the print (??) I think that I will have to wait until I get up there on Columbus Day to actually see the print in person. How much would an 11 x 14 cost on regular paper (not canvas)? I am all for supporting Maine artists, but I was comparing your prices to other Maine photographers and your price is higher. But I would be willing to pay it if I'm as blown away by the picture as I think I will be once I see it in person."
Me: Jeezum.
So the first thing is- I don't like canvas photography prints, if you do: good, it's just my preference. The second thing is that I composed and presented the image as a 35 mm comp so I would need to chop off a big part of the scene to fit the ratio being requested. So I was starting to get really frustrated by the whole state of affairs here and after I saw the email I had to drive home for 30 minutes and I thought on it the whole time as to how I should respond (which was either a big waste of time or a valuable learning experience for future like situations). And here was my reply:
Prospective seller: "Right then- (1.) I don't print on canvas, I could, but I don't like it as I feel it's distracting and a bit gimmicky and the presentation is usually done as a gallery wrap with stretchers, which is nice and fine and all, but it's not for me.
My "this week in photography" and other random thoughts
"Quietside Seascape II" 7/17/12
Hi fellas, hope you're well and enjoying the summer (if you are in the upper half of the world). The weather has gone back into a more dynamic pattern with the crazy heat wave that we've all been having, and after just a week or so of a boring high pressure clear skies pattern, we're having regular fog and pop-up thunderstorms and such that makes you want to check your battery and get out there shooting. Last Saturday was a particularly exciting day for camera fun- when I was kissing Sophie goodbye on the way to work in the morning she mentioned that there was a report that there would be aurora potential that evening, and I had heard of the massive solar prominence a couple days earlier and I saw some other posts of the Facespace from Maine shooters saying the same, so I was all hopped up and psyched for the opportunity all day long. After I got home from my dayjob I pounded some coffee and went chasing the anvil clouds and the thunderstorm that was building and found a new location right down the way in my own neighborhood along a rocky cove and long beach that I never knew was there, and geeked out shooting there for the next 3 hours until sunset. Nothing super crazy happened, but a friend of mine who I talked to later was about 5 miles away around the corner at Seawall with his family and they were all fired up about the crazy lightning storm they watched right off the shore, claiming to see hundreds of strikes, so I missed it by that much! Rats!
One thing that occurred to me while I was at that beach Saturday was that one of the reasons that I like to be alone when I'm photographing is that I like to talk to myself while I'm doing it. That is to say: I tell myself "don't drop the filter", I murmur about exposure settings, make exclamations about how cool something looks or about how I'm undoubtably going to make some kind of mistake and screw it all up. Photography has never really seemed to be a social or sociable experience (although commercial and studio and wedding shooters are the contrast) and for me just the fact that it takes me more then an hour + at a location to find the picture is reason enough not to want to make a bystander endure that test of patience. But later that night I was completely pumped to go look at and photo the Northern Lights with Sophie. I've seen the aurora only a couple times, it doesn't appear too much in New England and the last time was in 2004 or so and it was nice with interesting red effects but not the brilliant green curtains that I've seen and would go crazy to be able to shoot. So about 10:30 or so and after the sky had cleared from the days storms we hit the road and drove over to Jordan Pond which would have a nice northerly view and an interesting silhouette of the mountains to compose with. We arrived there in absolute pitch dark as there was no moon, there was no breeze, it was probably 65 degrees, and it was beautiful. We picked a spot and I slipped and slided and waded out to a spot in the pond and set up the tripod and mounted my 5d2 and Canon 24mm f/3.5 Ts-e which is my fastest wide lens and it was a total bust. I made a few exposures of the ridge line and went for some star shot stuff but the lights never appeared, but not to say that it was a wasted or disappointing experience- it was a nice summer evening and it was nice to spend some time with my lady and while we were there we listened to fish jumping and the crazy calls of a pair of loons who were carrying on and the only thing that could have made it better would be the appearance of the northern lights. A bunch of the rest of you guys got some great shots though I saw so that's cool- well done with that!
Right then- on a completely unrelated note: lately I've been thinking about my images and I've been struggling with the idea that I'm starting to feel like I'm making the same picture over and over. Like to say that I'm getting a little bored with my approach. A majority of the scenes I'm making are wide angle seascapes or lakescapes, and it's bad if you find yourself being suspicious that you are operating in a formulaic manner, as I've been thinking. I'm always going to be a sucker for weather and interesting skies and fog, but I need to challenge myself with some new subject matter or approach. Maybe I should do some macro black and white florals- Sophie has a ton of interesting flowers (she grows them in the front yard and works in a greenhouse), maybe I should do a video project or a timelapse project, I need to come up with a plan. It's almost fair season so some street-style fair photography could be in order. And I've been wanting to make more forest extracts, which I have been doing occasionally.
So that's my challenge. I think it's important to take stock of what you're doing creatively and make sure you're on the right path. Or something like that. Am I right? Am I wrong? Whatever. Hey, thanks for stopping by, and have a nice day -Nate from Maine, Usa.