Thursday, October 16, 2003
Yesterday's stop at the opening of a new show at Angelfall Studios may have been a very dangerous step. My main motivation was to see the large format works of Nathan Congdon. I'd seen some of his work online and heard his name used with respect on several LF message boards but had never seen an actual print, live and up close.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
The series showing was portraits of women in sort of fantasy settings. Nothing entirely strange or twisted, not at all, but quite interesting. I fell in love with several of them. Hell, I fell in love with most of them. The ideas for the photos, the composition, the technique... all left me standing in the middle of the gallery with my mouth open.
I said they were dangerous. It's bad enough that they all showed the crystal clarity of detail possible only with a big negative, and since these were shot with a 12x20 camera the detail was incredible. The dangerous part was the printing technique, platinum/palladium, an exquisite process yielding the most delicate tonal scale in a warm creamy softness.
Why so dangerous? I've thought once or twice about trying platinum printing but been scared off by the price tag. Even a simple starter kit, enough to make perhaps a dozen 8x10 prints, is going to run close to $150.00. Figure sacrificing a few of the sheets to test strips, losing a few to goofs, and your looking at some high dollar works.
But, oh God, they were beautiful.
Posted by coldmarble @ 12:30 PM ET [Link] [blab]
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Continuing to debate with myself over the wisdom of continuing my formal education. I'm taking a step this afternoon after work which may help push me one way or another. I have a meeting scheduled with the director of the M.F.A. in Integrated Design program to discuss the benefits of the course of study and how it might fit into my goals.
It certainly seems to be an interesting and challenging program, with an eclectic offering of classes which suits my wide interests. I'm coming to recognize that my recently gained B.S. degree is about the equivalent of a high school diploma of twenty years ago. A part of me is dreading a return to another four to five years of school, with the attendant demands on time, energy and money. Another part is looking forward to the challenges, the inspiration and the chance to explore some of the avenues I never ventured down during my earlier studies.
I've thought about doing a MFA in photography at a few of the local schools but have my doubts that the lack of an art school education as an undergrad would hinder my chances of being accepted and also surviving an extended program. It would be an exercise in hubris to believe that my amateur fumblings in photography have adequately prepared me for such a venture.
Posted by coldmarble @ 09:39 AM ET [Link] [blab]
Monday, October 13, 2003
Four of the Van Dykes made yesterday afternoon
and a 
cyanotype (NSFW) version of Anya.
Posted by coldmarble @ 01:19 PM ET [Link] [blab]
