Catching Up...

Well, it has been a long time since my last post!  The three summer projects kept me away from the computer... which was the main purpose.  I'm excited to say that all three were very successful in that it got me back into fine art photography.  I would love to go into more details for each of the projects but that will take too long and will be divided into three separate post... of course.

With that being said I do have some good news to share.  Recently I submitted a body of work to the Seattle Slideluck X Show and my work was accepted.  The show happened November 9th and was jammed packed with people.  The other bit of "awesome" news is that I submitted my work to RFOTOFOLIO (an online gallery) and I was chosen as one of the featured artists!  Here's a quick sample/info page.  I will share the interview once it is posted.

http://rfotofolio.com/2013/11/14/what-is-beauty-2/

msl

Close... Part 3

A small break from the darkroom to post this...

Amaranta Ibarra, Mixed Media

Sophia Wheelwright, Sculptor/Mixed Media

Stacy Rosevear, Sculptor/Painter

Close... Part 2

The other day while talking with another one of my sitters I realized that this project has more meaning to me than I can describe.  If I were to list the reasons why I am doing this it would take too many pages and too many hours to explain.  For now I can give small snippets of how I feel.

For the first time in many years I feel like I am doing the right thing as a photographer.  I'm excited and in love with what is happening... I feel like an artist again. 

A few more from the Close project... 

Antonia Price, Textiles

Betty Jo Costanzo, Painter

Jean Mann, Singer/Songwriter

Lumen Prints

Sunday I took a little break from my projects to play around with some Lumen Prints.  Next step is to use the prints as paper negatives.

Paper: Kodabromide Single Weight F 3 (8x10, circa 1970s)

Exposure: One Hour

Fixer: Eco Pro Neutral Fixer

Close... Part 1

The idea for the Close project started last fall when I was film testing with natural light in my studio.  I shot a few rolls of my friend Lisa, we had a few laughs and went on our merry way.  When I saw the negatives the following day I knew that this would be my next portrait project.  I had been working on a Polaroid series of female artists for the past four or five years and finally came to the conclusion that it was going be difficult to find 4x5 expired polaroid film without breaking the bank.  I decided to continue the female artists theme using my twin lens camera and a bunch of black & white film... 

Thus started the "Close" project.

Many of my projects this year are leaning towards traditional, historical and alternative photography.  I realized a few years ago that I missed getting my hands dirty, smelly chemicals and film hanging in my bathroom. These projects are my personal rebellion against sitting in front of my computer for hours editing, converting, retouching, and adding cool presets to my images.  

This project is stripped down, straight forward, and non-hipster.

This is my photography, this is my art.

-MSL

Lisa Geertsen, Blacksmith

Gail Howard, Painter

Kathy Liao, Painter

Summer Projects and July's Open Studio

I had this crazy idea to work on three photo projects for the summer.  I think I bit off more than I can chew but that will not stop me from going forward and working my tail off!  

The first project is a wet plate collodion portrait series that has stalled due to chemical based fog and the lack of time to figure things out.  Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I can get that project off the ground and running. 

The other two projects are busy in the making.  There's a black & white film portrait series called "Close" that is coming along nicely.  I will be blogging about that project in the very near future.  

The final project for the summer is a series of large scale cyanotypes.  I'm still testing papers, fabric and ideas but I think I'm on a good roll.  

If you would like to see a sample of my new work in progress you should stop by my studio this Saturday at the Equinox Art Walk.  My space will be filled with large cyanotypes!

~

Equinox Art Walk • July 13, 2013

Equinox Studios

6555 5th Ave South, Studio 202

Seattle, WA 98108

Seven dancers, two hours, two ideas, and 437 images.

This past Saturday I spent some time in Tacoma with Portland's Bridge City Dance Project.  They were performing at the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts for the Contemporary Dance Series, MOVE! #20.

Clarissa Espino (co-artistic director) and I had been working together for several years before she made her big move to Portland. Two months ago I received an email from her asking if I would photograph BCDP and of course I said yes! It gave a me chance to say hi to an old friend and to see her new work. 

A big thanks goes out to Clarissa Espino, Allison Folley (co-artistic director), Hailey Bill, Kristie Campbell, Jess Pollederi, Emily Nagel, and Stephanie Shepard.  Thanks for letting me hang with you for a bit!

Enjoy.

Three dancers, three hours, and 729 images

This past weekend was busy with photo fun!  I had the opportunity to photograph two of the new dancers of Serendip. Lucky for us there was a lovely overcast of clouds, very little rain, and plenty of places to investigate. 

Sneak Peek

Here's a sneak peek at what I will be using this summer!  I now have two 8x10 cameras, one for the studio and the other for the road.

I picked up this #10A Century Studio camera on, of all places, Etsy.  A few loose bits here and there but everything seems to be in good working order.  I have to light test the bellows... visually they look good.  The lens is not original to the camera but I now have a nice clean lens to work with.

Now to make a camera stand...

Surroundings - Part 3

A look into my compost bins & piles.

Surroundings - Part 2

A few thing in my garden...

Surroundings - Part 1

A few things that make me happy... photography, gardening, and being outside.   

Open Studio - Equinox ArtWalk

It's ArtWalk time here in Seattle! 

My studio door will be open to the public on Saturday, April 13th, from 6:00pm-9:00pm during the Equinox ArtWalk/Georgetown Art Attack.  I will be showing my B&W darkroom prints, Lith prints, Cyanotypes, and a small sample of my tintypes.  If you missed the show at the Elisbeth C. Miller Botanical Library then this is your opportunity to check out my new work. 

There's plenty of parking and we do have a shuttle that will whisk you away to other locations throughout the Georgetown area.

Equinox Studios

6555 5th Ave South, Studio 202

Seattle, WA 98108

Five dancers, one beach, two hours, 575 images

A simple and fun photo shoot at the beach with the fabulous dancers of Serendip.

Three dancers, three hours, and 1,051 images

Recent photo shoot with the dancers of Serendip!  

They will be performing this weekend, March 22nd-24th, at the Boost Dance Festival in the 

Erickson Theater on Capitol Hill. 

Boost Dance Festival

One dancer, five hours, and 1,384 images

It was twenty-four years ago that I got my first taste of dance photography.  It all started with my dear friends Stephen and Canan Jackson of the John Hayes O'Neill School of Dance in Central New York.

Since then I have had many wonderful opportunities to meet and photograph talented dancers and choreographers including a brief encounter with Merce Cunningham, David Dorfman and Mark Morris.  I even had a portfolio meeting with Alvin Ailey's photographer, Jack Mitchell.

Needless to say, I love dance photography and I love working with dancers.  I have worked with several Seattle based dance groups throughout the years.  I am now working with Serendip Dance, co-directed by Sarah Kathryn Olds and Eric Aguilar.  Recently Sarah and I spent a little bit of time together in the studio... around five hours.  Here's what we got!

On the couch with Casey Brown

I'm still working on some ideas for the couch series.  Lucky for me I have several clients that are willing to sit for test shoots.  I met Casey several years ago when he hired me to do a headshot for him.  Casey is an actor, stage combatant, teacher, and fight choreographer in the Seattle area.  

Busy guy!

Now that the weather is getting a bit better I think the couch will be going on location for some test shoots.  Get ready Casey, we are going outside! :)

It's been a long time...

It's been a couple of years since my last solo show and I thought it was time to start showing my work again!  I have been playing around with some alternative, historical, and traditional photographic processes for the past two years and will be showing a group of my botanicals and trees at the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Library at the UW this month.

How did I get this show you ask?  It's a crazy long story and it is proof that we live in a small world.  All I can say at this point is that if it wasn't for my new friend Judy from Israel I would not be showing my work here.  Thanks, Judy!

Last week I picked up some of the work from the framers.  Thank you Courtney at Wallflower Custom Framing.  You totally rock... the pieces look absolutely gorgeous.  Folks, if you need something framed I highly recommend you stop by Wallflower in West Seattle.

This morning I spent a few hours hanging the show and I am pretty pleased so far.  Next Friday (March 8th) is the opening reception from 5:00-7:00pm.  The show will be up from March 1st to March 29th, 2013.

The Elisabeth C. Miller Library is located at:
Center of Urban Horticulture of the UW Botanic Garden
3501 NE 41st St.
Seattle, WA 98195

I invite you all to the opening reception!

Here's a sneak peek... you'll have to come to the opening reception to see what's inside!