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