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Direct 4x5 Positives

Been working on Harman Direct Paper positive images with the 4x5.  The FB paper is cut exactly to fit into the 4x5 film holder.  Preflash is necessary to control the harsh contrast of the paper - I use an enlarger with a 50mm lens set to f:22, and expose to just less than 1 second.  Then I shoot (the EV for the paper is like ASA4 or 5) and process in Ilford developer for around 2.5 minutes (or until the blacks are right).  I usually am figuring in a little more exposure that my meter tells me so the highlights kick a little.

Here is a diptych of one of our beautiful cut dahlia flowers.  Direct Paper on the left and digital portrait on the right:

Tower of Rocks

Speed Graphic
Aero Ektar 7"

Homegrown

This family of birds nested and hatched babies right above our kitchen window.  Below are some photos of our garden.  Just a month ago it was barren...  We've had arugula, a few beans, radish, and an (immature) beet.  I'm excited for the carrots and the huge crop of tomato we are sure to have.

07.13.2012

Food Photographs

scapes

beets

plums

Expired film

I shot a roll of Kodak Professional UC 400 (expired in... a long time ago - more than 12 years for sure - probably 1999), and on that roll were a few photos from a wedding thats I guest shot (including 4x5 black and whites) for Abie Livesay (www.boxwoodphotography.com).  Here they are.  Processed by the local Walgreen, and scanned by me on an Epson V600.  The color tones on the film are amazing, and the grain is just perfect in my opinion.  A very tangible film that feels 'alive' when I look at it.  These are without any color adjustments at all.  Also by the way I think I am just going to begin using vegetables as my watermark...

I'm not going to abandon my great digital cameras - no question they do the job more cheaply, quickly, and effectively.  But I can't really ignore how much I like this film.  Too bad I don't have any more of this particular stuff, but I do have some 120 and 35mm Portra on the way...

aaaaaaaand one more for today...

As I try to figure things out....

35mm

Yashica Electro 35

Tri-x in D76 6 1/4 mins @ 70 degrees

And Halibut cooked en papillote:

Photos for New Postcards

These images made on 4x5 instant film to be used for a new line of postcards for local shops.

photos: © Jason Snyder 2012 

 

Kennywood Park

Revisiting old FIlm

35mm black and white film has always really been a favorite of mine in terms of formats and mediums. I have been revisiting old film in an effort to hone in on the way in which I would like to shoot a new project of mine.  The digital scanner neg carriers are just as easy to file out so the whole frame can be visible:

Fuji Neopan 1600

The new project will really have nothing to do with people at all.  I love this one above...

On the Backyard Garden

After moving into our new home last fall, we really wanted to revisit the idea of our backyard garden - something that we had always done, but with babies around, and back when we both worked full time outside of the home, it had fallen by the wayside.  We really enjoy the idea of having fresh vegetables, and we enjoy even more knowing full well where those plants came from; what kind of soil it grew in, what kind of seed it began as.  Our back yard is pretty popular with the rabbit and deer population, so we had to fence it in nice and tight.

The beds are raised boxes that are about 10'x5' each (2 of them).  We filled them with a mixture of 1/3 sand, 1/3 topsoil, and 1/3 manure, and topped it with peat moss.  Below the beds, I dug up about 1' down and turned the soil over, and then turned in some lime to combat the effects of the pine tree that had hung over the area.  The area gets sun for at least 7 hours a day, and we feel really good about the location.

We have a number of started seeds, including summer squash, beans, beets, watermelon, pumpkin, carrots, lettuces, and herbs.  Future plans include potato, but the first effort we made to get eyes on potato to grow resulted in a nasty slurry of rotten wanter and nausea inducing smells.  It was gross.

I love to cook.  I love fresh food, and I really like the idea of helping my children to understand that our food doesn't really come from Giant Eagle or Whole Foods.  It comes from the earth.  We were meant to be involved in that process.  I'll be honest - there are times when I even get caught up in it all, and I forget.

So hopefully soon we can actually get a process going here, and I actually need to move the compost bin from where the previous owners had it to a more ideal location.  We use so much compostable food that it's a shame we haven't been collecting it this whole time.  Oh - and also the rain barrel that is waiting to be tied into the downspout, which is conveniently located a a slight uphill location from the garden.

Recent work

I don't have a lot of time to post here, but realized there is a lot of work that I do that I don't share.  Here are a few recent photos I've done for various reasons.

A few with the Speed Graphic:

These from a recent family session:

Spiked by the night editor:

Father James Mazurek is seen giving a blessing to the graduating seniors of St Joseph High School in Natrona Heights.  JASON SNYDER | 

From a fundraiser for a local children's theater:

And youth lacrosse:

More from Tim and Jen's wedding - Almost finished guys!