My First Platinum Print.

     Yesterday, I finally took that big step and attempted my first Pl/Pt print.  I had the patience and
experience of Jeff Graves to draw on, as well as working in his wonderful darkroom.  I need to
again say,  Thank You Jeff !  ( Please take a look at his work, www.greymatterimages.com )

     Okay, I had problems and it wasn't an automatic success.  No matter how much you read, there
will be something new showing up to surprise you.  The image above is the final exposed sheet
of 4 sheets.  The first two didn't come out at all, and that was the surprise of the day.  It seems
that Tmax 100 sheet film has a UVA blocker in its base for some reason...  Up until very recently
Tmax is all I have used, and that sort of really sucks.  Film change time.  We got nice borders
around the negative, but no image on the inside.  The second one with the same negative with
3 times the exposure, we got a real light image.
     Luckly I also had a couple of the newest negatives with me that I exposed on to Tmax 400
sheet film.  The first one was a touch light, but still a keeper !   I felt great and the days frustration
went away.  The last one for the day ( shown above ) is not only a keeper, but will soon be
matted and framed.

     I have so much to learn about platinum printing, and on top of that I need to learn another
film at the same time.  But, I am hooked !   It is such a beautiful print, that the time spent is time
I am looking forward to spending.

Abstract

          Once in a while I try something totally of the wall for me.  Growing and learning to see beyond
what is actually there, can be a challenge.  The world is much more fluid when you bend and
stretch time a bit.  I am not sure that this works as a final image at the moment.  No matter what I
try, when creating a new image, it takes time to decide the fate and final version of any one
image.  This image is a definate departure from my norm.

Musings

          It has almost been a full year since I launched my website.  Not as many viewers so far, as I would of hoped for. That comes back as my fault, and my not really understanding how to make this work.
          I am not in a place of much more understanding, but I am learning and will stay willing to learn.
Web marketing is not a science, in fact far from it.  The internet is changing dynamically all the time.  The social scene on the web is causing even more change, as it has almost become an entity, constantly changing with a life of its own.  There is no knowing where it will go from where we find ourselves today, to where we will be ten years from now.
          You have to stay open to this change and grow with it, is what I have learned this past year.  That is also the reason for extending into the realm of blogging.  Not so much for the marketing of ones work ( in my case photography ), but to create connections with people who might be interested in my vision as well as my creative direction and beliefs.  A sharing of thoughts, ideals, and inspirations !

Images from January

  # 1652

                                                                              # 1658

                                                                              # 1660

          These are the final versions of negatives that I exposed during the snow storm on the 9th of January, 2011.  The location is the South Fork of the South Platte River, north of Deckers, Colorado.
It was an interesting day, setting up the 4x5 in the river to get the angle I wanted as well as dealing with the wind and snow.   The only real immediate supprise was that one of my wadders had a slow leak...

To Start

          There are always new beginnings, or pathways we follow.  This blog will be a new direction for me, and my images.  The goal here
is at least an entree every week, with new images every month.  It 
will be about creativity and the different paths I follow to acheive my personal vision.
          I welcome any and all feedback.  Art is not created in a vacuum, nor should we be expected to live in one either.  So this blog is about us,  please join me on this pathway to being more creative...