My new favorite resource

So, while I prepare for a 3rd art show and submission to a photographic journal (all within a 2 week span), and totally slack on all my alternative photography projects (there is literally piles of film sitting and waiting to develop)… Here’s a site I’ve stumbled across periodically that I know plan on being an avid reader of.

www.diyphotography.net

Check out the tutorial for battlefield pinhole cameras… 3 rolls of film at once!!  Super excited to start doing weird stuff.  Hopefully I’ll figure out some sort of darkroom situation when my class ends in May…

Siskiyou County Art

Just a reminder and some more details about this event (copied from the WAC members email).  I’ll be showing and selling work and also auctioning off a 1 hour portrait session!  Check it out!

It's a BIG day for WEED tomorrow!

Sunday, April 25th

This is the first ever cooperative event with the Siskiyou and Weed Arts Councils !

~ SAC / WAC ART ATTACK ~

Come on out and support the ever growing ART community in Siskiyou County

ART WALK 2-4pm

in Historic Downtown Weed

All located on Main St.

Swanson Images,

River Run and

Turn of the Century ~

http://consciousnessissexy.blogspot.com/

Then trail over to the

Black Butte Saloon at 4pm

located at 259 Main St. in Weed, CA  PHONE #: 530-938-3184

$7 at the door

Everyone receives a raffle ticket, with the option of course to buy more for $1 each or 6 for $5

~There is quite an assortment of raffle prizes~

~ART SHOW and SALE~

featuring

Weed Arts Council Members

Linda Vivas,

Kelly Samuelson,

Nickki Lee Hill,

Stephanie Shaver,

Kevin Citta,

Jacqueline Jenson,

Bob Swanson,

Anthony Corsini,

Erik and Nancy Ziller

along with portions from the

Wildflowers of Weed

portrait project by Brenda Woods and Nickkie Lee Hill

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4pm- LINE DANCING LESSONS~electric slide, toosh push, watermelon crawl....

followed up by Christopher Prim,

Chic Music,  also featuring

MOUNTAIN GYPSIES belly dance troup,

and Strange BRew

Come meet PoP ARtisT ~ Nickolas Allen ~ as he IS one of the MC's

LOCAL Celebrity Guest Bartenders will be making drinks :

Lauri Sturdivant and

Randy Lawerence @ 6pm

Banjo Billy and

Weed Mayor, Dave Pearce @ 6:30pm!

* tip 'em good *

See you tomorrow !!

~~~*Stephanie Shaver*~~~
Weed Arts Council President
weedarts@gmail.com

Upcoming Art Events and Print of the Week

One thing I’ve always disliked about Siskiyou County was the lack of art and culture (compared to what was available to me when I lived in Santa Barbara/Isla Vista).  However, I’m finding that art is out there, you just have to look for it!

For this post, I thought I’d share some upcoming art events that any Siskiyou County locals should take advantage of.  They’re great for seeing local art and growing connections within your art community.

First: The Weed Arts Council Annual Member Show and meeting.  This is this coming Tuesday, April 20th at the Black Butte Center for Railroad Culture at 6pm.  I have 2 pieces that will be in this show, which is exciting for me.  The show also takes place at a site where they are restoring old railroad cars.  I have yet to see the location, but I’m excited to go.  For directions to the location, visit bbcrc.org.

Next: SAC WAC Art Attack.  This is a collaboration between the Weed Arts Council and the Siskiyou Arts Council starting at 4pm at the Black Butte Saloon in Weed.  There will be live music, belly dancing, art and much more.  This event is Sunday, April 25th.

Last: COS Advanced Photography Student Show.  Every year James Gilmore and his Art 11B class get the opportunity to showcase their work at the COS Library gallery.  The show will run from May 3rd to May 16th with an opening reception on May 5th from 4 to 6pm.  This is a fun opportunity to see a collective of work from emerging photographers.

In the meantime, I strongly suggest checking out my links for other local art resources.  Tangle Gallery and Press frequently holds workshops and owner John Rickard also teaches community ed classes at COS.  If you’re a fan on my facebook page, I’ve added both SAC, WAC and Tangle as favorites.  This is in the bar on the right side of the facebook page and I will be adding more as I find them so you can follow them for updates as well!

In other news, I’ll also be featuring a photo of the week to show my readers what I’ve been doing along with a description of the photographic processes behind the print (even if it’s not alternatively processed).  My purpose here has always been to teach people about photography and open new doors, so every photo I share will come with some sort of how to.

This week’s print is from a maternity shoot I did recently.  The print itself is made by sandwiching 2 negatives together before printing in the darkroom.  I love the sentiment, this is one of my favorite recent prints by far.  Enjoy!

Outside the photographer – Part I

I recently decided that some of the most important parts of a photographer are outside of ourselves.  Our tools and space play a roll in the work we accomplish.  Obviously our biggest tool is our camera.  Some people have accused me of having a “camera fetish”, but I like having a variety of tools, all of which do different jobs.  I thought it would be fun to share my collection, but mostly this serves as a visual inventory for me.  I recommend writing down everything you own along with sizes of lenses.  This makes it easy to buy filters on a whim and can help you figure out a lot about your equipment.

First, Canon AE-1 Programs (one is on loan from a friend).  I chose to have 2 so I could keep IR film in one.  I have a macro and a telephoto lens for these.  This was my very first camera setup and what I use the most when shooting film.  I also have custom made bags for all my gear.  The pink liner makes it super easy to find black camera gear.

 

Next, my EOS systems. I have a 50D with a fixed 50mm lens, an 18-55 lens and a 28-135 lens with image stabilization.  I also have my old Rebel and an EOS film camera.  I like that this is a versatile system.  I have a backup DSLR in case something goes awry.  I also have the option of shooting film or digital just by switching bodies.  This is super useful for night photography since I can experiment quickly and easily with my DSLR and get instant results, then transfer those settings to my 35mm setup and leave a night shoot knowing I got results.

 

Plastic cameras!  My fiancé's Diana F+ with flash and a poloroid back.  My Diana Mini 35mm, standard Holga with a fisheye lens attachment and a Holga GTLR, which doesn’t really have any more functionality except that it has a glass lens.

My fiancé's Yashica Light Meter, which he graciously lets me use all the time.  And a pinhole camera I made out of a matchbook and a lot of electrical tape.

My newest acquisition, a 4x5 film pinhole camera and a handful of film holders.  This is going to be so fun!

Finally, tripods, flashes, extension tubes, wired and wireless cable releases, off flash cords, filters, step down rings, telephoto and wide angle lens attachments and a broken canon that was my grandma’s.  I also have my paint can pinhole, which isn’t pictured here, but can be seen in a previous post.

   

Next time, I’ll talk about one of the more important things outside the photographer, your space.

An invaluable experience for a great value

This week, College of the Siskiyous featured a community education photography class with noted photographer and Siskiyou County resident, John Rickard (owner of Tangle Gallery and Press and former owner of Rostel Photographic Gallery). 

While typical photographic workshops can cost upwards of $600 and require Siskiyou photographers to travel outside of the region, anyone in the community can experience this workshop in their own backyard for only a $55 fee. 

Art 339, photography fundamentals, which took place this week, covered the basic principals of photography and addressed all students questions regarding the use of their camera (film or digital, point and shoot or SLR), creating quality prints, composition and presentation of work.  Rickard also offered one on one feedback for each student (with skill levels ranging from hobby photographer to emerging professionals), and valuable feedback of their work.

The second of these community education courses, Art 333 begins next week on April 16th in Weed featuring Rickard as the instructor once more.  The second course will focus on Siskiyou landscapes as portraits, photographing rich scenes in the area so that they tell a story, convey emotion and embody the style of the photographer.  This course will start with instruction on Friday the 16th from 5-8, then an entire day of photography on Saturday the 17th and a showcase of student work on April 23rd, the following Friday.

In addition to being shown a number of sites for beautiful photography in our region, every student will spend time one-on-one with Rickard who has an enlightening way of instructing and inspiring artists.  The field trip day of shooting promises enriching opportunities and allows students flexibility regarding which times and locations they want to shoot at.  Rickard researches locations intensely before the class and creates a map and timeline for all students to follow.

I encourage any photographers of all skill levels to participate.  It’s not very often that such a meaningful experience is offered locally, much less at such a low cost.  Working alongside a photographer of Rickard’s caliber is an invaluable experience, at a great value. 

Art 333 is being offered through COS.  Students can easily sign up for this class online or on either campus.