Long time photographer as a full time mom

[warden]

You just assumed a few of things, especially the "I now know why". I will leave at it at that out of respect for the OP.

I do hope @AHL will continue to post new images, at a pace she is comfortable with, as they are clearly worth seeing.

I agree, the photos shown so far great.

 

[AHL]

I agree, the photos shown so far great.

Just wondering if I shouldkeep posting on this thread or if it is getting too involved? Honestly I am really happy to keep on diving into my mindset and photography interests here rather than start over.
Let me know if this is against protocol or whatever is allowed.
On a personal note I have shot 2rolls of 120 film, processed just hoping to print in the next few days. All just homes in the neighborhood decorated for Halloween. Not the most original I agree but it was fun and gave me a reason to to get out there!
I don’t think they have more value than to get me thinking creatively but I’m good with that.
You know looking for a subject has to be the hardest part once you have covered many of the most obvious. I just can’t do “ homeless “ displaced, pets , travel etc
Not that they aren’t valid just as I can’t add I feel to the amazing work out there I realize it’s about how each of us sees things that makes an image unique but they just don’t interest me creatively.

Hope this isn’t offending anyone truly not my intention I just would like to include you in my struggles with photography as your insight makes me smile with joy
Thanks
Anita

 

[MattKing]

Anita,
This thread is fine.
We also have the Galleries, but they are less well suited to encouraging discussion.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

@AHL did you wander around your neighbourhood at night? Would love to see the photographs.

 

[AHL]

Anita,
This thread is fine.
We also have the Galleries, but they are less well suited to encouraging discussion.

Thanks. I felt as if I may be in the wrong area to post this stuff!

 

[AHL]

@AHL did you wander around your neighbourhood at night? Would love to see the photographs.

No daytime only. I don’t use flash and my lens means I shoot 400 speed at 200
No people for me that’s unusual as I really enjoy shooting people but wanted the isolation of the decorations without the busyness of people.
Anita
Moderator note - fixed the typo for you, but you probably still had time left in the editing window!

 

[MattKing]

If you wish, you could start a separate thread in the Photographers sub-forum, found here: https://www.photrio.com/forum/forums/photographers.36/

 

[cowanw]

Looking at the three you have published I wonder if these are your own darkroom work or lab produced? Just to help us think about your images. At a guess I would say darkroom produced.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Speaking of Sally Mann, there is an article about her in the same edition of Obscura Craft magazine, that I'm featured in... and one of her most controversial images appears in it.

 

[Vaughn]

I started giving workshop (carbon printing) and things were picking up photographically when my wife and I had triplets. After the boys were home a couple months from the hospital, my wife had to go back to work (maternity RN) or lose her seniority at the hospital. No family around, so I was an almost-fulltime-dad, with no time for much darkroom work for a couple years -- although I worked half-time, 10-months/year, taking care of the university darkroom, so still engulfed in photography.

I grew up photographically in a university setting, so had to over-come a relunctance to share my work. Working in a large darkroom with people doing the same, especially people one has been working next to over several years can create some honest feed-back and appreciation for others' work. I was not an art major (worked summers for the US Forest Service) but was spending too much of my time in the darkroom.

As my boys grew, I brought them into my photography. The jeep image was the first 8x10 (2001, 4 yrs old, half-second exposure) -- not quite sure of the strange contraption dad has. In the redwoods was New Years 2008, they were almost 11 yrs old and by this time they could hold still quite well. This was a two minute exposure. 8x10, carbon print.

 

[warden]

I started giving workshop (carbon printing) and things were picking up photographically when my wife and I had triplets. After the boys were home a couple months from the hospital, my wife had to go back to work (maternity RN) or lose her seniority at the hospital. No family around, so I was an almost-fulltime-dad, with no time for much darkroom work for a couple years -- although I worked half-time, 10-months/year, taking care of the university darkroom, so still engulfed in photography.

I grew up photographically in a university setting, so had to over-come a relunctance to share my work. Working in a large darkroom with people doing the same, especially people one has been working next to over several years can create some honest feed-back and appreciation for others' work. I was not an art major (worked summers for the US Forest Service) but was spending too much of my time in the darkroom.

As my boys grew, I brought them into my photography. The jeep image was the first 8x10 (2001, 4 yrs old, half-second exposure) -- not quite sure of the strange contraption dad has. In the redwoods was New Years 2008, they were almost 11 yrs old and by this time they could hold still quite well. This was a two minute exposure. 8x10, carbon print.

Fantastic images, Vaughn. And a two minute exposure with kids in it. Impressive all around!

 

[AHL]

Looking at the three you have published I wonder if these are your own darkroom work or lab produced? Just to help us think about your images. At a guess I would say darkroom produced.

My own darkroom. I would say the originals are better quality than the reproductions show. On this site. Saying that however I am not an overly technical person. I know how I want them to look and go to that end . I usually make 1 or 2 of each image only and always print full frame. I have been following this for over 30 years and I’m happy with it. It’s what I see why I photograph so I print as close to that as possible.
I won’t apologize for my basic printing style but it really is the real me. Btw I cook the same way no recipes, just what I want the food to taste like.

 

[AHL]

I started giving workshop (carbon printing) and things were picking up photographically when my wife and I had triplets. After the boys were home a couple months from the hospital, my wife had to go back to work (maternity RN) or lose her seniority at the hospital. No family around, so I was an almost-fulltime-dad, with no time for much darkroom work for a couple years -- although I worked half-time, 10-months/year, taking care of the university darkroom, so still engulfed in photography.

I grew up photographically in a university setting, so had to over-come a relunctance to share my work. Working in a large darkroom with people doing the same, especially people one has been working next to over several years can create some honest feed-back and appreciation for others' work. I was not an art major (worked summers for the US Forest Service) but was spending too much of my time in the darkroom.

As my boys grew, I brought them into my photography. The jeep image was the first 8x10 (2001, 4 yrs old, half-second exposure) -- not quite sure of the strange contraption dad has. In the redwoods was New Years 2008, they were almost 11 yrs old and by this time they could hold still quite well. This was a two minute exposure. 8x10, carbon print.

Wow, great images and wonderful printing! Your hard work paid off and shows!

 

[koraks]

I don’t think they have more value than to get me thinking creatively but I’m good with that.

I am not an overly technical person. I know how I want them to look and go to that end

Sorry for selecting a few seemingly random snippets, but I just wanted to remark I really like your down-to-earth, realistic, and IMO constructive approach to your photography. No fuss and hits the essence. Whatever you're doing, you're doing it right as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Tel]

Stunningly good work. It makes me feel privileged to have seen it.

 

[bluechromis]

Welcome AHL! Sometimes, when I am creatively becalmed, I look to the work of photographers I admire for inspiration. Anything that evokes strong emotions can serve as a starting point.

 

[AHL]

Sorry for selecting a few seemingly random snippets, but I just wanted to remark I really like your down-to-earth, realistic, and IMO constructive approach to your photography. No fuss and hits the essence. Whatever you're doing, you're doing it right as far as I'm concerned.

Wow Thank you so much. Sincerely. Coming from someone with your experience and knowledge that truly astonishes me. I take all feedback and really listen. I just have always have known what I want the image to look like both in the lens of the camera and on paper.
I couldn’t change that if I tried.
When I photograph in particular I want what I see. For me it’s that straightforward. Whether it works or not I’ll edit what I decide to print but I don’t question what I photograph.
This is why I print fulll frame.
Thanks again.
Anita

 

[AHL]

Stunningly good work. It makes me feel privileged to have seen it.

Thank you. I appreciate the feedback. I have shown so little and most who see don’t really respond so I really am surprised when someone likes them.
Anita

 

[AHL]

Welcome AHL! Sometimes, when I am creatively becalmed, I look to the work of photographers I admire for inspiration. Anything that evokes strong emotions can serve as a starting point.

I agree just seeing photos helps inspire me. I can’t say any particular photographer has influenced me just seeing someone’s photos makes me feel less alone.
Thanks for the input !
Anita

 

[pbromaghin]

My brother unfortunately destroyed much of his work. My husband was able to salvage some from the garbage. I still have them although he is better I feel they are safer with me.
So sad when someone’s work is lost.
Thanks for the thoughts
Anita

It’s very good that you did this. I have long wondered what insights the world could have if only someone had been around to save some of W. Eugene Smith’s pre-war work from the bonfire.

 

[AHL]

It’s very good that you did this. I have long wondered what insights the world could have if only someone had been around to save some of W. Eugene Smith’s pre-war work from the bonfire.

Yes. Wonder if all the lost work would their creators destroyed would have impacted us in a different direction.

 

[AHL]

We had a very long discussion about Sally Mann earlier this year. You can feel free to read through - but it's closed for comments due to it being a very volatile subject.

At Twelve is a book that is much more of an objective social commentary than Immediate Family. The captions in At Twelve redirect your understanding of the photos.

Don_ih, finished all 28 pages of the Sally Mann thread in forums. What a variety of posts, from one view to the other. I really enjoyed all of it and couldn’t express my feelings any better than all of you who participated. My thanks to all of your well informed and diverse opinions and facts on her photography.
I just wish it could have been in person and taped because the discussion is of value to everyone who has seen her work. Oh I wish I could have been a fly on the wall in that room!
Anita
O

 

[Don_ih]

Since she continues to inspire such animated discussion, she's obviously done something right.

 

[Korbel]

I think artists in general enjoy more time alone and arent big social beasts. Or maybe it is just me and I have met only like-minded artists?

Maybe the less time you spend talking and socialising, the more you need to express yourself in other means. And art is a form of language/communication too.

So if you avoid people I guess you are on the right track

Sharing the work for feedback for me is pointless, because I want to share my vision and not the vision someone thinks should be my vision because it agrees with his vision. Maybe my vision is wrong, maybe it is right, who cares.

Sharing it for me has only point as a form of marketing for your living. The most likely outcome is it is going to cost you money, time and nerves no matter how good the work is. Art is nowadays not about how good you are, but how good people think you are.

Da Vinci was just common renaissance artist, until they have stolen it from louvre in 30's and the news for two years made headlines how it is the most beautiful painting ever, while it was most likely just quick buck for Leo. Until then most people didnt even know the name. Salvator Mundi was bought by a collector in 2005 for 10k, then he found its Da Vinci and the price is like 400 mil now. It's all speculation, but most things are anyways.

I dont believe it is possible to sell art for living unless you know people who need to launder their dirty money.

But I heard about an idea to let someone appriciate your art, then borrow money on it as a collateral. Which is quite funny. I might try this route one day just for the laugh.

We are artists in a world of declining culture, yet we still do it, because we love it. I dont think there needs to be more reasons.

Just my point of view.. enjoy the journey!

 

[ezphotolessons]

My own darkroom. I would say the originals are better quality than the reproductions show. On this site. Saying that however I am not an overly technical person. I know how I want them to look and go to that end . I usually make 1 or 2 of each image only and always print full frame. I have been following this for over 30 years and I’m happy with it. It’s what I see why I photograph so I print as close to that as possible.
I won’t apologize for my basic printing style but it really is the real me. Btw I cook the same way no recipes, just what I want the food to taste like.

You know your way, a lot of people haven't found theirs (and that's OK, it's kind of scary and hard knowing what path is yours). It shows in your photography, and how you "see" and "make". Thank you again for your generosity in sharing your pictures, it takes a lot of guts to put yourself out there like that.