Freestyle Photographic Supplies

I received my Freestyle Photographic Supplies email with the 'latest' photography news the other day.  A lot is going on in the photography supply business!  Freestyle reps just got back from Cologne, Germany to attend the world's premiere photographic imaging fair - Photokina 2012!  One of the news items that caught my eye was that Canson and Hahnemuhle are making available their digital inkjet papers with four deckle edges.  I'm excited about that one, as you know I like trying out new papers! ; )  

Another 'paper' item is coming from Awagami, a Japanese company that produces 21 different and unique paper formulations.  Some of the papers are handmade and are produced from a Japanese Kozo mulberry root - which is a green product, as it reproduces/replenishes very rapidly.  This one really excites me as it gives the feel of handmade papers!  Nice!

Ilford also has announced two new fine art 330 gsm matte inkjet papers  - Galerie Prestige Gold Cotton Smooth and Galerie Prestige Gold Cotton Textured.  These will be available January 2013.  In addition, another new paper that gives the look and feel of a fine art black and white print - Galerie Prestige Gold Mono Silk (270 gsm).  These are all inkjet papers, of course.  (Note:  gsm definition:  Grammes per Square Metre, or thickness of the paper.)   If you'd like to read the whole article follow this link:  http://www.freestylephoto.biz/industry-updates/october-2012/snapshot.html

Another Bodie shot from this last trip last month.  This one is digital.  I did increase the brightness on this one about 10 increments.  I think I have a film version - I couldn't find it right now, but will look for it and see what the differences are.  Because there ARE differences!

Artstock at High Hand Gallery

I have still been working through some of the issues with my new PC set up.  But I won't talk about that.  Yesterday was Artful Sunday at the High Hand Gallery and apparently the heat was still keeping people at home.  Two more weeks for this show and then it all comes down for Artstock, the Large Format Show with Masked Fusion for September and October.  It's going to be hectic for everyone at the gallery as this is a huge undertaking.  Artstock Large Format portion will be out in the fruit sheds at High Hand, the masks will be inside, as well as the new artwork!  That's a lot!

Today my gallery canvas wraps should arrive.  I hope they came out perfect as there is no time for returns and re-dos.  Once they arrive, I'll be able to envision how they look with the painting I did - to see if the painting is actually show worthy!

I was able to finally get my Epson printing working and started printing out card images.  Some of my slots on the rack are empty, so time to replenish.  That's a good thing.  I did purchase a large canvas but haven't even started on it other than putting coats of Gesso on it.  I can't seem to get back in the painting mode.  C'est la vie!

I was online reading Freestyle Photographic Supplies website, looking up papers, specifically at Epson Exhibition Fiber Inkjet Paper that apparently boasts matching silver halide papers.  I've tried the Epson Fine Art Paper which has a great texture to it and I've used it for both black and white and color prints.  Really loved the results.  I think I may have to try this one.  I am heading down to southern California in a few weeks and would love to stop in at their store on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood!  That would fun - but it could also be extremely tempting for me to 'buy'!  The one reason I was looking up papers is because I was really looking for the metallic silver paper.  Arista-II RC Photograde Metallic Inkjet Paper 13x19/20 sheets - Metallic Glossy is the size I would purchase - it's $55 a box!

Auburn's ArtWalk "April in Paris"

What a week!  Yesterday I took all 18 of my framed images to Latitude's and got them hung in the dining area. It went pretty smoothly and it was a load off!  I honestly don't know how that works with the featured artists 'hanging' around since it's a restaurant and people will be busy dining.  Where do you stand?  What do you do?  I guess I'll find out tomorrow night!

I had the pleasure of meeting, via email, one of my blog followers.  He was asking for more information on the State Fair Fine Art Competition.  Just in case someone else is wanting to know about the requirements, here's the link: http://www.bigfun.org/pdfs/competitions/ca_art/CFAQuickReference.pdf  Getting back to my blog follower, Cedric, if you other readers would like to see some rather fantastic digital color, time lapse photography, and he also does some very nice digital black and white's, here is his website:  http://cedricsimsphotography.blogspot.com/   Thanks for being a reader, it means a lot Cedric.  At least I know my words aren't falling on empty ears!!

I received my monthly email from Freestyle Photographic Supplies and they had another update on Eastman Kodak.  "Some product discontinuations have been announced, such as all Kodak Ektachrome Slide films, Kodak Plus-X, as well as price increases on all film products of about 15%."  The only thing that would affect me would be the price increase!  However, Freestyle's own brand, LegacyPro B&W chemicals are made to the same or improved formulations as Kodak brand chemicals.  That's good to know that if things get tough, there's another option available.

I've never taken a photography workshop with a well-known photographer, or even a not so-well-known photographer for that matter.  I'm not much of a 'joiner' for lack of a better description.  But doesn't mean I didn't want to.  They just cost so much.  However, Freestyle also mentioned upcoming workshops with John Sexton.  They are a little pricey (aren't they all?) but I would really like to go.  It's definitely food for thought.  Here's that link if you'd like to check it out: http://www.johnsexton.com/schedule.html   The workshop that really calls to me is "The Expressive Black and White Print".

Earlier I mentioned it is a busy week for me.  Tomorrow night is Auburn's Artwalk from 6 - 9 p.m.  Above is one of my Paris images titled, "Louvre Staircase".  Saturday night is Second Saturday in Sacramento, and for me, The Blue Moon Gallery.  And Sunday is Artful Sunday at High Hand Gallery in Loomis.  Hope to see you at one of these events!

Gallery Wraps

Yesterday I was on the computer and telephone all day until 4:00 p.m.!  But I got a lot done for sure.  After researching several gallery wrap sites, I ended up going with Big Canvas Prints out of Madison, Wisconsin!  I liked the fact that they offered mirror image wrap v. stretching the photo to cover the edges.  With the mirror wrap you don't lose any of the photographic image.  The really hard part was selecting the images to have done.  That took about an hour.  But now I've selected numerous and put them in a separate file labeled Gallery Wraps for future use.  I had also checked out Mpix and Simply Color Lab that I originally figured I would be using one of them.  Simply Color wanted too much personal info as though I was a BIG business.  Mpix's prices were comparable to the other two.  But again, I liked the fact that Big Canvas offered the mirror wrap, AND I was able to talk to a 'live' person who was very polite and shared information without making me feel inadequate, as I'm not even close to a truly knowledgeable digital photographer.  I ordered two wraps at the 16x24 size, glossy finish.  She thought I would be able to receive them by next Monday, which is good since that's when they hang the new art work in the gallery.  I hope I can reserve the space!

Talk about good customer service, I had also ordered my Epson ink from Freestyle and went for the 2-day delivery.  They called me and said they wouldn't be charging me the 'extra' fee since I'm already in the 2-day delivery area!!  Now that was really great customer service.  They could have kept the fee and I wouldn't have known any difference!  Good job Freestyle!  Thank you!

When I got done with all the ordering, I was on the Internet adding the High Hand Gallery's Artful Sundays calendar for the year on the TheLoomisNews website.  I'm not done though, as I got kind of tired.  I got up to July and quit.  I also made numerous phone calls to musicians trying to book them for our events for the year.

Re-reading the contest rules for the No Hands Bridge 100 year event, only two entries per person.  So I won't have to worry about the color digital one I was considering.  I'm just going to enter my darkroom print at 11x14, and my photo transfer at 8x10.  Done!

Back to Photography Business

Okay, who did the Indian Rain Dance? I want names, numbers!! Egads, it poured all night long! I hope my veggies didn't sink in and the gophers got 'em! So it's supposed to clear up after today. Today is 'supposed' to be 70, and by the end of the week 85. Time will tell.

So I finally got back in the darkroom. I mentioned that I had developed two rolls of film, however, I didn't print any of those - yet. I was on a mission on finding negatives that had not been printed by me in the darkroom. Yesterday I got all my chemicals mixed and poured and ended up printing out three 8x10s of one of my top favorites of all time: The Empire Mine Staircase. I made three prints at different exposure times which I could probably do another one and increase some of the dodging on some of the dark areas and lighten it up even more. But I liked the darker vesion, as it really makes the little girl in the white dress running up the stairs 'pop' out! Hhhhhmmmm. The one I'm posting here is not the print from the darkroom, just a digital one I had on file.

I was looking for one set of negatives yesterday for a particular photographic image I took in the SF Golden Gate Park Conservatory. So that was a little bit of an hour side track. I ended up organizing even more some of the photo boxes as they were not in order by year and the tagging was much to be desired. I never found the one I was looking for, but I was thinking: what would happen to or who would even want all these boxes of photos that I have arranged by year. What about my artwork?? Oh, well, I guess I better just make the most of it while I'm here. I told my husband, if people come to my funeral, there are enough prints for everyone - they could even have two!! ; )

I also did a lot of reading up on alternative processes over the weekend. I placed an order with Freestyle for some Brown/Copper Toning chemical to try out. Something different!

Day of Excitement

I subscribe to Freestyle Photographic Supplies magazine and also order from them. For some reason, yesterday I received the magazine and was totally rejuvenated artistically!! I don't think anything changed in their format, but for some reason all the various photographic processes intrigued me. I'm stoked! So much that I can hardly wait to order from them. Right on the front cover is a platinum over gold leaf photo that I am really wanting to try that process! Another thing is I've never used a Holga camera. The images come out with a softness and vignetting, and apparently the 'light leaks' in this camera create an intriguing result to the photographic images. And then there's Lith printing that looks even more intriguing. I remember in one of my classes, one 'kid' was developing a print with a paint brush, so only the parts that he touched were developed leaving uneven edges and I thought wow that looks like fun! You know, work outside the box!

And I think I found the perfect graduation present for my granddaughter! Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S Instant Print film camera. It's like a Polaroid with 2.13 x 3.4" images! Heck, I might even buy me one! That looks like fun. I'm still excited, but I've got to get busy. Just wanted to share all of this with you. Also, if you don't subscribe to the magazine, you can always go online at: www.freestylephoto.biz.

Day before, I spent some time cutting some much needed mats for prints to take to the gallery. What I need to do is spend a whole day cutting mats so that I have some on hand in times of emergency or when I just don't feel like doing it. Cutting mats can be very soothing - just put on some great music and cut away!