Author Topic: Do we have a "muse" and/or "nemesis"? (Read 3823 times)

Late Developer · « **on:** August 30, 2010, 09:00:03 PM »

I doubt that I'm unique but, since living in Essex (down here for the last 11 years) I've really struggled to find anywhere remotely attractive or photogenic. However, one place I keep revisiting is Maldon on the Blackwater estuary. Maldon has a real charm and a lot of old boats used to carry coal down the east coast.

It's a small town on a muddy, tidal creek and is famous for salt produced by a local company. The scenery is typical of coastal Essex - marshes, mudflats and big skies - 'cos it's as flat as a pancake. I don't have any film examples (maybe that's the problem) but I've really struggled to get a really good shot of the place.

How about the rest of you guys? Do you have places you keep revisiting as a "banker" for a good shot or other places you keep visiting, determined to "get it right next time"??

Mojave · « **Reply #1 on:** August 30, 2010, 09:48:49 PM »

I know for myself I keep shooting the same subject until I dont feel like I have to shoot it any more, and that might be just to make sure I've gotten every angle of the place thats possible to get. Like Llano del Rio is a new place for me. I've seen it for years and thought it was kind of a boring place really, but now that I know there are more ruins than what can be seen from Hwy 138, I plan on going there again to shoot the last of my Fuji 100B and probably some HP5 120 in the regular Holga and even my Pentax with probably the Neopan 1600. I'll probably go there 2 or 3 more times before I lose interest.

I have no shortage of muses here in the Mojave with Death Valley, State Line, and what seems to be an endless supply of ghost towns nearby, but honestly, I would so love to go to England and shoot the marshes and flat places you see. There is something about the light in England that is so different from where I live. Im dying to see it in person. And now I want to go to Crete too, as well as Ireland. One of these days maybe, but honestly, with all the money I spend on film, who knows when that day will be.

Late Developer · « **Reply #2 on:** August 30, 2010, 10:08:21 PM »

Mojave.

Trust me, there are better places to see flat marshes than Essex. The problem is that whichever way you turn, there's an electricity pylon or a fence or a mobile phone mast or a road. The number of man-made obsceneties is just awful. How I crave some open space and a bit of wilderness.

My wife and I are off to the Isle of Skye for the last two weeks of September. Okay, there's "civilisation" up there but you can get an entire beach to yourself if you want one and just sit and watch the tide come in and out without some snot-nosed kid and his entire family plonking themselves down next to you. Does that sound anti-social? If so, sorry, 'cos I'm not - I just value a bit of quiet once in a while....

If you come to England head for the Northumbrian coast - north of Newcastle Upon Tyne (well north of Blyth actually). Miles and miles of stunning beaches, ruined castles and rolling hills. England's best kept secret.

sapata · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2010, 10:30:05 PM »

I just can't get enough of Battersea Power Station... I have over hundred shots of that building...

moominsean · « **Reply #4 on:** August 30, 2010, 10:59:43 PM »

I visit a lot of the same towns and often photograph the same things, as they sometimes are different versions of the same thing as time goes by, like this abandoned TV repair shop in Yarnell. I often find that something I've taken a shot of is gone the next time I go...this is fairly common for someplace like Salton Sea, where things decay or are vandalized, or just torn down. Even here in Phoenix, what's old is often gone a week later, like an area of old '50s motels and trailer parks not far from where I live... a month ago all of a sudden about a mile's worth were all fenced up and in the process of being torn down.

SuziLivingstone · « **Reply #5 on:** August 30, 2010, 11:08:43 PM »

A lot of my muses are my friends who are a mixed creative bunch of burlesque performers, trapeze artists, musicians, dandies and vintage models.

As for locations I can always be guaranteed to be found at the nearest funfair, circus or vintage event

Mike (happyforest) · « **Reply #6 on:** August 30, 2010, 11:50:14 PM »

My family both immediate and extended are mine.

I just love taking candid portraits.

The two picture are of my daughter but it could equally been one of the boys or any of the extended family.

Regards

Mike

hookstrapped · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2010, 01:49:51 AM »

These have been my two muses the past year. The first girl, Winter, has been the most significant influence on my photography ever and I owe her a lot. And we've become very good friends and I'll continue shooting her. Though I have to say it's not quite the same since we've become friends -- kind of lacks the tension that was a contributing factor earlier. But I have some ideas to introduce some constructive tension.

The second girl, Emma... err, it's complicated.

Skorj · « **Reply #8 on:** August 31, 2010, 03:22:39 AM »

Great subject, and I will have to think of an answer. But love the work here regardless. This one Sean

Is pretty damn near perfect. I love the Battersea Powerstation too, but have only managed to shoot it seriously once:

Canonet QL17 with Fuji Fortia. I will spare you my cliched Holga photographs. Skj.

Mojave · « **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2010, 05:48:07 AM »

No LD, you dont sound antisocial. I understand. I have a flickr friend who lives in England and he said the same thing you just said, that there isnt a place to go where you cant see some sign of man around. That is a real drag. But at least there is Skye, and I am very glad to hear that you will be getting your very own beach. I am very much looking forward to seeing your beach when you post the pix of it.

Mojave · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2010, 05:53:58 AM »

Suzi, Im so jealous!!! Oh man, I would be heaven having artists like that to shoot all the time.

Love all the pictures!!! Again, so lucky to be here and see these. Sean, Im really diggin the shot that Skorj reposted. I love the color and how the focus blurs a bit near the window. Awesome!! I could stare at that for hours.

Windy · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2010, 07:24:54 AM »

Quote from: Late Developer on August 30, 2010, 10:08:21 PM

My wife and I are off to the Isle of Skye for the last two weeks of September. Okay, there's "civilisation" up there but you can get an entire beach to yourself if you want one and just sit and watch the tide come in and out without some snot-nosed kid and his entire family plonking themselves down next to you. Does that sound anti-social? If so, sorry, 'cos I'm not - I just value a bit of quiet once in a while....

Skye? Far too busy

Skorj · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2010, 09:59:33 AM »

Ok, thought about it. Trains. Generally old, but new ones OK too...

Type-665 and FujiPro 400. See ya! Skj.

Andrea. · « **Reply #13 on:** August 31, 2010, 10:00:41 AM »

Quote from: Windy on August 31, 2010, 07:24:54 AM

Quote from: Late Developer on August 30, 2010, 10:08:21 PM

My wife and I are off to the Isle of Skye for the last two weeks of September. Okay, there's "civilisation" up there but you can get an entire beach to yourself if you want one and just sit and watch the tide come in and out without some snot-nosed kid and his entire family plonking themselves down next to you. Does that sound anti-social? If so, sorry, 'cos I'm not - I just value a bit of quiet once in a while....

Skye? Far too busy

Honestly Mr Windy, they have NO idea :-)

For me, peat stacks - especially Hector's

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #14 on:** August 31, 2010, 10:36:26 AM »

I constantly revisit places in Crete. I have a long list of derelict and abandoned buildings that I like to go back to, they have always changed and I always see things that I missed on the previous occasions. As one gets more familiar with a place you start to see new things.

Late Developer · « **Reply #15 on:** August 31, 2010, 11:43:57 AM »

Hey folks,

Compared with commuting to (and working in) the City of London, the Isle of Skye is the dark side of the moon.....

The worst thing about the holiday (as well as, paradoxically, one of the best) is the two days of driving it will take to get there.

Love the photos posted so far and I can't wait to get some of my own stuff processed and posted. It'll be difficult to do this week as I'm heading up to my beloved Manchester this afternoon. I've just remembered there's a Dorothy Bohm exhibition on at the art gallery round the corner from my hotel - so I expect to be there shortly.

I've also packed my Canon EF / 50mm f1.8 breechlock and some mono film, so I'm hoping to get a few interesting street shots.

Back soon.......

Windy · « **Reply #16 on:** August 31, 2010, 05:42:29 PM »

Essex to Skye is a hell of a drive. I have shared the driving and done Ullapool to Birmingham in one go on a couple of occasions and it's a killer.

I'm another who is attracted to derelict and abandoned buildings (and objects) and am particularly fond of the abandoned shielings on the Lewis moors.

I (sadly) get excited about rust and decay in general (as long as it's not on one of my bikes) and also when let loose in a city with a camera.

Francois · « **Reply #17 on:** August 31, 2010, 06:25:42 PM »

Since abandoned buildings don't last for long around here, I have to work really hard to get some old planks on my film. There is a small place near the airport which has become a favorite for a few years.

As for hydro poles, I decided that if I can't take them out of the picture, they should become an integral part of the composition. Not always obvious but it's the only way out that I could find.

But for having a muse... I'm still looking for one

Maybe I should watch the old movie Xanadu a couple of time and go shopping singing Olivia Newton-John's Magic off the top of my lungs.

SuziLivingstone · « **Reply #18 on:** August 31, 2010, 08:23:15 PM »

Quote from: Mojave on August 31, 2010, 05:53:58 AM

Suzi, Im so jealous!!! Oh man, I would be heaven having artists like that to shoot all the time.

Love all the pictures!!! Again, so lucky to be here and see these. Sean, Im really diggin the shot that Skorj reposted. I love the color and how the focus blurs a bit near the window. Awesome!! I could stare at that for hours.

I forgot to add the one building I've had a love affair with for years, St Pancras Chambers (formerly the old Midland Grand Hotel) in St Pancras, London. http://www.urban75.org/london/st_pancras1.html

I used to work for the company which did the recent renovation work so I was lucky enough to have a lot of access to the empty building before it was tarted up again, for a short time the public had access to certain areas/floors but I was allowed to wander into the darker off limits recesses.. it was pretty spooky wandering around that place with my Holga I can tell you...

Late Developer · « **Reply #19 on:** September 03, 2010, 02:21:14 PM »

Quote from: Windy on August 31, 2010, 05:42:29 PM

Essex to Skye is a hell of a drive. I have shared the driving and done Ullapool to Birmingham in one go on a couple of occasions and it's a killer.

I'm another who is attracted to derelict and abandoned buildings (and objects) and am particularly fond of the abandoned shielings on the Lewis moors.

I (sadly) get excited about rust and decay in general (as long as it's not on one of my bikes) and also when let loose in a city with a camera.

Thankfully, we're stopping of at Northumberland and Edinburgh on the way up and Keswick on the way back. My missus is a bit of a petrol-head and happily shares the driving.

On Skye, I want to use the car just as a quick "get to" option and then dump it for the day. I dind that I spot so much more when on my feet than flying past in a car - even as a passenger.

I'm intending to shoot mono print film (probably Fuji Neopan 400 Professional) in the Hasselblad and Velvia 50 in the Nikon F5. Does this sound like a reasonable combo? I was wondering whether to use a slow mono film in the Hassy but I don't want to have to take the tripod everywhere.

K. Praslowicz · « **Reply #20 on:** September 03, 2010, 05:38:49 PM »

I have a pier that I frequent. Something about the images I get there that mostly just consist of concrete, sky and a person that I really love.

Windy · « **Reply #21 on:** September 03, 2010, 06:10:07 PM »

Quote from: Late Developer on September 03, 2010, 02:21:14 PM

I'm intending to shoot mono print film (probably Fuji Neopan 400 Professional) in the Hasselblad and Velvia 50 in the Nikon F5. Does this sound like a reasonable combo? I was wondering whether to use a slow mono film in the Hassy but I don't want to have to take the tripod everywhere.

I use legacy pro 400 and am pleased with the results (Andrea tells me it's rebranded neopan).

Don't use much colour tho'. When I do I buy bog standard fuji superior from the local photo shop (3 for £10) - which I'm not really happy with (maybe I should try something better?) so I can't really comment on velvia.

Don't use slow film very often either (Rollei Retro 100 when the light's good) - Andrea quotes 'polypan 50' as her 'one film' here

I need to experiment more

Mojave · « **Reply #22 on:** September 03, 2010, 07:26:23 PM »

Love those pier shots K. I can see why you keep shooting there.

Windy, I had a person at Freestyle tell me the same thing about the Legacy pro. I shot those two films on the same day once and couldnt tell the difference and the price diff is like 2 dollars where I buy it.

Windy · « **Reply #23 on:** September 03, 2010, 08:26:01 PM »

Quote from: Mojave on September 03, 2010, 07:26:23 PM

Love those pier shots K. I can see why you keep shooting there.

Windy, I had a person at Freestyle tell me the same thing about the Legacy pro. I shot those two films on the same day once and couldnt tell the difference and the price diff is like 2 dollars where I buy it.

Sat in the art centre last week with Andrea having coffee

'Bought some Neopan 400 'cos lots of people on filmwasters name it as their one film' says I

'Same stuff as Legacy' says Andrea

'Oh' says I ' You mean I've just paid £3.29 a roll for something I've been paying £2.00 for?'

'Yes' says Andrea

Author Topic: Do we have a "muse" and/or "nemesis"? (Read 3823 times)

SuziLivingstone

SuziLivingstone