Richard Harmer - "Everyday Italy"

Richard got in touch with me a couple of days ago and approached me concerning a potential feature of one of his projects. I happily agreed to have him on the wasteoffilm blog. What struck me immediately about his work was the pure quality and dedication behind his craft. There are just certain qualities to darkroom prints and they even shine through these scans. I am very happy to have him on the blog today and always am more than open for any submissions to this blog. There is a vast amount of photography blogs focussing on exclusively one thing, gear. I believe that there should be more places where one can discover and consume meaningful and curated photography. In the end we are what we consume, right? If you have any submissions of a project you produced, make sure to send the most representative images as well as some short story behind the project to: info@wasteoffilm.com. Enough talking now! Without further ado, let's jump right into Richard Hamer's series "Everyday Italy":

"There seems to be no shortage of photographic opportunities in Italy, or at least that’s what I found this summer. But past experience of photographing in beautiful places has generally left me disappointed; nothing can match the feeling of being there. I try to make photographs that recreate this feeling. Sharply dressed men in suits, grandmas chatting on the cobbled streets, it’s all there. Street photography has taught me that you need more than good subject matter to take a good photograph. I tried to make photographs that reveal a sense of place, without being overtly obvious or representational. I tend to think that the best pictures are the ones that elicit an emotional response in the viewer. Whether I succeeded, however,  is open to interpretation! 

Florence, 2017. Silver gelatin print on fibre paper.

I shoot film for a number of reasons but I think only two are important. Firstly, I enjoy the process. Why would we do this otherwise? Primarily however, my photographs are better when I shoot film. I don’t mean this in a way that is quantifiable. It’s not because they are sharper, and contrary to popular opinion, I am not a believer in the fact that film has a greater dynamic range. Shooting film in an investment of money but also of time which allows me to be much more selective when shooting and editing. I find that if I can’t decide which picture I prefer, the answer comes to me when I have to decide which to spend an hour printing! This negative was actually underexposed which is the one thing to avoid when shooting film! I printed with extremely high contrast to lift the midtones and highlights as much as possible. If you underexpose film, you quickly learn that shadow detail cannot be salvaged. 

Siena, 2017. Silver gelatin print on fibre paper.

I came away with many photographs of nuns in Rome. Some may be more dynamic, for some I was able to get closer, but the compassion in this scene is what attracted me to this picture. To make an image containing both an exquisite moment with graceful composition is the elusive combination for a street photographer which is seemingly impossible. I firmly believe I am yet to capture a moment in which everything comes together to work as one- composition, timing and emotion. I like this image and I am proud of it, but I have a long way to go! 

Rome, 2017. Silver gelatin print on fibre paper. 

Selecting this photograph was difficult as there were many similar frames, all with different strengths and weaknesses. I chose this one because I wanted the photograph to tell a story of a ringleader amongst friends which is exactly what I witnessed at the time.

Printing in the darkroom is as difficult as you want to make it. For an image like this, it would be very quick and easy to make an average print at low contrast. I used to think that with practice, printing would become quicker, but I soon learnt that it only ever becomes more detailed and complex as your expectations increase. This image, for example, needed high contrast to maximise its potential, however that served to make the shadows overly dense. Reducing the contrast would fix the issue but would kill the look of the final print, so what follows are a series of dodges, burns and split grade manipulations in an effort to bring the potential from the negative. 

Rome, 2017. Silver gelatin print on fibre paper.

The gentleman in this photograph is a pianist who was performing at the time. I listened to the performance and decided to ask whether I could make a portrait. Street photography can be intimidating at times, because of the feeling that we should not take photographs of strangers for fear of offending them. The one thing I try to remember when photographing people I do not know is to smile! It’s a constant battle for me, as I find that I frown when I concentrate. I also believe that smaller lenses help put people at ease.

Arezzo, 2017. Silver gelatin print on fibre paper.

The last image in this series was made in Montepulciano, Tuscany. When I photograph on holiday, I usually go for a walk before breakfast to get the best of the morning light, then photograph only in the shade during the day when the sun is high. This image was made with Renato D’Agostin in mind. His use of contrast and a vertical frame are some of the best examples of abstract street photography I have seen."

Montepulciano, 2017. Silver gelatin print on fibre paper.

I would like to take this chance to thank Richard for submitting his series and supplying such an in depth description into his process. Make sure to also check out his website and social media.

We need your contribution now too! If you have created a project or body of work you would like to share with the wasteoffilm community, send an email with a selection of the images as well as a short description of the work to info@wasteoffilm.com. Thank you for your submissions!  

Support the blog

Please consider supporting this blog and also my YouTube channel by either getting my new book , some stickers through the wasteoffilm shop or by using my Amazon Affiliate links. ( US / UK / DE ) This really helps me to produce more frequent and better content. 

James Moreton - "Give Way 2014 - 2016"

Give Way 2014 - 2016

"I'm not a landscape photographer. What I strive to do is create pictures in reaction to my environment; sometimes that reaction can portray my mood or mindset or represent how was I thinking when I made the picture. Once I read Gerry Badger's quote; 'The path is frequently used as a metaphor for life...' and applied it to photographs I was making of roads and places I was travelling, it made complete sense to me. A picture of a road or path can take on a considerable amount of meaning.

Mood and emotion within photography is a concept I like to think about and discuss with others on a regular basis; some photographers are adamant that a picture can have no impact on a viewer's mood or emotion. I disagree, I believe a picture is a vehicle capable of sparking a memory, changing a person's train of thought or instilling a new emotion - hopefully this series brings viewers a little closer to my outlook at the time of shooting and instills a taste of my adventures looking for this subject matter and this atmosphere."

Website: www.jamesmoreton.photo

Instagram: www.instagram.com/go_jmo

For me the difference between a good and a great photograph is the amount left for interpretation. That is exactly what this work is about, setting a certain mood and giving the viewer a direction for the individual interpretation of the work. It is more about conveying certain emotions rather than distinct content. Going beyond what lays on the surface, much deeper into what every single human believes. We all interpret and look at art in different ways, formed by our experiences, memories and emotions. There is a vast amount of things we cannot describe with our own words, but they can be captured through a photograph. This is why this project stands out in my opinion. The imagery conveys a certain mood and leaves room for our own interpretations. There is no set way at which these photographs should be looked at. They ultimately are documents of James' view on the world.

Submit your project now too! If you have created a project / series you would like to share with us, please send an email to info@wasteoffilm.com with a selection of the most representative images, as well as a short description of the work itself. Thank you for your submissions.

Support the blog

Please consider supporting this blog, my photography and also the YouTube channel by either getting my new book or some stickers through the wasteoffilm shop or by using my Amazon Affiliate links. ( US / UK / DE )

Featured: Corey Danieli - "Family Fun: The Seaside Boardwalk"

This weeks contribution is by Corey Danieli featuring his project "Family Fun: The Seaside Boardwalk". Without further ado, let's jump right into it.

"Artist Statement:

Family Fun: The Seaside Boardwalk

All of the photos are shot on Shen Hao 4x5 with Kodak Portra, Mamiya RZ67 & Bronica ETRS 120 Kodak Portra Color Negatives, Drum Scanned or Imacon Scanned. 

The state of New Jersey has come together to save Seaside Heights after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. As the town battles numerous downfalls, its history and beauty resurfaces as it is reconstructed.

Seaside Heights, New Jersey was known for its slogan 'Your home for family fun since 1913!' This tourist hot spot on the New Jersey coast was the home of countless childhood memories, including many of my own. Recently, Seaside has been devastated by Hurricane Sandy, which demolished many of its famous landmarks. In addition to taking thousands of peoples homes, the town’s famous boardwalk, which brought in tourism and families, was completely demolished. Although there were great strides made to rebuild the boardwalk, a destructive fire occurred setting back the reconstruction months.

After experiencing such a depressing natural disaster, the purpose of this project is to document the restoration of such an iconic town. As the restoration of this town is taking place, traces of its history and beauty are resurfacing, showing hope of a future for this iconic New Jersey attraction. I have attached two images as base for my project. I thank you for your time and look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you note:

I just want to say thank you to all the people who allowed me to photograph them and their spaces. Also, the people who aided me in creating this project in anyway. I am so very proud of this work I have made over the last 5 years. I hope I can continue building and expanding this project for years to come. I hope I can aid the Jersey Shore and New Jersey in anyway with these images.

Personal Relation:

Lets start with a little background of my roots in NJ and my education. I am a 3rd generation Jersey-Boy born and bred in Essex County, New Jersey. I was born the youngest of 3 boys in a small house in Nutley, NJ. (It had a pool so it wasn't so bad) Being the youngest of 3 made me always observe everything. Whether it was my older brothers and their friends getting into trouble, or my grandfather trying fix almost everything, I always learned by watching. I still observe to this day, just now I make my observations photograph. Today, many of these observations are translated through my photographs.

I eventually attended 2 different colleges before finding my passion and attending and graduating from the Savannah College of Art & Design in 2014 with a BFA in Photography. During my last semester of SCAD, I spent weekends traveling to Seaside in order to document the most recent progress.  I am hoping to continue this project, as well as shed light on other shore points that have been affected.

Personal Statement:

For as long as I can remember the Jersey Shore has been a place of great happiness and great memories for me. The Jersey Shore was for many years a vacation destination for my family and friends. My earliest vacation memory was my vacations with my cousins to Wildwood, NJ, which is exit 6 on the Garden State Parkway. As most kids who ventured down to Wildwood, my cousins and I were most excited for our nights on the boardwalk. I vividly remember the smell of fried Oreos, fresh Curley’s French fries, the taste of fresh squeezed lemonade and the joy filled screams from ride-goers. My cousin and I became masters of deception, stuffing napkins in our shoes so we could be tall enough to ride the roller coaster. The boardwalk was one of the first places I was given a taste of adulthood- roaming from ride to ride without supervision.

The Boardwalk has shaped many of fond memories I have of childhood, which is why I am so passionate about its revival post-Sandy. I hope to bring awareness to this amazingly unique, one of a kind place and the people I connected with while shooting this project.

Personal Photography Philosophy

This is the perfect example of the 3 rules I live by in my own photography work and Life.

1. 'The worst photograph is the one you never take.'
2. 'It never hurts to ask!'
3. 'Always carry a camera!'

You can’t take a crappy photograph if you don't take the photograph at all- these are the words I live and die by. I will drive by something on my way to work, see something beautiful. Then keep driving and eventually I have to turn around to go back and photograph what I just saw.

I have gotten so many of my best meaningful photographs just by connecting with people. Asking people if they will allow me to photograph them or if its ok if I take a photograph of their spaces. Do I also love the run and gun, capture the moment photographs? Of Course! Bruce Davidson is my idol! But he even has posed photographs where he had to of ask someone to sit for a portrait or allow him into their lives and personal space. That's where real photographs are made. The photographs with true meaning and soul that stand the test of time.

ALWAYS CARRY A CAMERA!  Refer to rule #1. I must say that the use of a 4x5 Camera was influential to the creation of this project. The respect and pure interest I gained through walking around with this camera on my shoulder was amazing. The camera itself opened so many doors for me through out this project and throughout my photography career.

Park and Ride, Seaside, NJ. 2014. 4x5 Negative Shen-Hao

This photograph was the 3rd photograph I took for this entire project. It was right in December before I went back to school and started really getting this project rolling. This image anchors the entire symbolic meaning of the project. The kids’ playground covered in snow with the bright sunny sign behind it. The entry of the boardwalk inviting you in with the telephone pole splitting the entire image. The North end of the boardwalk being re-built. The dunes pushed up to boardwalk in the background from the hurricane. The handy cap symbol foreshadowing the state of the boardwalk.

Gyros, Seaside, NJ. 2014. 4x5 Negative Shen-Hao.

This capture simply shows the work that lies ahead. This photo gives a more detailed perspective of the destruction. I also loved the light on the sign which was casted from the sun.

Crane, Seaside, NJ. 2014. 4x5 Negative Shen-Hao

This image shows the start of the rebuild of Casino Pier where the famous Jet Star Roller coaster was dropped into the ocean.

Re-Building the Boardwalk, Seaside, NJ. 2014. 4x5 Shen-Hao.

On September 13th, 2013, this is the point of the boardwalk that was split by a fire officials in an effort to stop the fire from spreading. The fire devastatingly destroyed more than 50 businesses and Funtown Pier. Officials determined the fire was caused by floodwaters to an electrical panel under the boardwalk.

Barry, Seaside, NJ. 2014. 4x5 Shen-Hao,

A Seaside native, Barry, has been a center point in my documentation of Seaside. Barry was the guy to know in Seaside, as he knew everyone and everything about the boardwalk. As soon as I connected with Barry, people took notice and became more comfortable with my project. Being so invested in the boardwalk, Barry quickly took interested in my project and helped me as much as he could. During one of our conversations, Barry mentioned his mom always wanted a photograph of him on his second home, the boardwalk. Without hesitation, I asked if I could take his picture. Barry asked me what he should do in the photo, and I told him to just be himself. He grabbed a hold of the fence while I was framing the picture under the dark cloth and it was just perfect. When I returned the next month I printed his mother this photo.

Chairs, Seaside, NJ. 2014. 4x5 Shen-Hao,

This is part of the SkyRide. Which is a chair lift that takes you from Casino that takes you from Casino Pier to the northern part of the boardwalk- a fun lift for those who do not want to walk. It spans about .3 miles from end to end.

Body Piercing, Seaside, NJ. 2014. 4x5 Shen Hao

It was a bright sunny cold day as I was walking down the boardwalk with my 4x5 camera on my shoulder. I said hello and the man at the shop took interest in my camera. After talking and he told me he had interest in photography so I showed him how the camera worked. He eventually asked me what I was doing, so I explained and asked if he would mind standing for a portrait. He was hesitant at first so I pulled back and tried to capture the whole place along with him so he would feel more comfortable. I actually never caught his name. Nice Kid.

Hot Fudge, Seaside, NJ. 2014. 4x5 Shen Hao

Here where some of the rides are stored at the Casino Pier during the off-season.

Park, Seaside, NJ 2014 4x5 Shen Hao.

Parked here one day and saw this cool view of the back of the boardwalk with this giant American flag.

Doc, Seaside, NJ 2014 4x5 Shen Hao.

This is Doc. Yes, Doc looks like the owner of Jurassic Park. And yes he impersonated him when my girlfriend and I mentioned it. He was a super funny, nice guy who was nice enough to let me photograph him. Told me how he was excited for retirement soon. I am upset with myself that I cut out his feet, but to see the entire space made sense. So the feet went.

Greetings, Seaside, NJ 2014 4x5 Shen Hao.

This image helps transition into the actual season starting and people starting to visit the shore again from March till Labor Day.

Anthony, Seaside, NJ 2014 4x5 Shen Hao.

Anthony was super nice kid. I was walking around again with my 4x5 on my shoulder when he jumped out to see what my camera was. We started talking and I showed him how my camera works. I also showed him the stand in the ground glass of the 4x5 and he asked if I would photograph him and his business. I said, “Of course!” I mailed him a print later on that month cause he wanted them so bad. Nice guy.

Choice, Seaside, NJ 2014 120 Mamiya RZ67.

This is part of one of Anthony’s stand, and the prizes you can win if you pop balloons with some darts.

Chris, Seaside, NJ 2014 120 Mamiya RZ67.

I asked Barry if he knew anyone who would let me photograph them because I felt like I did not have enough portraits of the people that make the boardwalk run. He introduced me to Chris who let me photograph him while he was running the stand where you break a bottle with a baseball. Its way harder then it looks. He asked me what to do and I told him to just put his hands on the basket of balls and look into the lens. Thanks!

Shake Shoppe Arcade #2, Seaside, NJ. 2014. Mamiya RZ67.

Prizes, Seaside, NJ. 2014. Mamiya RZ67.

Just some of the prizes you can win at the boardwalk.

Whaca, Seaside,  NJ. 2012 4x5 Shen Hao.

This is one of the first of two photographs I took that made this project take shape. I put it this far down the series because the boardwalk itself takes a different life at night. The nighttime is where the boardwalk becomes a new being. And has a new feeling to it. This feeling reminds me of staying out late, eating fried food while riding rides and winning prizes when I was a kid.

Frozen Yogurt, Seaside, NJ. 2015. Bronica ETRS.

A little salt water taffy, candy apples, and frozen yogurt stand late night on the boardwalk.

Midway, Seaside,  NJ. 2012. 4x5 Shen Hao.

This is the photograph that started the whole project. I love this photograph. The sunset light fading combined with the lights and glowing signs along with the crane showing the rebuilding in the background make this one of my favorite images. Also, the cheese steaks and sausage sandwiches are pretty fantastic.

Est. 1953, Seaside, NJ. 2015. Bronica ETRS.

Lucky Leo’s is one the biggest arcades on the boardwalk."

What makes this project unique in my opinion is the way it shows how the place was affected by natures impact but more importantly also the people behind the businesses. Those people are the ones who have to fight the biggest battle. They rely on tourism and the resulting income and some seemingly even had to rebuild their whole existence from scratch. This project, for me personally, illustrates that even the places we believe will exist forever, aren’t permanent either. Certainly this place will never be the same again, but what remains are the memories of what it once was and also the showcase that we as people have to stand together especially in the worst of times.

I would like to thank Corey for submitting his project and a very in depth story about the whole topic. Make sure to check out his website and social media. We need your submission now too! If you have created a project / series you would like to share with us, please send an email to info@wasteoffilm.com with a selection of the most representative images, as well as a short description of the work itself. Thank you for your submissions.

Support the blog

Please consider supporting this blog, my photography and also the YouTube channel by either getting my new book or some stickers through the wasteoffilm shop or by using my Amazon Affiliate links. ( US / UK / DE )

Featured - Rebecca Joyce - "Static"

This weeks featured photographer currently lives in L.A. and aims to portray  a dying breed: payphones. Rebecca has created the series "Static" to portray and document the remaining payphones and how they fit into the modern life. But first here is what she has to say about her project:

"I was drawn to payphones years ago during my studies of the urban landscape. It has accelerated recently as I began to notice them disappearing -- sometimes without a trace, sometimes leaving behind their metal shell. They dot the urban landscape as totems of the past, enduring only in popular culture and the collective memory of people of a certain age -- I may be among the youngest people to recall using public telephones on a regular basis: asking parents for a ride home, or the occasional prank call.

The project overlaps my sociological interest in the changing nature of relationships and communication. The rise of mobile technology forces payphones and landlines into obsolescence, and gives us a sense of interconnectedness when modern communication can actually be impatient, rushed, and increasingly isolating. While shared instruments of communications in public spaces seem indiscrete, making time to have a conversation made conversation more intimate.

I named this project 'Static', both in reference to the sound of a bad connection compared to the relative clarity of modern phones, as well as the static nature of wired calls: staying in one place to focus on a conversation with someone. The nostalgic nature of this project deserved to be reflected in is medium, so I chose to make these photographs using film, both 35mm and medium format.

I photograph the phones along with their surrounding environments because it helps me identify their locations, but as the phones disappear, I’ve also noticed the surrounding businesses changing. In this case, both the phone and the burger restaurant are gone.

I live very close to the touristy part of Hollywood, which can present comical photo opportunities like these painted roll-up doors.

Or the opportunity to show Hollywood Boulevard as quiet, if you’re there to see it before the businesses open and the tourists come out to fill the street.

This project has also given me the opportunity to archive some of the street art in my city, such as this phone-themed mural in East Hollywood.

If you look carefully enough, a cook at this Mexican restaurant wasn’t happy with me taking pictures of the phone in front."

Things that once were essential to living and unimaginable to ever fade away suddenly lose their purpose. They simply get replaced by newer, faster and essentially better devices. This is what Rebecca portrayed in her series, and I really feel this sentimental feeling by looking at her images and reading her description. We will never know how many conversations were held through these payphones, neither how many good or bad news were told. It is kind of sad to see those fade away and eventually disappear. What once had value to people can lose its value only a few decades later. And that for me goes to show that even what we think now is state of the art, will one day just sit there and be outdated.

I would like to thank Rebecca for submitting her project and encourage you to check out her website and social media. Make sure to submit your work now too! If you have created a project / series you would like to share with us, please send an email to info@wasteoffilm.com with a selection of the most representative images, as well as a short description of the work itself. Thank you for your submissions.

Support the blog

Please consider supporting this blog, my photography and also the YouTube channel by either getting my new book or some stickers through the wasteoffilm shop or by using my Amazon Affiliate links. ( US / UK / DE )