Chicago Illinois Fine Art Landscape & Portrait Photographer
Just a quick note to let you know about our monthly promotion for May.
During the month of May, customers will receive an additional 20% off of their professional film scanning and archival printing services orders.
For complete details or to place an order, please contact the studio at (773) 203-9727 or send us your questions via our contact form.
Deal ends May 31st.
TG
Spring has indeed sprung here in The Windy City, and nowhere is it more evident than at Caldwell Woods Forest Preserve on Chicago’s north side. The wildflowers put on a dazzling display for me and my friend and fellow photographer Jeremy Atherton, and the abundant marsh marigolds provided a lush carpet with plenty of photographic opportunities. Jeremy’s brought his new rig out, the Pentax K-01, and I got to see this interesting new camera in the wild. I opted for my old standby; the hulking Mamiya RB67 Pro-SD fitted with the amazing 90mm K/L lens. And I was packing my go to film – Ilford Pan F Plus.
Vernal Pond I
Not 100 yards from where we parked the car, I noticed a small vernal pond just off the trail and the way the light was reflecting off the shallows I just knew I had to get off the paved trail and see if there was a photo to be made there. Indeed there was, several actually. We spent a good 15-20 minutes working an area of the woods not much bigger than most bathrooms! The above image and the next two that follow were taken in this little area just off the beaten path.
Vernal Pond II
Marsh Marigold
Did I mention the marsh marigolds were in bloom? These delicate flowers resemble a buttercup at first glance, but upon closer inspection reveal a more intricate leaf pattern and stamen. They were growing everywhere; some in water, some next to the pond, and others on now dry (but previously submerged) lowland areas within the woods. They are a neat specimen to photograph, provided the wind stays down. I got lucky and snapped two frames of this plant during a lull in the breeze; this one came out looking pretty good.
Forest Floor
Dreaming Tree
I’ll be heading back here soon to grab more images of the spring blooms before they are gone. That’s all for now. Thanks for looking!
TG
It’s been a few weeks since we got back from Birmingham, Alabama, and I finally got around to developing and scanning some of the film from the trip. Tried something new this trip, and, instead of carrying the usual arsenal of cameras, lenses and assorted photo gear, I settled on a single camera; the Agfa Isola 1. This is a neat little rig. It is a lightweight, fixed lens rangefinder which dates back to the 1950s when it was introduced as a travel camera. Its feature set is limited, offering just three focus settings using a distance scale system. It lacks auto anything. This little camera takes 120 roll film and churns out 6×6 negatives (12 to a roll) which have a dreamlike quality about them.
Kudzu
Pixel peepers and resolution fanatics will be disappointed, but those with a more carefree aesthetic will appreciate the creamy tonal rendering (especially with a slow black and white film like Ilford Pan F Plus), selective center focus, silky smooth bokeh and slight vignetting the uncoated lens produces.
Abandoned L&N Mineral Railroad
Took a walk one afternoon as the sun was beginning its slow westerly descent and decided to bring it along for the ride. Took a number of winding residential streets uphill from our friend’s house where we were staying and parked in the small day use lot for The Vulcan Trail. This level, paved and tree-lined 1-mile trail hugs the ridge of Red Mountain (aptly named for the rich, ruddy colored iron ore deposits which were found within its rocky interior, and which helped give birth to a vibrant steel industry) as it follows the path of the former L&N Mineral Railroad, and offers up spectacular views of downtown Birmingham.
View of Downtown Birmingham Alabama from The Vulcan Trail
Can’t wait to go back there and do the entire trail. Rumor has it local trail advocacy groups are trying to connect The Vulcan Trail to a neighboring series of larger trails which, if successful, would offer trail users a spectacular way to walk/hike/bike from Birmingham, Alabama all the way to Atlanta, Georgia! Wow!
The Club
We were truly blessed this year with a mild Winter, which in turn gave way to a warmer than usual Spring, which I have been enjoying with my family (and is the reason this blog has been silent).
I’ve been shooting the odd small job here and there while I build up business in other areas such as training and support. It’s always amazing to me how many photographers are either artists or technicians, but not both. I guess it is surprising to me since I consider the medium of photography to be a perfect marriage of both art and science. Regardless, I have enjoyed recent successes in sharing my knowledge with others, learning about the creative and technical challenges facing the working photographer today, and building my network.
That’s not to say I haven’t had time to shoot. In fact, I have shot more this Winter/Spring than I ever have. It’s been an extremely rewarding experience, too. The temporary switch from color to black and white work has been a breathe of fresh air, and home developing my black and white film has helped me regain the tactile quality of the art-making process which is so sorely lacking in digital.
I’m looking forward to continuing to develop my black & white eye as Spring turns to Summer, and exploring all the wonderful qualities of light in between.
It’s going to be a fun ride for sure!
TG
This website and blog are hosted by FatCow, who is currently experiencing issues with one of their data centers. If you experience any sort of wonkiness while using the site today or tomorrow, that’s why.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, and hope to be back up and running shortly. Thanks for your patience!
TG
P.S. – If you need to reach the studio, the number is (773) 203-9727. Thanks!