Behind the scenes of the Manual Project. During a week’s artist residency at the Hospitalfield Arts Center in Arbroath Scotland I photographed about 25 people from all walks of life and many countries including Scotland, New Zealand, England, and Pakistan
2005-2014
Wet-Plate Collodion, Silver-Gelatin Photograms, Salted Paper Prints, Digital Pigment Prints, 3D printed PLA Resin sculptures, Artist Books, Trade Edition Book, salted paper prints 10"x8", digital prints 15"x22" and 40x52", sculptures up to 5x8"
MANUAL is a collection of portraits of people from diverse backgrounds, occupations, ages, and cultures from around the globe. In each hand portrait is a study of the person’s dominant hand, revealing evidence of how they have lived, who they are, and what they may become. It is a collaboration between photographer and subject to expose their hands and their personalities. Without the distraction of faces, these images become honest and deeply perceptive portraits, reflecting the lifestyle, habits, and sensitivity of each subject.
how things were
The nature prints in my Herbarium series are incredibly simple. You coat a sheet of watercolor paper – I use Fabriano Artistico – with a salt solution and let it dry. Then when it is time to make the print you paint silver nitrate on your specimen – mine are leaves – with a foam …
When I read the shocking news this week that drone maker DJI was buying Hasselblad the venerable camera maker it brought back memories. Not just my unpleasant memories of owning a Hasselblad 500ELM and a few lenses. I loved the image quality but I detested how complex it was to use the camera and how …
A recipe for a Silver Sunbeam – A glimpse at how I made a 21st century edition of the classic 19th century book of photographic techniques. John Towler’s 1864 “Silver Sunbeam” was a revolutionary book that shared recipes for making those very new and magical things called photographs. The PDF of the 1864 edition The …
The photos for this post should be shot through a hazy filter since the story sounds impossible in light of the current state of the stock photography market and the memories are unclear. I was thinking back to when I used to make a decent income from stock photography. Yeah, like Getty Images… but different, …
I suppose I could thank Dave Mason. Yes, THAT Dave Mason, the guitarist, member of that great band Traffic, a rock n roll legend. Back in 2003 I took some photographs of him (it’s a long story and I’ll get to it later) and I couldn’t find them. I knew I had taken the photographs, …
The first annual Edison Concours d’Elegance was held October 18, 2015 in my neighborhood Llewellyn Park New Jersey. The cars drove down the road past my house at first light on the way to the car show at Glenmont, the home of Thomas Alva Edison. These were among the finest collector cars ever assembled in …
From the first annual Edison Concours d’Elegance at Llewellyn Park October 18, 2015 There are 37 of them for your viewing pleasure… Auburn, Bentley, Bugatti, Cadilllac, Duesenberg, Ford, Franklin, Hispano-Suiza, Horch, Huffmobile, Isotta-Frachini, Mercedes, Packard, Pierce Arrow, Rolls-Royce, Steyer, Stutz, and some yet to be identified.
The International Center of Photography is showing Charles Schwartz‘ collection of images of Confederate President Jefferson Davis as a cross-dresser. President in Petticoats! Civil War Propaganda in Photographs As the American Civil War ground to a dispiriting and unheroic end after the surrender of General Robert E. Lee’s rebel forces and the shocking assassination …
WHO ?? Be prepared to be astounded and amazed by this quirky work created by a strange man. The show of work by Eugene Von Bruenchenhein was a total surprise and joy for me when I visited the American Folk Art Museum. The show continues through October 9th, 2011 on 53rd Street next to …
At the Metropolitan Museum the exhibit of early 20th Century photography by Stieglitz Steichen and Strand will remind us how we got to where we are today in art photography. These three guys, more than any other photographers, have influenced how we photograph and what we photograph. Always experimenting with their style, their equipment and …
