2011 What a Year!

We all have hills and valleys in our lives, where we expand and learn, and then coast and idle. This is how it is for me anyway, I find myself working in creative bursts with what you could call "down time" or "recovery time" in between.

This year as a whole has been one amazing upswing. I experienced more growth and expanded my work to levels than I haven't in years- and it felt great! You all know the quote: "You only get out of it what you put into it." Well this year I put into it.

In February (on my birthday) I joined Model Mayhem. I have always wanted to do modeling work, and expanded my work into more creative portraiture this year. It has been a fantastic experience, I've met so many great people and made some really nice portrait work with all of you. Thanks!

Anastasia, from a recent modeling shoot in Terre Haute.

I shoot with lots of different and vintage camera equipment. I have 100 year old box cameras, 50 year old SLR's, and everything in between. I like to collect and use older functioning cameras to make photographs. It is a wonderful experience when you work with a camera that you are comfortable with, or are surprised at the results from a camera that has probably been collecting dust or sitting in a box for 50 years.

Kera Storrs, portrait made with a 100 year old Box Brownie

Film cameras have always been my comfort zone as an artist, and I have always seemed to struggle to be as creative with digital cameras. This year I worked really hard at trying to be as artistic and creative with digital as I have been with film in the past, and I think it paid off. I am now moving back and fourth between film and digital a lot easier, and am beginning to find my groove with digital cameras.

You think this would be easy since I have been shooting with digital SLR's since January of 2000. Before that I had, however, taken probably over 7000 rolls of film in 35mm cameras, not counting the sheet film burned in my large format cameras. I have a lot of film based photography experience :)

This summer I did a project where I shot with wet plate, film and digital on the same subject on the same day. This forced me to think the same way across three centuries of camera gear. It was awesome!

Danielle Palmer, made with my favorite SLR, my 40 year old Pentax SP-II

Jamie Siddons, taken with my digital SLR.

My main focus over previous years has been my work as a collodion artist at living history events. I really enjoy demonstrating and making images with the wet plate process with like minded folk at events throughout the summer. Unfortunately my "real job" had me working a lot of forced overtime work on the weekends. This had me miss a lot of events that I have been able to attend in the past. I was still able, however, to attend a few events and enjoyed myself a lot.

Two images made at the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington, Il.

I expanded my collodion work a little bit with some modeling work in wet plate. Collodion and modern portrait work just rocks! I had so much fun working this way, and I want to do more modern portrait work with wet plate and models this coming year.

Kayla Batchelor, 1/2 plate tintype.

Madi, 1/4 plate tintype portrait.

And finally, a sneak peak of a personal project I made in September of 2011. On the 10th anniversary of 9-11 I spent the day with the Champaign, Il fire department.  I made a series of tintype portraits in the shade of the fire station doors, in and around the fire equipment. It was a wonderful experience! I will have an exhibit of these images in March of 2012 and a companion book to go along with the exhibit, so stay tuned :)

 I hope everyone had a great 2011, and I look forward to a great 2012!