journal
I got to spend a couple of days in Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana. It was my first time there, and I really enjoyed the city. I didn't have a lot of time for photography, but I did what I could.
This is the video of our weekend in the city.
Waking up and getting out early in the morning is always, always worth it. Some days, though, the payoff is huge. After a month and a half of daily outing early in the morning here in Indiana, I finally got what I was looking for.
Read MoreI recently read the book Make your bed by William H. McRaven. It's a just ok read, but the subtitle intrigued me:
"little things that can change your life"
The basic idea is that even the smallest things you do early on can trigger a chain reaction that will determine the rest of your day.
It resonated with me. This might sound familiar to you as well:
A lazy and unproductive day starts the night before, going to bed a bit later than usual. I'll get up a bit later and will be a bit more tired. Less time and less energy mean fewer things getting done. It's around noon when I realize I haven't done much, and usually give up my whole day by then. "It's already too late and I'm tired, I better leave this for tomorrow".
A productive day, on the other hand, starts by going to bed at a decent time, getting up early, and trying to accomplish something before the sun is out. Writing, going for a walk / run, or getting out to photograph are essential in my morning routine.
The day won't seem so overwhelming when it's still 8 or 9 in the morning and you've already accomplished something, even if they are small things.
And yes, I make my bed too.
How do we measure progression in a creativity work like photography? I'll be clear from the beginning: there's no progression in photography.
Read MoreThe Elkhart County Fair was one of my first experiences in America when I moved here back in 2013. It was definitely different from what I was used to, to say the least.
6 years later, I went back. It was a fun day of fair food, attractions and even a Demolition Derby.
The Nest is the new Image of the Month for the month of August. This one took quite a bit of patience and waiting in the cold.
I made this image early on a foggy morning in NW Spain. The atmosphere was beautiful and I hope to have captured that with this picture. You can watch the video where I make it here: "Wildlife" photography with the Bronica.
Remember: there are two sizes to choose from, 6x6 and 8x8 (inches). In both cases, the matt and frame are 12x12 (this means a bigger margin for the 6x6 print).
Shipping is free to the US. International shipping is a flat rate of $14.95.
White Moon is my bestselling image to date. Since I released it later in the month, it's still available at a reduced price. Hurry up, the offer will end in just a few days!
A new image will be released every month and offered at a reduced price during that time. After 30 days, it will be sold at full price. They will never be on sale at any time in the future, the rate during the first month will be the lowest, ever.
You can find more information about how I create my images and all the details about pricing on The Art and Craft behind my prints.
I'm back after a couple of weeks without videos. This time, from Lake Michigan, my favorite place to photograph in Indiana.
It was a long but very productive day. I revisited old places and used my newest lens for the first time.
This is a common misconception.
Minimalism isn't about having a lot of negative space in our images.
Minimalism is about what we include and, most importantly, about what we don't. It's about removing everything until we are left with just what the image requires to tell the story.
Early this morning during my walk I ran across a couple of dragonflies, just laying on the sidewalk. I have no idea if they were sleeping, resting or dead. I do this walk / run every morning and I had never seen them do that before.
Of course, I had my RX100VA with me so I tried to make a few images. I was able to get really, really close, and they didn't move.
I think I'll bring my bigger camera and some extension tubes tomorrow, just in case. It could be a great opportunity to do some "macro-insect" photography.
Photography isn't a necessity for human beings. After all, we've been photographing for just a couple centuries and the species did just fine before that.
We need water, we need food, we need to sleep. But we don't *need* to photograph.
Why do we photograph, then? What's the point?
Read MoreI finally had the chance to try CineStill's monobath solution, Df96. This product promises to do the job of three chemicals, all in one: developer, bath stop and fixer.
While I could see how that would save a lot of time, I wasn't so sure about the results I could get.
I've only developed 2 rolls of Ilford HP5 with this solution, but so far, I'm pretty happy with the negatives. And the best of all: I was able to do it almost twice as fast.
I love shooting film, but developing it isn't my favorite thing to do. That's why I welcome anything that makes it easier and faster, like CineStill Df96.
These are some of the images from those 2 rolls, shot with a Bronica SQ-Ai and a Holga (this one was in the camera for over a year and still turned out mostly ok).
"Be curious. Stand up. Keep your eyes open. Don't shake. Don't blink" - Robert Frank
It really is this simple.
Unless you are shooting large format and treating each image differently, I’d say no, developing film isn't a creative step.
Many people follow the indications from the manufacturer or some online recipe.
Others experiment with different developers, dilutions, time, agitation... and eventually settle on a formula that gives them the results they are looking for.
Most people just drop their film off at a lab.
In my case, I usually push my film 1 or 2 stops to create the aesthetics I want. It's a foundation that all the images from the roll will share.
This is equivalent to apply a preset in Lightroom or other editing software, something I wouldn't call creative.
In my opinion, it's when we compose, edit and print the image that we can be the most creative.
I love my RX100. I use it every single day.
While full-frame gets all the headlines these days, there's no better camera than the one you have with you, and the RX100 fits that bill perfectly.
Despite the small size, this is a very powerful camera, full of features and settings. I like to use it mostly as a point and shoot camera so I try to keep things as simple as possible. These are the settings I use for everyday and on-the-go photography.
Read MoreWhen I started running, I thought it was about keeping a fast pace for as long as I could. Push myself to the limit, rest a few days, and repeat.
I didn't realize that more frequent but less intense exercise leads to better results. Doing it again tomorrow instead of taking the day off makes you stronger.
We usually underestimate the power of adding up.
That's why snacking -and not big meals- makes us gain fat. That's why one cigarette won't kill you, but smoking everyday will. That's why one avocado toast a day will cost you thousands of dollars over time.
I believe the same applies to photography.
Instead of (better yet, in addition to) pursuing a few incredible images a few times a year in a faraway land, why not try to create something every day wherever we are.
At first, it might look like we haven't done much. It's only over time that our efforts will start to add up, and we'll start to build something bigger than we ever thought.
We believe that we need motivation to do something. Motivation leads to results. Thus we seek to be motivated, yet fail most of the time.
What if it was the other way around? What if our actions defined our motivation?
Then, all it'd take for us to be motivated is to do something.
I've been told many times -especially when working with film- about the right way to do things.
"Look at the masters", they say. "Do what they did", they repeat.
"It was all academic. You were taught to paint like somebody else, made me not want to paint at all. You want to paint your own way!"
Georgia O'Keeffe said it better than anyone else. Using just charcoal, she created beautiful -but radical for her time- abstract drawings. That wasn't what she was supposed to be doing. And yet, she became one of the greatest American artists of the 20th century.
Look at the masters, and then "kill" them and carve your own path. The world doesn't need another Ansel Adams or another Henri Cartier-Bresson.
The world needs you.
The summer is always a slow time for me and my photography. I don't like the heat, and it's just too bright out there. I usually take some time to finish old projects and start new ones, something I can't really do when I'm on the road.
This year, I'm taking some time to work on old images, prints and (finally!) 2 upcoming books. I can't wait to share what I'm working on with you.
I haven't gone on a photography trip for almost 2 weeks (if we don't count the morning I spent at Chain O'Lakes), and I'm starting to have withdrawals.
This doesn't mean I haven't been making new images, though. I always -always- carry a camera with me. So even on days when I'm spending time with family (say, the 4th of July), or days when the most exciting thing I do is going on a walk around town, I'm still able to photograph something.
These are some of the images I've made during the last few days here in Indiana.
Experience doesn't matter when it comes to photography. If it did, all the greats would've created their best images at the end of their careers. That's rarely the case.
Actually, I'd argue that experience makes us and our art predictable. The more we do something, the less likely we are to try something new.
I believe we should strive to be beginners forever.
