Stay Low

Blading in Berlin

In the time span of a couple of weeks I ended up shooting a couple of rolls, 4 to be exact, of mixed outdated 120 film (with the 503cx Hasselblad 2.8/f 80mm). The result was a very mixed bag of dicks to be honest. Since I don't develop my own film here in Berlin and I do not have a film scanner either, it was all up to the local "developer" up the street to get it done in a proper way. The combination of heavily outdated 120 film pushed 2-stops and whatever way he uses to develop/scan gave me some rather interesting results. I have had this camera now for quite some time and know how the lightmeter in the viewfinder reads certain lights in certain angles, I trust my ability to get it somewhat in the mood and style that I can say is 'mine'.  I never push or pull my film so that was a first and what I got was unexpected. In some frames you can see traces of the developing chemical, on some (but not all so I take it was a developing error somewhere down the line) you can see parallel and vertical drag marks and lines, see the Alexander Platz TV tower image and you see what I mean. I have to admit that Lightroom saved what could be salvaged in some images I display here below, mainly by just simply adding contrast. Never mind, a part of me like and can see the organic stamp these images brings out, one part of me couldn't care less as the reluctantly lazy Less-Than-Careful photographer in me sees this as another stance on the everlasting mantra - an image is an image is an image.

And a couple of happy digital Selfies

120 LOVE (Collective Medium Format Street Photography & Wear)

People, Check this out.

Medium format photography just got a new face.

Here - 120 LOVE

Cool to be part of my friend Paul Del Rosario's  'medium format' Tokyo born brainchild.

Check this out as well, Yoroshiku - Mattias Westfalk

CVLT Nation

A good friend of mine is getting his band on the road and it's taking off in a royal manner (Legion Of Andromeda) and I suggested to help him get more exposure. I contacted a site I like (probably the only one I actually like) and asked them to do something on the LOA…they did…happy days. I was then asked by CVLT Nation if I would be interested to b next photographer on their "Seven Story" photo thing. I gave them 7 images I shot by 6x6 medium format camera lately….check it out here :

http://www.cvltnation.com/category/features/seven-stories/


Super cool, stoked to be on the CVLT nation page, respect these so much and what they do for what I hold close to my heart.

Part 6/6 - 5 Roll Project

Listening to CVLT NATION's 2.5h long sample "Doom Nation Black" atm. Sunday blues pressing down heavy on my broken being. Fight fire with fire. To add insult to injury and really go the full mile I will post my last 6 shots from the 5 Roll Project. A mix of grim, blurred and moody frames that actually is perfectly suited to what today is, but on the same hand very misplaced when it comes to the joy and sheer excitement I got out of heading out with my camera and 5 rolls one day a couple of weeks back in MMXIV. The actual "plan" was to just get something done, no strings attached, no big scheme with a glorious goal at the end, no profit except on a personal level. No, just to strap on the camera and hit he city, see what this crazy place I call home could give you on 60 frames of medium format 6x6 film. Like I mentioned before, I got around 40 frames that wasn't completely "wrong", I know I missed to scan the shot I was most thrilled to shoot (thanks Paul for lending me your scanner btw)…man, that is life, sometimes you miss out on the good stuff but in the end of the day there is no one but yourself who actually cares (and I have the negative…so there you go). Maybe I get it done someday and post it, who knows. Posted 37 out of these here below in 6 Parts. Turned out to be 6 parts i.e man, tree, bldg, water, dark and lost that had some line drawn between them. This last Part is more or less leftover bastards that I can not label as one so I call it "lost", wasn't supposed to shoot color but in all haste in the dark under a bridge in the forgotten part of town I accidentally loaded a color negative and got what I got. Decent stuff actually, these turned out better that I would like to admit. Maybe my long lasting heavy grit Monochrome Period slowly coming to an end and another dimension with colors is taking shape? Doubt it but who knows. I've got a stash of insanely outdated 120 color negatives in the fridge that could come handy if I so choose...
Images, Words and Music is getting shaped into one big heavy demolition ball of inspirational destruction, life rolls on and as long as there is some creativeness left to explore there will be a way up and out.



There is only one suitable title for this set : Doom Nation MMXIV

Part 5/6 - 5 roll Project

The city expanding rapidly and without mercy. The mentality of "He-who-has-most-shit-when-he-dies-wins"is blooming, thriving and even though I always liked the engineering behind any larger-than-life structure (lots of good stuff out here, I've seen some by now that would rock the sox of a 30 year younger me) I have to admit it's with a slight distaste I see how new full areas are popping up all around the city like there is no tomorrow. Gonna be a hell of a racket when the big Kanto quake level it all. Can't say I really care since I'm so far outside this spectrum of the society here and everywhere else that it's just a mere observation. If there is a demand there will continue to be providers. Heard somewhere that the economy is taking a steep plunge and people grinding their teeth of how the Yen, Dollar and what not is loosing it's values. Doesn't really affect me and my close to zero impact (and wealth) on any social balancing scale so I continuing to give off just the slightest footprint in the sand before next tide wash it away as one never existed in the first place. Always been the melody I have waltzed through life with. Here in this city as in any other place, power is displayed in real estate, vehicles, a beautiful/respected spouse and as much shit as you can possibly squeeze in between the gaps. Anyways…buildings are straight (most of the time, the once I like anyways), square and fun to shoot with a medium format 6x6 camera. Architecture is a way of human expression, though these apartment buildings has only "functionalism" written all over them, nothing wrong in being functional I guess. No flare, just function all the way. A rant is a rant is a rant…but this was essentially a 5 Roll photo project so we save the rant of all rants till another sunny day.


Lets call this set : Altho Do Diabo

Part 4/6 - 5 Roll Project

Jan 2. Not much to say today. These blackened squares below is a couple of snaps I deliberately under exposed to get the mood I was looking for. There is a place in the heart of the city that is pretty magic and where I do go a lot. The trees and walkways surrounding the Meiji Shrine is a place where you can let your mind wander freely, always reminds me of some scene from the LOTR triology. J.R.R Tolkien would have liked this place I come to believe. To have such a sublime oasis right in the middle of this behemoth of a city is a treat. Anyways, a couple of underexposed squares reflecting the mood and feel I was looking for. Hasselblad 503CX / 80mm f/2.8 / 400 Tri-X & T-max…handheld ofcourse. I'm amazed on how well the metering of my Hasselblad view finder combined with the Kodak film can handle the high lights v.s the really dark shadows. Truly something you will struggle with on any "modern" piece of camera metering.


Lets call this set : Black Fangorn 

This frame is from another place, fits the mood and was shot on the same roll so why not