First signs of Autumn
April 10, 2012
Yesterday morning there were signs that the seasons were changing with our first mist for the calendar year. The daytime air is still warm but the sun is getting up a little later each day. I took an early morning stroll with my camera, the landscape enveloped by a gentle glowing light, something we don’t see too frequently here in Perth. A few early morning joggers and walkers were out enjoying the cooler air, but mostly I had the misty forest and pathways to myself, it was a quiet and peaceful morning of a long weekend. You could barely believe that this regional park is bordered by suburbia, shopping centres and highways. For those of us who live near the Canning River in Perth, we are just so lucky to have this wonderful asset at our doorstep whilst being in the middle of a city.
Point Walter Workshop
March 30, 2012
We had an enthusiastic crew turn up for the introductory large format photography workshop, including some fine art students from Curtin University, a musician and someone with bee keeping experience. The later came in handy when a wayward swarm of bees briefly investigated our group before heading further afield. After some basic instruction everyone got down to looking under the focusing cloth and using a 4×5 camera, making some film exposures. There were lots of questions, a lot to cover, and the time flew by. The afternoon warmed up and we finished off at the local cafe. Thanks to Peter Kovacsy for his assistance on the day, and thanks to Fitzgerald Photo, Jamie Paterson and Camera Electronic for helping to spread the luv.
FotoFreo 2012 Changing Places
March 16, 2012
This afternoon Peter and I installed our exhibition ‘Changing Places’ into the Barracuda Studio Gallery in Pakenham St Fremantle. Barracuda is open 10am to 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday. The exhibition runs for two weeks only, 17th March until 31st March, as part of the Foto Freo Festival. We are only a short walk from the cafe strip, so come down, catch our exhibition and enjoy a coffee. Don’t forget you are invited to our special evening viewing on March 24th from 6.30 to 8pm, where Peter and I will be available to discuss our work.
Changing Places Photography Exhibition, Barracuda Gallery, March 17th to 31st, FotoFreo 2012
March 9, 2012
Our exhibition Changing Places at Barracuda Studio Gallery, Fremantle is only about a week away and final preparations are well underway. This morning I fired up my old Seal Commercial press to dry mount my gelatin silver fibre based prints onto museum board ready for framing. If you haven’t received an invitation yet, then please consider this quick note as your invitation to drop by between the 17th and 31st March, Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm, as part of the FotoFreo 2012 Open Exhibition Programme. Or if you would like to catch up with Peter and myself you can come along to a special evening viewing on March 24th. Look forward to seeing you there.
Perth photography workshop filling up fast.
February 17, 2012
Places are filling fast for the March 24th workshop. If you want an opportunity to see what large format photography can offer in realising your photographic vision, then this workshop is for you. We will be outdoors, using 4×5 cameras, you and a workshop colleague setting up a camera, viewing the composition, getting first hand experience and expert guidance. We are not just stuck in some boring classroom discussing theories and looking at an example. Only two spots left. So grab a spot before they run out! Details online.
Intro to Large Format Photography
February 6, 2012
Introduction to large format photography workshop, Point Walter, March 24th, 2012, 1.00pm to 4.30pm
During the month of FotoFreo 2012 I will be holding an introductory workshop to large format photography.
The aim of this workshop is to introduce you to a large format 4×5 inch field camera, provide some first hand experience with its workings and techniques, with applications for both portrait and landscape work.
If you have ever wondered about the advantages of using a large format camera in your work and what’s involved, or are considering large format for your photography, then this is for you.
This workshop will be conducted outdoors along the foreshore of the Point Walter Reserve, so you can see and experience using a 4×5 field camera on location. Through discussions and field demonstrations, I will guide you through the process of setting up, and the camera techniques in using a large format camera. I will also talk about choice of film types and applications, film loading, processing, lens choices and printing options including digital output.
Point Walter Reserve will provide ample subject matter in a relaxed learning environment for participants to gain experience in using a 4×5 field camera within a group setting. Participants who don’t own a 4×5 are encouraged to attend, if you have one then it bring it along. To maximise the experience, workshop numbers are limited to 6 people.
During the workshop I will be assisted by friend and colleague, Peter Kovacsy. We are holding an exhibition, “Changing Places” at the Barracuda Studio Gallery, U3&4/56 Pakenham St, Fremantle, March 17th to 31st, as part of the FotoFreo Fringe Festival 2012.
After the workshop relax and enjoy a coffee at Walters Cafe. Peter and I also invite you to a special evening viewing at Barracuda Gallery, Fremantle, on Saturday 24th March from 6.30PM to 8PM, where we will discuss our work.
Book online or download a pdf form and post to Alex Bond Photography.
Bracken Ferns, Augusta.
January 13, 2012
During summertime I have to vary my darkroom routine to account for the heat. This means that I usually like to get to work early before the heat of the day sets in. With tasks like film processing it is important to be consistent, and that means keeping the temperature of the developer constant with the use of tempered water baths. It’s simple to do really, just add refrigerated water (during summer) to the room temperature tap water. You may also like to use a pre-rinse which can help adjust the temperature of developing tanks, film and reels prior to the actual development process. These days I just stick to a water bath and choosing a time of the day when you don’t have to fight too great a temperature differential between the room temperature and developer. Anyway, my point is that the window period for film development for me during summer is shortened, so it can take a while to catch up with a back log of film. So I was delighted when I viewed this morning’s processed black and white sheet films and rediscovered what I was photographing exactly one month ago during a trip to Augusta; in this case, bracken ferns. Developing films can be a bit of an adventure, you can never be absolutely sure what you have on film is what you see, and in this case I think I see more in the image than what I remember at the time on the ground glass.
Foto Freo 2012 Fro on the Fringe
January 6, 2012
Yes, the news came through this afternoon in a collective email from Foto Freo headquarters for this year’s fringe dwellers to be given the “go ahead”. So there we have it, ladies and gentlemen. According to Bob Hewitts’s Foto Freo December 2011 newsletter, “Landscape photography, along with wild life photography, has not received much attention in past Festivals.” So I am pleased to assist by doing my small part in addressing this imbalance by participating in this year’s Foto Freo Fringe Festival 2012, along with my good friend and colleague Peter Kovacsy. Our exhibition, “Changing Places” will be held at the Barracuda Studio Gallery, U3&4/56 Pakenham St (corner of Pakenham St and Nairn St, Tele 08 9430 6606), starts March 17th. Come along, see some traditional hand made prints and catch up for a chat.
Spring time ramble.
October 23, 2011
Spent the last week in the south west and Spring is definitely out. I was doing a few coastal walks, the weather was wonderfully changeable, rainy and blustery one day, then calm, fine mornings with light wisps of high cloud the next. Just the sort of conditions I like most as it offers a wide range of photographic opportunities, from different light qualities to varying subject matter. On my way back one fine morning I sheltered for a while under these peppermint trees which were laden with white trails of bloom. There was the added bonus of a small brook and the sound of running water. So nice to see some water flowing in the brooks and streams this year compared to the dryness of last year. It’s a great time of the year to get out and do a bush walk, ramble, hike or what ever you choose to call it.
Introductory Large Format Photography Workshops
April 25, 2011
Swamp Sheoaks, Canning River Reserve
During May and June I will be offering some introductory workshops to large format photography.
The aim of this workshop is to introduce you to a large format 4×5 inch field camera, provide some first hand experience with its workings and techniques, with applications to both portrait and landscape work. If you have ever wondered about the advantages of using a large format camera in your work and what’s involved, or are considering large format for your photography, then this is for you.
This workshop will be conducted outdoors along the wooded banks of the Canning River Reserve, so you can see and experience using a 4×5 field camera in a real life situation. Through various discussions and field demonstrations, including some with Polaroid instant 4×5 film, Alex will guide you through the process of using and choosing a large format camera. Discussion will also include choice of film types and applications, film loading, processing, lens choices and printing options including digital output.
The Canning River Reserve will provide ample subject matter and an ideal learning environment for participants to gain experience in using a 4×5 field camera within a group setting. Participants who have their own film or digital camera, regardless of
format, are encouraged to bring it along.
To maximise the experience, workshop numbers are limited to a maximum of 6 people. For more information about dates etc, you can down load a printable pdf or you can get more details and book online.
You will be the envy of other photographers with the strikingly fashionable dark cloth hairstyle.
