The Photography of Brian L. Schiele

The story benhind the photograph...

2012-02-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about my son a lot lately, who will be turning 18 soon, so Ithought I'd post this photograph that I did a few years ago on a summer visit; what follows is the story behind the photograph..

It was the early part of the summer of 2006, my son had just come for a visit and we were headed to my wife's family reunion. It was held that year an old park in tiny town in the south western corner of the Salt Lake Valley called Copperton, and like I do most of the time I brought a camera or two with me, in hopes of making a photograph or two. Like most parks this one had a playground, that had a mix of old and new things for the kids to play on, but the one that caught my eye the most was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. Imagine if you will a concrete mound, that had a slide on one side, a means to climb and walk up on another, a third side where you could climb up and a fourth side that was covered in brick and had a concrete tube sticking out of it, that resembled a cannon. I think there were tubes that you can't see in the photograph that ran perpendicular to this one also. As I came and went that day through the park and through this playground I kept thinking about the tube, so near the end of the reunion I stopped and made a photograph of it. The first one was just of the tube as it was, but as clicked through advancing the roll of film on my Holga, I felt like it needed more, so I asked my then 12 year old son to come over and climb in the tube and put his hand out as if he were holding on to the outside of it.

Fast forward to the end of that summer and I am attending the Maine Photographic Workshops, something I had been wanting to attend for a very long time and was extremely fortunate to do so on a scholarship. I had selected to attend a workshop called, "In Search Of the Personal", taught by a great photographer and educator John Goodman, from Boston.

Like most photography workshops, the first day involved showing our photographs to the instructor and the class, I had a few dozen photographs in two portfolio books. I don't really remember all that John said about my photographs that day, that is except for what he said about this one.

As he pulled this photograph from the portfolio, I told him about how the photograph had come to be and he says to me, "This photograph is about your relationship with your son. Isn't it." As he finished his thought I instantly felt as if I had been hit with a one ton wrecking ball, because was he right, and I had never thought about it in the months since I had made the photograph.

When I got back from that week in Maine, I made another print and sent it to my son with a letter explaining the photograph to him and what I had hoped would come with our relationship. I know he got the photograph but I don't know if he still has or even remembers me sending it to him nearly six years ago. I hope he does of course, and if he doesn't I want him to know that I am still holding and that I love him.

College Days...

2012-01-29T12:03:00.001-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to two college photography classes taught by my friend and fellow photographer Michael Slade. He is an adjunct instructor at two different universities here in Utah, but I spoke to his classes at BYU. The first class I spoke to was the into photography class, Photo 1 Spring 2012.
The first thing I noticed when I got to the class was that the entire class was that is was comprised entirely of women. While it was merely an observation, I did think it was a little unusual at first, but I asked Michael about it, and he told me that fewer men have majors in areas that generate less income these days; when I was in college, I'd say any of the art and photography classes I took had slightly more men then women as I recall. I talked to them mostly about my photography and shared with them my thoughts on being an artist and photographer who doesn't make a living at it and I showed them my photographs as well.
The second class I spoke to was the Photo B&W Darkroom Spring 2012, and while I briefly spoke to the class about the same things I spoke about to the other class, the bulk of the nearly two hours was spent in the darkroom giving the students a printing demonstration. While Michael initially set up things so that we could be demonstrating to the class, the majority of the students wandered over to my side of the darkroom, which I must admit it was flattering that more of them were listening to me,rather than Michael, I think they were just interested in hearing from someone other than Michael for a change.
I brought with me three different rolls to make a print from for the demonstration, so it was hard to pick just one, but I kept coming back to the one pictured above. It was great being able to share my love for photography with these students, they all seemed interested in what I was saying, and on several occasions during both presentations Michael would chime in with a comment along the lines of, "Now where have you heard that before" or "Doesn't that sound familiar". It was a great confidence builder hearing those affirmations from an educator and fellow photographer.
It was a great way to spend a few hours with these young, eager and talented photographers, and while I have never thought much about being a teacher, it was great knowing that the knowledge I have is valuable enough to share.
Speaking of talent, make sure you check out the class blogs, as well as Micheal's blogs and website, the Photo I class has a list of the students blogs and I am sure the other class will have one too as the semester continues. Make sure to check out Micheal's other blogs too, he has two great projects that he is working on, my favorite is the one he works on every December he calls "Creche A Day". Also check out his "Utah Bigfoot" blog, a project he has been working on for a few years now, where he photographs various sites around Utah where "bigfoot" has been spotted and documented at.
Thanks again Michael!

So long 2011...

2011-12-31T07:47:00.000-07:00

So long 2011..
Here's to more great fly fishing and photography in 2012.

Holgaramas and Macro Photographs

2011-12-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

I finished two rolls of film recently, Kodak Tri-X and Plus-X by the way, one was a roll that was entirely "Holgaramas", while there other was from my Macro Holga. While I've had a lot of success with the Holgarama technique I thought I'd do something just at little different this time and remove the square mask from the camera, something that I was told would soften the transition between the two overlapping frames, which I am happy to report it did just that.The only thing though is that it makes the negative a little wider than it would with the mask, but hopefully I can correct that problem.
So without further ado here are the two best Holgaramas from the roll.

I really like this one, I remember thinking about the quality of light when I came upon the scene and the negtive did not fail. I like that the transition comes together a lot nicer without the mask, I will defiantly be doing Holgaramas without the mask from now on.

This one is at a wide bend in the river, where the river makes this long sweeping turn that heads off away from the camera.

My second roll went through my macro Holga, which is a Holga that I have dedicated solely for such purposes. I a set of "macro" and close up lens that snap onto the front of the lens that I use for when I want to take such close up photographs. The "macro" set has two lens that allow me to get as close as 30mm and 60mm, while the close up set has lens that allow me to focus as close as 120mm, 250mm and 500mm. The trouble with using these lens, especially at the closer distances, is that it is difficult to compose, because you can't see the subject enough through the viewfinder. So what I did to help overcome this was tie a piece of twine around the lens and put a different piece of tape on the twine that corresponds to the particular distance of each lens.

By doing this I figured I would increase my chances of getting the subject in front of the lens, which for the most part works, but it is a technique I am still mastering.
I have been trying to get a good close up photograph of some flies and the two here are the only two frames of the 12 on the roll that turned out, so here they are.

I really like this one and I think I shot it with the 60mm lens, which I think is as about as close as you can go and maintain good focus and not become distorted as is the case with the 30mm lens as I have found out so far.

I am not sure what I think about this one, but I thought I'd put it out there and hope that someone comments on it. I know there is a negative space above the flies, but in some way I think it works. What do you think? Is there too much negative space or is it OK?

Thanks for taking a look and please comment.
Brian

Pretty Fly...

2011-12-03T20:26:00.001-07:00

You know it was a great year, when you can begin the year with some coverage about your photography and end it with some too. As you may recall, in the Winter 2011 issue of Fly Rod & Reel, so I am delighted to let you know that my photography is featured in Issue number 32, the December 2011/January 2012 of "This is Fly".
"This is Fly" is a great online magazine, that's been a round for a few years now, that I feel is an innovative magazine especially for a fly fishing one. They use a lot of different typography and layouts and they do stories and feature things that aren't about fly fishing at all, as is the case of the non photographic artists that they feature in every issue. I am pleased with the layout and treatment of my photographs, other tan my blogsite and Flickr, I'd say this is the largest single grouping of my photographs with 20 photographs shown out of the 24 that I submitted. So check it out HERE, then go to the table of contents page and click on the line that says "Featured Photographer" Brian Schiele." Then go back and check out the rest of magazine!

Thanks goes out to everyone I have fished with and photographed!
Brian

Art makes a great gift!

2011-10-22T11:47:00.001-06:00

I have several photographs available for purchase from a limited run of printing I did earlier this year, with the exception of the rectangular ones they are all printed by hand in the darkroom; the rectangular ones are printed on the computer on a fine archival paper. They are matted with bright white museum board. the rectangular ones measure 11"x14" and the rectangular ones measure 9"x12". They are available for $60 which includes shipping. I can take a check or PayPal. If you happen to be in the Salt Lake City, Utah area, we can make other arrangements.
Without further ado here is what I have available and the quantities I have of each...

This is one of my favorites, it was one of my first fly fishing photographs. I love the bokeh of the Holga lens, especially on the branch on the in the upper left corner and the trees along the upper edge of the photograph. This is the Weber river. I have four these available.

This one was published in an article written about me and my photography in the winter issue 2011 issue of Fly Rod & Reel magazine. This is also on the Weber ut on the other end. I have three of these available.

This is also on the Weber river, I did it just a few feet away from the previous photography. I love the quality of light on the Weber and was taken by the texture on the water. I have three of these available

This one is done on my first trip down the Green river here in Utah.I love the line created from the angler hucking big streamers in the fall. I have five available

I made this photograph while walking back from a day of fishing on the Middle Provo river. The texture of the rocks caught the attention of my eye. I have four available.

Another favorite of mine, it has such a timeless quality to it, and the quality of light makes a great moment at the end of great day of fishing with buddies, that much more memorable. I have two available.

Anglers often have to be creative and improvise while being on the river, which is what caught my eye when I made this photograph. I have four available.

This one was also published in the Fly Rod & Reel article about me, the right half was published in the magazine, while the entire diptych was published in the online version of the story. I have two available in the above mentioned size and price but I also have a much larger one that is not matted. It is printed on the same paper but is 13"x19" with an image size of 7 7/8" x 16 7/8" and can be purchased for $100.

This is one of the first "Holgaramas" I did on fly fishing, I really like how it turned out too. It has a dream like and magical quality that you won't come across anywhere else. I have just one of these in the larger unmatted size that is printed on 13" x 19" paper with an image size of approximately 9 3/4" x 167/8". It can be purchased for $100.

Just remember, Christmas is only 63 Days Away and counting and art makes a great gift. If you have any further questions, I always available via email.

Thanks!
Brian

They love my photography in Scandinavia...

2011-10-01T08:57:00.000-06:00

I got another request to be interviewed about my photography recently, for a fly fishing web zine in Norway called Vak (which means "rising fish" in Norwegian, Swedish and Danish, as I found out). It wasn't my first appearance in a magazine or web zine in Scandinavia either, I am happy to say.
You can check out the article HERE, The story was titled "Foreviger fisk med plastikk", which translates to "Perpetuates the fish with plastic", which you have to admit is kind of funny, although I am sure in the author's native tongue sounds better.
I am not a linguist or anything like that, but I know that language to language translations often don't always come across that well when they are translated, especially when the message is translated to English.
So unless you can read Norwegian, I'll leave you with a translated version of the interview.

"Perpetuates the fish with plastic"

Brian L. Schiele is a fly fishing the Holger-master.

In hipster communities around the world have the phenomenon of Lomography received high marks in recent times. Holger is one of the cameras used, and inexpensive plastic tool uses the film-type medium. Holger was first produced in Hong Kong, and the first cameras came on the market in 1982. Originally this was thought to be an affordable mass-produced camera for the Chinese working class.

The camera's cheap construction and simple lens (everything is made of plastic) often give characteristic pictures with a lot of vignetting , "poor" focus, light leakage and other photographic disorders. NOK Ironically it was this combined with low-fidelity aesthetic that was appreciated by some photographers. Which meant that Holger became a kind of cult phenomenon.
But it's not just blog the hipsters who have pressed the plastic to his heart. Brian L. Schiele is an American family man and fly fisherman from West Valley City , Utah. He uses exclusively Holger to immortalize their trips, and we went for a chat with him.
- I have used Holger cameras in about 18 years. The challenges of using a basic camera appeals to me, and I think it helps to slow the creative process down a little notch, said Schiele to Vak.

He points out that film-based photography is what he really can, and will continue to use it as long as possible.
- I think the movie will be there from my life anyway. The biggest challenge now is to find places that are doing development. As of today I have a place that still does this. But one day, the NOK will be gone, and when it happens, I will call themselves, he says.
Schiele own a digital point & shoot camera, and I think that the ability to shoot digital is great. But he is far from certain that he sees himself as the owner of a DSLR in the future. It seems he really is okay ...
The explanation of why he mostly takes pictures of fly fishing is simple.
- When I'm hooked on something so I'm really hooked. Then it is also natural for me to turn the camera on it, something I did when I started mountain biking. I'm not the world's best fly fisherman, so when I come up short in a fishing situation, I take either the camera and start looking for motives, said Schiele.
He's usually with three different Holgaer when he is on a fishing trip.
- I am convinced that I am using these cameras will be able to capture the timelessness that characterizes fly fishing and being out in the river, he concludes.
Check out Schiele's pictures on his blog or by visiting his Flickr profile .
PS: A Norwegian fly fisherman by the name Torgeir Nordkild is also a frequent user of plastic, and although it may not be as many fish pictures to find among his work, it's still worth a look at Norkateers LomoHome .

There you go, it is kind of funny, at least from my English speaking point of view that is.

My other appearance in a Scandinavian photography magazine was in Sweden's Kamera & Bild, in it's December 2005 issue as part of an article on toy cameras.

Thanks to Google for providing the translation, with its, Google Translator, it was the first one I found that translated Norwegian.

Also make sure you check out The River Damsel's blog a fellow Salt Lake area blogger and angler who I have had the privilege of fishing with a few times this past summer. In her most recent post, "Haunted By Waters" she posted a photograph I took of her and paired it with some quotes from the movie, "A River Runs Through It", that are incredibly fitting.
Brian

Some cross blog love...

2011-09-23T18:02:00.004-06:00

I don't know about you, but through the internet I have virtually met a lot of great people, some of which I have met in person and many more I hope to meet in person someday. One such person is a guy but the name of Cameron Mortenson, who runs a great blog dedicated to fiberglass fly fish rods called "The Fiberglass Manifesto". Over the past couple of years since we've known each other Cam has written about me and my photography three or four times and wrote about my photography again in his post today. Because of the exposure I got from Cam, I think it helped me get the write up about my photography in the Winter 2011 issue of Fly Rod & Reel.
The one thing I like most about Cam's blog is that while it is about fly fishing and fiberglass rods, he does a great job at encompassing every aspect of fly fishing from art, to kids (he co runs another fly fishing site, called, www.fishykid.org) and fly tying to name a few of the many things that involve fly fishing and fiberglass fly rods.
As a way to get the word out about his blog, he sells stickers and t shirts with the Fiberglass Manifesto logo on them. From there he holds a monthly TFM Spotting contest, where each of the monthly winners are eligible for the big contest at the end of the year, for a fiberglass rod. I have entered once, with a Holga self portrait, but I didn't get enough votes.
Whether you fish or not, check out "The Fiberglass Manifesto".
Thanks again for the love Cam!

EDIT:
Since this was first posted I have found out that This Is Fly, an online fly fishing magazine has picked up Cam's post and posted about my photograph in its daily blog. Check it out HERE.

EDIT,EDIT: 25 September 2011
I have also found out that Midcurrent.com, another fly fishing blog/website has mentioned me in their "Tippets" section.. Check it out HERE.

Trout Dreams

2011-09-15T21:40:00.000-06:00

Dreaming men are haunted men.
Stephen Vincent Benet

I don't know about you, but I sometimes dream about the things I am passionate about, I sometimes dream about my wife while sleeping next to her, I have dreamt about mountain biking, and I of course dream about fly fishing. I don't remember most of my dreams, but when I do, it's because they are vivid, I often feel compelled to recreate them photographically. Trying to recreate these dreams is often a slow process, as in the case with the two photographs I am posting here. The two photographs were on the same roll of film, but were taken years about, about two and a half to be more precise. My dream photographs are usually double exposures, one exposure is of the angler and the other of the fish the angler caught. I can't really explain why it takes me so long to do photographs like this, I guess they just come to me.

This first one, was literally the first photograph of the 12 exposure roll of film, that was done sometime in July of 2008. As I recall, I think the first exposure was of the angler, but as all of this time has since passed I don't remember. It was taken while fishing my first and only time so far on the Strawberry River, one of Utah's "Blue Ribbon Fisheries".

The next "trout dreams" photograph was taken a little more recently somewhere in December of 2010, on the Middle Provo. I think this one though the exposure of the trout was made first, with the second exposure of the angler.

Under optimal conditions my technique for shooting double exposures involves making an exposure of each element on the first frame then reversing the order on the next frame. I do this so I can ensure optimal dream quality, because the subtitles of doing double exposures can vary. That being said, it's not so easy to do it this way when you want to also ensure that the trout survives, so I have to take what I can get when I do photographs like these.
When I do double exposures I prefer to use a slower speed film, either Kodak's Plus-X or TMAX 100 film, because they can handle a little more exposure. I have done other double exposures with color film but the dreams I am having about fishing seem to be in black and white.
I also feel that by doing the entire project in black and white adds a certain time quality, which is a big part of what I am going for with these photographs.
So what do you dream about and are dreams color or are they black and white?
Brian

A Holga master and a Tenkara master go fishing...

2011-05-28T15:38:00.002-06:00

I recently had the pleasure of meeting, fishing with and getting a little instruction from Daniel Galhardo, the founder of Tenkara USA. If you've never heard of Tenkara, it's a form of fly fishing that originated in Japan a few centuries ago, it's very simple, in that all you use is a fly rod and line. In many ways I think it has some similarities with toy camera photography in that it is primarily about the challenge of using a simple tool to obtain amazing results.

Dan was in the Salt Lake area doing an informal workshop and demo of tenkara fishing and his Tenkara rods, through a local fly fishing shop, Western Rivers Fly Fishing. I have had fished once with one of these simple fly rods once before, but wanted to know more, so I went and took my Holgas along. As see it, there is a connection between what I do with my photography and tenkara fishing. The rods that Dan produce I think are really comparable to Holgas, they are made of a composite material and telescoping, which puts them somewhere in between a bamboo stick and a more contemporary fly rod, comparable to a Holga where you could put them somewhere in between a pinhole camera and your average digital SLR camera.

The technique you use while fishing with a tenkara rod is slightly different than what you do when fishing with a more contemporary fly rod, in that it's all in the wrist, and how you grip the rod is a little different too.

The sign of a great master, is that the master is able to teach the subject to any and all skill levels, and while the fly fishing ability of the group I was with was above average, Dan was certainly generous with his time and knowledge and got around to all of making sure that we all had a good technique.

I really like the idea of tenkara fishing because it is so simple and minimalistic, while most of in the class carried our big backpacks with all of various gear, Dan didn't carry all that much, in his small hip bag.

I enjoyed the day I had with Dan and the others, so much so I'd like to get a tenkara rod, perhaps if you took at look at my Etsy Shop, so that I might be able to buy one sooner rather than later.

Thanks for reading!

Living with if for a while...

2011-05-20T21:14:00.002-06:00

I don't know what your editing process is, but when I look at a newly processed roll of film, I go with my gut, I look at the roll and I can quickly pick out the negatives I am going to print. There are usually others though that stick in my head after that initial look that I will have to live with for a while before I do anything with it.
This photograph was one of those negatives, if you look at the previous post (Salmo Trutta), that was the negative I picked upon my initial look, and was the one I picked when I looked at the roll again, but this one, of the same trout has stuck in my head since then.

I am not sure which photograph I like more, or which is the better of the two; judging by the comments I have received on Flickr on both photographs there is no clear choice.

So what do you think? Was my original choice the better one or was the one that I have been living with all these months the better photograph? Or shall I go out and photograph more fish, this was the first trout I have actually photographed after all.

Please be specific, and give an honest critique of both photographs.

Thanks as always for reading, I look forward to hearing your thought about the photographs.

Brian

Memories of My Mom...

2011-05-14T15:47:00.001-06:00

I thought I'd do something a little different, and post something about my mom.
My mom died recently after a hard fought battle with cancer that lasted 16 years. During her more than 61 years on this world she did a lot of great things and I thought I'd touch on a few of them. My mom was probably the most patriotic person I know, she loved our country and loved serving it too, when she was 31 years old she decided to join the military, the Air National Guard more specifically. I was 10 at the time she went to air force basic training, and I was very proud of her when she graduated, it made being away from her all that time well worth it. Even though I was in the Air Guard for 11 years I always enjoyed having lunch with her and my dad on "drill weekend", we would often call each other "sergeant mom" or "sergeant son". She retired form the guard a few years ago after serving for 20 years.

My mom also played the violin, something she had done for a good part of her life, growing up she played in both the junior youth symphony and the youth symphony of the local school district. Later in life, before she had been diagnosed with cancer she was an original member of a local community symphony where she played for many years until the cancer prevented her from playing any longer. I had always wanted to photograph her playing the violin, and I did so in what I recall was one of her last seasons with the the community symphony.

The summer of 2007 my mom's cancer started to win the battle, a battle that she had faced head on with unwavering determination and a smile of optimism. During that summer "The Story Corps Project" visited our area, so I took her there to record her story.

I interviewed my mom for about an hour as I recall, and while most her life was pretty well known to me, I did learn a few new things about my mom too.

These are just a few of the memories I have of my mom, thanks for taking the time to read them and where ever you are mom thanks for being you... I LOVE YOU!

Channeling Rich, while photographing Rocky's Fly...

2011-04-24T21:24:00.002-06:00

As I have previously mentioned, I enjoy "social networking", it has given me the opportunity to meet people I wouldn't have met otherwise, even if it is only virtually. One such person, was a guy named Rich Schaaff, who like me is into fly fishing and photography, and was one of those people I really wished I could meet in person, unfortunately, I never got that chance, because Rich died suddenly last fall. While I haven't really thought about him all that much since, it was on the occasion that I met one of my virtual friends who and also actually known Rich that I thought about him while we talked.
At the Wasatch Fly Fishing Expo, I met Rocky Maley, who has known Rich for several years, and has had Rich photograph a lot of his incredible flies for his website and more. After we initially talked and Rocky had a chance to look at my photography he came back with a couple of his flies, one of which I took and Brett Colvin, one of the other photographers I was displaying my photography with, took the other.
Before I photographed Rocky's fly, I took at look at Rich's "Art of the Fly" page, for some inspiration, many of the flies on this page are Rocky's.
As I was photographing Rocky's fly, I kept thinking of or perhaps "channeling" Rich, becasue I have struggled a little with doing these "macro" photographs with my Holga, so I think it helped, because I got it the first time.
Because these types of flies are bigger than the trout flies I am accustomed to I thought I would do something really different than just the usual square Holga photograph, so I did a "macro Holgarama".

I have talked to Rocky about it, while he gets what I was trying to do, he is a little confused by it, but he also said that the technique could grow on him. I did a square version of the fly too, which Rocky really liked.

In talking to Rocky about it, and he said he would send a few more flies down.

I have posted this on a few photography and fly fishing forums and there no real consensus on which is the better photograph, so what do you think. Which is the better photograph and why?

Thanks for reading and hopefully taking the time to comment.
Brian

I am on Etsy now..

2011-04-21T20:27:00.001-06:00

I thought I'd set up a shop on Etsy in an attempt to sell some of my photography. I only have one listing at the moment, so please come and check it out..

Brian L. Schiele (mtbbrian)

Thanks!
Brian

Salmo Trutta...

2011-04-14T09:40:00.000-06:00

I have known for a while that in order for this project to be successful I need to have some photographs of and with fish in them, but it's challenging sometimes to put my fly rod down and just be there as a photographer.
So on my last outing, I really made an effort to do that and was able to come away with a photograph of a nice MP brown trout that my buddy James had landed.

I have some macro photographs of some flies on this roll that I will post shortly. I hope you like this photograph there will be more photographs of and with fish to come.

Brian

In the darkroom....

2011-03-12T22:07:00.004-07:00

I spent the day printing in the darkroom today, it was the first time I had done so in quiet some time; it's a part of photography that I enjoy almost as most as going out with my camera. While I don't have a darkroom of my own, I am grateful enough to know someone who does, and I must say Robert Hall's darkroom is one of the nicest darkroom's I have ever worked in.
Even though I have been wanting to print for some time, the big reason I did so today was because of the email I got earlier this week from another photographer and fellow angler Jason Morrison. In his email Jason asked if I'd be interested in showing my photography along side his in the display space he had recently gotten at the up coming Wasatch Fly Tying and Fly Fishing Expo, without hesitation I said yes.

I decided upon 10 different negatives that I would make five photographs to for the expo, eight of which would have to be printed in the darkroom, and the remaining two I will print on the computer.

Robert is a gracious host, everything was set up by the time I got to his home so all I had to do was pull out my negatives and away I went.

I got into the groove quickly despite having been in the darkroom last about a year ago, so I was able to figure out what I needed to do each negative without wasting a lot of time or paper.

I am not quite sure which is more magical, doing all of the dodging, burning and other adjustments as I create the photograph or watching it all appear as the paper bathes in the developer.

Before too long one completed print become two, then three, and so on...

Next thing I knew I was done with the first set of five photographs and moved on to the next set. I love to see how a test print becomes a final print, the whole process really is magical.

From test print to final print.

Before too long I had a print washer full of prints that had been archivally processed and washed and need to be emptied for the next cycle.

Not a bad way to spend to spend some time in the dark, wouldn't you say...

Despite having a goal of completing eight sets of five prints I was only able to complete seven in the seven hours I was printing today, so needless to say I am pleased with the work I did today.

The prints from today's darkroom session will be available for sale at the Wasatch Fly Tying and Fly Fishing Expo April 1-2, so please come by and by one or two.

Thanks again for the use of your wonderful darkroom Robert!

Now you can read it here...

2011-03-04T18:38:00.002-07:00

When the write up about my photography was first published I kept thinking about how I could get it out there for people that don't read Fly Rod & Reel. I hoped that it would make it to the magazine's website, but for whatever reason it didn't appear in conjunction with the new issue; I am happy to write that you can now read the entire write up on the magazine's website. So without further ado I present to you, Old/New Photos written by Bob White, that first appeared in the Winter 2011 issue of Fly Rod & Reel magazine. Read it HERE! Thanks for reading!
Brian

Something old, something new...

2011-01-22T18:52:00.004-07:00

I went fishing this past week and was able to finish off a roll of film, Tri-X if you are wondering. It's funny how much or little time it can take do shoot 12 exposures, This particular roll, was started back in September, it wasn't the best 12 exposures I have made in a while, but there were a couple that turned out well enough one of which I really liked. I'd say up until this last outing I'd say that my priorities were split equally between photography and fishing, but this last outing I really made an effort to watch for and make photographs.

I like this photograph,even though it was particularly warm for January in the Heber valley, the flare gives a good sense of the cold and fog conditions that occur on the Middle Provo.

This next photograph is one I made back in July, but never really considered much until I went over my negatives from last year recently. It's only from three rolls ago too, I might add.

It's hard to beleive but looking at my negatives from last year, it looks like I only shot eight rolls of film, that's only 96 individual photographs, not all of which turned of course. Since it is still January and all, I resolve to shoot more, to take more chances so I can make more great photographs...

Oh and if you haven't read the Winter 2011 issue of Fly Rod & Reel magazine, it should be out now. Check page 18 for a write up about my photography.
Thanks for checking out my blogsite!

Angle On My Art...

2011-01-07T20:25:00.003-07:00

I love social networking, just ask my wife, through sites like Face book and Flickr, not only have I met some great anglers, photographers and other artists, it's been a way for me to get my photography out there too. Through these sites, I have met,mostly virtually, photographers like Lucas Carrol and Aaron Otto, angler Cameron Mortenson, and painter Bob White, to name a few.
It was sometime back in the late spring or early summer 2010 that Bob White announced that he was doing a new column in Fly Rod & Reel, called "Angle On Art", so I immediately emailed him about my photography. Over the course of over several emails with Bob, and lots of waiting I am pleased to announce that in the Winter 2011 issue of Fly Rod & Reel there is a write up about my photography.

Needless to say I am ecstatic about the write up, the photographs are printed very well and Bob's writing is excellent.
I think that seeing the two photographs with the write up has given me a direction for the project; one of the photographs I submitted was a diptych that if you are familiar with my fly fishing photographs you have seen, but is shown as one of the two original photographs. So as much as I like the diptychs and other formats I have done, I think I will do single square photographs from now on.
I am not quite sure what else to say so go and buy a copy of the Winter 2011 issue of Fly Rod & Reel and check out page 18.
Thanks!
Brian

Holgaramas and a Diptych

2010-11-10T15:18:00.001-07:00

Life has been keeping me pretty busy these past few months, so there hasn't been as much time to for fishing or photography as I'd like. So I thought I'd post a few Holgaramas, that is a panorama made with a Holga, and a diptych that I have only had my Flickr stream.
I'll start off with this one, I did it earlier this year, on the Middle Provo. I like how the bank and the mountains don't match up together, it creates a dreamy unexpected landscape.

Every now and again things line up when do a Holgarama, as is the case with this one, which I think is just as effective.

Some people are put off by the overlap in the center, but I think it works, mostly because it's not you'd expect in a "normal panorama".

I also like to do diptychs, because I feel that sometimes a single photograph isn't enough to tell the story, and when combined with a second photograph and looked at jointly you can really get a better idea about the story being told.

That's all for now, I hope you enjoyed these photographs. Watch for my next post where I will have some very exciting news to share.
Thanks for reading!
Brian

The present

2010-08-21T08:40:00.012-06:00

So here we are, at the end of the look back on the past 26 years of my photography, and while my birthday isn't for another couple of weeks still, I hope that you have enjoyed reading this.
It's hard to end something that will continue, so I don't really know where to go with this one, but I think I will make this one all about the fly fishing project I have been doing for the past two years.
My latest couple of photographs have been macro ones, that I made using a set of snap on "macro lens", so far I like the results I have gotten, but still need to refine the technique.
The "macro lens" I have come in five distances, 30mm, 60mm, 120mm, 250mm and 500mm. This first one was shot with the 120mm lens.

On a recent fishing adventure this month, I started seeing what I thought were stonefly nymphs, but upon further inspection I saw that they were actually the shucks of the nymphs. I used the 30mm lens for this one.

I like really where I am going with the fly fishing project, and I have gotten a lot of positive feedback and support from various people both in person and online.

I like the feeling I get from making these photographs with a Holga, someone on a fly fishing forum described them as nostalgic and grand, for which I am flattered to hear, it's a description I never really thought of, but it is certainly fitting.

One of my biggest goals for my photography has been to have an exhibit of my own and a book of the exhibit. I'd like to see the fly fishing photographs be that exhibit and book.

Over the past few months I have had some great exposure on some fly well known fly fishing blogs, the first came from "The Fiberglass Manifesto" in November 2009, ""Brian Schiele is The Holga Master".
Then in January of this year, Cameron who writes the Fiberglass Manifesto(TFM), and I traded some prints for some TFM gear and did an encore about my photography, in "The Holga Master Delivers".

Then in April, I got another write up on my photography in an off shoot webzine, called "Sleeping In the Dirt", you can see the issue I was interviewed in HERE. At the time this was the second issue of "Sleeping In the Dirt" the webzine and I am happy to report that its fourth issue was recently published. Keep up the great work Aaron!

Lastly, I have been working on something that will hopefully help me achieve my goal of an exhibit and book. I'd rather not say what it is at this time, because I don't want to jinx it or anything like, but I know it will be worth the wait for me and for you.

Thanks for joining me on this look back on my photography, and if you have wondered why I call myself a "Holga Master, check this out. I am not much on nicknames or anything like that, but if who ever posted that, feels like I am a "Holga Master", who am I to argue!

Holga...

2010-08-13T18:21:00.023-06:00

As I mentioned I first heard about Holgas in college, and at the time I was doing a lot of journalistic photography from my own projects to working on the college newspaper. To be honest I wanted nothing to do some plastic toy camera, after all I had two of the best camera bodies in the world, the Nikon F3HP!
I was in my last photography class and needed a project for it, and here comes more of that autobiographical stuff, so I decided to to photograph my then wife and I who was pregnant. As I began to brainstorm about the project, I knew what I didn't want, and that was photographs that were more graphic and all that. I had seen lots of other students using Holgas, and thought I would give one a try for this project, because the end results would be so different from what I had been doing for the majority of my college experience.
I think these first Holga photographs are amongst my best, because I really trying to see what the capabilities of this toyish camera were, and I as literally just going with the serendipity of it.
I call this one, "Who Will Our Child Look Like The Most":
There are three exposures here, each one of our faces, and of her pregnant tummy.

This next one, was one of the few single exposure photographs I did for this project. I don't really have a title for it, but in some way I think is representative of the what the birth process must be like for the child, kind of dark and comfortable.

This last one, is probably my favorite of the project because it was one of the first times I got to hold my son.

About two years after I did these photographs, I submitted these and two others into one of the first Holga only photography exhibits at Old Dominion University, four of them were accepted.
After I finished this project I graduated shortly after wards, and wouldn't pick up a Holga or any kind of camera for that matter for about six years, where I started the "Singletrack Dreams" photographs I mentioned in the "Mountain Biking" post.
One of things I like about using a Holga is that is despite it's simplicity it is a versatile camera, you can do lots of things with it, without having any special film back or attachments. You can do panoramas or "Holgarama's :

Holgas use 120 film but when you run a roll of 35mm film through it you can get some amazing results.

I also like to do diptychs and triptychs with my Holgas, I think they have a way of telling more a little bit more of a story than a single stand alone image.

For a project I did with a photography group I am a part of my submission consisted entirely of diptych portraits, as an added dimension to the portraits I gave the person a print and asked them come up with some text about themselves, the portrait, or whatever it was that on their mind at the time.

My buddy Lee, came up with the following text for his portrait:
"A heavy heart at times, but filled with pride now. Home from Iraq. Dad is back.The future really does stretch before us like a newly graded highway – morning sunlight shining on freshly painted lines, gentle curves lost on the horizon, long uphill climbs, and a nice welcoming shoulder to lean on when you need it."

I like to make portraits with my Holgas, because I never know how things will turn out, as in the case of this portrait of my dad. It's such a representational portrait of him, because he is such a tinker working out in the garage and the unusually shaped light leaks kind of look like the lights he has in the garage when he works on his truck. I have never had such unusual light leaks like that before, but the bulb switch on my modified Holga, another serendipitous moment brought to you by Holga.

I love how Holgas capture light, as in the portrait of my lovely and talented wife.

I guess there isn't a whole lot more to say, because I have said it before, so I will just end with a few of my favorite photographs from the past few years.

Mountain Bike Photography

2010-08-08T16:08:00.037-06:00

Even though it was a short lived period in my photography, I can't go without mentioning it because I was incredibly passionate about riding and photographing the people I rode with and the events I got to.
This period also got me back into photography after a few year break, where I sold both of my Nikon F3's due to lack of use and financial need.
In 1999, I had been riding for a few years, and was going through a divorce, I had these series of dreams about mountain biking, that were rather vivid, they were so vivid that I felt the need to recreate them some how. I was fortunate enough to still have one camera, a Holga no less, that I bought in college, which was the perfect tool for the task at hand.
I made the first "singletrack dreams" photographs during my first trip to Moab, in February of 2000 after I had bought a new bike too.

The thing about these dreams is that I could be riding along and all of the sudden I would have this deja vu like moment where a moment from the dreams of a place I had just ridden by or was coming up on or even moments that I saw before they even happened.
With few exceptions, all of the photographs I did for this series were double exposures, and normally when I do double exposures, there is a significant period of time in between each exposure, because I don't usually come upon each component as quickly as I'd like, but with these photographs that wasn't the case.

By the summer of 2001 life had changed for the better, and I had been able to save up enough money to a new camera, another Nikon, their F-100, and because I knew I wanted to do mountain bike photographs, I also bought a 180mm lens too.

A lot my friends were into downhill racing so I did a lot of photography of the local races too.

I have a number of great friends who also rode as well living close to some equally great singletrack, getting great photographs was pretty easy.

From 2001 thru 2004 Red Bull did an event in the desert of south eastern Utah called the "Red Bull Rampage", I was fortunate enough to attend and photograph with full credentials three of those first "Rampages"

During this period too, I was beginning to get some photographs published, in local cycling and sports publications, but was able to get into a few larger magazines as well. It was great seeing my photographs printed in a magazine, it's especially cool seeing them on the cover.

One of the things I enjoyed so much about photographing mountain biking is that I got to see some many beautiful places, from the high alpine trails, to the desert, mostly the desert though, which is where I did most of my mountain biking photographs.
From Cainville:

To the foothills of Salt Lake City:

And down to Virgin:

That's about all for my mountain biking photographs, thanks for checking it out, I hope you enjoyed it and will check in again for the the next part of the 26 year retrospective as I lead up to my 40th birthday next month.

RIDE ON!

The early years and college...

2010-08-06T05:19:00.032-06:00

I recently came across the following quote from the Italian film director Federico Fellini,"All art is autobiographical; the pearl is the oyster's autobiography", and looking back on my own photography I know very true. It's why artists like Van Gogh and Andrew Wyeth painted what they did, and it's why singer/song writers like Bruce Springsteen and James McMurty write and sing about the people and places they do, and it's why I've photographed all of the people, places and events I have for the past 26 years. My photographic experience began, when upon the occasion of my 14th birthday I got a camera, which I had asked for so that I could take what would be my first photography class later in the school year.

The majority of what I photographed in those earliest years were found objects and scenes, rarely did I photograph people, unless it was someone I knew particularly my family.As I continued and advanced in my photographic education I moved into the studio; I was fortunate to go to a high school that had a great photography program that had a small studio, with professional equipment like medium and large format cameras. My high school also had a great darkroom and a great teacher, George Kimura, a man I very grateful for not just as a teacher but as friend and mentor, I know I learned more than just photography from George. Because of the equipment I had available to me in high school I did a lot commercial type photographs.

I can't really continue without mentioning Ansel Adams, around this point I had received a copy of autobiography, which at 16 or so I devoured because it was such a great book and insightful as to what it means to be a photographer/artist. While I did gain an appreciation and appreciation into the craft aspect of photograph, the biggest thing I got from reading his autobiography was that photography every much an art as all of the other mediums were and deserved to be displayed along side them. Although I was in the vocational photography class during both my junior and senior years, it wasn't until my senior year that I was able to compete in the V.I.C.A.(Vocational and Industrial Clubs of America) photography competition, which I won at the school level, the district level and went on to win the state level too. Winning the state level won me a trip to the national competition, it was such a huge thing that I gave up a trip to Europe with my family just to attend, despite being in Wichita Kansas, of all places. I didn't so well in Wichita, as I recall I placed 36 out of 37.

My college years started much the way my high school years ended, photographing found objects and what not, it wasn't until 1990 when I attended a photojournalism workshop that things changed dramatically. It wasn't too long after that workshop that I sold my beloved Minolta X-570, for a Nikon F-3HP, arguably the best 35mm SLR camera ever made. I wasn't all that shy as a kid, but at this time I in my early 20's I learning how to talk to and approach people, which meant I could photograph them.

I had also started working on the school's newspaper doing photography, and even worked as a photographer for a brief period on the local IRS office in its public affairs office.

I also did a lot of music photography, shooting local band and other concerts that came to the Salt Lake and Ogden areas. I fortunate enough to make friends with another student in my photography classes, who was a bouncer at long closed down club called "The Speedway Cafe". For the big shows, of major label acts I'd have to purchase a ticket and my friend would give me pass to come and go the hall as I pleased so I could make photographs of bands.

With my interest in photojournalism and documentary photography I began to explore the area where I lived with a keen eye, looking for stories and angles. My first project was photographing Washington Boulevard, in Ogden, Utah, the "main drag" where "kids" cruised and hung out at night. The following two photographs are my favorites from that project.

Another project I did was on a homeless veterans outreach program, besides all of the interesting people that come into the place it a great quality of light.

I worked off and on at the the school's newspaper for about three years, and took other photography classes learning as much as I could about photojournalism and bought a second Nikon F-3HP. In my last photography class during my second to last quarter I opted for a different camera, to photograph a project that would be the beginning of a couple of new chapters in my life, the birth of my son, the new camera was a Holga.

Vote for Me!

2010-08-02T05:34:00.005-06:00

I have submitted a photograph to casual contest, that I need you to vote for.
I know a couple of the "gentlemen" I am competing against, so I need you to vote for me.
Click HERE to see the post.
The stakes are high, because of this, and because of the prizes involved, fishing gear.
It's a monthly contest, where the winner advances to the finals at the end of the contest, so when I beat out my two friends, and win, I'll be asking you to vote for me again in January I'm, guessing.
So please vote for my photograph, you can do so by clicking on my name(BRIAN SCHIELE) on the column on the right.
THANK YOU!

14+26=40

2010-07-30T20:36:00.009-06:00

I can remember having a camera as a younger child, be it one of my own or whatever camera my parents had, I consider my photographic experience beginning on my 14th birthday, when I got my first SLR camera, a Minolta X-570. I got that camera 26 years ago, which if you do the math means I'll be turning 40 on my next birthday, which will be happening in the next few weeks.
So to mark the occasion, I thought I would present a look back on the past 26 years of my photography, which I really can't do in just one post, so I will break it up into four parts, representing the different eras if you will of my photography over the 26 years that have been in my photography thus far.
I have given it a lot of thought how I would go about about this, and I keep coming back to the same four parts: "the early years and college", mountain biking, Holga, and the present.

The early years and college, represent just that, those first years of my photographic experience where not only was I exploring the world around me wit my camera, but I was also exploring my own thoughts and techniques. My college years of course were where I was still exploring, but slightly more mature eye and where I would lay the foundation for things to come in my photography.

Mountain biking was a huge part of my life for a number of years, and because of that it was or natural to turn my lens towards it. It wasn't a big period of time, but photographically it's focus was immense.

My love affair with the Holga is the biggest part of my photography, one that has lasted for more than 16 years so far.
With that, I hope you'll join me on this look back on the past 26 years of my photographic experience.

The last roll of Kodachrome..

2010-07-24T22:42:00.004-06:00

On NPR today they did a story about photojournalist Steve McCurry, a photographer you probably don't know, but one whose photography you likely do know. Of all the etimated35 million photographs that Steve McCurry has made over his 35 year career, the one you likely know of the most is the one that appeared on the cover of the June 1985 National Geographic, the one known as "Afghan Girl". You may not recall it as well as I can, but I know you know it.

Getting back to the NPR story, which you can see here, because "Afghan Girl" is such an iconic photograph, and because it was shot on Kodachrome film and because Kodak is no longer producing it, Kodak decided to give Steve McCurry the last rolls Kodachrome, which I must say I in aww of, I mean he is shooting the last rolls of Kodachrome after all..
I have never shot Kodachrome in my entire photographic experience, but I more than understand Kodachrome's place in photographic history.
According to the interview, the photographs that Steve McCurry shot will be appearing in National Geographic sometime next year, which will be a good thing, because the last lab in the world, Dwayne’s Photo, in Parsons, Kansas will no longer be running a K-14 line after December 30th of this year.

So here's to Kodachrome, to Steve McCurry and Dwayne's Photo for bringing us the last photographs from a film that digital technology will never be able to match...

Cue Paul Simon's "Kodachrome", "momma don't taaake my Kodachrome awaay....."

New photographs....

2010-07-08T21:36:00.009-06:00

It's been a few months since I've had any new photographs, in that time my life has changed a lot, which means that there is even less time to fish and make photographs.

So without further ado, I present some new photographs..

I got a set of "macro" and "close up" lens for my Holgas recently so I am looking to do some "macro" photographs with them, I am still trying to figure them out, so watch for some stuff along those lines.

On a recent fishing outing, I made another double exposure, for the fly fishing project. I started the roll last summer, and hope to finish the roll this summer. Opportunities to do them come slowly, for lots of reasons. There is the being there when someone catches a fish and then there is the the technical and aesthetic side that make me feel lucky when they come together. A lot of times when I do them there a long time in between each exposure, so I sometimes forget what the first exposure was and what not.

I am planning on doing a retrospective looking back on my photography in the next few weeks, because I will be celebrating my 40th birthday which marks 26 years of my photography experience. I hope you'll tune in for that..

Happy Birthday Army and Happy Flag Day!

2010-06-14T18:25:00.010-06:00

I thought I'd revisit two older photographs in honor of the United States Army's 235th birthday and flag day today...

Since June 14th was the Army's birthday well before it was ever Flag Day, it is only fitting that I post a photograph for all those Soldiers, both men and women, who have and are currently serving in the Army first.

And now for the flag, the flag of the United States of America, the one in which all of its citizens pledge an allegiance to the republic for which is stands, as one nation under God, that is indivisible no matter how controversial the subject may be,with liberty and justice for ALL...

Happy Birthday to the Army of the United States of America and Happy Flag Day 2010!

Two of my photographs will be published...

2010-06-09T20:07:00.012-06:00

It's been a while since I've had anything published, so when I read the call for work for a new collection of toy camera photography book last year I knew I had to submit some of my photographs.
The great people who are responsible for the book, put out a call for the book over a period of several months, looking for work in different categories, only one of which interested me.
I submitted two photographs in the "portrait" category and much to my surprise got them both in.

The first photograph was one of a friend and now fellow veteran Charlie Nichols. I first met Charlie while we were on active duty, and made the portrait of him while I was about to leave my active duty tour. I have felt that my photography is rather autobiographical and therapeutic in a way too, so it's really no surprise that I made his portrait at the end of my tour.
I really wish I was able to make more portraits of the wounded Soldiers I had worked with and gotten to know during that time, but I guess was compelled by some kind of professional courtesy or not wanting to invade on the privacy into the lives of the Soldiers I was helping take care of; of course there was the geography too, with me in Utah and the Soldiers in my platoon being in one of 10 other states. It's not that I didn't make any photographs at all of these Soldiers, in fact I made photographs of nearly all of them, but unfortunately they were for work and not art.
I was fortunate enough to be able to do some photography for the unit, even though it was anything but artistic. When a Soldier would in process into the unit, I would make a simple portrait of them that the platoon sergeants and case managers would use for memory purposes, because after they in processed, we would rarely see them. The platoon sergeants and case managers would use the photographs I made in the information sheets they kept on each of the Soldiers in their platoons. I know it was very useful to them and I glad I could find such a way to incorporate my photography into the mission.

But back to the portrait of Charlie..

Charlie was a part of a unit that had been mobilized in Afghanistan, he and four other Soldiers in his 40 Soldier unit came back with some form of cancer.

The other portrait I submitted to the book was from the fly fishing project I have been working on for the past couple of years. When I made this particular portrait it was my first trip to the Green River her in Utah to fish. I made this portrait within the first few minutes of the journey down the "A Section" of the Green, the only section that seems to face directly east. The walls of the canyon that surround the Green are pretty steep so unless the sun is directly over head there is little opportunity for any really good light. At least that has been my limited experience with the river.

The book is scheduled to published soon, so look for an announcement here, so you can buy your copy...

I'd like to thank the selection team for selecting my photographs, I appreciate the work they have done and look forward to seeing the final book when it is published.
I'd also like to thank these two men for letting me photograph them and for being a part of my photographic journey..

The Birthday Project Continues...

2010-06-06T15:38:00.030-06:00

I know I haven't posted a new photograph from this project in more than two years, but it doesn't mean that I haven't stopped doing it.
This year marks a special edition of the "Birthday Project", in that this year Mirinda turns 40, so in an addition to the annual photograph I am going to post several of the photographs from previous years.

For her birthday this year, we wanted to have a big party, with cake, drinks, good food, and as many of the wonderful people who have touched our lives and hers. We wanted to have a pirate theme and we also rented a bounce house.
The photograph was taken just after we bounced for the first time that day..

The 39th edition of the project was taken slightly after her actual birthday, a lot closer to mine actually, but here it is...

Over the years I have used many different cameras for this project, from an SLR, to a Holga, to a point and shoot, which has been the main camera I have used for this project, but with this photograph I used the camera on my cell phone. I really like this one, because it was pretty spontaneous, we were waiting for our order to come, and I remember thinking how good the light was there and had to have to make a photograph of her.

If you have been following the "Birthday Project" since its inception, you have seen the following photographs:

@ 38
For my 37th birthday Mirinda wanted to do something special for me, so she colored her hair my favorite color, red.... Thanks SEXY!!

The photograph I did of Mirinda for her 37th birthday is another favorite of mine, largely because where I made it at. Can you guess where we were on her 37th birthday?
It was our first time there, and the first time either one of us had been there in 20 years or so...

@37

I usually make the photograph on or very close to her birthday, either at our home before we go out to dinner or before the party we are having for her that day, which is the case for numbers 36 and 35.

@36

@35

Prior to the 35th edition of the project, I was still experimenting with how to shoot the photographs for the project and what not, so they are all a little different...

@34

@33

You'd think that being a "Holga Master", I'd have more with the Holga, but as it is I just have the one. I remember this one pretty well, it was a Saturday, and we had quite the birthday date. We got all dressed up, Mirinida in the gown she's wearing and me in my "class A" uniform to attend the ballet, her favorite, "Swan Lake", then off to a wonderful dinner, then we finished the day at the military ball, which, I had told her, that it was held on her birthday just for her.

@32

The first installment of this project began with her 31st birthday, but I am unable to find that picture, but I still remember what she looked like then...

Thanks for joining me on this trip down memory lane, and thank you Mirinda for being my wife, my muse, and for letting me photograph you.

You I love...

Paint Your Holga

2010-06-06T14:06:00.009-06:00

In 2007 I wrote an article on how to paint your Holga, that was published in Light Leaks magazine, which I put on my original website, so I thought I'd put it here too.

I used to think that black was a great color for a camera. Every camera I have ever owned has been black, but deep down I have always wanted a red camera. That’s when I looked at one of my many Holgas with a sly grin and knew that my wish for a red camera would come true.

The things you’ll need to paint your Holga include:

Your Holga camera
A plastic primer, I like Rust-Oleum’s “Plastic Primer.” You can find this at most hardware stores near the spray paints.
A multi-purpose enamel spray paint, in the finish of your choice (I like glossy). While I have never used plastic model paint, I have heard that it comes off easily, so using this method the paint will last a good long while.
Masking tape or blue painter’s tape, in whatever width you have available, the wider the better.
An all purpose cleaner, to remove duct tape residue if your Holga is an older one.
An X-acto knife with a fine point bade to cut away some of the masking tape on the smaller areas.
A ball point pen

The first step is choosing the right color for your Holga. As you know each Holga’s characteristics are very different, so choosing the right color is very important.

If your Holga is an old favorite it probably has a lot of duct tape residue, which I would suggest cleaning up before you begin. I have found that “Thoro” works well and doesn’t harm the plastic. If your Holga is brand new, cleaning it isn’t necessary, although you should remove the two stickers that are usually on the bottom of a new Holga.

I would recommend that you remove the metal clips that keep the back on, by using a fingernail to pop the smaller clip and slide the clip up.

Taping your Holga is probably the most tedious, but important step. A good tape job will mean the difference between a good paint job and a sloppy one. Typically, I tape the upper portion of the Holga, to include the lens barrel, as well as the aperture indicator (the sun or overcast icons), the tripod hole (if you have an “N” model), and the film counter window. Remember that the taped parts of the Holga will be black. Pay close attention to the viewfinder, especially when taping the back side. I have found that layering it helps; wrap the tape around the widow making sure that it is sealed well.

Once the rear part of the viewfinder is covered well, cover the rest of the camera well enough so that paint is unable to bleed through.

For the film counter window I take a strip of masking tape and use it to trace the outline of the window, if you trace it enough the outlining area should come off easily.

If you want the Holga name plate to show on the front you can use the same technique to tape and then cut some tape away from the sides. Brand new Holgas will likely have the nameplate covered in a clear plastic tape, so this isn’t necessary. For the winding knob, take a stip of tape and place it along the bottom of the knob, feed it along the knob and advance the knob while feeding it along the bottom. Fold in the remaining tape so that it covers the top of the knob. If you want to paint the top of the knob, make sure the tape is on tight enough so that paint doesn’t leak down the sides. I would suggest trimming any excess tape that is above the rewind knob, by doing so it will ensure a better covering with the paint. You can paint the entire knob, but I have found that the ridges along the edge are difficult to cover with both the primer and paint.

To tape the lens barrel, take a strip of tape long enough to go around the lens at least twice. If your tape is at least two inches wide, fold it over to cover the lens element. If you have the lens cap, I would suggest you put it on before you begin to tape the lens. If the folded over tape doesn’t cover the lens entirely then add more. It’s better to be safe than sorry before you begin working with the paint.

By this point your Holga should be covered with tape and is now ready to be painted with primer. Beyond following the instructions of the primer, I would suggest you allow it to dry at least 24 hours before you apply any paint. When your Holga is primed and dry, you can apply the paint. Again, I would suggest following the instructions per the manufacturer. My only suggestion beyond the manufacturers’ instructions would be to do a third coat if your Holga isn’t completely coated. Once the tape is dried completely you can take easily remove the tape by carefully peeling away the layers, let it dry for a couple of days before use.

Now that you have a Holga that has a bit more personality than it did before I am sure your photographs will too!

Have Fun!

The following detail pictures didn't make the final article, but I thought they'd be useful.

Vote for me!

2010-04-30T10:28:00.007-06:00

A few years ago I entered an online photography competition, that was really more like two two competitions in one, there was of course the typical juried part then there was the other part where people could vote for your portfolio in the "people's choice" voting.
While I wasn't selected by the jury that year, I garnered enough votes in the
"people's choice" part to be exhibited.
Well I entered it again this year (See HERE) and am hoping to do better.
While I would love to win the grand prize in the juried competition, there is not a lot I can do about that, but in the "people's choice" voting, I can do all I can to get as many people I know or view my blogsite to vote for me.
So if are reading this, please vote for my portfolio, the voting runs through the month of May. You can vote once every 24 hours, on all of the different means you log onto the internet, at home, school, work, your phone, etc..
Just scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the stars, the fifth one preferably please..
So PLEASE vote often.
View my portfolio HERE!
Thanks!
Brian

New Format...

2010-04-24T21:56:00.010-06:00

Welcome to the new mtbbrian.com!
I have had to make some tough decisions about keeping a website lately, something I have had now for more than seven years. I nearly let the whole thing go, because I am unable to afford the hosting, but I decided that I need to continue having a web presence.
My plan for my "blogsite", is to continue to post new photographs and other things related to my photography. I'll also be putting up a few things from my old site, like the 'paint your holga" article, I wrote for Light Leaks Magazine a few years back.
I am excited for the change, I think it will be a good change too.
As I post new photographs, I'd like people to comment constructively on them; I have always felt that constructive comments are beneficial for both the photographer and the commentator, particularity if the comment maker also does photography.
That's all for now I suppose, thanks for viewing and I hope you comeback to my "blogsite".
For now I will leave you with one of my first fly fishing photographs, one that I did nearly two years ago now, and has really the main thing I have been photographing since too.
For now you can see my photographs on Flickr