The story benhind the photograph...

I have been thinking about my son a lot lately, who will be turning 18 soon,  so I thought 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...

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 intro 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...

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

Holgaramas and Macro Photographs

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...

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 than my blogsite and my Flickr stream, 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 to everyone I have fished with and photographed!
Brian

Art makes a great gift!

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...

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