My first camera

Most photographers can become quite nostalgic when they talk about their first camera and without any previous warning they drown in magical distant childhood memories.
But not me. When I’m asked about my first camera I have to admit my story is quite lame, it only goes a
few years back and is not special or wondrous at all.
My beloved first camera entered my life sometime in 1999 and it wasn’t really mine.
As I got curious about photography I wanted to shoot a real 35mm SLR. I looked around in small camera stores (yes, these stores are not fictitious and they actually did exist once) but they were just too expensive for my modest budget.
So I complained and whined about it to a few of my online friends (as you can see I don’t actually have real life friends) and I guess I must have done quite a good job of whining since finally one of my online friends, Udi, told me he had an SLR camera, a Minolta SRT 101, which he was not planning on using anytime soon and if I really wanted it he was ready to let me borrow it.
Right away, before he could change his mind, I said I’ll take it.
I have the camera to this day.
Yes, yes, it’s true Udi said I could borrow it for a while, but I think after he saw how much I liked this camera, not to mention the wonderful pictures I sent him, he just didn’t have the heart to take it away from me.
And even though I now have many different cameras, SLRs, TLRs, box and toy cameras, this camera is still my very favorite camera and quite often I take it out on fun photo shoots.
I think this camera will always have a special place in my heart ♥ ♥ ♥

East L.A Camera: Minolta SRT Film: Tri-x 400

Imperfect skyline view

While bike riding over a bridge in downtown L.A. some time after the sun had set, surrounded by the last light of the day, there it was; a wonderful urban skyline view glowing under a bright moon.
The only camera I had with me was a plastic toy camera, the Diana, but lucky for me it was loaded with Ilford 3200 ASA. I took one picture and then advanced the film just one and half turns and made another exposure, so what I got on the negative are two pictures imperfectly overlapping and linked into one.

Mixed media photo transfer

After a few months in the darkroom I’m back again to civilization and once again I’m working with image transfers. Mixed media transfers are a great activity for cold & rainy days, or any other time, when you are trapped indoors for awhile.

And just in case you haven’t purchased or downloaded my wonderful book yet, and therefore don’t know how to make a mixed media transfer, here is a detailed description just for you.

What you need:
• Inkjet photo or laser photocopy
• Collage materials such as: newspaper clippings, designer or hand-made
papers, stamps, ticket stabs, brown paper bags, wrapping paper, etc.
• Acrylic or water paints
• Mod Podge
• Gesso
• Canvas or wood panel
• A water spray bottle
• UV-resistant clear finish

1) Gather your collage materials and lay them out in a design of your choice on any size canvas or wood panel. Adhere the collage pieces onto the surface using Mod Podge.
2) Make sure to cover the collage pieces with Mod Podge so it doesn’t only adhere the papers to the canvas but also protects it to all eternity (or at least a few years).
3) Next, cover the collage layer with watered-down gesso. It will mute the layer a bit and also will tie the pieces together.
4) Add a thin layer of acrylic or water paint of your choice. Don’t over do it so it doesn’t overwhelm the other layers.
5) Let the collage thoroughly dry.
6) Convert the photo of your choice to black and white (not grayscale) by adding brightness and 100% contrast. In some cases color photos will work as well but black and white often works better.
7) You can use either a xerox photocopy of your image or an image printed from your inkjet printer. If you are using an inkjet, print out a mirror version of your image into a standard printer paper.
8 ) Cover your image with Mod Podge and press it face down into the collage. Rub gently with your fingers to smooth out any air bubbles.
9) If you are using an inkjet photo you will have to wait only about 15-30 minutes for the Mod Podge to dry and for the transfer to complete. If you are using a photocopy let it set for a few hours, preferably over night.
10) Spray the back of your photo with water and gently remove and rub off the excess paper with your fingers in order to reveal the transfer. If you are using a photocopy you will have to repeat this step until the access paper is completely gone.
11) For the final touch you can add text, letters, gesso and paints.
12) Preserve your art work with a protective finish such as “preserve it!” by Krylon for inkjet or Krylon Crystal Clear if you used a toner based photocopy.
13) Clean up this mess !

You can find this article and many other photo processes in my new book:
So Much More than Photography
eBook edition Price: $10
Kindle edition Price: $10
Print edition Price: $35 (Now on sale for $25.20)
Black & White print edition Price: $20

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