*Ivy Wrapped*
Canon EOS300 + Ilford Delta 100
Model: Melville
Texture: Hedera Helix
Melville was one of my very earliest models, when I was still testing the Photosynthesis technique. It wasn’t even called that then. Since then we both wanted to organise another shoot, and after some irritating issues on my side, it finally happened last September.
*Staring*
Canon EOS300 + Ilford FP4+
Model: Cheryl
Of all the techniques I use, the inverted treetops as I call them definitely create the least predictable images. In this instance, I can’t remember if I accidentally shot the inverted treetop uninverted, or it I was after a different textural effect, but I love the end result. The fact that Cheryl’s left eye is the only feature of her upper face that is properly imprinted is both powerful and disturbing.
*Peaceful Growth*
Canon EOS300D + Ilford Ortho+
Model: M.
Texture: ?
One of the constants of this project has been that occasionally when things go wrong, they also go right. For this session, and I still can’t quite explain why, the textures didn’t quite imprint as much as they normally do. Could be that I overexposed the portraits too much, or that the textures I chose were more subdued… But this photo, probably my favourite from the entire shoot, came out of this subtle imprint of texture.
*Pandemic Acrobatic*
Fuji GW690iii + Kodak Portra 400
The pandemic is obviously harder on some than on others. As I was watching these street acrobats on the Sai Kung waterfront I thought it must be particularly tough on them. I hope they have other revenue streams. I can’t imagine how tough it must be to breathe through masks when doing the kinds of high energy tumbles they were doing…
*Meditation Stick*
Fuji GW690iii + Fuji Provia 100F
Shooting with 100 ISO film is constraining. Especially on a sunny day with some shadows, since you always have to arbitrate on your depth of field as well as on what you want to come through exposure wise. This shot was super shallow, but I really like the end result even though my wife would probably say there’s too much blur!
*Monk on the Bridge*
Fuji XT3
There’s an old Eiffel style bridge that crosses the Nam Khan river in Luang Prabang. Appropriately, the locals call it the old French bridge. The road is for two-wheelers only, and there’s a rickety wooden platform attached to the side of the bridge for pedestrians. I managed to dodge the mopeds to take this shot that I quite like.
*Puck*
Fuji TX2 + Ilford FP4+
Model: Loris
This mix of small round flowers and a fern like leaf texture is both chaotic and structured at the same time, and it conveys something whimsical, indeed faerie like. Hence the title for this one.
*Busy*
Fuji TX2 (XPAN) + Ilford FP4+
Model : Lara
One of the conclusions I drew from the first two sessions is that plant textures with small or haphazard leaves makes the portraits difficult to read. This is even more true when the textures are shot in the sun, creating harsh contrasts. Yet sometimes that business conveys an interesting, chaotic feel to the portraits.
*Gentle Slope*
Fuji TX2 (XPAN) + Kodak Portra 160
Light does interesting things inside a forest, or at least it certainly did in Nuuksio. The environment is so dark that despite the overcast sky, when there’s a small clearing it looks sunny. That’s what I wanted to capture here where this huge rock formation created a no-tree zone, letting the light in.
*Kingdom of Moss*
Fuji TX2 (XPAN) + Kodak Portra160
Having gone to Helsinki in November for work (apparently, according to the sign at Helsinki airport, that makes me a hero) I took advantage of a sunday off to head out to Nuuksio National Park, about an hour from the city center by public transport. I walked for a few hours in the wilderness, overcome by greens, moss and more trees and logs than you can shake a stick at. Oh, and boulders. Good thing I had my tripod with me because there was clearly not enough light for handheld photography.
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