Tried something new for the series with Wendy and Pete. I wanted to experiment with also having couples in the series. I need to do a few more before deciding whether they’ll be appropriate to the series or not - I’m thinking it will be more to do with what the research shows once I start the historical side of things. good to have them though. And it’s their 13th wedding anniversary in a few days so I was so excited to be able to do this for them - a fitting reminder of their 13th year!
Portraits of a Pandemic
As a photographer who gets a large portion of my inspiration from history, the parallels of the Covid-19 pandemic with that of the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-19 are striking. For this new series, I’m researching the history of the 1919 wave of the pandemic in Australia, with the intention of connecting portraits of today with victims from the past.
I am using an 8x10 camera with an old brass lens from around 1905 to replicate the appearance of images from this era, and to provide additional connection to the time. Paper negative as film is giving me the appearance of old, found portraits, providing a disconnect to the modern period. With this technique and the method of both exposure and development I am using, every image is unique and unpredictable. I’m aiming to do as many as possible in the time in which we’re still vulnerable and wearing masks for protection.
Grief
Andrew Delaney, artist. https://www.instagram.com/annodominihome/
I was honoured to be asked to help capture his grief after the passing of his father. An amazing artist and wonderful human.
Anniversary Speed Graphic and paper negative portrait
I recently became the happy owner of a 4x5" 1943 Anniversary Speed Graphic camera. It's a lovely old thing, full of quirks and definitely feeling its age, but I think I'm going to enjoy shooting with it. I gave it a quick test run with the help of friend and fellow photographer, Nathan Green (go check out his work!). I so love my paper negatives. They have so much personality and depth to them. Colour tones capture differently so skin appears different to in real life. It's very interesting and you never quite know how it will turn out!
1943 Anniversary Speed Graphic, 4x5 paper negative, 1 sec @ f4.7, ISO 6. Ilford MG developer.