POW: Film Photography (Farms; Still Lives)

I chose to shoot more film for my photo of the week assignment so I could have more photos to develop, especially since most of my film from New York did not come out :(. I took one set of photos at Coopers Farm in Windham during Maple Sugar Sunday. Many of the photos are of animals: everything from ponies (there were 28 at the farm!) and cows, to chickens and peacocks. I'm also excited to see how the photos turn out from inside the sugar shack where the sap was being boiled. The air was filled with a sweet maple steam illuminated by the light coming from the windows which will hopefully make for some interesting photos. A also have a few photos of the many children that came to the farm to enjoy the maple syrup and seeing the animals. My second set of photos is a continuation of the still lives which we worked on when we started working with film. These still lives consist of an varying combinations of oranges, eggs, and a few plants and china pieces. I am hoping the light in these photos turned out well because I was trying to photograph quickly, between the passing clouds which blocked the morning sunlight.

NYC Reflection

We spent a busy weekend in New York City, experiencing all the sights and sounds of the "city that never sleeps" and photographing it all. New York is such an exciting and different place that it is hard to choose the best parts of the trip. Everything we did could be a highlight. One of my favorite things, though, was definitely the Highline walk. The walk offered a completely different view of the city, looking down on the streets rather then being on them looking up. I also liked seeing the trees and plants along the walk, as well as its interesting design. Unfortunately, I had unknowingly switched my camera to shoot in black and white. I was frustrated to realize this because I had been thinking about my photographs in color rather than black and white. Luckily, some of the photos still turned out well. I think New York is a city that has a black and white feel to it; the monochrome subdues the craziness of the city and brings out its essence. However, I do wish I had been paying more attention and been aware that I was shooting black and white.

I also loved walking over the Brooklyn Bridge. Just being in Brooklyn and getting to see Manhattan from a more distant view was something I had never done before. My only view of Manhattan has been on the streets looking up, and I've never seen it all from afar. The bridge was crowded and crazy but it was fun to see the view change as we left Brooklyn. I was also shooting film while we were in the park and crossing the bridge. The bridge was an interesting place to photograph, especially in black and white film, because the patterns of the bridge (the lines of the cables, the outline of the arches, the line of the bridge extending into the distance, and the Manhattan skyline) are so distinct.

Over the course of the weekend, I improved my efficiency with manual settings and my ability to get the photograph that I had in mind. I also learned to consistently check my work for correct exposure, focus, and to be sure I captured what I wanted. At times, I would forget to adjust the settings and end up with a series of under-exposed or out-of-focus photographs. This was frustrating, especially when we were moving at a fast pace and the moment had passed. As a result, though, I quickly became more careful in my work and more attune to my camera settings. I had such an incredible time in New York, seeing everything that we did and having the chance to photograph everything. I took a crazy amount of photographs and am happy that many turned out well (hopefully the same goes for my film!).

More from NYC

 "Grand Central Crowds"

 "Grand Central Stairs"

"Double Skyscraper"

 "Flying High"

"Bank Interior/City Street"

 "Up the Glass Staircase"

"Park"

"Ancient Headstones"

9/11 Memorial

 "Reflective"

 "Droplets"

 "Those We Lost"

 "Water Falling"

"City Reflections"

Brooklyn Bridge

 "Across the River"

 "At the Park"

 "Along the Bridge"

 "Brooklyn Bridge & Beyond"

"From the Ground Up"

Times Square at Night

 "Neon"

"Parking"

 "Times Square Crowds"

"All of the Lights"

Highline Walk

"Highline"

 "Street View"

 "Trees in the Tracks"

"Beyond the Branches"

Portland: Details

"Intricate Edges"

"Abandoned"

"Snowed In"

I spent part of the afternoon walking around Portland, mostly in the Munjoy Hill neighborhood. As I walked, I kept my eyes peeled for the details around me -- in the houses, the streets, and other parts of the landscape -- which would characterize the area. Capturing details, rather than a house as a whole or the length of a street, provided a different perspective from the way I normally see. The houses in this neighborhood are grand-looking, with long front porches, turrets, picture windows, and lots of scalloping and artistic details around the windows and doors. They made great subjects for my particular focus. One house stood out among the rest because it was old, empty, and run down. The porch was caving in, the railings were no longer attached, and some of the siding was peeling away. In a well-kept neighborhood like this, the house caught my attention. At the cemetery, the late-afternoon sunlight played out across the drifted snow. These patterns of shadows contrasted well with the soft new snow, broken only by the crooked gravestones.