Alternative Photography Processes

The lovely and talented Lisa Elmaleh oh-so-kindly gave me a grand tour of The Center for Alternative Photography earlier this week.  I'm so impressed with what that tiny team has going on over there!  Lots of inspiring artwork, lectures, and workshops to further expand the knowledge and discipline of alternative photography.

Upcoming workshops include :
Salted Paper & Albumen Printing
Calotype Paper Negatives
Cyanotype Printing
Daguerreotype Processes
Gum Bichromate Printing
... and the list goes on ...

I hope to join in with helping a class or two in the upcoming months, and can't' wait to get my hands dirty with some of these alternative processes.

Lisa Elmaleh's Everglades project

Industrial Barn Lighting

I've been annoyed with our home lighting lately.  It's by no means warm and inviting, but rather harsh (or sometimes dull) and just simply annoying.  Wouldn't I love to have some of these beautiful industrial-styled barn lights from Barn Light Electric:















Or this lovely one from Sundance:

A Little Cush' for Your Tush

Single color felted seat cushions - how wonderful!!!  Quite some time ago, I came across some similar seat cushions but passed on them.  Today, I found them and feel like I must have them.  What a fun way to make your dining chairs 1) more colorful 2) more comfy.  Yes, please!

Map Prints by Annie Bissett

Artist Annie Bissett's Map Print series are speaking to me right now.  She says this about her process :
Many of these woodblock prints begin with a wide-angle look via Google Earth at some of the world's most charged places. Over carved topographies, I then layer images, culled from both historical and modern sources, that begin to tell the complicated stories of how human beings have impacted the land and each other in these geographies. 

I love that they're woodblock prints, and that she's inspired by many different types of maps both old and new, the color palettes, and the occasional language she incorporates.  Here is one of my favorites titled "Locusts in Babylon":

Brooklyn-Based Print Shop

I stumbled upon this really rad Brooklyn-based print shop called Two Arms Inc, who recently did these awesome gig posters for Ra Ra Riot!!!  I'm not sure why I didn't find them until today, but I'm sure glad I found them.

Oh My! Pumpkin Carving!

OK, I'll admit, I found myself channel-surfing last night and stumbled upon the best show to get me in the Halloween Spirit : Food Network's CHALLENGE : Outrageous Pumpkins 2.  Four talented punkin' carvers set their goals high in this 3-round carving challenge.

The first round was the "Classic Jack-O-Lantern", the second round was "3D carving", and the third round was themed "Pumpkin Masterpiece".  The winner was the extraordinary talented sculptor Ray Villafane.  If you missed the show, I highly recommend trying to catch it at another air time.  It's worth it!

Here is Ray's "3d Carving" round finished pumpkin called Jack-O-n'Hyde (yes, it's a real pumpkin!!) :

And here's Ray's 3rd round Pumpkin Masterpiece entitled Medusa, complete with wriggling snakes :

I would just love.....

...to have a set of these stunning vintage wood printmaker's drawers!  Just looking at these drawers, I imagine the smell of a print shop, the sounds of ink rolling and presses pressing, I even of ink-filled hands reaching for one of these handles to pull out some newsprint.

I'd settle for just about any configuration of these drawers, but the traditional tall wood drawer set is spectacular!  Now I just have to figure out WHERE to find a set within a somewhat reasonable budget!

 

Favorite Fall Tunes

COTTON JONES.... no comparison.  I really hope I don't listen toooo much.  Right now, it simply hits the spot.  The band's new album Tall Hours in the Glowstream fills the room with a warmth and earthiness that is perfect for this cool fall season.  Have a listen for yourself.

"Come on baby let the river roll on"

Fall Fever

Anyone else feeling butterflies in their tummy about this amazing fall day?  I sure am! After a late breakfast, I made my way to my local farmer's market and purchased nothing but fall decorations.  I've spent the afternoon creating and decorating.  I never knew I loved fall colors and cool air so much.  It's simply wonderful.

Here are some of my decorations : 

 

To a Mr. Keith Casey

Happy Birthday, sir.  Cheers to another year, hope it's as good as the rest of them!  

Photo by Josh Goleman.  Rockport, Maine 2010.