Longish story (but not Fairy Girl long, I don't think).
A couple of weekends ago, the owner of my favourite coffee shop hands me a paper, something about a photo installation for his April 1st Jet Fuel Anniversary Eggs-tavaganza (13 free kegs - one for each year they've been open). I thought it was a contest, the best 12 photographers of which get to display for the party, and the month following. Required: 12 photos of eggs - broken, intact, cooked, whatever - only rule, no Ukranian Painted Eggs.
"When's it due?", asks this scribe. "In two days" comes the answer. "I dunno", I said, "If they have to be ready by Monday, I really don't have any way to get them developed and printed".
So, I didn't submit anything.
Earlier this week, I go to throw out the sheet he gave me, and I see, it's not a contest, rather, I was one of 12 selected photogs. Poop!! What have I done?!?
So, I go running to the Jet Fuel, and ask Johnnie if it's too late. "Yup, got 12 now. Sorry I didn't explain it fully," he says. "But, do your stuff, and you can be 'stand by', 'cause two people haven't submitted yet." Okay, now I have to think of something to do. I thought, eggs on nudes, but who to get to do it (for free)? Turns out it's been done. I want to be unique.
I decide to walk the streets at night, with an egg in one hand, LX and flash in the other, and walk up to people, and ask if I might photograph them whilst they hold an egg. Surprisingly, 12 people said yes. A few said no, and scurried away (don't blame them, really).
I set my own rules: One shot per person. 12 shots total. Whatever comes out, comes out. If I have to reshoot due to technical difficulties, so be it.
I wanted spontaneous. I'd accept the photos, warts and all. I wanted a decidedly "low-tech" gritty feel to it. I think I succeeded <g>.
Took me about an hour and 1/2. Little did I know the adventure was only starting.
I couldn't get to my usual lab on Tuesday, so I went to a minilab on my block, who claims to to b&w (and cheaper than my lab, too!).
Well, he develops negs. Then he prints them up in the C-41 minilab. I didn't realize that.
They were horrendous! Fuzzy (so much so that even ~I~ was dissatisfied). All kind of sepia-toned and ~real~ darkish!. They were simply unacceptable.
I scanned them anyway, and here they are:
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=386090
Please remember, they aren't intended to be serious, rather I'm hoping that they'll seen as a lighter and humourous alternative to the "serious artistes" that will no doubt be in this thing.
And, of course, the quality is horrible.
Today, I went to my lab, and Robert churned out QuickPrints for me, and they look really good. I took them right over to the cafe. I heard last evening that I may be in, as a photog I was chatting with had to tell Johnnie that he couldn't get the stuff done, and John replied, "No probs, a bike courier dude [that's me <g>] is getting some stuff ready".
So, I think I'm in. I'll let you know.
I think there's a prize to this, like $100 or something. Not that I care. I'm really in it for the fun (how could it be otherwise, with these photos!)
Sorry to drone on, but this has consumed more time this week than it sounds like in this post, and I'm just glad to have it over. Just have to go drink that free beer next week; I've already booked Friday off work!
cheers, frank
"The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true." -J. Robert Oppenheimer
_________________________________________________________________
Add photos to your messages with MSN Premium. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
