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There comes a moment when you find yourself sifting through paper types and different binding methods and you question your existence. However, when you see a print that meets your expectations there is a great sense of accomplishmen.
Charlie Meecham runs us through different types of paper and the kind work they generally suit. The talk encouraged me to be more adventurous, prompting me to test on a number of different papers at varying sizes.
Sebastiaan Hanekroot is an expert in the reproduction of photography and art into books. A long career immersed in the world of book printing has given Sebastiaan great knowledge of the process, and how it can be optimised for great results.
Following a workshop that I was fortunate enough to take part in, Sebastian ran the group through some golden rules that ensure a captivating print. We discussed the photographic print as a sometimes neglected final form that is deserving of more attention. Sebastiaan's passion for achieving compelling prints was contagios and promted the class to reconsider the way we prepare photographs to print.
After a concise and clear talk we were invited to take on Sebastiaan's advice, appliying some of his steps to our photographs and sending them to print.
Before (left) & After (right)
Before (left) & After (right)
I would like to say a big thank you to Sebastiaan!
his blog is much better than mine and you can find it here :
Thomas J. Duffield © 2017
I am in the process of creating a new gallery for my most current project.
This a portrait taken from the series provisionally entitled 'the whole house is shaking'
Last month I gave a lending hand in the making of the current Discursive documents exhibition.
Alex Beldea
I helped mainly in the mounting of prints. Furthermore, It was great to see the process of the space being filled with great work.
Silvana and I lending a hand to Seba Kurtis.
The most useful thing I took from this was realising the understanding that the practitioners have of their work and how it should be presented. I will be taking part in a group exhibition in June and this experience will be invaluable.
I will be testing different paper types and different sizes for the next few weeks that I will post updates on!
Listening to Richard Mulhearn talking about his new work which is currently displayed at Huddersfield Art Gallery. Richard focused on print quality and the unconventional layout of his exhibition space. The talk was facinating and opened up ideas about how work can effectively be presented, In a way that best suits the themes of the work
Richard M. Introducing his photo book entitled 'kerb'
Richard also introduced into the discussion the work of Richard Higginbottom. Both of these practitioners work center around themes of the 'everyday'
Richard Mulhearn introducing the work of Richard Higginbottom those less familiar.
Higginbottom's work presented in a newspaper style format.
This work is on show to all at Huddersfield Art Gallery.
More work from Richard and Richard can be found here:
London-based photographer Pablo Antolí shared his expertise regarding commercial photography.
Pablo was very helpful and open, I certainly took a great amount of knowledge from the session. I found most valuable Pablo's super-efficient workflow methods that ensure all the work is correctly stored and backed up. Furthermore, witnessing Pablo craft a sucessful photograph gradually was great. Adding one light at a time and creating a number of shots Pablo utilised different elements of each photograph to 'comp' together for the final image.
Following the workshop I took some of Pablo's advice on and worked on a new shoot. (below)
All Rights Reserved.
Pablo was such a gentleman and shared some great insight. See here his Commercial and Art based portfolios:
'forty years ago, two men went missing in southwest Iceland. The facts of their disappearances are scarce, and often mundane. An 18-year-old set off from a nightclub, drunk, on a 10-kilometre walk home in the depths of Icelandic winter. Some months later, a family man failed to return from a meeting with a mysterious stranger. In another time or place, they might have been logged as missing persons and forgotten by all but family and friends. Instead, the Gudmundur and Geirfinnur case became the biggest and most controversial murder investigation in Icelandic history'
Following a talk from Jack, I felt compelled to get a copy of my own so I could spend some time immersed in this intelligent book design. Furthermore, I was captivated by the story and had to know more.
Jack spoke about his research methods and his time in Iceland. There is a real sense of integrity and care that is present in the photo-book. Embellished in the story and those it had affected, Jack's rigorous approach enabled the book to present a complex story through a multifaceted mixture of photographic styles and intelligent book design.
I have passed the book among my family members and they have all been charmed by its tangible design utilising different paper types and weights. Finally, the enchanting photographs printed upon the pages form a strong foundation in which the book is built around.
The skillfully composed large format photographs are clear and static, they aid our understanding of the complex and mysterious case. As I progress through the book it becomes apparent that the work is as much about false memory ( or memory distrust syndrome). The book incorporates text by Professor Gisli Gudjónsson CBE a former Reykjavik policeman and forensic psychologist. The added text gives the work an extra rigour and integrity which is further reinforced by involvement with a diverse range of people connected with the case in some way.
Although largely sold out in stores I believe there are some copies available over at
http://www.jacklatham.com
For any of my friends into photography that, like me, want to find a halfway between work and pleasure.
Whenever I get some free time I have been Re-visiting some photographs from December that I made in Venezuela. I am slowly negotiating a project of these.
My Girlfriend, her mother and I traveled to 'La Gran Sabana' The journey involved a flight from Caracas, followed by a ten hour drive. La Gran Sabana Is a place of outstanding beauty. Furthermore, the land is inhabited by Venezuela's indigenous people. The first thing you notice about La Gran Sabana is that it is V A S T !
I'm so enchanted by the land and the beautiful people that I was fortunate enough to encounter. Despite the beautiful landscapes that make La Gran Sabana famous, I was fascinated by the daily reality in the small towns and the beautifully gentle and curious people that call La Gran Sabana home.
All Rights Reserved.
All Rights Reserved.
All Rights Reserved.
I was lucky enough to have my 2016 photobook 'It's about Michael, Isn't it?' Featured on The pupil Sphere. There is going to be more photobook 'read throughs' on the horizon which I encourage you all to check out.
Thanks for watching!
Thomas J. Duffield uses a combination of constructed photographs and archival material to chronicle family life amidst testing times. Using personal memory and anecdotal tales, the artist explores the issues caused by drug addiction. Furthermore, the repercussions within domestic life as a result of this. Book copyright of Thomas J.
The first commercial shoot of 2017.
Hopefully, this should make you hungry? or maybe the whole vegetable thing isn't for you. I'm trying to keep on trend with this one... Next week I will be photographing a fresh ground coffee filtered through a hipster's beard.
Jokes aside, I have a passion for cooking and I believe the best food is what the earth pushes up from the ground. I would really like to branch out the commercial side of my practice to support and promote this.
Photographed and styled by me.
All rights reserved.
Behind the scenes...
I used a Mamiya 67 with digital back. The camera provides amazing resolution so any opportunities for printing or other commercial use is always accessible.
In terms of lighting, I kept it minimal and clean. I feel like if things are two complicated when photographing food its becomes less appealing and more synthetic looking.
Furthermore, I discovered the importance of food styling. I undertook this one myself but realised it would serve me well to outsource in future.
A testement to the way great photography can resonate with many,
George the poet reacts to a photograph of Paul Grahams taken from the series 'American nights'
worth a watch!
let me know what you think in the comments!
Feliz año
I welcomed 2017 in Venezuela this year, It was nice to take a break from current projects and to use photography more freely.
Thomas J. Duffield
Due to the Current situation in Venezuela I spent a lot of time indoors, photographing the everyday moments that were so estranged to me as a visitor to the country. I spent my days trying the local food, drinking 'Papelon con límon' and thinking about what to tackle first when I return home.
Thomas J. Duffield, El Avila.
I could have quite easily lost track of the days and woke up ten years later still in Venezuela.
Thomas J. Duffield
I can't thank enough everyone for their hospitality and warmth.
I returned home jet lagged but very enthusiastic about 2017. I pledge to be much more active on this blog and keep some good content coming, I hope you find some value in this. With most of my time being tied up in writing the last couple of months it's time to start looking through that viewfinder again.
Happy new year to all,
I hope this year brings good things to all of you, and we can start to see an end to all the nonsense that is troubling so many people around the world.
First Roll of 120 film : A humbling experience.
Thomas J Duffield, Untitled, 2016.
My first roll of medium format film was a mixture of miss-focussed images and not so perfect exposures. I favour manual focus even when I am using my digital camera but the waist level viewfinder was different for me in both composition and focusing. Despite the difference, there is a stillness to the square format. Furthermore, I find a self reflection in the slow process of using film.
The process is fitting for my current project as it reflects the stillness, arduous and hesitance in the pursuit that I am currently undergoing.
Thomas J Duffield, Untitled, 2016.
Thomas J Duffield, Untitled, 2016
The project is a cathartic process for me and I will be revealing more on this blog as it develops further. The reward of first seeing an image that works is something that is unrivalled by digital photography, whether this is due to the suspense that it entails or the subtle differences in the aesthetic I have found great pleasure in this.
'You are an addict, so be addicted. Just be addicted to something else'