Critical Mass 09 Finalists

Congrats to Ian and Alexis for becoming finalists in this year's Critical Mass! Here's the complete list.

Abandoned Ranch near Bozeman

Bozeman Survey Meeting

Hi All, Bozeman Survey meeting @ my place tomorrow @ 4:30 PM. Bring prints, yourself and BYOB. All are welcome.

Camera Gear for sale

This is not really the forum for selling gear but I am trying to consolidate equipment, so I promise to do this only once. Nikon F100 Film Camera with 35-70mm f2.8 AF lens Price: $240 (Camera body alone sells for $750 new) Nikon FA Film Camera Body Price: $60 Nikon 24mm f2 Manual focus wide angle lens-Really fantastic lens $140.00 Nikon D70 DSLR with 18-70mm f3.5-4.5 ED AF-S lens Price: $180.00 (lens alone sells for $320) Toyo CF 4x5 Film Camera--Camera Body Only-Excellent Condition Price: $450.00 (sells $626 New through Mac on Campus) Bronica SQ-A 6x6 Medium Format Film Camera Camera is a limited edition Safari Green 50mm f3.5 80mm f2.8 200mm f4.5 3 x 120 removable film backs Waist Level and Eye level Viewfinders Pistol Grip needs couple new screws Lenses are wicked sharp Price: $750 I also have a really nice set of Calumet studio lights with power pack. If anyone is interested we can discuss. Contact Ian in his office VCB 219 or email ianvan@montana.edu

Homemade Photo Emulsion

So i've been wanting to make my own photo emulsion for a while now. I bought the chemicals back in June, (silver nitrate, potassium bromide, potassium iodide, and gelatin) and I just now have gotten around to mixing them together. I had some assistance cutting the glass and I made a small pinhole camera. Each negative is approxemately 4 in. by 4 in. The exposure was 20 minutes long and I used three coats of emulsion. I'm not sure what those spots are. Uneven emulsion perhaps? This pinhole is certainly too large, so I made a new smaller hole. I tried it today. We'll see how it turns out. It's been a tough and exciting process. I can't wait to do more. Hope your all well. See you in a few days.

Film processing/scanning?

Hey all you film lovers out there...can anyone recommend an affordable, send-away, high quality processing/scanning place? WHCC recommended digigraphics but their prices for scanning are totally absurd, especially for med. format or larger. Maybe that's normal, though? I'm particularly interested in finding a place that makes really high quality scans of 35mm color film.

I recently discovered F-11's scanning is not good enough, even with their "max" resolution. :(

Please help! Thanks!

Kodak Film Grant

Greetings MSU Photo Students.....thought I'd pass on info for this delicious opportunity. Kodak and blogger/photographer Jake Stangel of Too Much Chocolate have teamed together to award ten photographers the film needed to complete (or begin) a personal project. For a small submission fee of $10, you'll have the chance to have your work viewed by a fantastic panel ....certainly worth the price of admission. Start baking with chocolate and submit! TMC+Kodak Film Grant

Cleaning Shop

Before you start your own blog, think carefully what you want to post, and whether you can sustain it. All blogs that have not had posts within the last 6 months are being removed from the Blog List.

USP Funding

Just a friendly reminder that USP funding proposals are Due September 3rd. This is free money and a great line on the resume. See earlier post. http://msuphoto.blogspot.com/2009/08/undergraduate-project-funding.html This is an ideal opportunity to do that photo project you always wanted to do, and possibly get extra credit doing it as an independent study. Some of you might know my reluctance for taking on independent studies, but with the added incentive of a grant (for students to get the work done), I would certainly consider it.

PHOTO WALK Location decided

Photo walk: Tuesday August 25th 430 PM Park at Pete's Hill, we will walk towards town from there and photograph along the way. Bring your photography stuff. It'll be fun. Everyone is welcome to show up! See you then! -Tessa.

Location Lighting!!

yea!! Chris day three on location!

3oh!3

While out on Warped Tour these past couple weeks I was asked to do some new promotional photos for 3oh!3. The guys are up for the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist, and wanted to go with a presidential theme. I was hoping to photograph them in Missoula, but ended up having to make the shoot happen in Salt Lake. Luckily Michael Brown was there to help with equipment rental and be my wonder assistant. It pays to keep in touch with people after graduation guys! Anyway, here are the first photos released from the shoot.

An audio slideshow

The New York Times has an audio slideshow about how micro-finance loans are helping women around the world. You've probably heard about these before, but it's interesting to hear their stories.

National Goegraphic opens archives

This NY times article discusses how photojournalism is emerging as a source for fine art photography. Check it out, the title should be linked.

Question

I was wondering where I could pick up the photos I submitted for Babcock scholarship. I was back in Boston at the beginning of the summer and could not pick them up. Just hoping that they haven't been thrown out....If anyone has any ideas as to where all the leftover portfolios would be let me know. Thanks! -Megan Sullivan

Mary Virginia Swanson public Lecture

Mark your calenders. Swanee will be in town to give a public lecture. This will take place September 12th @ 10am in the Black Box. Not to missed. Seriously. She will also be talking to students in pro-practices on Friday the 11th @ 9am.

Tentative Bozeman Survey Meeting

Hi all, I am calling a tentative Bozeman survey meeting at my place Sunday @ 3pm. If you are interested in being part of this project, please stop by to look at prints and hang out. Let me know if you think you might attend. Also watch for change in meeting time as my schedule is a little up in the air.

Photo Walk

So...I am putting together a Photo Walk August 25th (that's a Tuesday) and anyone is welcome to come and hang out and photograph...stuff. BUT I have come upon a dilemma. I don't have a location. Any ideas??? Help, please??? Anyways, Photo Walk, August 25th at 430 PM wherever I eventually choose. I will let you know by Sunday. Click.

Blog-tastic.

So here is my blog that has been running for a short while. No website yet, hopefully will be working on that this weekend! If people have a blog, they should post it, I really like seeing people's current work! Coolness. tessalykins.blogspot.com

SFP 50th Celebration

This year is SFP's 50th celebration. If you are an alumnus of the program it would be wonderful if you would consider attending. Here is the schedule of events http://www.montana.edu/50thsfp/50th_Itinerary.html Also, I am putting together a slide show of alumni work. So even if you are not able to attend, please send ianvancoller@gmail.com 5 jpeg photos of your work, resized to 2000 pixels wide and compressed at level/quality 10.

Women's Fishing Weekend

So Flathead lake usually doesn't fill up until mid or late June and so the fishing boat wasn't in yet. Instead we compromised and trolled from the paddle boat catching 7 Mackinaw Lake Trout. Two of those were caught just spin casting from shore haha! They were all about 7-8 lbs. It was a sweet weekend and here are a couple images from that.

Bozeman Wedding Roy's Barn

Here's just a few images from a wedding I photographed back in July out at Roy's Barn.

My Blog...

Hey all, hope your summers are going well! Just putting a link up for my little 'ol blog. Its nothing special as of now, just a way for potential clients to see what kind of things I do. Anyways, see you all soon!

Outside Bozeman Magazine

For those of you who don't know, which is probably most of you, I am an intern at Outside Bozeman Magazine and I have gotten several images published. Check out the MSU pocket guide that should be all over campus starting next week where I have a bunch of photos. I should have several in the fall issue as well, and beyond getting published, I have learned a ton about how magazines work and I am getting some awesome experience. Anyone who has not done any sort of internship or worked for a professional photographer or a magazine before, I strongly recommend that you consider it. The experience is invaluable and you will have the opportunity to build some great contacts for your future. This photo is from a shoot I did with one of our editorial interns on a climb called Diesel Driver in Gallatin Canyon and might run in the fall issue.

New Pointenshoot!!

I bought a new camera this summer. After using a Sony blah blah for awhile (which I loved, R.I.P.) I broke it. It met a watery grave. Turns out, ziplock bags don't quite lock. Huh. So I was cameraless this summer, and bought a new Canon Powershot D10 from Bozeman Camera Repair. What about water? It's waterproof. I want to take it on all my adventures. And it's "drop proof" too. Pretty bad. Here's something I took on an adventure float. You like diptychs? Senior project? What kind of art is this, anyway? Seeya in class...

Undergraduate Project Funding

Please check this out. Several students have received funding through USP. Come chat to me if you have an idea for a special project you want to get funded. Read on. The University has an Undergraduate Scholars Program that is dedicated to helping students pursue scholarly activities in all disciplines. Students working with a faculty mentor can apply for funding. (this may be their course instructor or other faculty) The deadline for full-year funding ($1500) is coming fast! Proposals need to be submitted by September 4th for full funding. Proposals submitted after September 4 are accepted for prorated funding. There is also the ability to apply for each semester ($750). Students who receive funding will participate in a presentation of their work in April of 2010. Many of you have mentored students in the past, and we want to thank you and encourage other faculty to let students know about this funding opportunity. Web site for full details: http://www.montana.edu/usp/

Custom Film Holders By Better Scanning

Hey Guys and Gals Like Ian Ive been scanning a bunch this summer and I thought Id share. I bought a 120/220 scanning tray from Better Scanning (click the title for link) this summer and its wonderful. It has an adjustable height allowing you to calibrate the film for the scanner, quarter turn equals .2mm, something that Epson's trays don't allow. Below are some more images examples for reference. They are a pretty penny but if you are shooting and scanning film, they get the most out of your film. Top one was scanned with Epson tray for my senior this spring. Second one is with the Better Scanning tray with the height calibrated to 3mm. See you guys in a few weeks and ill post some images from my summer soon.

Butte Bath Tub

Where are you all?

Where are you all? I would love to see some of your summer images. Feels like there are only a few lone voices out there.

The Death of the Photojournalist

Really interesting New York Times article about the downturn of print media and its effect on photojournalists around the world.

Up-Resing

I thought some of you might find this link on Up-Resing helpful.

Up a Tree

Norita 66

yay! thanks auggie!!

Dispelling Rumors

Dear All. There seems to be a rumor that I will not be not be around the department this fall. That is not the case. I will actually be more available than usual (because I will not be teaching classes) and in my office more frequently to brew you a nice cup of tea. Check my door for posted tea hours. I look forward to seeing you all and seeing all the wonderful projects you are working on.

Lewis M. in Butte

I really enjoyed meeting Lewis M. in Butte in early summer. He was a Boss on the mine for many years. Now he spends a lot of his time in his beautiful veggie garden. We spent a long time conversing about the ins-and-outs of gardening in Montana.

Siren

In June of 2001 a massive tornado passed through the small town of Siren, Wisconsin. The entire town was destroyed and has since been rebuilt. However, evidence of the storm can still be found throughout the area. Here, an aluminum boat has lasted for 8 years on the pole of a bird house. 

looks like someone else could also use a lesson...

Da Grip! Chris and I will get a one on one in two weeks and report back...

New York City Surfing

Hey everyone, just finished my last trip down to NYC to shoot a series on surfing. The surfers I met were an incredibly dedicated bunch and were at first almost tentative to be shot. There has been a lot of media attention lately about the surfing scene in the city and once empty surf breaks are becoming over-crowded with newcomers. The locals are a hardy group but are very warm-hearted once you get to know them. I definitely made some amazing friends from this experience and even shared some great waves! Here are a few shots, any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Don't forget to backup your photos

Making regular backups is critical. I've only heard a few horror stories about photographers loosing all their photos (usually on a laptop). These mishaps could have been prevented if backups were part of their workflow. Ideally, if you use a laptop:

• Store all images on an external drive, not on the laptop
• Backup all images to a second external hard drive
• Make an updated backup every time you import new (good) images

If you own a desktop:

• Backup images to an external drive (or another internal hard drive)
• You can use Time Machine to make backups for you automatically

If you shoot a lifelong project, best to backup the most important images and keep them off-site, in a safety deposit box, so that a fire, flood, etc., would not annihilate your images. Safety deposit boxes are cheaper than you think ($20-40/year for a small box). The peace of mind is well worth it. How to make backups:

• I use iBackup. It's free, mac-only, and has a lot of options. I don't use Time Machine, because it requires that the hard drives be in a mac-only format and will not backup from one external hard drive to another.
• iBackup is great because it can make incremental back-ups, meaning that it will only backup new and modified files, instead of everything all over again. When I backup new images it takes about 1 minute per GB, and usually completes a backup in 10 minutes or less. If you have firewire external hard drives, it's only about 30 seconds per GB.
• I also use the profiles feature in iBackup to backup documents and photos separately.
• To remember to make the backups you could setup a reminder in Gmail, iCal, etc.

If you want to go much further and backup your entire Mac system, check out Carbon Copy Cloner. I hope everyone is having a great summer!

New Header Please

O.K. I though we had some takers for posting new headers? The current one shows someone (no names mentioned) who is not holding a camera correctly. Not a good advertisement for the program.