Pure Film

Hiatus...

2008-06-07T19:00:00.000-05:00

The month long hiatus will soon be over.

Spotlight: Timothy Briner

2008-05-07T20:00:00.003-05:00

One of the most interesting artists that I have found on the internet is a photographer named Timothy Briner. In the past several months I have followed his blog and web site, as he has chronicled his journey across America.

Why is Briner traveling across America? He is traveling from Boonville to Boonville; he is working his way from Boonville, New York to Boonville, California and to four other Boonville’s along the way. At each town he has stopped in he has photographed the people and places there, and he has photographed his journey along the way. I am not exactly sure if that answers the why, but maybe Timothy can answer why in his own words:

“There's been population booms and a rise of corporate development over the last 25 years. Some towns are benefiting from this, others are slowly dying. Some call it progress. I think the heart and soul of America is undergoing a significant evolution.”

I actually discovered Briner not by surfer the internet blogs, but on the front page of my town’s newspaper. He had traveled to the Brazos Valley in order to photograph the extinct town of Boonville, Texas. There is not much left of Boonville, except for the Boonville Cemtery.

He has taken up a journey with courage and a purpose that I have only aspired to take. The trip was entirely founded by donations from friends, family, and other artist. If I could afford it myself I probably would have donated a few dollars.

What has made Briner’s blog exceptional is that along with the chronicle of his journey he has continued to share related links in photograph and the arts. From sharing a blog dedicated to women in photography to musicians such as the band The Hold Steady.

Much of the blog is about Briner’s journey, but as you take his writings and photographs into context you realize that this is not just about him. We people take journeys like this; it has an interesting affect on them and their outlook on life. We are all moving through this world without any idea who we might come in contact with, and some of us embrace this idea and take solace in the fact that most of us are looking for the same thing.

I look at Briner’s journey as a window into the soul of America, an almost Kerouacesque journey through photographs of what has become of Boonville, USA.

“Buy the ticket, take the ride.”
–Hunter S. Thompson

Sunsets...

2008-05-05T18:00:00.005-05:00

Texas Sunset

Brazos Sunset

Pond Sunset

These photographs were taken in and around Grimes County and Robertson County, Texas. (Technical: Canon AE-1, FujiFilm 400 Speed Film)
Copyright Teddy Wilson 2008

Change...

2008-05-02T16:00:00.002-05:00

Change Part 1

Change Part 2

Flowers...

2008-05-01T18:00:00.002-05:00

Green...

2008-04-28T18:00:00.005-05:00

Lily

Branch

Fern

These photographs were taken in the town of Independence, Texas and in Lick Creek Park in Brazos County near the town of College Station, Texas. (Technical: Pentax K2, FujiFilm 400 Speed Color Film)
Copyright Teddy Wilson 2008

Neighbor’s Gardens...

2008-04-25T16:00:00.006-05:00

Lantana

Iris

Herbertia

These photographs were taken in the town of Navasota, Texas. (Technical: Pentax K2, FujiFilm 200 Speed Color Film)
Copyright Teddy Wilson 2008

Artistic Experimentation...

2008-04-23T21:00:00.002-05:00

In the last few weeks I have been thinking more about art as a whole, and widening my focus from just photography. I have realized that since I have been taking photographs in the last several months that I have been look towards more than just photographers for inspiration and for influence. I have also notice that my mind has been working on ideas for several different ways that I can expand upon the medium of photography.

I have chosen film for many different reasons, and I do not see myself exploring the digital photography realm with my photographs. However, I do see myself exploring other means of photographic expression, and I am starting to experiment in some new ways.

One of the ways, that those of you that are familiar with my photograph may have already seen, is that I have been creating videos with my photographs. These videos are basically virtual slide shows, and I have added soundtracks to enhance to experience. The first video that I made was after I had been taking photographs for a few months, and I incorporated as many different styles of photographs that I had taken to that point to show an overview of my portfolio. I also used the beat of the particular piece of music to time the appearance of photographs to give a more dramatic effect both individually and as a whole.

The next video project that I have been working on focuses on the flower photographs that I have been taking, and it incorporates these photographs along with music to enhance the meaning of this collection of photographs. Also, I am incorporating thoughts from some of the greatest minds, and quotes will be shown over the top of photographs from people like Henry David Thoreau and e.e. cummings.

As far as future plans, my mind always seems to be further ahead than my shutter. Especially because I have come to consider that if I am going to consider myself an artist in any way shape or form than I must be trying to say and express something with my art. I do not think it is enough for me to take a photograph of a landscape just for the sake of taking a photograph of a landscape. I feel compelled to say something.

So, it is along those lines that I have begun to research my first project which is going to be called Life and Death in the Brazos Valley. I think that this project will take about six months to complete, which includes the research and actually taking the photographs.

There are also other ways that I will be experimenting with photography. In the next few weeks I am going to begin photographing things much more in black and white, and I will also be taking many more night photographs.

In the next couple of weeks I will post about upcoming artist events happening locally, and I will also spotlight an artist.

Cedar Creek Flowers...

2008-04-21T18:00:00.003-05:00

Honeysuckle

Stiff-Stem Flax

Texas Dandelion

These photographs were taken near Cedar Creek in the town of Navasota, Texas. (Technical: Pentax K2, FujiFilm 200 Speed Color Film)
Copyright Teddy Wilson 2008

Animals on Film...

2008-04-18T16:00:00.006-05:00

Dog’s Eye

Cows in the Shade

Kid in the Brush

These photographs were taken in Grimes and McLennan Counties, Texas. (Technical: Pentax K2, FujiFilm 400 Speed Color Film)
Copyright Teddy Wilson 2008

Internet Arts...

2008-04-16T21:00:00.000-05:00

The internet is amazing.

I know this may seem obvious, but I think that I underestimated the depth of which the internet can be used for artistic expression and the arts community. There are thousands, if not millions of web sites, blogs, and vlogs dedicate to the arts. There are of course the web sites that are for official arts communities, professional artist and dealers, and for museums and art publications. But, there are by far much more “starving” artist, and these amateurs and working class artist have filled the internet with art.

So are so many people with so much talent, that I think it is revolutionizing art. I think that art is no longer just something that people have to go to a museum or art gallery to see. I think the internet is giving artist of all statures the ability to share their art with the world. The revolution does not just affect those artists who work in the visual arts, such as painting, and drawing, and photography, and graphic arts. This revolution affects the written word as well, and it is also affecting the spoken word.

Not to mention that an application for a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts is just a click away.

Online there is a blending of art…it seems as though sometimes it is hard to tell where different styles stop and others begin. There also seems to be so much positive feedback between artists. On community sites and blogging sites there is a type of negative mist that seems to hang in the electronic atmosphere. From the dip I have taken into the world of art on the internet, there seems to be a positive vibe so thick that you could drown in it.

So, to support the arts community on the internet, every week I am going to feature a new artist that I have found on the internet. Look for the first featured internet artist on April 30th, and on that same day I will feature a YouTube internet artist.

Support arts on the internet! (I am going to have to work on that slogan.)

Texas Continues to Bloom...

2008-04-14T18:00:00.003-05:00

Albino Paintbrush

Dandelion

Bluebonnet

All photographs taken in Independence, Texas. (Technical: Pentax K2, FujiFilm 400 Speed Color Film)

Night Photography...

2008-04-11T16:00:00.002-05:00

Park Bridge at Night

Campus Hallway

Park at Night

These three photographs are my first experimentations with night photography. These experiments have given me a barometer for what to expect when taking photographs at night, and in low light settings.

I used FujiFilm 1600 speed color film for these photographs. It is the best speed for night photography, although it is expensive. All of the photographs were taken with an aperture setting of F8; I felt that this aperture setting would be a good middle ground baseline to work from. I took three exposures of each scene, and the exposures where staggered from ten, twenty, and thirty seconds.

I found that the different between the exposure times was essentially minimal, but the exposure time would be important depending on what kind of look I was trying to pull out of my photograph.

In the first photograph of the bridge I felt that a ten second exposure time produced the best photo, although I think that I will use a filter the next time I take a similar photo to reduce the starburst from the park lights. The longer exposures dulled the color of the grass, however increased the intensity of the reflection on the water.

In the second photograph I came to the conclusion that the ten second exposure time also produces the best result, because in the longer exposure time the red color of the brick is diffused and the shadows are less apparent. This is my favorite off all the night photos that I took with this roll, because it is simple and creates an interesting feeling when you look at it.

The second photograph I once again came to discover that less is more. With such a high speed film there is not a need for long exposure times, and with short exposure times you can bring out interesting things in a night photograph.

These photographs were taken in College Station, Texas, on the campus of Blinn College and in Wolf Creek Park. (Technical: Canon AE-1, FujiFilm 1600 speed color film)
Copyright: Teddy Wilson 2008

Reflections on Photography...

2008-04-09T21:00:00.002-05:00

In the last three months since I have been posting photographs I have learned more than I knew that there was to learn about photography.

In the last few weeks I have been focusing on wildflower photography, which has turned out to be much more difficult than I first assumed. I have found that the most difficult part of photographing flowers is the limited depth of field that a macro lens provides. Also, attempting to photograph flowers in different and unique ways has sometimes been complicated, and it has mostly been complicated because of the composition of the flowers themselves. Another thing that I have found to be difficult to do is to bring out the vibrant colors of the flowers.

The Indian (or Texas) Paintbrush has been very abundant this spring, and I have also discovered it to be the easiest to photograph. The geometry and fullness of the flower has allowed me to experiment more with the paintbrush than with any other flower, and with some success. The Texas bluebonnet has proven to be the most difficult to photograph in unique ways. Because of the composition of the petals the Bluebonnet is a flower that tends to be much more visually stimulating from further away than it is up close.

I have discovered that my favorite time of the day to take photographs is in the later morning hours. About ten o’clock in the morning seems to be the right time to take most photographs; the light is usually just the right intensity. There is also something about the time of day that I think translates into the photograph. There is another part of our senses that is active when we look at a photograph in which the time of day can be reasonably assumed.

I am going to continue to post new photographs twice a week, and I will be posting a blog once a week. I have other ideas that are working themselves out inside my head, including showcasing the work of other artist especially local artist. I am also hoping to post video vlogs on my YouTube channel once a week and these vlogs will include commentary and new photographs.

At the moment I am researching a project that I plan to take photographs for this summer; I have called the project “Life and Death in the Brazos Valley.” In the more immediate future I will probably be taking the weekend off from taking photographs. Last weekend I took four rolls of photographs, and I need to focus on organizing my photographs and negatives (I am behind at the moment). Also, I need to spend some time finding more prints for my portfolio. Hopefully next week I will have some news pertaining to that specifically.

For now I will leave you with a thought from Berenice Abbott: “Photography helps people to see.”

Texas in Bloom...

2008-04-07T18:00:00.002-05:00

Texas Bluebonnet

Sweet William

Showy Primrose

These photographs where taken in Washinton and Brazos Counties, Texas. (Technical: Pentax K2, FujiFilm 400 Speed Color Film, Kodak 800 Speed Color Film)

Blog Photographs Review (Jan-Mar)

2008-04-02T20:00:00.001-05:00

AggieCon Art Show...

2008-03-26T15:00:00.005-05:00

Photos That Will Appearing at the AggieCon Art Show…

Cross of Leaves

Down the Tracks

Katherine's Bridge

Trees in the Fog

26th and Main

Madeleine’s Clock

Brazos Sand

Pond Sunset

Tropical Texas

Spring in the Sky

Photos that will be in the Print Shop…

Angel Prayers

Gate in the Fog

(These photos are matted and can be purchased for $15.)

About the AggieCon Art Show…

This is the place where artists from around the US share their wonderful art with the world. They place original and print work up for inspiration and for sale. This room can be found near the dealer’s room and is open to the public, no con badge required.

Hours of Operation
Thursday...2pm to 7pm
Friday.......10am to 7pm
Saturday...10am to 7pm (Art Auction will be held after Charity Auction in Room 201)
Sunday.....10am to 2pm

About AggieCon…

AGGIECON 39: The Penguins Are Stealing My CON!
March 27th-30th, 2008

AggieCon is the annual science fiction convention produced entirely by the members of Cepheid Variable, a student organization, on the grounds of Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. It has the recognition of being the oldest, continuously running, student-produced science fiction convention in the U.S. Each spring, we bring in guests notable in their chosen fields of writing, art, acting, editing, or game production and give the student body a chance to see them in person.

Faces of a Cemetery Revisited...

2008-03-21T18:00:00.005-05:00

Jesus at the Gate

Water Stains of Time

Angel Prayers Revisited

These photographs were taken in Oakwood Cemetery in Navasota, Texas. (Technical: Pentax K2, FujiFilm 400 Speed Color Film)

View From Below...

2008-03-17T18:00:00.001-05:00

View From Below – Part 1

View From Below – Part 2

View From Below – Part 3

These photographs were taken in Grimes County and Brazos County Texas. (Technical: Pentax K2 and Canon AE-1, FujiFilm 400 Speed Color Film)

Spring Begins in Texas...

2008-03-14T18:00:00.004-05:00

Texas Paintbrush

Fringed Puccoon

Bluebonnet

These photographs where taken in Grimes County and Brazos County Texas (Highway 90 and Wellborn Road). (Technical: Pentax K2, FujiFilm 400 Speed Color Film)

Up Close...

2008-03-10T18:00:00.001-05:00

Tropical Texas

Dogwood

Leaves

These photographs where taken in Lick Creek Park in Brazos County, Texas (Technically: Pentax K2, FujiFilm 400 Speed Color
Film).
Copyright Teddy Wilson 2008

Down the Road...

2008-03-07T18:00:00.004-06:00

The Bridge

The Track

Walkway

These photographs where taken in Brazos and Grimes County, Texas. (Technical: Canon AE-1, 400 Speed Film) Copywrite Teddy Wilson 2008

Reflections in the Woods…

2008-03-03T18:00:00.006-06:00

Reflections in the Woods – Part 1

Reflections in the Woods – Part 2

Reflections in the Woods – Part 3

These photographs where taken in Lick Creek Park in Brazos County, Texas.(Technical: Canon AE-1, 400 Speed Film)
Copyright: Teddy Wilson 2008

More Life in Black and White...

2008-02-29T18:00:00.001-06:00

Smile

View of Houston

Jesus With Open Arms

These photographs where taken in and around Hermann Park in Houston, Texas.(Technical: Canon AE-1, 400 Speed Film)
Copyright: Teddy Wilson 2008

More Faces of a Cemetery...

2008-02-25T15:00:00.005-06:00

Angel Prayers

Reaching

Child

These photographs where taken in the Oakwood Cemetery in Navasota, Texas.(Technical: Canon AE-1, 400 Speed Film)
Copyright: Teddy Wilson 2008

Birds...

2008-02-18T15:00:00.003-06:00

Ducks in the City

Bird Bath

Taking Flight

These photographs where taken in Hermann Park in Houston, Texas and Central Park College Station, Texas.(Technical: Canon AE-1, 400 Speed Film)

Into the Fog…

2008-02-15T15:00:00.002-06:00

Dead End

Gate into the Fog

Trees in the Mist

These photographs where taken in Brazos County, Texas.(Technical: Canon AE-1, 400 Speed Film)
Copyright: Teddy Wilson 2008

Shadows...

2008-02-11T15:00:00.001-06:00

2:47

Shadow Tree

Grave Shadows

These photographs where taken in downtown Bryan, Texas, the Oakwood Cemetery in Navasota, Texas, and Hermann Park in Houston, Texas.(Technical: Canon AE-1, 400 Speed Film)

Waters...

2008-02-07T15:00:00.002-06:00

Blue Water Edge

Hill Country Lily Pads

Green Water Flow

These photographs where taken in College Station, Texas and La Grange, Texas.(Technical: Canon AE-1, 400 Speed Film)
Copyright: Teddy Wilson 2008

Life in Black and White...

2008-02-04T14:59:00.001-06:00

Shadow of Howell

When the Tree Dies

Monument

These photographs where taken in downtown Bryan, Texas, the Oakwood Cemetery in Navasota, Texas, and Hermann Park in Houston, Texas.(Technical: Canon AE-1, 400 Speed Film)
Copyright: Teddy Wilson 2008

Faces of a Cemetery...

2008-01-31T17:30:00.001-06:00

Leaves of a Cross

Angel Moss Wings

The Young of the Dead

These photographs where taken in the Oakwood Cemetery in Navasota, Texas. (Technical: Canon AE-1, 400 Speed Film)

Photography is an Art of Observation...

2008-01-31T16:59:00.001-06:00

I do not think of myself as an artist. I would like to think of myself as a lover of art.

I have rediscovered an art that I loved when I was younger: the art of the photograph.

I do not aspire to be a professional photographer. The photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt, whose most famous photograph was V–J day in Times Square, said, “Once the amateur's naive approach and humble willingness to learn fades away, the creative spirit of good photography dies with it. Every professional should remain always in his heart an amateur.” I may be able to earn a profit from my photography, but making money from the photos is not my aspiration.

I do not think that I will ever digitize my photography. I believe that art is when something beautiful is made from something simple. Art is made when a painter uses dye, water, and canvas to create a painting, or when a writer uses a pen and paper to create a novel. Once too much technology is incorporated the line is blurred between art and synthetics.

Technology is a great thing. Technology improves our lives. Technology has created advancements in every scientific field. Technology can even be used in art. Historians have used technology to digital record great works of music and preserve our musical heritage. However, a computer cannot compose a symphony the way Beethoven’s hand could, the brush strokes of Picasso cannot be recreated digitally.

I also would like to keep my photography as simple as possible. I would like my subjects to be raw nature and real people without airbrush. The hardest thing to find as a photographer is an eye for something unique and invisible to everyone else. Elliott Erwitt said,” To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”

So, this will simply be a vessel to share my view of the world; my view through two mirrors and a viewfinder.

-Teddy

You can find Elliott Erwitt’s work at http://www.elliotterwitt.com/lang/en/index.html