Message from Colin Clarke
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
All photographs in all galleries here are protected by international copyright laws. The copyright is held by
the artist, Colin J Clarke. None of the photographs may be copied, reproduced, modified, published, downloaded,
uploaded, posted, transmitted or distributed in any form. All rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.
“I have often thought that if photography were difficult in the true sense of the
term -- meaning that the creation of a simple photograph would entail as much
time and effort as the production of a good watercolor or etching -- there would
be a vast improvement in total output. The sheer ease with which we can produce
a superficial image often leads to creative disaster.” - Ansel Adams (1902 - 1984)
Hello, and thank you for visiting!
About 95% of what you will see in my galleries will be film-based, scanned images.
Mostly, I use various Medium Format (MF) 6cmx6cm (2 1/4" square) cameras with 120 size roll film (mostly Ilford B+W, Fuji Acros, and Kodak NC/VC Colour), all films hand developed by me, and all scanned on an Epson V750Pro flatbed. With MF, I enjoy the slower and more deliberate selection of subjects, and the choice of exposure and development dictated by my plan for the final image. I read the light with a spotmeter. In a day of photography, I may not make more than 12 exposures, or 24 (2 rolls) at the outside. Hopefully, this activity results in 3 or 4 agreeable results. I find this form of image making very meditative.
It usually takes me longer to find the scene, than to make the picture! Sometimes, I am happier if I did not make an exposure. I enjoy the process! I often find that if I spend enough time thinking about my subject and what I want to achieve, the photograph finds me. Most importantly, I make images for me.
Although I favour MF cameras, I also use Nikon 35mm SLRs (F, F2, F-801s and Nikkormat FTN, especially) and my venerable Leica M3 Rangefinder 35mm camera, as the need arises, especially with reportage and street work. My opinion of the Leica M3 is that there has never been a better film camera built. I may change that opinion when I own the Leica MP. ;-) I also take out my Toyo-View and/or Toyo-Field 45AII 4x5 Large Format camera sometimes - not nearly often enough. And I derive great pleasure from using my various old and simple 'collected' cameras, and pinholes, for 'good old fashioned' picture making.
I am not anti-digital. Far from it. I have a digital SLR and a P&S and use them when I need to. It is a fact though that For now, a deeply scanned MF film suits my style.
I have great fun using old (mainly roll film) cameras to make new images. This is my way of keeping grounded, and not following the 'yellow brick road' of constantly changing technology. Film quality is so much better these days, and the older cameras often give surprising results. I don't think that any camera, in itself, makes an image better or worse, and there are many outstanding images on Pbase from 'low-end' cameras - including the pinholes (no lens). Although I have a small camera collection, I am not an equipment 'snob'. Hence my praise for the Agfa 6x9 Clack!
Please record any special comments or questions HERE. Please NOTE that if you are reading this as a "guest" and not a PBase contributer, any Guestbook comment you make is NOT recorded - so if you are a 'guest' and have a comment, go to the "comments" section under any image - if/where you view an individual picture. Thank you.
May you have 'good light'.
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