Photojournalism

In light of the Occupy Wall St. Movement and its nationwide expansion, I realized that I don’t recall a movement such as this in my lifetime. Sure, there have been anti-war protesters, but when aren’t there protesters during war-time? This feels different. There are so many people coming together from so many varied backgrounds and they all have different ideas and somehow it’s all funneling down into one unified voice speaking out.

As I am interested in photojournalism and street photography (and seeing as how I’ve never taken photos of a protest) I decided to grab my trusty 500 DTL and check out my local Occupy group.

I’d heard of Occupy St. Louis at work from a co-worker who is an involved activist with the group. It sounded amazing and every day I was unable to go down to Kiener Plaza I felt I was missing something.

I work a 9 to 5 and decided to go on a Saturday on the way to get groceries.

Perhaps I got ahead of myself. Some may not know what this Occupy movement is all about. Long and short: The group is against corrupt corporation and banking practices. This summation isn’t precise, I’ll admit, but here are a few links for further education:

http://www.occupystl.org/statement-of-purpose/
http://www.facebook.com/OccupyWallSt?ref=ts&sk=info

It was early Saturday and the group looked to still be in the shadows of trees holding their morning general assembly. Since I shoot film, I decided to go down to the riverfront under the arch and do some of my usual photography. After about an hour of snapping street shots I headed back up and there were some people holding signs along Market Street.

Members of the group come from all walks of life. In my brief period there I got to meet Janelle.

Janelle is from the area and she and her children have visited the plaza for the last two weekends. They were camping out again this weekend. She discussed with me the importance of the movement between cheers at honking passers by (honking in solidarity to one of the signs another person was holding) and felt that a change needed to be made to the current system.

Standing there on the median, alone with her daughter, holding a sign that says unity; she appeared, to me at least, as a welcoming figure like a grand statue welcoming you to the plaza. Her sign, a warm beacon of equality assuring you that you belonged.

DIY!

So, despite my previous thoughts of meeting a deadline and devoting more time here; I did not.  That deadline flowed into another and well... long story short, I'm doing my best.

DIY!  Yes, I've been doing it myself.  Had a few attempts at Caffenol developing of black and white film in the downstairs bathroom.  First with Kodak Tri-X, but with minimal success.  It seems to really achieve the shadows and midtones of the film's emulsion I'd need to order a dog sedative from the UK which well... isn't going to happen.

So, I took DIY even further and decided to start rolling my own rolls of film.  Got a bulk loader and 200ft of expired (2009) Fomapan 100.  Dev'd a test strip this evening and it's drying in the bathroom.  Negative looks a little thin.  Thinking a bit more coffee and the full 15min vs. the 12min. I went with, since I'm stubborn and I know best... sigh.

Looking at getting the DigitLiza for scanning sprocket shots.  Figured out the clicks for the Yashica 44a and may start shooting with it more.  But, w/ this new found information I have images much too close together to fit a bit of tape between them.  Hopefully I'll be able to do the same w/ the Comet.  That one has no click, though, so it may be a bit more difficult.

Have also been looking at new cameras (as this is a horrible horrible addiction and I just can't stop myself).  Thinking the Sharan 135STD pinhole and modifying the image mask to shoot 35mm squares to the sprockets.  And a 127 film folding camera for mas sprocket action.

Getting excited about Festival of Nations in Tower Grove Park this month.  Should be lots of people to take pictures of.  Ordered a bunch of street photography books from the library to study up and just immerse myself in the style.

Anywho, back to the heating pad and bed.  My back is creaky tonight.

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

Need to send off the B&W roll.  That means going to Fairview and that would require putting on pants, effort... the lot.  It'll have to wait for the weekend.  Shot a roll of new Fuji 200 at the Botanical Gardens in St. Louis on Mothers Day.  Got some really great shots and miraculously every shot turned out.

I know I said all the shots exposed, but these were the keepers.

In other news, I'm on the brink of finishing my first pinhole.  Used a build write up from Chris Keeney, inventor of the "Mintycam" and will hopefully finish it tonight.  This experiment could go one of two ways.  Hoping for the positive.  Ordered my Recesky TLR and it should be here in time for the wedding.  Looking at the Sprocket Rocket or the Supersampler next.  Two completely different cameras with completely different final products.  Also on the wishlist is an Epson Perfection 40.  Not exactly "analogue," but as I primarily upload my images and seldom print them out it works.  As well, Victoria has gobs and gobs of negatives she'd like to digitize for keeps.

Anywho, that's that.  Going to load and prep my tin pinhole and will post the photos as soon as they're developed.  Then, I'll post photos scanned with the scanner we get, as the shots should go to the sprockets, but the 1 hour place can't scan past the sprockets.