East meets West

Orchamps

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:06:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I rode the bike down to the Jura to visit an old friend. Orchamps is a small town not far from Besancon. I took a walk on the canal in the late afternoon as the sun set.

all images: Rolleiflex + Ilford Delta 100

Chuffed: my first interview as a photographer

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Fri, 29 May 2009 11:42:00 +0000

Just saw that the folks at Contactless Intelligence have published an interview with me about my photography. Thanks guys, its great to have a chance to talk about my love for film.

In case you are visiting from the link, I must apologise that the blog is not very up to date -- busy as always, but I do invite you to check out the gallery -- its the easiest way to see my photos.

In Memoriam

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:43:00 +0000

Vicente Pascual Rodrigo
1955 - 25.IX.2008

Tributes:

Zaragoza

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Fri, 23 May 2008 06:55:00 +0000

Yashica Mat, Ilford Delta 100

San Sebastian

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Sun, 11 May 2008 22:05:00 +0000

Sunset view from our hotel balcony
(Rolleiflex, Ilford Delta 100)

I was very pleased to find that the lab made a mistake and in fact did not lose my films, but they simply have an internal disconnect between their customer service and accounts departments... Turns out the credit card I have on file with them was expired, but instead of telling me this when I contacted them on several occasions, they just told me it was sent out and presumably lost in the post.

This is one of the added bonuses you get with film, the joy of finally getting your shots back!

These shots are from our road trip to Mallorca. We spent a night in San Sebastian. It was a really beautiful place. So will be posting a selection from the trip.

Sea side in December (with swimmer!)
Yashica fx-3, 50mm, Illford Delta 100

It was just before Christmas, but we were shocked to find the locals comfortably swimming in the Atlantic water. (If you look closely you can see one confidently striding towards the water in the shot above). Old and young they went out every day in droves. The Basques are indeed a hardy race!!

We weaker mortals remained bundled in our winter coats on dry land.

Paula on the beach
Yashica fx3, 50mm, Illford Delta 100

Two thumbs up for San Sebastian: great food, beautiful views and a lively, vigorous people!

Hacked Off

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:45:00 +0000

I would have liked to have posted some photos over the past few weeks, but my last 6 rolls of film seem to have gone missing in the post.

Apparently my lab received them and return posted them to me on March 4, over a month ago. They said they can try to make a claim to the post office which might get me some money back, but can't get my images back!

The films included the Rollei shots from San Francisco and also the films I finally found from my trip to Zaragoza over Christmas. These shots were quite valuable to me and it was a double disappointment to have finally found the films only to lose them in the post.

The lab assured me that things only get lost in the post on extremely rare occasions and they think it will turn up sooner or later. Who knows....

If anybody out there received a package in error please send it back to me!

San Francisco I (Just playing around)

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 20:36:00 +0000

Spot the Kitesurfer
(Paula's D80)

I was in San Francisco a few weeks ago and managed to find some time when not working to head out with the camera. It's a fantastic city for photography. I didn't have the luxury of waiting around for the right light simply because there was no time. I took my Rollei with me and went through a few rolls. While waiting for them to be developed, I post a few shots taken playing around with Paula's D80. (Yes Paula came with me, it would not have been possible to prise away the D80 from her otherwise -- also my snooty attitudes towards digital would never have permitted me to bring the D80 myself! The fact that it just happened to be there makes it somehow more acceptable for me to use it. Note that I always refer to 'playing around' with the digital camera, and not implying that its 'serious' photography. I would not feel comfortable with that.

At the old docks
(Paula's D80)

Embarcadero
(Paula's D80)

As we didn't have a lot of time, we just cruised around the city in the rental car and stopped at the places we could both agree were worthwhile. Also as we were in America it felt appropriate to do some drive-by shootings. Sticking the lens out the car window and pushing the trigger at strangers just feels right when you are driving a Chevy Impala.

Drive-by shooting
(Paula's D80)

Views from the Ferry

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:15:00 +0000

Yashica fx-3, 50mm + polarising filter, Ilford Delta 100

We took the day ferry back from Mallorca to Barcelona. It was a perfect day, sunny and the water was calm. As we rounded the island we got some beautiful views of the north west corner of the island.

Yashica fx-3, 50mm + polarising filter, Ilford Delta 100

As we sailed away and the island gradually faded into the horizon I realised once again how special Mallorca is. With mountains, pains, beaches and marshes, it has a range of terrain that is uncommon for a relatively small island. The lush green winter vegetation and mild climate make it a great place to wait out the long northern winter.

Yashica fx-3, 50mm + polarising filter, Ilford Delta 100

Here are some of the colour images with my new Yashica Mat (kind gift from my Uncle in law). I have a not-so-good scanner so unfortunately the quality is not as good as I would like.

Yashica Mat 124g, Kodak Portra 160 VC

Yashica Mat 124g, Kodak Portra 160 VC

We felt sad to be leaving. As we drove North from Barcelona, the car thermometer showed the outside temperature steadily dropping, degree by degree from the high teens of Mallorca down to the near zero temperatures of northern France.

Walking the Dog

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:17:00 +0000

Troby is a wonderful animal who adopted my parents in law. She ran away from her previous owners who apparently mistreated her. She is very well behaved and, as cat lovers, Paula and I count her as an exception to our general indifference to the canine species.

Yashica fx-3, 50mm, Ilford Delta 100

Actually Troby behaves more like a cat than a dog. She sleeps most of the day and is quiet and independent. But she loves affection and is always looking for a good rub-down.

Yashica fx-3, 50mm, Ilford Delta 100

One of the things that puts me off dogs is that they have to be walked. But Mallorca is a great place to have a dog because everything is so beautiful. I took the shot below while we were walking Troby

Yashica Mat, Kodak Portra 160 VC

Campanet: village of a thousand views

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:36:00 +0000

Yashica fx-3, 50mm Carl Zeiss T*, Ilford Delta 100

This is the view from Paula's parent's house over the village of Campanet in Mallorca. I was fascinated by the constantly changing conditions and took many photos. Its quite amazing how it looks different every time I looked out the window.

Yashica fx-3, 50mm Carl Zeiss T*, Ilford Delta 100

As I've mentioned before, Paula's father is a painter and so its no surprise to see that he has chosen such an inspiring place to live. I was hoping to catch one of the days where snow appears on the peak in the morning, but it didn't get cold enough. Not that I minded that! With the temperature reaching 20 degrees on one day, it was a welcome escape from London at this time of year.

Yashica Mat 124g, Kodak Portra 160 VC

The moon was at its height during our stay and the nights were bright. I took a few long exposure shots (not long enough, actually) before going to sleep of the same view:

Yashica Mat 124g, Kodak Portra 160 VC

New Camera: Yashica Mat

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:36:00 +0000

One of the highlights of the trip was our stop in Zaragoza, where we stayed with Paula's maternal uncle. While we were there we also spent time with her paternal uncle Vicente and his wife Ana. He very kindly gave me his old Yashica Mat 124g as a gift. I immediately put it to use. Unfortunately, I seem to have misplaced the film that I went through with them! I am pretty sure its in one of the many bags we took on the trip, and as soon as I find it I will post the images. All the colour images in the postings from this trip are with the Yashica Mat. Its a great camera that is very similer to the Rolleiflex it was derived from. According to the specifications, the viewing angle (80mm) is only slightly narrower than the Rollei (75mm) but for some reason the Yashica field of view seems to be significantly narrower in practice. It seems to be better suited for portraits than wide landscapes, although, like the Rollei it is very versatile. I discovered an interesting problem with the Yashica: it has an in-built meter, but the battery it was designed for is a mercury cell, which is now unavailable in most Western countries for environmental reasons. Apparently there is a Dutch fellow who specialises in overcoming this problem with an adapter. I have contacted him to ask for one of his contraptions to see if I can resuscitate the meter on mine.

I put the Yashica Mat and Rolleiflex head to head. The two images below were taken at the same place, an old cistern supplying water to one of the farms in Esporlas. You can clearly see the wider field of view in the Rollei (can 5mm difference in angle make all this difference? I'm a little surprised to see such a big difference) I may have been a few feet further back with the Rollei, but if so not very far at all.

Yashica Mat 124G, Kodak Portra 160 VC
(80mm lens)

Rolleiflex Automat 3.5 Tessar
(75mm lens)

Both cameras provide great images. I did did find that in some cases the narrower field of view in the Yashica was better suited to some shots. Although the Yashica is 5 decades newer than my Rollei, it is remarkable to see that there was practically not much difference in performance or design. The biggest visible difference in the images is due to the fact that the much newer Yashica has a coated lens which greatly reduces flaring. Having said this one of the reasons I love the Rollei is the 'antique' feel to the images because of the uncoated lens. One great feature is that Yashica made such a good copy of the Rollei that I can use the same filters and lens hood that I already own for the Rollei, saving me weeks of tolling trough e-bay and having to lug more kit around. Of course the newer Yashica has a number of plastic parts and is slightly less 'solid' feeling that the pre-war Rollei, but compared to plasticky modern digital SLRs, it still feels very much like a 'real' piece of machinery and I'm sure that in practice it will last many years. The Yashica screen is brighter and it has a built in meter, although it will take some effort to get it to work due to the mercury battery issue I mentioned previously. It is also a testament to the Rollei that it was built to last and that the basic TLR design pioneered by Rollei in the early part of the last century fundamentally lasted unchanged until the end of that century. Even today I believe that the TLR format is superior to the SLR in certain aspects, although I concede that it is less versatile and not suited to modern commercial photography.

Yashica Mat 124G, Kodak Portra 160 VC

I ended up taking most of my shots on this trip with the Yashica, as its new and novel, and its a lot of fun to use. Above is a view from the top of the mountain walk that Simon (my brother in law) took me near Esporlas, the village where he lives.

Christmas with the Family

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:46:00 +0000

For our holidays this year we decided to drive down to Mallorca. We figured it would be a great way to spend time together and enjoy the scenery on the way down. The primary mission of our trip was to spend the holiday season with family so stopped in Pamplona and Zaragoza on the way, where Paula has relatives. It was also great way to see the many beautiful places on the way including San Sebastian and Biarritz. Much better than easyjet!

As I am ver picky with taking pictures and we were covering a lot of distance each day, I wasn't able to get any particularly interesting shots of the trip down. Paula has posted some of the shots taken with her phone on her blog. My shots are mostly from the days we spent in Mallorca.

Paula and her father Angel
Yashica Mat, Kodak Portra 160 VC

Paula and her mother Elvira and sister Ananda
Yashica Mat, Kodak Portra 160 VC

The great artist Angel Pascual Rodrigo awaiting dinner
Yashica fx-3, 50mm, Ilford Delta 100

My lovely wife!
Yashica fx-3, 50mm, Ilford Delta 100

Photo Kiosk

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 12:45:00 +0000

We bought a new iMac and it has a funky photo kiosk application. Its not exactly a Rollei, but its a lot of fun...

ArchipiXelagos

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 14:45:00 +0000

My father in law, Angel Pascual Rodrigo recently opened his 101st exhibition in his hometown, Zaragosa. I think his idea of studying the relationship between the 'real' world and 'digital' worlds is brilliant. This is one of my favourites! The leading newspaper in Aragon, the Heraldo de Aragon published an interview in the Oct 23rd edition which I have translated below. There are a few technical art terms that I am not sure how to translate directly into English, so bear with me.

Juan Domínguez: Back in Zaragoza...
Angel Pascual: And with my one hundred and first solo exhibition.

JD: It seems like it was just yesterday that you had your first exhibition here.
AP: But it has been a bit longer than that.

JD: How do you feel after so many years?
AP: A little tired, I suppose. But then there is always the thrill of looking to revisit paths that I have left behind

JD: Is this how it has been ever since the days of la Hermandad Pictórica*?
AP: Yes, rediscovering form, landscape, romanticism. In each one of my paintings I have had a feeling of revisiting forgotten paths.

JD: And now, ArchipiXélagos . . .
AP: This one is something new. It contrasts a landscape with a lot of inner strength -- the islands -- with the single pixel of the digital world.

JD: Sounds strange, indeed.
AP: But not so strange. I paint a landscape and break it down into squares that subdivide and blur, until they become their minimal units -- pixels.

JD: Is there any higher intention than mere experimentation?
AP: There is a juxtaposition of the natural and digital worlds, but not a value judgement. Because we coexist with these two worlds that seem antagonistic, the intention is to reflect the reality in which we live even though that reality leaves us perplexed.

JD: The references to the natural world are real?
AP: Yes, I have combined two kinds of landscape, the Pyrenees -- as an example of virgin space -- and the equatorial landscapes of Sri Lanka, which I recently visited. They aren't subjective references, but living landscapes.

JD: Are you making a political statement?
AP: Let's say geopolitical. By heavily pixelating an image we draw very definite borders in a space, borders that did not previously exist. Within these borders, we impose uniformity on everything. This is, for example, what happened with the colonisation of Africa with all the tragedy this brought about.

JD: Pixelisation, so to say, breaks natural unity and creates artificial compartments...
AP: This is why the 'X' is capitalised in the exhibition title as a symbol of the break in continuity.

JD: Your work has always had many 'extrapictorial' metaphorical elements.
AP: Since the beginning. With the Hermandad, we started doing pop conceptual, magical conceptual realism, conceptual romanticism, conceptual landscapes...

JD: Landscapes have always been your main instrument.
AP: Through landscapes we sought to do everything including abstraction, pintura-pintura**, and expressionism. The landscape is a very open language. Portraits force you to maintain a similarity with the model. With a landscape you can move mountains.

JD: Your paintings synthesise many influences. . .
AP: 21st century postmodernism is essentially synthesis, synthesism. My work could be called neosysnthesism. I identify with the synthetic movement of Gauguin, Van Gogh, the Nabis, who brought together earlier schools, traditions. I synthesise styles that have appeared since their time.

JD: How would you define your present way of engaging with art?
AP: Like a dialogue with the painting. When I begin a painting I have a first idea of what I'm going to do; but the painting directs you. So when you make a brushstroke, the following one must be in relation with the first; it shows you the way. And so you can no longer follow the preconceived idea. Colour and texture also tell you what you have to do next.

JD: Painting through the lens of the sacred, so to say?
AP: I like to see it this way, and I would like others to see it this way too. In 1978 when I visited the Añisclo Canyon***, I had the feeling that it was waiting for me. I painted it and this painting is a landmark in my work.

JD: Even inanimate things have a soul...
AP: Stones have an intelligence, albeit passive. Images have a hidden life. And art enables us to see it.

JD: How has living on an island influenced you?****
AP: I sometimes compare myself to Ulysses on Calypso's island. I'm happy, yet I yearn for Ithaca, which isn't something physical, concrete, its a nostalgia for other horizons. But every man is Ulysses.

JD: What is the future of art?
AP: Art has lost its course. It has been carried away by fashion trends that can't be controlled -- even by those who start them. Each trend is challenged by another that contradicts it. In the end, everything is determined by the whims of fashion. That's why I prefer synthesis. Its like returning to Ithaca, where all dispersion returns to unity.

Sounds interesting? Visit the expo website...

Notes:
* 'the Pictorial Brotherhood,' in the early days of the artist's career he painted with his brother Vicente Pascual Rodrigo and together they were known by this name.
**
*** A region of outstanding natural beauty in the Spanish Pyrenees.
**** thirty years ago Angel Pascual Rodrigo moved to Mallorca and he has lived there since.

Family Golfing

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:50:00 +0000

Its not often we're all together so what better thing to do than play golf? (And bring the new Yashica along for even more fun). Some of us are better than others at this sport. I play approximately three times a year. I was more interested in playing with the new 50mm Zeiss lens.

This was a day after we got back from camping so we were still semi-crippled. The golf swinging didn't help the crick in my back to say the least.

Good swing. . .

nice flight, but where is it heading? . . .

Hmmm, blame it on the wind!

Dad is good at putting

I just like to whack the ball hard.
(Hassan took this shot)

Hassan likes to play with flip-flops
We got some wierd looks from the other players

Its all good fun!

All shots taken with the Yashica fx3 and Carl Zeiss 50mm lens. Ilford Delta 100 film.

Algonquin 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 21:35:00 +0000

Another year and another trip to the park. This annual voyage has become one of the things that keeps me going through the year. There is nothing like being in virgin nature for days at a time without any contact with civilisation. It is a real antidote for the routine of the city.
Sure its hard work, really hard work sometimes -- we covered over 70km of river lake, bog and trails in 4 days and more than a month later my back is still a little stiff from the long portages (one was 3km). But its worth it!

This year I brought two cameras, the Rollei (can't do without it) as well as A Yashica fx-3 that was a kind gift from a friend. At first I wasn't quite sure what to do with this camera, but I came across a fantastic Carl Zeiss 50mm f1.4 lens for it which transformed it into a very nice piece of kit.

As usual stuck mainly with Ilford Delta film, but threw in a few rolls of colour Fuji Film for the Yashica. My plan was to use the Rollei for landscapes and the Yashica for close-in action.

This year, I have to say, I wasn't able to take as many nice shots as I would have liked. Not sure why, I think because it was really hard work this time and there wasn't much time for waiting around for the right lighting.

First the Rollei shots:

Emerging from an early portage, first glimpse of the real interior

It takes some time to re-adjust to the park, things just don't change fast.

Dawn on Crosscorner Lake

Algonquin 2007: Yashica Shots

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 11:03:00 +0000

This year we decided to explore the bottom section of the park . We chose a route that would take us far from most day trippers into the 'low maintenance' section for most of the journey. 'Low maintenance' means no fancy campsites and more primitive outhouse features so less city slickers. This was a definite plus for us. Minus was the backbreaking multi kilometer portages that were the price to pay for the solitude. I had to go to several sessions of physiotherapy upon my return to recover from the crick in my back.

I used the Yashica mainly as a documentary camera to capture moments during the long days. With the nice Zeiss 1.4 50mm lens I found at a Toronto used camera dealer, it made a great complement to the Rollei. I took a lot of pictures, but this time only had limited success and didn't get a lot of very nice shots. Not sure why, but its always hard to do an aggressive canoe trip and have time to take nice pictures at the same time. This time was particularly hard work. All the shots here are with the 50mm lens and colour Fuji Superia film.

We drove up the evening before we were due to enter the park in Hassan's Jeep. He wisely recommended that we remove the roof and all doors on the Jeep to enhance the 'escape from the city' feeling. This was good fun for the first 20 min, but then as darkness fell and we headed further North, and the temperature plummeted down to 7 degrees (excluding wind-chill). By the time we reached the Park boundary zone it was late and we were very very cold. We camped by the roadside in the woods and camouflaged the Jeep.

Our campsite Day 1

Wakey wakey..

Once in the Park, we quickly got back into the routine. Load canoe, paddle, beach, unload, portage with pack and canoe, reload canoe and so on from lake to river to lake.

Deploy!

We have to check the map regularly to avoid heading up the wrong creek and consequent wasted energy and humiliation.

This is what portaging looks like

This is what it feels like after 2km

Sure you got the right creek?!

But the hard slog is worth it. There is nothing like the feeling of acomplishment and hard-earned respect after each day of hard work. I only see my brother a few days a year, but when you bond like this for 5 days, then its like a year's experience! And we get to enjoy the beauty of nature continuously. Its like the background to the whole journey. Wherever you look its just the pure elements of nature.

Lake Louisa, morning of Day 4

Dawn on Crosscorner Lake, Day 5

Hollow River

Sometimes I imagine what it must have been like to have lived in this pure land like the Algonquin Indians did with only basic tools and their wits. Would it even be possible for someone from our age to back to that life? What would it be like to expereince that deep harmony with nature, but at the same time have to survive the raw forces of heat, cold, fear and hunger?

It was the first week of September and it was still warm enough to swim

Hassan had some kind of Buddhist scarf that made him look like a shaman.

Paula

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 23:01:00 +0000

A tribute to my lovely wife . . .
She takes lovely portraits, but she's a beautiful subject as well.
Te quiero mi amor!

Omar

[Taken with my 'new' Yashica fx3, kind gift from a friend, and a lovely Carl Zeiss 50mm 1.4 lens found at a used camera dealer in Toronto -- to complete the effect I used a roll of expired Kodak T400Cn]

Japanese Experiment

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:09:00 +0000

I've been trying to find a good web based album for a while. I'm too lazy to maintain my own and need something quick and easy. I discovered the Google Web album service and have uploaded some of my pictures from a few years ago. There is a nice slideshow feature:

Or click here to go to the album

English Seaside Holga Shots

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 21:44:00 +0000

I've been busy for the past few months fixing up the house. But since the weather has been nice I've made several trips to the seaside to escape the heat. I have been in the Holga mood recently (yes, the pictures are supposed to be blurry and funny looking, its part of the Holga mystery). For more on the Isle of Wight, check out Paula's blog.

Isle of Wight: Alum Bay
(29 April, 2007)

Isle of Wight: The Needles
(29 April, 2007)

Eastbourne
(June 1, 2007)

Bognor Regis
(June 2, 2007)

Wasabi

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 22:09:00 +0000

The cat has been a little under the weather lately. He seems to have some kind of infected wound that is taking a long time to heal. But this slows him down a bit and gives me chance to get close to him with the big ugly Holga. Normally when he's outdoors he never lets me get close as he wants me to chase him around the garden.

Bird?

Roosting

Ghost Rider

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 22:14:00 +0000

The Holga is ideal for photographing unusual things because it emphasises the unusual element.

Do Not Disturb

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 23:20:00 +0000

shop window in Paris

The Storm

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 22:03:00 +0000

Nikon FM2n/ 24mm lens/Kodak BW400CN

I received a recent comment from 'Memories Catcher', whose very nice site inspired me to dig out an photo from Lisbon I took a few years ago. This is from the ramparts of St George's Castle. Thanks for the comment and the inspiration!

Out in Kenley Wood....

noreply@blogger.com (Omar) — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 23:23:00 +0000

With the Rollei and Ilford Delta 100. Experimented with the tripod for the first time.