Eurotripping

Albany, NY Airport. Leica M8 50mm Summicron

For the first time in my life on February 19th, I stepped foot off of North American soil. Invited by a good friend from college, I ventured to the city of lights - Paris, France.

Paris Cityscape, from Tour Montparnasse. Leica M8, 90mm summicron

 As you might have gathered from some of my other posts, I've got a bit of a travel bug in my system. I've been all over the United States.  To quote George Carlin, "From sea to oily sea."  I've had lunch in Malibu with the sound of the Pacific in my ears. I've woke to the sound of wolves in Yellowstone and fallen asleep to the sounds of jazz in New Orleans.  Not a bad way to live if I have to say so.  But back to the main event; my recent trip to France.

View from the Louvre, towards Arc de Triumphe Carousel and the Eiffel Tower. Leica M8, 50mm Summicron

I was told before I went to France by a stuffy and condescending photographer that "Paris is a graveyard for original photography. If you're looking to come home with a trunkful of fine art work, forget it. Everything has been done a million times before. The last thing the world needs is another picture of a guy in a beret carrying a bagette. take a point and shoot and shoot your tourist pics." 

A Frenchman's Lunch. Marches des Puces, St. Ouen. Leica M8, 50mm Summicron

 Now I will admit that the place has been photographed by better photographers than I - Two of my personal favorites include Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson. They are amazing photojournalists, and if you don't know their work you should.  But I don't need to be them or any of the other million photographers that have visited the city to leave with my own take on the city. It's the equivalent of saying that oh I photographed that landscape years ago. It must be the same now even though it's a differnet time, day, light and whatever other changes have occured as the days go on. But I will admit; Paris is indeed a graveyard.

Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris. Leica M8, 50mm summicron

Now with that rant out of the way, back to my trip. The city of Paris (and it's surrounding suburbs) is indeed a city photographers dream.  The backdrop of buildings built before the USA was the USA is amazing. The feeling of culture and age permeates throughout the place unlike anywhere I've been in the united states.  I get a bit of the same feel from Montreal in a few places,  but it's just not the same.  I felt a bit like I was in the setting of a movie focused on Jason Bourne, James Bond or some other thriller. It made for a wonderful backdrop for photographing the ever-present street musicians that I find everywhere I go.

Pont de l'Archevêché, near Notre Dame. Leica M8 50mm Summicron

The art inside these buildings is insane as well.  If you get a chance to go to Paris, keep a day out of your trip to go to Versaille, and see the chateau there. The obscene wealth of the place is a testament to what not to do in a position of leadership (i.e., don't tell your subjects to eat cake while living in gilded luxury).

Chateau de Versailles. Leica M8 35mm Voigtlander

That is not to say that all of Paris is old; La Defense is a very modern section of the city, complete with skyscrapers and modern art.

Thumbs Up; La Defense. Leica M8 50mm Summicron

 Living in upstate New York, I don't get to do street photography that often this time of year; it's fun to find so many people to work with. They decorate the canvas that is the city and convey what I saw as I walked through the different arrondissements of the city.

Le Marais, 3rd Arrondissement, Paris. Leica M8, 50mm Summicron

While most definitely an expensive city (the only reasonably priced items seemed to be baguettes and wine) There are a lot of things for the budget minded to do as well. Many of the museums are low priced or even free. Musée Carnavalet for example is a wonderful museum that is open to the public for free in Le Marais.  I loved having a chance to sit it the garden and relax for a bit after a long day of wandering around the city.

Musée Carnavalet Garden, Le Marais. Leica M8 50mm Summicron.

The cathedrals are worth a visit as well, though I think it is worth it to visit some of the lesser known churches besides just the Notre Dame in the center of Paris.  The numerous people that filled the place while walking through took a way a bit of the quiet contemplation that a holy house should have for me.  The Notre Dame in Montmatre was a perfect in between for me. Still stunningly beautiful, but also serenely quiet.

Notre Dame, Montmatre. Leica M8, 50mm Summicron

Would I go back to Paris? Honestly I'm not sure. Perhaps another section of France.  The southern city of Arles sounds intriguing, along with the countryside. I'm a country boy, and that many people in one spot is a bit much for me.  I feel out of place in large cities like New York and Paris I guess.  It also doesn't have enough nature built into the city. Even when you do find patches of grass, most of them have signs on the side saying not to walk on the grass. Ridiculous.  But I am happy I went. It is an amazing city. The history contained there is palpable. I found the people to be much friendlier than had been made out, even if they do speak way to fast in French (I blame it on the espresso). I would like to thank Ilona Mikhailiv, Eddie Penarrieta, Chloe Prasinos, Zazie Beetz, Bruno Allen, and everyone else that treated me like a friend and welcomed me into their home. Traveling wouldn't be the same without getting to meet and hang out with wonderful people like yourselves.

Ilona Mikhailiv (in red) at the Louvre. Leica M8, 35mm Voigtlander

Post Note: If you've enjoyed what you've read, enjoyed the photos, or just enjoy me, please visit my website and purchase some prints.  It's the only way that I get to do amazing things like this. Feel free to share with your friends, your enemies and anyone in between. My website is www.awasos.com. For photos from my trip to Paris, you can visit the album directly at ericjenks.zenfolio.com/paris. Thanks for reading!

Do You know what it means to miss New Orleans?

Holy two posts in a month batman.  I got a lot of great positive feedback on my last post so I figured I would follow it up with something that I've wanted to get to for the better part of a year now. So damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead: New Orleans. AKA the Big Easy, where the Saints like to come marching into, and home of the po-boy.  I attacked the city armed in a manner that suited it I think: two Leicas and a Rolleiflex. This was the first time in over 3 years that I made a major trip without a digital camera.  The small compact nature of my leicas and Rolleiflex were a nice change of pace from my Nikon D2x and D300 with bulky (read: Heavy!) zooms.

Hamburger Joint in the French Quarter. Leica M6TTL, Fuji Pro800. 50mm Summicron

   I had the chance to stay with some amazing folks while I was in New Orleans - Adrian, Giselle, Ronnie, Jaime, Matt and co; thank you so much for the hospitality and making me feel welcome in your lives or in your home. Without all of the wonderful people I met during this trip, I wouldn't have had the incredible experience that I did. For the eight days that I spent in the city, you made me feel like I had lived there all my life.

Street Performer, Royal St, French Quarter of New Orleans. Leica M3, 90mm Summicron, Tri-x.

There were a few ways that I could have tackled the city when I went to take my photos. I will admit, I fell trap to the lure of the French Quarter and it's easy tourist attractions. I hope however for the most part that I can show a side of New Orleans that in often years has been overlooked; the jovial and bright nature of its residents.

House a mile outside of the French Quarter. Still abandoned after Hurricane Katrina. Rolleiflex MX-EVS, Kodak Plus-x 125

Hurricane Katrina has left its mark for certain; but the populace of the city has not been beaten. What my photo above fails to show is the home next to it being renovated for a new family. Streets are still crowded with performers, tourists and residents going about their lives and enjoying what this city has to offer.  It is unlike just about any city I've ever come across in the United States. I've been told that my photos of it seem more like a spot across the pond then here. 

Renovated Home, New Orleans, LA. Rolleiflex MX-EVS Kodak 160 NC

French Quarter Hotel. Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, Yellow Filter and Tri-X.

The architecture of New Orleans is great. I loved looking at the different buildings and the variety of things compared to where I live in upstate NY.  15 foot ceilings don't happen around here (at least not if you want to stay warm in the winter).  The bright colors and stucco'd appearance of many of the places just isn't what I'm used to. Some spots in the French Quarter definitely evoke an old world feel, with dark colors, gas lanterns and hidden gardens that jump out behind gated entrances.  Visiting Mimi's made me feel like I was in bombed out Europe during the 1940's (aided in part I'm sure by the klezmer band that was rocking the second floor) with plaster falling off the walls to reveal the brick and wood underbelly of the building.

It is the people however, that make New Orleans into the intricate place that it is.  An amalgamation of its parts, New Orleans is both Modern and Antiquated in the same breath. It is home to the musicians that revel in the music of the teens, twenties, thirties and forties. As one of my friends put it, "You know the home of misfit toys? Well here we're the home of misfit instruments." Sousaphones, archtop guitars, bass saxophones and a variety of other, stranger instruments reign supreme here.  Yet modern jazz, rock, blues, and the ever-present singer songwriter find their place here as well. The 1940's streetcars still run (rarely on time, but the whole city is laid back about things like that) yet visitors are looking up destinations on their smart phones.  The antique charm of the French Quarter is offset by the Neon blitz of Bourbon Street, home to flashers, booze and strip joints galore.

Bourbon Street at Night, Leica M6ttl, Fuji Pro800 35mm f2.5 Voigtlander

The party truly never stops for some visitors and residents, especially around Mardi Gras. It's a bit weird and sad to see people still hammered at 10:00 the next morning because they haven't stopped going to the bars.

American White Ibises in a Tree in City Park. New Orleans, LA. Rolleiflex MX-EVS, Kodak Plus-X 125

Being a country boy though, I do have to try and find some sort of natural setting in every city I go.  I've done it in New York, LA, Boston, Chicago, Montreal and New Orleans. After a few days. I get tired of concrete and metal and I need some nature.  City Park was a nice destination for that in New Orleans. It still has playgrounds for the kids, concrete walkways and such to make city people feel at ease, but the variety of birds, turtles and other random animals makes it a fun place to reconnect for a moment. Spanish moss in the trees doesn't hurt as well.  I took my Rollei out to explore here and it was a lot of fun. One of my favorite photos is of this twisted up tree in City Park. I just love the tones and the feel of it for some reason.

Tree covered in Spanish Moss in City Park. Rolleiflex MX-EVS, Kodak Plus-x 125.

I could easily keep going about the trip; I've left out so much, from spanish grocery stores to cactus steaks for dinner to random crawfish boils at midnight with strangers.  I'll stop here though and say one thing; Go! If you've ever wanted to visit for the Jazz fest (more rock than jazz these days) Mardi Gras, or just to see this amazing city, don't wait. Do it. Get out of the hotel area, buy a pass for the street car and explore the city. It's worth it.  I haven't even touched on how great the parades are that they have.

Marine Band during St. Patricks Day Parade. Leica M6TTL, 50mm Summicron, Fuji Provia 100

(Thanks for reading. If you've enjoyed the post, the photos or anything else, please feel free to visit my website, www.awasos.com. Photography is what I do for a living, and without wonderful folks like you purchasing prints, hiring me for events, or anything else photo related I can't travel to wonderful places like this and take photos. If you'd like to see more photos from New Orleans, you can click here to go to that album directly - http://ericjenks.zenfolio.com/neworleans.)

Film's not dead, it just smells funny

Is that a film camera?  Yes, yes it is.

Photo Credit, Meaghan Carney 2012

It's a question I get asked a lot. I still shoot with a Rolleiflex, Leicas, Nikons and most recently a Hasselblad.  I get asked the usual questions - where do you get film for that? Do you have to process it yourself? and (usually by other photographers) why?

I get film at a variety of places - CVS (they still have tri-x!) Adorama, Freestyle Photo, Village Photo in Ballston Spa, and B&H.  I don't usually process it myself. It goes to McGreevy ProLab in Albany or to Village Photo, depending on type of film and format (35mm or medium). Sometimes if I want really nice 25 mega pixel scans (aka save myself some more time) it goes all the way to Precision Camera in Texas.  They do great work, and give me a rather large discount for being a RangefinderForum member.

The question of why though, that's a bit harder to answer. In reality, I don't need to give any answer besides why not? People don't ask a writer what word processor (or typewriter) they use to make their work with. I'm not alone in shooting film either.  www.apug.org, www.thiaps.com have some wonderful shots from film photographers. I shoot both digital and film. I think there's a place for both. Yes, digital is faster, "better" in low light, more accurate colors indoors, and a slew of other things that people like to spout off about.

I guess for me though, it's about having fun when I shoot.  I enjoy the simplicity of a leica, of a rollei, of a manual camera.  I enjoy the fact that I've set the exposure, composition and everything else about a scene. There's satisfaction to me in knowing that I've successfully used a light tight box to capture what I want to show the world. That there's no computer involved outside of my own head inside that camera to try and decide how an image should be made. The success (or failure) of the image is up to me.

Rolleiflex MX-EVS Type II, 75mm Tessar, Tupper Lake, NY

Now yes, I know I could just set my dslr to manual and do a similar thing. It's not the same though. My digital is my bread and butter. I shoot with it to earn a living. When I want to shoot for fun, I want to remove myself from my "work" atmosphere.  Switching to a film camera helps accomplish that. I enjoy the analog buttons, the woosh of a timer for slow speeds, the mechanical nature of my cameras. There's no battery to worry about.  A watch repairman could probably fix almost anything on my cameras if push came to shove. There's no rush, no deadlines, no push to get the shot right. Just me exploring my world. That's not to say I won't use a film camera for work; They're a bunch of fun for portraits, landscapes and more. I've been published and exhibited work with both.  It's just they're not the cameras that pay my bills. In fact, with the cost of film and processing (and time to scan) they cost me a fair bit.

Cornelius Rose, Hasselblad 500cm, 80mm Planar

I also find that there is a different feel, especially with medium format cameras.  Yes I know I could get a digital back for the Hassey.  Anyone have a spare $15,000 they want to give me? Same goes for my Leicas. I'd love to try an M9, but I don't love it $7,000.  The changes in depth of field and feel with a larger format give me enough reason to keep shooting with my film cameras.

Low light? Well so what? Here's a shot at 1/8th of a second.

Klezmer Band, Mimi's in New Orleans. Leica M6ttl, 35mm Voigtlander f2.5

Sure, I get less keepers and I wouldn't want to shoot sports at that speed, but it's doable for a lot of situations. My prime lenses are easily a good stop and a half, two stops faster than the zooms I use with my digital. I can get away with shooting at ISO 400 or 800 with my Leica, whereas with my DSLR I'd be at 1600 or 3200 (or higher).

I guess what it comes down to, is I shoot what I like. and as long as I can get film, I'll continue to do so. While some may say it's bunk, I still say it feels different. And I like it that way.

(If you like what you see, consider supporting me by purchasing a print from my website. Photography is how I pay my bills, and contributions from good folks like you is what keeps me making my art possible) www.awasos.com