RE: Learning a new process

Bill,

You no doubt have received many postings about your question, but I'm a bit
surprised that no one has pushed the advantages of a workshop. Many on this
list will tell you that you can teach yourself most processes, and I suspect
that is true to some degree, but you will most likely meet your goals much
faster, with less frustration, and with a lot less money if you gain some
first-hand guidance. Here are three good reasons:

1. Analytically, there are a lot of variables to monitor with alt processes
which usually comes into play when something isn't going right. Having some
base of guided learning will accelerate these capabilities. Basically, you
learn from you own mistakes and those of others in the workshop with someone
to explain what's going on (e.g. why are my cyanotype images mottled)

2. Most "techniques" are best learned by seeing and doing. Most folks can
learn to coat pretty well with a glass rod after a few observations, tries,
and remediation. I can't imagine it that it takes anyone less than 30
minutes on their own.

3. Many of your early decisions, especially about equipment, will have an
significant impact on your future success. For example, you mention
purchasing a Nu-Arc. Hmm, is this right for you? How do you know? You can
build you own light box or buy one from Edwards or Photographer's Formulary.
Workshops often have different pieces of equipment to try out. My platinum
workshop had both a Nu-Arc and Edwards box. But even if they don't, you have
other participants to talk with about their experiences which will help to
guide your decisions.

In short, look initially for a one-day workshop to introduce you to a
process. This is usually enough time to get you started. You can continue
then to work on your own.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill King [mailto:bill@billkingphoto.com]
Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2005 7:34 PM
To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca
Subject: Learning a new process

I've been struggling with my notions of photography, art, and craft over the
past few years, and I would love to ask the list for some advice.

Looking over the pictures I've taken over the past ten years, I can see an
evolution of style and technique. My early photographs showed glimmers of
originality, but those glimmers were usually overcome by technical issues
(learning how film sees differently from my eyes) and too heavy an influence
of David Muench. Many pictures were well-lit, well-composed, perhaps even
lovely, but they were not art. They were all-too-often copies of others'
art or style.

Since 2002, I've really struggled to take pictures; I've been doing battle
with the dreaded Block. My photos have felt emptier and emptier. I have
felt like I wasn't expressing myself, my own vision, my own sense of
emotion. I have felt too removed from the final product - as though I was
capturing something rather than creating it. I guess I've felt distanced
from both art (expressing my personal vision) and craft (the process of
creation).

And so I basically began reading in place of creating. I read books about
philosophy, art, photography, woodworking, ceramics, pottery, the craft of
writing, etc., etc. Perhaps the break from shooting cliches and the
exposure to so many different sources helped further my notions of art and
craft. Certainly, I feel now that I have a much better idea of what I'm
trying to accomplish - I have a much better sense of what I'm trying to
communicate and display in my work now.

So over the past few months, I've had the camera out a little more often,
and I'm feeling much better about what I'm capturing. Artistically, I'm
feeling like I've been making some progress. But yet it still seems a bit
on the empty side. I guess I still feel like I'm missing the notion of
craft in my photography. I want to shape and knead these captured images
into beautiful prints that have the essence, and texture, and richness of my
imagination, but I do not have the skills or training to do this. I want to
put my imprint on the final product, and I'm feeling wholly unsatisfied
watching the final product roll off an inkjet printer.

So my rather simplistic sounding question is this: how do you recommend
learning an alt-photo process from scratch? From what I can tell, gum
printing looks like it would be a great way to begin realizing the visions
in my head. I have lots of reading material about gums, and certainly this
list is a great resource, and I have a decent intellectual notion about how
to accomplish it, but I'm wondering where to make the next step - the step
to take action.

Unlike learning to draw, it's hard to run over to the local community
college and take a class on gum printing. I'm not aware of anyone in my
area doing gum printing. So, it's a big outlay, but do I just buy a Nu-Arc,
nice scale, good paints, paper, chemicals, gum, etc. and go at it on my own?
Would this be a little too risky, a little too unsupported? Or might it be
the most rewarding way to go about it? Would I be best served by traveling
to a workshop or two to get me started? Are there mentors to be found? (I
live in Northern Arizona.) Should I find a BFA/MFA program, where I could a
find a mentor and immerse myself in art and craft for a few years?

I know that this is a rather personal question, and I apologize if it's
unanswerable. I've been feeling a bit stuck and I thought perhaps throwing
my question out to a wider audience might help. Thanks for helping the
artist and craftsperson in me emerge.

Bill
Received on Mon Aug 15 10:14:22 2005