Re: Learning a new process

Good advice Mark, except unless you know something I don't know, there
aren't a lot of workshops available in gum, which is the process Bill
expressed interested in. Photographers' Formulary's workshop is over
for this year, and if Bill gets some materials and starts working on his
own, he could have mastered gum and be teaching his own workshops by the
time the next one comes around.

I know there's interest, because I'm always being asked if I will do gum
workshops, but I sure don't see a lot of announcements or ads for gum
workshops coming across my desk.
  
Katharine

D. Mark Andrews wrote:
>
> 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 11:14:16 2005