2/11/2006
Miss Universe
She was waiting to be interviewed in Times Square. I was told she was Miss Universe. The interview took place in Gerrman. Whether she is or isn't - she has my vote.
Negatives
Hanging up strips of film to dry. Look carefully at the frames. How'd you do? You blew that one. But you got the other. What mysteries are revealed? Nothing like it.
2/10/2006
Pentax 67
Frantic sort of morning rushing down by car to B&H to pick up ink (bought the 220 ml stuff this time); and then back up to Matt's to pick up the Pentax 67 from him. It is a mighty chunk of photographic funk. Then cleaning it up, and there were a few things I couldn't remember so I hunted around on the web and downloaded a PDF of the original 67 manual. Haven't put any film in it yet. Two lenses: 55mm and a 165mm. I think it was the idea of the snow that's supposed to be on the way that gave me a final push to play with the thing.
Another odd thing is that while I was there I picked up some HP5 plus (35mm) for Matt - and apparently this stuff is getting to be harder to come by. They only had 15 rolls left, and according to Matt the stuff has been going in and out of stock very quickly. I'm still going for Tri-x but it is starting to get nerve-wracking.
On the other hand, I bought a lot of ink in 220 ml holders (yikes they are big) for the 4800. Sort of scary to lay out that kind of money for ink all in one shot, but I keep telling myself: I'm saving money. I'm saving money.
Which is what I guess you folks that come back with the 50 pack roll of toilet paper (big savings) which gets stored in the basement tell yourselves late at night: I'm saving money. I'm saving money...
Another odd thing is that while I was there I picked up some HP5 plus (35mm) for Matt - and apparently this stuff is getting to be harder to come by. They only had 15 rolls left, and according to Matt the stuff has been going in and out of stock very quickly. I'm still going for Tri-x but it is starting to get nerve-wracking.
On the other hand, I bought a lot of ink in 220 ml holders (yikes they are big) for the 4800. Sort of scary to lay out that kind of money for ink all in one shot, but I keep telling myself: I'm saving money. I'm saving money.
Which is what I guess you folks that come back with the 50 pack roll of toilet paper (big savings) which gets stored in the basement tell yourselves late at night: I'm saving money. I'm saving money...
2/09/2006
The Universe
In my quest for the spiritual center of New York city (some might call it a vortex), I went out last night on the 6 train and headed downtown not sure where I was going. I had my trusty M3 and a tripod with me. The train was crowded at 9 p.m. I tried to get a feel for where I was headed.
Maybe I'd go way downtown on a downtown train. Maybe Chinatown. I've never photographed Chinatown at night. Oh, Chinatown isnt' the center of anything. The center of the New York Universe is Times Square. Face it. Glitter. Shows. Tourists. Sales. Recruiting station. Police station. And giga-video displays. The tourist know where the center of the city is.
And so I hop off the 6 train at Grand Central. How grand it is. And then hop on the shuttle and in two shakes of a New Yorkers tail I'm in the hub, the center, the spiritual swirl of New York City.
And guess what? I'm standing in the exact center of the New York Universe, when a small video crew arrives with two models. Gawd, I think, they're making them skinny. It's cold out and I'm edging back when one of the crew says to me - "she's worth a picture or two."
So I get closer and sure enough, the tall skinny one is beautiful. The videographer is swirling around her as she walks back and forth in the hub of our universe. I take a couple of shots of her.
Who is she, I ask the guy.
She's Miss Universe - he says.
And sure enough - turns out she is the reigning Miss Universe.
Not Miss America. Not Miss New York. Miss queen of everything known to exist. Queen of the whole Universe (assuming there is only one universe, but when she flashed me a 100-megawatt smile she was brighter than all of Times Square and I knew that for one year she was in charge of things and would do her best to calm an anxious world).
And so there you have it. I have not only arrived at the center of the New York universe, but been greeted with an incarnation of same as well. Film at 11. All times are approximate.
Maybe I'd go way downtown on a downtown train. Maybe Chinatown. I've never photographed Chinatown at night. Oh, Chinatown isnt' the center of anything. The center of the New York Universe is Times Square. Face it. Glitter. Shows. Tourists. Sales. Recruiting station. Police station. And giga-video displays. The tourist know where the center of the city is.
And so I hop off the 6 train at Grand Central. How grand it is. And then hop on the shuttle and in two shakes of a New Yorkers tail I'm in the hub, the center, the spiritual swirl of New York City.
And guess what? I'm standing in the exact center of the New York Universe, when a small video crew arrives with two models. Gawd, I think, they're making them skinny. It's cold out and I'm edging back when one of the crew says to me - "she's worth a picture or two."
So I get closer and sure enough, the tall skinny one is beautiful. The videographer is swirling around her as she walks back and forth in the hub of our universe. I take a couple of shots of her.
Who is she, I ask the guy.
She's Miss Universe - he says.
And sure enough - turns out she is the reigning Miss Universe.
Not Miss America. Not Miss New York. Miss queen of everything known to exist. Queen of the whole Universe (assuming there is only one universe, but when she flashed me a 100-megawatt smile she was brighter than all of Times Square and I knew that for one year she was in charge of things and would do her best to calm an anxious world).
And so there you have it. I have not only arrived at the center of the New York universe, but been greeted with an incarnation of same as well. Film at 11. All times are approximate.
Answer or Not
Dear Mr Becherman
i am a A level photography student and i am working in Black and white. right now i am working on a essay asking wether or not there is a place for black and white photography in the 21st century. for a part of this i have been looking for artists statements on why the use black and white instead of colour in the work. i would very much appreciate it if you could tell me why you use black and white photography? what is it that fascinates you about it? i am sorry to trouble you but im sure you can be a big help. yours sinceraly...
What do you say, answer or don't answer? I'm inclined not to since my name wasn't spelled correctly. On the other hand I don't know what "A level" means. Is that public school? Also I would have a big problem trying to honestly answer the question.
What do you say, answer or don't answer? I'm inclined not to since my name wasn't spelled correctly. On the other hand I don't know what "A level" means. Is that public school? Also I would have a big problem trying to honestly answer the question.
Honeymooners
Ralph
Norton, it's like I always say: 'Be kind to the people you meet on the way up... 'cause you're gonna meet the same people on the way down.'
Ciao
Hi Dave
The shipment of gorgeous photos arrived and I can't wait to see them on the wall! they are absolutely great! Thanks again....might be back for more and I have already recommended your site to others.
2/08/2006
View from Metropolitan Museum Steps
I'm almost through with the first third or so of the old stuff and starting to get the itch to go out and shoot again. This shot was basically - oh, they've got lights beneath the railings. I wonder what I can make out of that.
Gallery
That was a first. I've had people call before and ask if they could stop by to look at prints but two women buzzed and I looked at the video phone and thought it was some friends and buzzed them up. When they arrived - it was clear that I didn't know them and they asked if this is where the art gallery was.
Uh, no.
They had a print out of my home page in their hands and wanted to know if I had pictures in stock for them to look at.
Uh, not exactly. I print on demand.
And they sauntered out. I think we were both embarassed. But there you go. No advertising and people looking for my gallery. If it didn't cost so much to open one in Manhattan. I guess I could rent the apartment next door which is almost always changing hands; turn it into a gallery; get in trouble with the landlord; and go bankrupt in a couple of months. There's a plan.
Uh, no.
They had a print out of my home page in their hands and wanted to know if I had pictures in stock for them to look at.
Uh, not exactly. I print on demand.
And they sauntered out. I think we were both embarassed. But there you go. No advertising and people looking for my gallery. If it didn't cost so much to open one in Manhattan. I guess I could rent the apartment next door which is almost always changing hands; turn it into a gallery; get in trouble with the landlord; and go bankrupt in a couple of months. There's a plan.
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