Alysia Anne: Fine Art & Photography

Before the storm.

2012-02-20T20:53:00.000Z

Tomorrow is my final group critique. I'm not nearly as ready as I want to be, but I suppose in a way that's good; as it's still early enough to catch possible errors in judgement and save precious moments. Time is as valuable as... something very valuable. Only about two months left to sort myself out.

Movie after the jump.

Finally, something tangible.

2012-02-08T22:04:00.002Z

I think Kodak Portra 160NC is my preferred colour film. Nary a grain!

Shot with my Holga 120S.

Just a quick one...

2012-02-01T19:16:00.003Z

New pinhole, hooray! Gutted it this afternoon (oddly satisfying, that.)

Zenit ET, 1982+. f/92

14 weeks.

2012-01-31T20:19:00.006Z

Me: second semester, something like 14 weeks until the degree show, and panicking over my bare studio walls.

At least the dissertation is done. Hah.

I briefly mentioned in my last update that I want to get into cine. That hasn't changed, but I haven't made much of a move forward with it because of its apparent scarcity (or price; yikes they can be expensive!) I've been watching eBay and talking to some cinematographers who have given me fantastic advice; I'm just hoping that I find something soon. No time to dawdle.

What I've done in the meanwhile is take my little 35mm pinhole camera and expose it a bunch of times at the North Sea. A bunch of times actually added up to 9, but I think part of that is because the camera didn't really survive the last roll. I had a lot of snagging and still had about half a roll left. (I'm going to head to APM tomorrow and see about buying a cheap camera body to turn into a pinhole so I don't have that problem again.)

The resulting animation after the jump.

35mm pinhole, f/125, 3 second exposure/frame, FP4

The quality is a bit naff, I know (think of it as a sketch?) I'll clean it up, line up the horizon and all that once I get something a bit more substantial. I have four rolls of FP4 I'm planning on dedicating to the next attempt.

That'll be fun to sort in Photoshop. c:

Assessment

2011-12-22T07:14:00.007Z

...was a week ago, but nevermind.

More after the jump.

I'm now writing my dissertation and panicking about that, so you'll probably not hear from me again until the end of January.

I want to start using cine film. D'know where to start. and I also think I want a small white cube for my degree show. Immerse the audience in... something.

Upcoming Exhibition: A Holiday Treat

2011-12-01T19:20:00.000Z

Newcastle Artists Society proudly presents:
A Holiday Treat
Citibase
12 Mosley Street
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1DE
Event on Facebook

Upcoming Exhibition: U

2011-11-20T13:38:00.003Z

Grainger Market Events Space

Grainger Market

Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5QQ

6th December - 9th December 2011
Event on Facebook

New Brownie

2011-11-10T20:29:00.001Z

A 1940's Six-20 Popular Brownie has found its way into my collection. I took it out this evening to test with some HP5. It's a fun little box, I'll have to try some eveningtime long exposures with it soon.

The light-leak was caused by the film unravelling a bit after I re-spooled it. I'm just glad I didn't ruin the whole roll... it was a scary moment, hah.

Massive print is massive.

2011-10-26T20:39:00.000+01:00

f/125 pinhole / MACO lithographic film / double exposure / scanned negative / 44" x 62" (approx.)

Upcoming Exhibition: Northern Vision

2011-10-24T21:28:00.002+01:00

Friends of the Hatton proudly presents: Northern Vision

Great North Museum: Hancock

Barras Bridge

Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4PT

Preview: 25th November 2011, 6PM

Hey, an update.

2011-10-21T19:38:00.009+01:00

I've been holding off on an update because (despite being in my studio every day and being busy), I haven't had much to show. I've had two tutorials, one with my tutor and another with a visiting artist - both of which have been tremendously helpful. Now that I'm finally getting somewhere I thought it would be a good time to say 'hi'.

I started to build a camera obscura, but there're a few problems to work out (read: it doesn't work.) It's given me other ideas, though, mostly involving projection and lights... so it hasn't been an entire waste of time and resources.

Besides that, I've built an interchangeable pinhole camera by appropriating bits from my two LF cameras and Velcro. Yesterday I popped lith film into it and with a friend in tow perched myself outside of Haymarket.

30 seconds and two exposures later results in this:

Church of St Thomas the Martyr, Newcastle

Since the uni doesn't have the facilities to accommodate such a large negative, I'm going to scan it in next week and print it out as large as I can. I'm aiming for about 5' tall.

and that's basically everything up to speed, I think. I'd go on about my worries re: dissertations, presentations, and student led seminars, but I know no one wants to hear that (including me.) Hah.

Now off to read more Sontag.

First week back at uni.

2011-09-30T18:13:00.001+01:00

and I'm nearly wiped out from the sudden increase in activity. I haven't done much as far as actually work has gone, except start to design a new pinhole camera with Velcro so I can swap between 5x4 and 10x8. Other than that it's mostly been setting up my studio space:

Hopefully by the end of next week I'll have new things. I'm double exposing a roll of 50 speed in my Kodak Autographic, so they'll be finished and printed by Friday. This unusual heat wave has me hiding from the sun and thus is making photo-taking quite difficult.

35mm Pinhole Results

2011-09-17T14:18:00.009+01:00


Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead

Tyne Bridge, Newcastle Quayside

Quayside, Newcastle

I'm tempted to call the second one "Self Portrait with Bridge" 'cause that bit of fleshy coloured shadow is most definitely my face. I don't know why I decided to put it up to the camera before I closed the shutter, but nevermind.

It works, hooray! I need slower film in it, though.

I need a new set of hands.

2011-09-14T00:39:00.010+01:00

I keep forgetting that my hands don't work very well until it's too late. That aside, I've built a new pinhole camera!

It's a variation of this, and it's currently loaded with one of the 800 speed Ektapress rolls I bought at Tynemouth Market. I'm hosting a pinhole camera workshop next month through Friends of the Hatton and as such wanted to explore different ways of building pinholes. I originally settled on the shoebox-filled-with-photographic-paper type, but since it's nearly useless if you don't have access to a darkroom I wanted to consider other options.

So I decided to comb the internet for DIY projects for roll film pinholes and came across this. The project itself is fine, I really think it's an easy assignment and would gladly consider using it if it wasn't for my broken hands. but there's no way I'm building another one, hah.

I think the compromise is that I will introduce the workshop with the pinhole I originally planned to and close it with a bundle of information and tutorials. That way, if someone is particularly interested, they'll have a base to work from.

I'll find out by the end of the week if this one actually works. Unfortunately I have to drop it off to be processed, 'cause I was silly and filled it with film I can't develop at home. Whups, hah.

Fragments: The Hanging

2011-08-28T12:06:00.003+01:00

Fragments, a set on Flickr.

Sounds like a title to a horror flick, but nevermind.
I've put together a small collection of images from the hanging yesterday, which I then manipulated and cropped square mostly due to boredom.

The exhibition runs until the 1st, so if you're local to Whitley Bay you should come along and see. If not for the work, then for the lighthouse - it's really a nice place just to be.

EDIT
More photos: Fragments Exhibition (Facebook)

Grainger Street

2011-08-24T18:12:00.004+01:00

Polaroid Colorpack II / Fujifilm FP-100C

So this was the only image out of ten I thought worth showing. Not to complain about the camera, it worked beautifully. It's a bit of a faff, though, and there's a lot of extra rubbish involved with this type of film (so much paper!). I don't really see myself using it often, but it's something to keep in mind to take along with me... if I can find a bag big enough to hold it comfortably, that is.

Lino linooo linocut.

2011-08-24T12:54:00.003+01:00

No injuries this time. A record, I think.

Stabby stabby, another Polaroid, and revisiting Impossible film.

2011-08-20T23:57:00.013+01:00

I didn't remember why I shied away from linocut until I found the tool firmly implanted in my left index finger. Whups.

It's not really the right kind of paper since I'm hand-pressing, but nevermind.

More after the jump.

I went to Tynemouth Market today to find some film, scored two rolls of 800 speed Ektapress for my Minolta. Hopefully will be able to take that out soon enough. I tend to find myself gravitating toward slower film, which is part of the reason why I got it.

I also picked up a 1970's Polaroid Colorpack II.

I ordered film for it tonight, so hopefully I'll be able to test it by the end of next week. It's kind-of nice not having to go through Impossible Project and spend a fortune for 8 exposures.

Speaking of Impossible:

This is what I found the other day. I'm guilty of not keeping them in a temperature controlled environment, but the heat fluctuation isn't that bad. They've been kept in a box, inside their original box, and out of light and humidity. I was surprised by the deterioration (although in retrospect, I probably shouldn't've been.)

Digitally, it actually don't look that bad. Hahah. Oh well.

Upcoming Exhibition: Functional By Default

2011-08-08T19:48:00.001+01:00

Newcastle Artists Society proudly presents:
Functional By Default
Citibase
12 Mosley Street
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1DE
Event on Facebook

Posters!

2011-08-08T16:51:00.002+01:00

Exciting.

Upcoming Exhibition: Papergirl Newcastle

2011-08-07T19:34:00.000+01:00

Papergirl Newcastle
the settle down cafe
62 Thornton Street
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4AW
Preview: 11 August 7PM
Distribution: 27 August 10AM
Get involved.

Storm Warning

2011-08-04T15:26:00.004+01:00

August 2011
Acrylic on canvas.

Film swapping & paintings & exhibitions, oh my.

2011-08-02T22:48:00.008+01:00

I am still knocking about, just had a bit of a lull last month - but August is sure to make up for it. and on that note, I can't believe it's August already.

I've somehow managed to convince my sister to do a film swap with me, despite her not being much of a photographer. I think it's the begging that convinced her, hah. I have this idea, see - this incredibly pretentious idea where my sister is going to take photographs of my home-town and then I'm going to use the same roll and take photographs of Newcastle. If it works out, I could have some really nice double exposures of NJ and Newcastle, and that could be kind-of neat.

I'm sending her my Holga 120S, loaded with Kodak Portra 160NC. I really like this film for multiple exposures.

More after the jump.

I've also started painting again.

It's currently unfinished and I'm so-so on it as a whole (also it's a little wet.) There're a whole lot of a layers there, hah. I'll see what it looks like in the morning. I'm on a white kick lately, which is a complete turn-around from last year where everything was black black black black and black. and maybe a bit of red.

Photography-wise, I haven't shot any more film since the last batch I posted about in June. I'm running a bit low on motivation at present, but hopefully that'll kick start in September, if not sooner. I'm really keen to experiment with camera obscura. I also have my 10x8 pinhole camera and lith-film I need to work with. This time, I'll actually use the right developer for it. Hah.

In the meanwhile, though, I've got an exhibition to dismantle, a exhibition to figure out if I can enter (deadline's next week), and the exhibition at the lighthouse at the end of the month I need to deal with first.

Fun stuff.

Upcoming Exhibition: FRAGMENTS

2011-07-05T22:02:00.014+01:00

FRAGMENTS
Arts North Tyneside

St Mary's Lighthouse

Whitley Bay NE26 4RS

Preview: 27th August 2011, 7:30PM
Check tides for opening hours: Tides 2011/2012 (.pdf 280kB)
Event on Facebook

Gallereo

2011-06-29T23:48:00.005+01:00

Warning: the following blog post contains enthusiastic advertising of a product that I really stand behind. At the risk of sounding like an infomercial (pardon the Americanism), I'd like to introduce everyone and anyone to Gallereo.com.

I've been wanting my own personal website to present to possible future clients for a long while, but because I'm terrible at anything that isn't simple HTML and my understanding of websites and how they function borderlines on non-existent, it's been something that I've been putting off.

Enter Gallereo.

I first heard of Gallereo from an e-mail sent by one of my tutors at university urging us to check it out. I'm quite glad I did, if I do say so.

It was easy to sign up, easy to understand, and easy to set up. They take care of nearly everything for you. There're loads of templates to choose from that create very sleek, modern websites to suit your needs. It's all customisable, as well - so have at it and tailor it to you. but what I think hooked me was this: they're approachable. Have a question or need some advice? Emma McMillan, the creator of Gallereo, will make sure to sort you out. She's fantastic.

Currently they're offering a 30 day free trial that doesn't require any credit card information, so if this is something you've been debating about - now is the perfect time to give it a go.

If my website isn't enough and you would like to see some examples, they have a list of Example Sites - you can really see the flexibility of Gallereo's templates and tools.

and finally, 'cause this definitely needs a mention: domain management. With this I was able to connect my gallereo.com site with http://www.alysiaanne.com and really take full advantage of their services.

Check it out, seriously. You won't be disappointed.

Autographic

2011-06-07T15:14:00.003+01:00

Finally got around to testing out my Kodak No. 2 Folding Autographic Brownie. Pleased with the results. Still think it's a bit of a mouthful to say.

Scraaatch! Ilford HP5, Fotospeed FD10

The darkrooms at uni aren't available again until September, so I'm going to have to make due with scanned negatives for now. I've started processing my b/w film here at home, though - so at least I'm not entirely helpless.

Of Polaroids and pinholes.

2011-05-26T13:32:00.006+01:00

This blog has been in the making for the better part of the month, but uni and other obligations kept me from writing it.

Firstly, Polaroid.
I finished the pack of Impossible Project film I bought earlier this month in Newcastle after a meeting I had with Friends of the Hatton and BAfM.

The night before I attempted to trick the camera into double-exposing, but that sort of ended up in disaster. I read somewhere that I would be able to keep the film in its canister if I pop the bottom open at the right time. Didn't work, though - the film spit out regardless. The other way to do it seems to be physically forcing it back, but I'm not really ready to try that.

Rest of post after the jump.


Whups?

Now some actual images, hah:

Emerson Chambers, Monument

Construction work, Newcastle University

Next time I need to be aware to slightly shift the camera right and up in order to get the shot I'm looking for, though. On more than one occasion I had something in there that wasn't meant to be (sides of buildings, etc.)

aaand on to the pinhole.
I didn't factor in the exposure viewing window at the back. I fully expected lightleaks because the bellows were in such awful condition - but I didn't expect what I got. Hah.

They didn't transfer well to a digital medium. I think they look slightly better when you're actually holding it, but nevermind.

There's tape over the window now, though - hopefully it'll take care of the worst of it for next time.

Upcoming Exhibition: Northern Aspects

2011-05-08T20:00:00.003+01:00

Friends of the Hatton proudly presents: Northern Aspects
Hatton Gallery

The Quadrangle, University of Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU

Preview: 24th June 2011, 6PM

Event on Facebook

Appropriated

2011-05-07T15:04:00.008+01:00

A few weeks ago, Razzberry Bazaar gave me permission to photograph their shop with my Rolleiflex. Although the negative to that particular double exposure didn't look too promising, once I had a set of proofs printed I realised that I actually had something rather nice. As a token of thanks, I sent away for an extra print to be made (my first experience with theprintspace, and quite a happy one.)

More after the jump.

I delivered it today, and on my way back I decided to poke around the market to see if there were any old cameras hanging around.

There were. I found a broken Kodak No. 2 folding Hawk-eye - Model C (a bit of a mouthful, that) in one of the booths. The shutter doesn't work, the bellows had holes in it, but other than that it was in fine condition.

I decided to convert it to a pin-hole camera. I spent the afternoon fiddling with it, fixing the holes, and modifying it. It's settled at f/125 and currently sitting with the bellows open to dry out the glue covering the holes.

No' bad, I don't think.

As soon as I'm finished fixing it I'll take it out to test. My other (working, as far as I'm aware) folding camera is loaded with film, but I haven't found the right day to take it out. The shutter's speeds are kind-of slow and I have 400 film in it. Whups.

New Equipment, Old Equiment, and Colour Film.

2011-04-24T11:20:00.007+01:00

I've recently acquired a working Rolleiflex 621. The body could be in better condition, but it's working and that's all that really matters, right? I tested it with a roll of black and white - found it in working condition, and then loaded it with coloured film and double exposed it all over Tynemouth.

I've also finally finished the film I've had in my Holga for who knows how long - despite there being warning signs all across the internet with its unworkable light-leaks, the 120S only leaked on one photo - one of the first.

All in all I'm pretty pleased with how well both cameras functioned. Three of the multiple exposures I took on my Holga are actually going to be what my assessment is to be based around - I fixed them to foamboard last week and they're hanging in my studio.

The Rolleiflex's image is only digital at the moment (I scanned the negative), but I found at least one decent shot out of the bunch there, as well. My only concern with scanning is that I'm not entirely sure if I'm doing it right, and, well, getting the correct resolution to be able to make large prints. I'm used to a physical enlarger and light - not dpi and Photoshop.

Images after the jump.

Holga 120S / Kodak Portra 160NC

Rolleiflex 621 / Kodak Portra 160NC

Upcoming Exhibition: Prefabricated Dialogues

2011-03-28T20:55:00.004+01:00

Newcastle Artists Society proudly presents:
Prefabricated Dialogues
Citibase
12 Mosley Street
Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 1DE
Event on Facebook

Pinhole Photography

2011-03-09T20:25:00.014Z

Recently I rediscovered my love for making things incredibly difficult for myself by investigating pin-hole photography as a means to an end. It began as an answer to my group's second year exhibition theme "Peep-hole" (Clever, eh?) and continued as a very integral part of my practice.

I've been trying to figure out a way of distorting reality, but all my attempts were failing. I just want something that will give you an image - but not necessarily the image you think you should see. I had originally planned on finding this through projection - but technical issues gave me a bit of trouble and I quickly abandoned it. It was shortly after this that I (re)found pin-hole.

As an aside, Michael Wesely is a German photographer that has mastered pin-hole photography. and when I say mastered, I mean his exposures have gone on for years. Yes, years. When MoMA rebuilt between 2001 and 2004 he set up cameras around the construction site and exposed it in its entirety. He did the same with the DaimlerChrysler building in Potsdamer Platz. Worth checking out. I mean it.

I'm an amateur, an absolute novice when it comes to understanding these boxes, but I'm learning a bit more each day. Two websites that I would be forever lost without are Mr Pinhole (great for exposure charts) and this aperture calculator. Both these, along with arming myself with a ruler, helped to understand exactly what I was dealing with. At first the high f-stop numbers frightened me (surely I'm doing it wrong?), but slowly I started to realise that yes, they were in fact correct, and no, it's not a joke. The hole is tiny. It's supposed to be. Don't panic!

Anyway.

After perusing those websites, as well as hand-outs from my tutors and print-outs from Pinhole Photography: Rediscovering a Historic Technique (Renner, E 2000), I set to try my hand at actually building one. Hide the children, et cetera.

My first camera fits a 5x4 negative. Since it was my first it took me near a week to make it, complete with late nights and lots of frustrating hours (mostly amounting to questioning how exactly one is supposed to guarantee a light-tight box). The obsessing paid off, though, and I have a working camera to prove it.

Images after the jump.

See! Working. Oh, and f214, 150mm deep.

I took it out near Monument and aimed it at Theatre Royal. The exposure was only something like 3 seconds, but I was able to capture a slight ghosting of a person wearing a white shirt - which was what I was aiming for. Aiming... get it? Photographer's pun. Forgive me.

Theatre Royal, 3 second exposure.

The second houses 10x8 and only took two days to construct (amazing how quickly practise pays off). It's still untested, but I'm fairly confident that no light'll be getting inside it. I have some lithographic film a tutor handed down to me that I'm wanting to use for it. I've tried searching Google to get a better idea of what it is, but Google's actually not been very helpful. The closest I can find is this, which doesn't explain much about the film itself but shows some beautiful examples of its capabilities.

f564, 310mm

This Friday (the 11th) I have permission to use my 5x4 camera in Haymarket Station. I wasn't able to get peak time for Health & Safety reasons, but I have the opportunity and that's what's important. The exposure will last for 6 minutes and hopefully will capture a ghosting of people waiting and boarding/exiting the train. I'm not exactly sure what I'll get 'til after I do it, though.

The Beginning of the End

2010-12-30T23:38:00.000Z

I've decided to (re)start this blog as a sort of journal to my artistic adventures.

Let's try this again, shall we?