More Postcards from the North of the South

Here more of those "happy findings" I mentioned on the previous post. These are a selection of some of the pictures taken during the last road trip I took on Uruguay before leaving the country. Most of this pictures have the particularity of having been taken on the Tacuarembó province at the north of the Black River (Rio Negro), which cuts the country on two. Beautiful place.

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled_© Flavio Martín Morante_2013 

Rio Negro, Tacuarembó - Uruguay

(Originally taken in 2004, first time printed on 2013)

Ilford HP5 Plus 400 ISO 35mm film, 

printed on Ilford Multigrade RCIV pearl paper.

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled_© Flavio Martín Morante_2013 

Rio Negro, Tacuarembó - Uruguay

(Originally taken in 2004, first time printed on 2013)

Ilford HP5 Plus 400 ISO 35mm film, 

printed on Ilford Multigrade RCIV pearl paper.

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled_© Flavio Martín Morante_2013 

Paso de los Toros, Tacuarembó - Uruguay

(Originally taken in 2004, first time printed on 2013)

Ilford HP5 Plus 400 ISO 35mm film, 

printed on Ilford Multigrade RCIV pearl paper.

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled_© Flavio Martín Morante_2013 

San Gregorio de Polanco, Tacuarembó - Uruguay

(Originally taken in 2004, first time printed on 2013)

Ilford HP5 Plus 400 ISO 35mm film, 

printed on Ilford Multigrade RCIV pearl paper.

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled_© Flavio Martín Morante_2013 

Rio Negro, Tacuarembó - Uruguay

(Originally taken in 2004, first time printed on 2013)

Ilford HP5 Plus 400 ISO 35mm film, 

printed on Ilford Multigrade RCIV pearl paper.

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled_© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Forest on the Rio Negro area, Tacuarembó - Uruguay  

(Originally taken in 2004, first time printed on 2013)

Ilford HP5 Plus 400 ISO 35mm film, 

printed on Ilford Multigrade RCIV pearl paper.

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled_© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Valle Eden, Tacuarembó - Uruguay 

(Originally taken in 2004, first time printed on 2013)  

Ilford HP5 Plus 400 ISO 35mm film, 

printed on Ilford Multigrade RCIV pearl paper.

(More photos will be scanned and posted soon.)

Aged flavors.

(click on the image to enlarge)

"Where the magic happens"_© Flavio Martín Morante_2013 

(This is what I call being practical if you know what I mean).  

Recently the weather has been not so good around, so no much fun taking pictures outside when it is 20 degrees below. Instead, I have been using some at night to work on what it has become a nice trip back in time. From a box full of manila envelopes, I decided to pull out some of my old (or not so old, depending how you measure 15 years) negatives and started printing in a small size a lot of "forgotten photographs".

It was (and it is) a really nice thing to see some of those images showing up slowly in the developer tray under the red safelight for their first time, some bringing with them the sweet flavors of nostalgia.

Cheers!

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled_© Flavio Martín Morante_2013 

(Originally taken in 2003, first time printed on 2013)

Punta Gorda Beach, Montevideo-Uruguay

(note_ sadly this was the last frame on the only roll I did have with me that day, reason that mades me still mourn the scratches on the negative, for which I cannot find any explanation)

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled_© Flavio Martín Morante_2013 

(Originally taken in 2004, first time printed on 2013)

San Luis, Canelones-Uruguay

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled_© Flavio Martín Morante_2013 

(Originally taken in 1999, first time printed on 2013)

Puerto del Buceo, Montevideo-Uruguay

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled_© Flavio Martín Morante_2013 

(Originally taken in 2004, first time printed on 2013)

San Gregorio de Polanco, Tacuarembó -Uruguay

More pictures to come soon.

Craving Summer!

(click on the image to enlarge.)

"Umbrella" (Port Washington Harbor, P. Washington-Wisconsin)

Acrylic painting on canvas, 20in x 24 in © Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Recently I have been invited to do a small show of my paintings during the upcoming months of March and April on Port Washington again (more details to come soon). So I keep working on some paintings I decided to add to the ones I already have on mind for this occasion. The one above is the latest one I just finished, which by looking at it it makes me already wish it was summer already.

I guess I will have to wait.

Trials, errors, and more to learn yet.

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled

4in x 5in  Ilford Delta 100ISO (film negative). 

Ilford Paper RC IV Multigrade (contact print) paired with digital capture.

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012  

During the past week/weekend I was able to find some time (and some warm weather) to do some testing with the Graflex Speed Graphic, a totally new challenge in which I have submerged myself, and which has been proving a real trial; of the camera and also of my patience.

Since it has been a little warmer I finally did some shots outside, which is one of the uses I want to give to this camera, but so far, the results have been a little mixed. In one hand, I got pictures that did not made me feel really thrilled (as the one above) and then there were some (like the one below) which turned out the way I want them. So, all I can say for sure while I keep testing it, that as soon as I get some cash (hopefully I sell something soon), I will be sending this baby to get a whole re-adjustment.

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Untitled (Sunset in the Barn)

4in x 5in  Ilford Delta 100ISO (film negative). 

Ilford Paper RC IV Multigrade (contact print).

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012

On the meanwhile I also got Dawn to sit for me and was able to do some more testing with paper negatives.

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Dawn (and Tannat)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012

Sadly I have really squeezed the developer to exhaustion, reason why the prints obtained are a little flat, but still it did help me to see that I can perfectly work paper negatives with this camera, been the example below which I share here.

(click on the image to enlarge)

Positive print from a_ 

Ilford Multigrade RC IV made paper negative

Exposed 5 secs at f6.3 on 1946 Graflex Anniversary Speed Graphic, 4 x 5 film holder.

 Developed 2 m on diluted Kodak Dektol. Printed on 

Ilford Multigrade RC IV, 40 seconds exposed under 3 grade filter.

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012 

PS: THANKS BB.

Give me light and in return I may show you a place.

"12 significant photographs in 1 year is a good crop"_ Ansel Adams.

I have finished doing most of the printing from my 1st year doing 4 x 5 pinhole photographs. I wanted to have done all the prints for the past year before moving forward into working more with the Graphic. So far, there was a lot of mistakes, there was a lot of pictures that did not turned out what at first I thought it could have good, and there was some nice surprises. But most important, there was a lot of learning and that is always good.

Based on the quote I mention at the beginning of this post, I am sharing here what I consider my first Pinhole Portfolio of 12 images, despite that many of the ones that did not make the cut are still some of the ones I really like, you have to put a limit, and one of the reasons for which a started all this process was to become more selective (if I was not already ;), so 12 is a good number. There are several reason for having picked these ones I share here today, but overall, the fact of creating an image of a place in which by looking at it will make me want to go there, sit there or stand there, is the main reason, not only to make the print, but also, to have decided make the photograph at first. Then composition was the second factor, and there is where some of the surprises come (for good and for bad), since as you may know, to make a pinhole photograph is a 80% instinctive act, in which you have a general idea of what you want on the little piece of 4 x 5, but then (and that is the good part of it) there is always room to be surprised.

Anyway, below my "12 favorites"...

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled (Manitowoc Breakwater Light, Wisconsin)

4in x 5in  Ilford Delta 100ISO (film negative). 

Ilford Paper RC IV Multigrade (contact print). Pinhole camera f231

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled (Tendick's Family Farm, Wisconsin)

4in x 5in  Ilford Delta 100ISO (film negative). 

Ilford Paper RC IV Multigrade (contact print). Pinhole camera f231

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled (Rock River, Horicon, Wisconsin)

4in x 5in  Ilford FP4 Plus 125ISO (film negative). 

Ilford Paper RC IV Multigrade (contact print). Pinhole camera f231

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled (Muscoda, Wisconsin)

4in x 5in  Ilford FP4 Plus 125ISO (film negative). 

Ilford Paper RC IV Multigrade (contact print). Pinhole camera f231

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled (Port Washington's Bluff, Wisconsin)

4in x 5in  Ilford Delta 100ISO (film negative). 

Ilford Paper RC IV Multigrade (contact print). Pinhole camera f231

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled (Saukville, Wisconsin)

4in x 5in  Ilford Delta 100ISO (film negative). 

Ilford Paper RC IV Multigrade (contact print). Pinhole camera f231

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled (Boscobel, Wisconsin River, Wisconsin)

4in x 5in  Ilford FP4 Plus 125ISO (film negative). 

Ilford Paper RC IV Multigrade (contact print). Pinhole camera f231

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled (Clayton, Mississippi River, Iowa)

4in x 5in  Ilford FP4 Plus 125ISO (film negative). 

Ilford Paper RC IV Multigrade (contact print). Pinhole camera f231

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled (Port Washington, Wisconsin)

4in x 5in  Ilford Delta 100ISO (film negative). 

Ilford Paper RC IV Multigrade (contact print). Pinhole camera f231

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled (South Beach, Port Washington, Wisconsin)

4in x 5in  Ilford Delta 100ISO (film negative). 

Ilford Paper RC IV Multigrade (contact print). Pinhole camera f231

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled (Waubeka, Wisconsin)

4in x 5in  Ilford FP4 Plus 125ISO (film negative). 

Ilford Paper RC IV Multigrade (contact print). Pinhole camera f231

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled (Waubedonia Park, Milwaukee River, Wisconsin)

4in x 5in  Ilford FP4 Plus 125ISO (film negative). 

Ilford Paper RC IV Multigrade (contact print). Pinhole camera f231

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012

Lake and Winter Effect.

(click on the image to enlarge.)

"Untitled" (Port Washington Harbor, P. Washington-Wisconsin)

Acrylic painting on canvas, 12in x 36 in © Flavio Martín Morante_2012-13

Cold, cold weather, but productive, productive times.

Just finished this one this week, which it makes it the semi-first canvas of the year.

1,2,3, here we GO!

(click on the image to enlarge)

"Untitled" (studio work)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Another year just started and really would like to make the most and best out of this one. Hopefully I will somehow succeed. Will see how it goes, but definitely I will move as fast as I can on this one and I think I started already on good shape by giving another step on my love for photography.

After 7 months working on mi own personal introduction to 4 x 5 (or large format photography) and the study of light by doing pinhole photographs, is was time to jump into a view camera. Luckily enough, the recent selling of one of my big paintings did allow me to purchase a beautiful 1946 Graflex Anniversary Speed Graphic, which luckily enough too, I happened to buy on a real good condition (cosmetically and functionally speaking), something really good despite the age of the camera, some 67 years.

(click on the image to enlarge)

"Graphically Beautiful"

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

It is what it has been recommended (after doing some considerable research) as the most affordable initiation into large format photography (not counting pinhole cameras) and I am really happy and excited already about this first timid but confident steps.

The weather outside will condition big time the picture taken, making me to do most of the "study" inside, but still, like on my drawing classes on high school, I am hoping to get a good managing of space, form, content and obviously light, through the assembling of still lifes, from which I share here my first raw examples as a toast for this year that hopefully sees me move forward in this field I love so much.

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First assemblage for still life. Digital capture.

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

(click on the image to enlarge)

"Really raw" positive print from a_ 

Ilford Multigrade RC IV made paper negative

Exposed 5 secs at f9 on 1946 Graflex Anniversary Speed Graphic, 4 x 5 film holder.

 Developed 2 m on diluted Kodak Dektol. Printed on 

Ilford Multigrade RC IV, 45 seconds exposed under 3 1/2 and 1 grade filter.

Size_ 4 X 5 inches. Scanned and digitalized.

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Cheers!