Smokie Businesses

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Port Washington's funeral home celebrates 100 anniversary 

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013 - IPhone 4

I read recently an interesting article on TIME magazine about the rising on the cremation as a way to finish business after we get the "this is it". Ironically, today coming back from Port I saw this display at the local funeral home which is celebrating their 100th anniversary inviting people to a bar-b-que, and all I can think is that I do have a wicked sense of humor but definitely I am not the only one.

PRICELESS!

Opening Jars

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At the studio working on "Preserved" © Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Lots of preparing on the coming weeks. First it all, very glad of having been invited/selected with 8 images from my series "Preserved" to be one of the around 10 photographers that will be displayed during a new show on photography at Gallery 224, which will open on July 12th. More info and invite coming soon.

At the same time, I am planning to submit part of the "Preserved" series to Nyack, New York, at Edward Hopper's birthplace house which now is an Arts Center, for a juried show titled "Small things of Great Importance". Hoping to be chosen, I will keep posted about this too.

Lots of work, planning and making on the few coming weeks.

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"Untitled" (from the series "Preserved")

© Flavio Martín Morante_2012 -Inside b&w photographs taken by my Dad. 

Strawberry Pie. 2 portions please.

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Me and my pieces at the tent during Strawberry Fest © Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Better late than never.

Last weekend was the annual Cedarburg Strawberry Fest and once again I was there trying to sell and promote my work. It was a decent weekend, except for the not so fun task of setting up under the rain on Saturday, but despite that, it was a hot and nice weekend with a lot of people visiting the town during the two days the festival lasted.

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 Picture taken from almost the same spot than last year. This year I was #388 instead of #390 © Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Nikon Coolpix P7000

I am glad to say that several of my paintings and photographs did not come back home as they found people that will cherish them. Also, it was nice and funny too to see that my "Wanderlusters" (a hand- craft I started making last year inspired on the movie Amelie) are continuing their adventures in some other people's houses.

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My "Wanderlusters" © Flavio Martín Morante_2013

So, after all it was a great weekend, meeting interesting people, giving new homes to my artwork and also knowing that we keep pushing to keep creating. Thanks to all the friends that did stop by to show support and to everyone that took artwork home, I hope you enjoy it. Also, big thanks to the Cedarburg Cultural Center for another well organized event.

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Photos, photos. © Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Waiting for the Sirens Call.

Finally we start the summer today and we are starting with... a nice rain. Great! (sarcasm on that one).

Anyway, I was able to make the contacts for rolls #12 & #13 and I am sharing them here as I do with 2 pictures that somehow could be easily paired (hint: see the name of the boat on the right); something I am starting to find more as I take more pictures. At the same time, the image of the Mermaids reminded me somehow of the great and funny song by the Flight of the Concords which you can see HERE.

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Untitled from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

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Roll #12 contact sheet from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

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Untitled from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

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Roll #13 contact sheet from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

Harvest time again.

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© Flavio Martín Morante_2013- (picture taken at the recent Port Washington Street Fest)

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Tomorrow and Sunday I will be again at the Cedarburg Strawberry Festival sharing my work while selling photographs, paintings and handcrafts.

I will be located at the same spot than last year. Stop by to enjoy some art, music and food.

Hope to see you there.

UnLUCKY 13

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© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Nikon Coolpix P7000

On Tuesday I finished my roll #13 on the work "Marina". As I was rewinding it I thought about it and all it crossed my mind was that the camera is doing great after 13 rolls after the initial issues with the shutter.

Well... call it superstition but not everything always goes right. That night as I was getting ready to process rolls #12 & #13, the last one got jammed on the spool as I was on the dark. It took me 3 tries on complete darkness to get it, not without scratching few frames. Luckily, there were not very treasured shots, but still was not a good time.

Tonight I am hoping to get on the darkroom to print the contacts and couple of ones I am excited to enlarge. We will see.

Death and Life? Oh Robert...

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"Untitled" (Plymouth, Wisconsin) © Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Nikon Coolpix P7000

It was ironic somehow to come across this sight today morning, as my friend Christina and I were walking for coffee on the back alleys of Plymouth, since I just posted about that on the previous post.

Am I becoming one of those like a friend that manages to find faces on clouds or humidity stains on the wall?

I guess I just got laugh about myself.

PS_ I took this with the point & shoot, however I made sure I have one black and white frame with the Voigtlander. :)

Photographic Fetishes?

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Untitled from "Marina" (work in progress) © Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

fetish |ˈfeti sh |nounan inanimate object worshiped for its supposed magical powers or because it is considered to be inhabited by a spirit.• a course of action to which one has an excessive and irrational commitment : he had a fetish for writing more opinions each year than any other justice.• a form of sexual desire in which gratification is linked to an abnormal degree to a particular object, item of clothing, part of the body, etc. : Victorian men developed fetishes focusing on feet, shoes, and boots.      
What is it with us photographers and the covered vehicles? No idea, but just in case, cheers to Robert Frank.

Lineal Matters

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Untitled from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

Anybody that knows me and knows some of my work is very aware of my fascination with the presence of lines when it comes to the composition of my photographs. No need to say then that the above picture and the below one are some of what I like to called "anticipated christmas presents".

There was the suggestion to pair them on a diptych, but I do not think it was or is the concept for this project. However I can't deny that I can't stop looking at both at the same time. Maybe on opposite pages when the project gets to its point. We'll see.

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Untitled from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

Latest Catch

Back in the darkroom and happy to see what comes out of the water.

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Untitled from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

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Untitled from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

More coming soon.