Joe DellaValle

 
 

Joe

Portland, Maine

Sometimes it seems that certain people cross your path because they are supposed to.  This is how I feel about Joe, my primary art instructor at the Maine College of Art.  As you can see, he comes across crusty and gruff; a big personality, who oftentimes is larger than life.  Joe is loud and commands attention. “Shoot film!”  “Push it!”  “Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!”  “Work it!”  “I want to see more prints!” “No less than five rolls a week!”   All classic Joe-isms that he pitches loud and in your face…  But beyond his hard exterior, Joe is incredibly giving and supportive.  Joe reaches all of his students in and  out of the classroom to further explain the technical, to ensure that one has the materials necessary to create,  to encourage the development of personal vision, and to push to take chances. I have to say that some of the best parts of my week are in Joe’s directed darkroom class.  I feel pretty lucky to have him as a close friend and am proud to call him my teacher.  Thanks, Joe, for being you!

By the way, I really like this newest version of Impossible's B&W film!  I just need to get rid of those newton rings.

Joe

 
 

Printing in the Darkroom is an Art!

 

Photo captured by Thomas Hoepker in 1966.

Print and print mark-ups by Pablo Inirio

 

Photo by Dennis Stock

Print and print mark-ups by Pablo Inirio

Check this out on Petapixel.  No questions, creating traditional wet darkroom prints is truly a craft.

 

http://petapixel.com/2013/09/12/marked-photographs-show-iconic-prints-edited-darkroom/

 

And some more interesting words on Pablo Inirio and the dying art of darkroom printing on The Literate Lens: 

 

http://theliteratelens.com/2012/02/17/magnum-and-the-dying-art-of-darkroom-printing/

 
Source: http://petapixel.com/2013/09/12/marked-pho...

A No. 5 Mountain Thanks!

 
 

Conservation Begins Here

A portion of my 2013 field crew... 

 

Over the past couple of years I’ve been overseeing a trail management and remediation project on No. 5 Mountain located in Township 5 Range 6, Maine (close to Jackman).  The project has allowed me to spend time with some incredibly inspirational field crew members.  Self-motivated, team oriented, smart, thoughtful, inquisitive, dedicated to task-at-hand, and environmentally conscious…   These people represent the best of young America, and it’s been my pleasure to cheer them on. 

During the project, most specifically, they’ve been focusing their boundless energy on rebuilding an old Fire Warden’s trail leading to the summit of No. 5 Mountain.  The three mile pathway dates back to the 1930’s.  Few switchbacks or erosion control measures, so over the past 80 years it has significantly degraded.  But the crew has been rebuilding and rerouting.   Diverting water with rock and wood…   Turnpikes, waterbars, bog bridging, optimizing trail grade, French drains, bench cuts, stone staircases…  The end goal is protecting the resource while ensuring visitor connection to the outdoors, and I’m positive that they’ve met their mark. 

Our 2013 field season has ended, and I’ve buttoned things up for winter.  All have moved on to next steps (i.e., work, school, and other projects).  With this has come a moment to reflect and review, and it’s clear to me that I’ve been lucky to have had this time with them.  A humbling experience...  It’s always fun to share my work projects and things that get me excited with others, but in this instance I know that I’ve benefited the most from these interactions and by seeing their example and gift of service.  Yes, our shared natural heritage has been in good hands. 

Thank you all!  You know who you are.

 

~Dan G. 

 

Zach

 

Eric

 

Hanna

 

No. 5 Mountain

Township 5 Range 6, Maine

 
 

Passadumkeag

 
 

Passadumkeag River

Passadumkeag, Maine

Passadumkeag River

Passadumkeag, Maine

I recently had the great fortune to visit the confluence of the Passadumkeag River, Cold Stream, and Ayers Brook - a National Natural Landmark found just east of the town in northern Penoboscot County…  One of thirteen Maine sites known to harbor the Tomah mayfly -  long thought extirpated, but rediscovered in the late 1970’s .  Also home of a rare bulrush, Scirpus steinmetzii...  Botanists have found the bulrush only along the Passadumkeag River and are uncertain whether it is a species evolving over time, or a hybrid of two other species. 
 

More information from the National Parks Service:  Click Here

 

Don't undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible. ~ Edwin Land

 

I've been shooting a bit, most recently, with the Impossible Project's instant integral film in old Polaroid cameras.  Though quite experimental in nature, some photographers are getting phenomenal results with Impossible film.   Really nice stuff with a lot of potential...  After seeing a video explaining how to create an image by lifting the emulsion from a Polaroid print onto another substrate, I had to give it a try.

This is my first emulsion lift made using the Impossible Project's  PX 680 Color Protection instant film onto Canson Montval watercolor  paper. 

Orange, lemon, and lime

~ Daniel J. Grenier

 

Here's another of my attempts at an emulsion lift, using a photograph made with a Polaroid SX70 SLR camera, the Impossible Project's PX 100 Silver Shade First Flush instant film, onto Canson Montval watercolor paper.

Pears in the kitchen

~Daniel J. Grenier

 

Finally, for those interested, here's a Youtube video I ran into that outlines how to do an emulsion lift.  What Fun! 

(Fair warning - the music in the video is a bit over the top.)