Hot weather

Sea of Seats



Well, the big news today is that Kodak has announced that they are abandoning the silver-based black and white printing paper market. Not a bit surprise, and frankly, not an issue for me - I haven't purchased any Kodak paper in at least 10 years, maybe more like 15.

For several years, I have used Arista almost exclusively - Arista VC is really Ilford MG, and I have been very pleased with the results that I have been able to achieve with it. More recently, however, I have been experimenting with Ilford MG Warm, Adorama's house brand warm tone, and Kentmere. Kentmere has a really good reputation, and the results that I have been able to achieve with it support that reputation.

Of course, Ilford has had difficulties this year also, and as a result, Freestyle appears to be looking elsewhere for a supplier for their house brand (Arista).

This image is the Sea of Seats image that I visualized the other night. Making it was not without difficulties. I made an initial exposure, but then recognized that I had misread the meter and underexposed the film. When I went back, I found a much better location (the lighting was much better). Processed the film without problems. Then I made a print, spotted it, mounted and matted. Then (and only then) I realized that I had mounted the print on the back of the mounting board rather than the face - and since I had cut an oversized opening in the mat, it looked terrible. So this morning I cut a new mat that is slightly smaller (a true overmat). I plan to enter this in the Saratoga - Inside/Outside show at SCAC next month.

Very frustrated with the lawn. I thought I had arranged to have Tom do some erosion repair and drainage work, but he never showed up. I called him last Mondayand he admitted that he forgot - and promised to call back that night with a schedule. When I called again this Monday his brother Chris said that they were too busy do help us. So I called three other lawn services - two promised to come out to look at the problem, but so far I haven't see either of them. And the third has not returned the call. Arghhh!

The weather has been unbearably hot and humid - and it's not even summer. Fortunately, that seems to be breaking today although the price for relief may be some thunderstorms.