Woody Campbell – Page 797 – 16 years of one photograph every day for the rest of my life

Saturday June 25, 2011

WARREN CONNECTICUT – Second day with my loaner Phase One IQ 180. Very high performance photo equipment is like a very high performance car – the photo equivalent of noise, vibration and harsh ride are part of the experience. This thing doesn’t auto anything, and getting the most out of it takes some work. I spent part of the day experimenting with shifting the back on my Alpa Max technical camera. Initial results are technically good but uninspiring as I focus on technique rather than seeing. Here’s our pool in Warren and the perennial border next to it with the IQ 180 on the Alpa Max and my 47mm Schneider Digitar.

On this day one year ago: Baptismal Iglesia de San Roque

Baptismal Iglesia de San Roque

Friday June 24, 2011

NEW YORK NEW YORK – I had the opportunity to borrow a demo Phase One IQ 180 digital back for the weekend. This is the latest and greatest in digital backs, with an 80 meg sensor and a sophisticated iPhone-like interface that makes it particularly well adapted for use on a tech camera. I’m considering trading my collection of Hasseblad gear for the IQ 180. After picking it up at Digital Transitions I got it set up my Alpa TC and went for a walk. Unfortunately the weather turned grim – as issue because these high end digital backs need a lot of light (or a sturdy tripod and a long exposure). I got as far as the Guggenheim Museum when it started to rain. Anyway, here is an early effort with it:

On this day last year: Quito Ecuador.

Thursday June 23, 2011

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Another rainy afternoon exploration of Carl Schurz Park, on the East River near Gracie Mansion, the Mayor’s official residence. I am again working with my Alpa technical camera, a 35mm Scheider Digitar lens and my 60 meg Hasselblad digital back. The overcast sky was quite bright – not the best conditions for a guy who is essentially a landscape photographer.

On this day last year: RFK Bridge.

Wednesday June 22, 2011

NEW YORK NEW YORK – Our friends Varya Gornostaeva and her husband, Sergei Parkhomenko, were in town from Moscow so we had a small dinner party for them in our kitchen. Varya has terrific English and Sergei very good French (as does Maria) so we had enough languages in common to communicate well. This is Sergei captured with my Leica M9 – this is less annoying than it looks because it was at the end of the meal and still mid-afternoon in Moscow.

On this day one year ago: A passport photo for Maria. This very clearly demonstrates that I really could make a living at photography, doing passport photos.

Tuesday June 21, 2011

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – I’m experimenting with equipment again. This time with a 72mm Schneider Digitar on my Alpa TC. I’ve been shooting primarily with a 35mm Schneider with the camera. 72mm is the “normal” focal length for this camera. The question is whether it’s possible to hand hold this combination – the longer focal length requires shorter shutter speeds and the 60 meg digital back needs a lot of light and punishes minor errors in technique.

I took a walk on the High Line and things worked out very well. I brought back a dozen or so keepers and very few technical disasters. Here’s a view from the High Line:

On this day one year ago; East Village.

Monday June 20, 2011

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Our friend Steve Rubin gave a “retirement” party for Phyllis Grann. Here’s an earnest discussion at the party, cpatured with my Leica M9 and a 50mm Summilux lens.

On this day one year ago: at Bar Boulud,

Sunday June 19, 2011

WASHINGTON CONNECTICUT – Well here it is, Fathers Day again. This is a stupid ersatz “holiday” made up by greeting card publishers, but my public position on it is that it’s the most important holiday on the calendar. At least that’s what I tell my children.

Alexander and I celebrated by playing a round of golf. When asked if I play I can truthfully say “no”, but I do own a set of clubs and maintain a golf membership at our local club in Connecticut. Anyway, here’s Alexander doing what he does best on the golf course, which is pounding the hell out of the ball off the tee – he outdrives me by about the length of Central Park.

On this day one year ago: a shot (which no one much liked) of a perennial boarder in Connecticut.