Salute

WORLDWIDE

Pinhole Photography Day

Pinhole image of sign on the Madison River.  Sensor dust and all!

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.. For the moment, we have dispensed with the arcane accouterments of fly fishing for the even more tedious tools of pinhole photography.

Aluminum Pinhole on Digital Camera

.. The slow pace, deliberation and preparation is, on occasion, good for the soul.
.. Be it a digital sensor, film, or paper that is exposed, the image is soft and often ethereal. Certainly it is not in keeping with the contemporary aesthetic of super sharp, violently colorful, and post processed to the point of crisp sterility.
.. There is a small resurgent community of photographers that are exploring the limits of the "portable camera obscura." Cameras range from beautifully made precision instruments to such items as Altoid tins, Oatmeal boxes, Sardine cans, and other 'everyday items.'

4x5 pinhole film camera. Photographed with a pinhole camera.

.. The pinhole camera phenomena are parallel to but separate from the toy camera craze that is sweeping the world, (other than the U.S.A., Japan, and a few other gadget-oriented cultures.)
.. Recognizable images of social events are produced and cherished for their spontaneity, crooked framing, soft focus, and idiosyncratic nature of poor or shifted colors.
.. For many aficionados the images are far more engaging than the postcard sterility of most of contemporary photography.
.. There is even a growing body of artists and "serious" photographers that has taken the form to extremes. Large prints and original images on paper are making their way into art galleries and salons around the world, (including the U.S.A.)

Pinhole Soup Can

.. The Museum of Modern Art engaged German artist Michael Wesely to capture the new building with a 34-month-long pinhole image of their new building, (LINK.)
.. Perhaps it's not too surprising that some of the same things that attract some people to fly fishing also attract some of them to pinhole photography.
.. No matter how good the caster of the fly, there is a certain indeterminacy about it's landing and result; the same for pinhole photography. No matter what the speculation about the fish on the end of the line, the same indeterminacy exists until it is landed; the same for pinhole photography. Etc.
.. Pinhole photography is frequently dismissed as: faux photography, gimmicky, diffuse, ethereal, poorly focused, or aimless - so too fly fishing.
.. For now, we're continuing our exploration of the technique. We've dabbled in it, (and fly fishing,) for over half a century - no need to stop now.
===> Pinhole Resource
===> Pinhhole Gallery
===> Handmade Photographic Images

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Firehole in Midway Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park - Pinhole Image.

catch photo and release

Of Fishers & Photographers

IN THE MIND'S EYE

The G.A.S. Attack

just do it

WET SEASON
by Marco Adamczewski
See it on Flickr:

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..  It's called Gear Acquisition Syndrome. We all have it to a greater or lessor extent.
.. Fly fishers and photographers seem to be constantly coveting the latest, or oldest, or greatest, or shiniest, or heaviest, or lightest, or spiffiest, or what-ever-est gadget.
.. We just saw an interesting note from Blood Knot, (thanks Tom,) about preserving things and a wonderfully snide bit of humor = "89% of U.S. Anglers Can't Afford Fly Fishing Gear." My, my!
.. The image above was taken with a camera that uses no batteries, requires film, demands waiting for the film to be processed, probably cost in the neighborhood of $30.00, and hasn't been produced since 1984.
.. The image has very little to do with the camera - it's about the vision. That image speaks volumes without saying a word. It tells a tale. It engages the eye and conjures up feelings in our experience. We like it very much, indeed.

Leica's in Yellowstone.

.. Please don't be deceived, we certainly do enjoy our Leica's and Ed Payne bamboo rods - sure do! But we enjoy taking pictures and fishing more.
.. We're not an expert at either endeavor by a long shot. We are, however, entertained and engulfed by both.
.. Being a fly fishing "Duffer" is probably akin to being a "Snap-Shooter." The implication is that there is something wrong with not being a professional or an expert. Truth be told - most of us are neither experts or professionals.
.. We, now, speaking from both experience and criticism, in fact, certainly are not.

Payne in motel in Oregon.

.. And that's the rub. Many of us, while seeking to avoid snapshooting, or dufferdom, retreat to G.A.S. How human.
.. We retreat from the task at hand. We avoid mastering the tools at hand. We retreat to the conceit that better tools make better craftsmen! 'Taint so.
.. From many years of experience, and several G.A.S attacks we, ourselves, have discovered that the gear never made us any better.
.. Just watch and see how pretty our tailing loop becomes when tossed with a $900.00 fly rod - the wind knots are so much more symmetrical!
.. Just admire the blown highlights from our $4,568.00 digital masterpiece - the empty spaces are interesting!
.. There's a lesson here somewhere. Perhaps it's the doing rather than the being that satisfies.

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Olympus Trip 35 and a fine book about doing.

Fly Shop #7

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Fly Shop #2

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Duck Creek Bottoms

A Pinhole Easter

ON THE RECORD

Image submitted

LION GEYSER

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.. Just submitted a pinhole photograph to WORLDWIDE PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY DAY gallery. Taken yesterday at about 3:30 PM during a light snow flurry at Old Faithful. The data for submission is:

Canon 30D, short extension tube & black cardboard with electrical tape seal. Tin foil pinhole, f256, 1/3 sec. Snowing lightly.

.. Snow has continued to bless us with it's presence and it's been wet and warm. About 12" during the last week. It is usually melted by mid-afternoon. Snow cover on the ground is down to about 3 - 4 feet and melting at a pace that will nourish trees and rivers alike.
.. Fishing & catching continues to be between good and spectacular down canyon on the Gallatin River. Very few midges, but some brownish mayflies are showing up. Fish are eating nymphs and small streamers. There are only a few reports of exceptional surface catching: we're headed down canyon now.

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Hamilton's Store #101 & Light Pole

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Pinhole Fly

FLANGE FOCAL DISTANCE:  44mm

Subject Distance: 1 inch
[brief report]

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.. Not art, not clear and sharp, but we like the novelty of it all.
.. Got another 4" of wet snow last night.
.. Snow pack is now 120% of historical snow water content.
.. Gloomy weather leads to indoor entertainment.
.. The whole damn house is getting documented with pinhole photography. We'll not bore you with details. This shot makes pretty good wallpaper.

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.. Midges and giant streamers sighted in the environs of Craig, Montana. Get thee to the "Mighty MO."
.. Lower Gallatin River Canyon heating up like wildfire. No stonies reported but the fish are taking giant subsurface offerings.
.. The Madison River in the lowlands, where open, is seeing the first of the mayflies and squadrons of snow flies are permeating fisher folk's orifices. Might be a good time to visit.

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Bare Pavement

CITY CREWS SUCCESSFUL

Bottom Found

wallpaper

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.. We have glimmerings of impending Spring. The temperature hit 40° F, and the sun was readily apparent in the broken cloud cover. Things are looking up.

Diversions

A DIFFERENT CUP OF TEA

Winter's Haze Enhanced

not for everyone

Digital Pinhole Image: 1/60, on camera flash, f256, distance 1".

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.. The winter is a bit on the long side up here. Fishing becomes a greater chore than usual. We tend to fish less and extemporize more. This winter was the perfect example.

Mahogany Pinhole: 4x5, 79mm focal distance, f156.
Shutter speeds by thumb.

.. During one long evening we stumbled onto an old pinhole camera project in the corner of a long forgotten trunk. Hmmmmm? It sparked interest in this, the earliest of photographic techniques.
.. We diverted our lachrymose moods of winter into useless busywork and puttered with the concept of, and application of pinholes to everything.
.. One bit of silliness involved yards and yards of Duct Tape, black paper, and a hole in our window shade. Thus we turned our front room into a camera obscura.

Canon EOS 30D pinhole.

.. Sheeze, what winter does to the mind. We averted cabin fever with cabin obscura. And, it did pass the time. Given the irregular viewing wall in our 'cabin camera' it brought to mind the weltanschauung we held during the 60's.
.. Lately we've adapted some of our large format gear into primitive hulks that we call cameras. We've also transformed a couple of digital cameras into digital pinhole devices, (the sensors needed cleaning anyway.) It's amazing what you can do with tin foil, electricians tape, a short extension tube, and black card stock.

Indulgent friend.

.. We've even adulterated the view camera with a pinhole. Now that is pure sacrilege! They all will make pictures. The images however, are not for everyone.
.. Today, with post processing, photoshopping, and enhancements - both in and out of camera, images tend to be presented in a cookie cutter fashion: overly sharp, overly saturated, over the top. We call them good and go on down the road.

Indulgent friend's dog.

.. Pinhole images require a bit of engagement. They are not starkly identifiable in an instant. This means that the viewer takes a bit longer to decipher them. It's not what everybody wants or needs. It is fun though.
.. We have badgered our friends and neighbors, (and neighbor's dogs,) into enduring our follies this winter. They endure and indulge us and admire the ethereal images that happen. We nod and accept their friendship.

Back door.

.. Done with panache and aplomb, the images can be quite charming or very disturbing. We've not reached either stage yet, but we're looking forward to opening day in Yellowstone National Park.
.. Our scouting trip this year will combine stream observation with vista observation. Not in the name of art, rather in the name of getting to the best places first.
.. The big images are going to be challenging. Exposure times in the minutes, reciprocity failure, temperature corrections, apertures in the hundreds, and aiming with crude sighting devices should make the venture rewarding. In our case it's as much about observing as it is about the final image.

.. We'll not be posting any fuzzy, ugly, indecipherable images during the season, (we make and break promises with ease,) but we shall take a fresh look at some of the iconic images in Yellowstone Park before the fishing starts.
.. And, why mention this at all? Because Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day is just around the corner. It happens on the last Sunday in April, (that's April 24, 2011 - Easter Sunday, this year.)

.. Pinhole fanatics around the globe will take a picture and post it to the website. A snapshot in time that happens every year. We're sending them one from the high country and, meager as it is; it's our contribution.
.. P.S. The fishing and catching, by the way, is now going great guns in the Gallatin River Canyon. After we've fished out all the good holes we'll let you know where it was best.

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Thanks Ralph & Lisa

THIS IS SPECTACULAR

11 Years, 8 Cameras, 3 Countries

just plain buggy

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.. The midges are thick on these recent sunny and nearly windless days. It's nice. It makes the snow enjoyable. It makes catching pretty simple.

.. As winter thunders back upon us, it may be time for some indoor research. We suggest "BUGS OF THE UNDERWORLD." A spectacular DVD that shows our favorite bugs as never before seen.
.. Ralph and Lisa Cutter have brought us a DVD to change the way we see and understand the critters that fish eat. They do it with style, simplicity, beauty, and insight.
.. There's no overwhelming music. There's no pedantic sermons. There is, however information and images that should keep fishers, fly tiers, and interested parties riveted to their screens.
.. The DVD is available HERE. There are bits and pieces of it on YouTube. There are images stuck in our head that will inform our fishing and hopefully catching for years to come. GET IT!
.. This is not a new DVD. It's been around for a few years and only gets better with time. It continues to garner awards and accolades. We've worn out one monitor just because it's always on.
.. There's some hints about midge fishing and possible midge fly patterns in the clip below. There's some interesting insights in the mayfly clip too.Try it you'll like it. It should be good for more than several winter's evenings.

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Invasion Of The Moose

GET YOUR SEAT NOW

See The Park

make pictures

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.. Moose Peterson, for all you photographers, is currently booking the 2011 Yellowstone Photo Adventure Tour. This will be cold, beautiful, exciting, and arduous. Bring your camera and kit!

.. There is no place like Yellowstone in winter. There are no photo-ops as spectacular or grandiose.
.. This is a chance to see the park with one of America's most eminent wildlife photographers.
..You get expert instruction, an exciting week in the park, personal attention, and a schedule designed to wear you out as you shoot, Shoot, SHOOT!

.. For those of you that are unfamiliar with the name Moose Peterson: check out his web site and you will immediately recognize his work. CLICK HERE.
.. This year there are two weeks of Yellowstone Adventures. The tour is based in West Yellowstone and arises early and returns late. Be prepared for things you've never seen. Be prepared for animals you've never met close-up and personal. Be prepared for the photographic time of your life.
.. Week I = February 7 - 11, 2011. Week II = February 14 - 18, 2011. For additional information about the adventure, pricing, and available openings call Call Sharon: 760-924-8632. Each tour is limited to 5 participants along with three staff members including Moose Peterson. Call Now!

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