euclidian

写真 Clinton Watkins Photography, mostly using 135 and 120 monochrome film. Unless otherwise attributed - Images © Clinton Watkins 2012-15, All Rights Reserved. Portfolio site: Analogue Camera Work

[euklidian]

Recent work

My recent work will appear here:

https://camerawork.clintonwatkins.com

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Totem Pole Photo Gallery

Zeiss Ikon Tenax I, a square format 35mm camera.

Photographer: Clinton Watkins  portfolio site / tumblr  

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Seen: Everything is Garbage

Who:  Colin Barey / website / flickr / tumblr /

Where: Totem Pole Photo Gallery, Shinjuku

When: February 7 - 12, 2017

These pictures were taken by Colin Barey on a trip last autumn to his home state of Oregon.  When one lives abroad (He has lived in Japan for the past decade), Americana as a concept or memory is something that you need to deal with from time to time. For him, the camera was the object with which he re-experienced his home culture. 

Much of the political and cultural slug-fest which closed 2016 occurred after he had returned to Japan. Colin is a good friend and I have been engaged with these images since he first showed me the contact prints and then work prints. The election and its evidence of an America he felt alien to shaped his experience in the final edit and as he told me, the title of the show itself.  

Neither of us are interested in the argument of whether or not photography can positively affect society but shows like this do help clarify the artist’s own vision of the world. 

This isn’t self-absorption or a vanity issue at all-  you are who you are and figuring out how to approach the gaps between oneself and society is sometimes all you can do. A cloud of frustration, bewilderment, disgust, and conflicting memories of nostalgia can be a powerful fulcrum on which to balance photographs.

I think this show operates as a good selection of photographs should- they clarify the feelings of the photographer. Of course the transmission of the same feelings is impossible and should never be the purpose of photography- nor the benchmark by which it should be judged.  Photographs can suggest or hint, but due to the mental filters we all view the world through, never ever truly explain.  It’s up to the viewer to figure out for themselves what the work means to them.  I think that this series solidified the hunches Colin had concerning his home- the moments pictured illustrate the blundering inertia of the culture in which those seen in the frames exist. 

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Shinjuku

Mamiya C220 with 55mm f4.5 lens and chimney finder

Photographer: Clinton Watkins  portfolio site / tumblr  

[euklidian]

film

There are a bunch of good commercial reasons why re-sellers repackage film, and often these films are sold at competitive or discounted prices. Fair enough. But when a repackaged film is sold at a premium price, the re-seller should make it very clear what the film is, who makes it, and why a premium price is justified. Anything else is just bad for film photography.

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Protip for black and white film shooters:  Develop your film yourself.

Seriously. I shouldn’t even have to say this! Get yourself a couple of tanks and reels off of ebay or craigslist, and a sink.  You’re set. There are many many guides online to get you started-  I recommend the Ilford one.

For developer I use Kodak HC-110 ($30 a bottle) and Kodak Fixer ($13 a bag)-  $43 is enough for me to process 100 rolls of HP-5 or Tri-X (pushed to 1600, even).  It’s that cheap.  I’m putting this out here because here’s no reason for someone to drop $1500 on black and white film processing and then complain online that film is too expensive to shoot.  That’s detrimental to those out there who might be interested in learning to shoot film.  The annual cost of a moderate film shooter’s DIY film processing total would certainly be far cheaper than an expensive daily starbucks habit or upgrading your smartphone every year. 

The pictures above are from my archives- I personally use 4-reel steel tanks with 1/2oz of HC-110 mixed in with 1000ml of 20 C water developed for 15min. It works.  You can read about my film development methods here.  Believe it or not, film development isn’t as difficult or as dull as it may seem. I’ve got a lot of friends who seamlessly incorporate the ritual of film processing into their lives- put on a movie or some music. That first glance of pulling a wet new roll of fresh negs off a reel can still be a cheap thrill.  

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Meguro (2015)

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Tokyo (2015)

Zeiss Ikon ZM, Minolta M-Rokkor 40/2, Tri-X 400, scan from silver gelatin print

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Tokyo Darkroom Style 4

Darkroomer:  Clinton Watkins  /   tumblr 

Clinton is a good friend here in Japan who spends time between Tokyo and Akita up in northern Japan. His Akita apartment is mostly darkroom-  and he kindly sent some photos to share with you here. 

He writes:

—-

Where: Akita-city, Japan 

Layout: darkroom = spare room, wash = bathroom, dry = sunroom, separate wet and dry areas in the darkroom.

Equipment: Lucky 90M-D Classic, Lucky Timer 3, Omega easel, ISE contact printer, Fuji and Nikon 50 and 90mm lenses, Ilford filters (all obtained second hand, via auction sites or shops)Formats: 35mm, 645, 6x6 and 6x7, 4x5 contact prints only.

Preferred consumables: Ilford RC paper, Fuji Papitol developer, any stop bath and fix.

Preferred printing style: split filter 

—-

Clinton, an Australian, turned me on to a great analog/film-centered Australian site thelargeformatblog.com - a great film process resource that has been sharing reader-submitted darkroom pics and layouts for some time now. Certainly one to bookmark. 

Previously:

Tokyo Darkroom Style 1

Tokyo Darkroom Style 2  

Tokyo Darkroom Style 3

Tokyo Darkroom Style 4

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Tokyo (2015)

Zeiss Ikon ZM, Minolta M-Rokkor 40/2, Tri-X 400, scan from silver gelatin print.

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Cottesloe, 2014.

FujiFilm GS645S, Kodak Tri-X 400, scan from silver gelatin print.

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Meguro, 2014.

FujiFilm GS645S, Kodak Tri-X 400, scan from silver gelatin print.

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Boddington, 2014.

FujiFilm GS645S, Kodak Tri-X 400, scan from silver gelatin print.

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The Big Camera Museum of Photography in Meckering, Western Australia, run by Mr CL Wadley. Meckering is a town of about 265 people, and famous for this strong earthquake in 1968. A vast and impressive selection of analogue photographic gear, worth a visit if you are passing through.

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Totem Pole Photo Gallery, Shinjuku

Zeiss Ikon with MS Optical 35mm f3.5 Perar lens purchased from Japan Exposures

Photographer: Clinton Watkins  website / tumblr  

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神津島 (Kouzushima), 2014.

FujiFilm GF670, Kodak Tri-X 400, scan from silver gelatin print.

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I’m happy to have gotten word that Amazon is now shipping pre-orders of the Tokyo Camera Style book- I sincerely hope that you enjoy it once the book arrives.