Dec 31, 2012

2012 in review

Some of my greatest photographic moments of 2012 were spent in the encouraging and tremendously talented hands of Aline Smithson, Cig Harvey, Jennifer B. HudsonLoren HammerJoe Baraban and Sam Abell ~ I thank you all for challenging and touching my artistic spirit.

It was so wonderful to be included in The Next: Emerging LA Artists group exhibition at The Perfect Exposure Gallery.

A huge compliment received by Sam Abell about my work was that it reminded him of Cindy Sherman and Ralph Eugene Meatyard.  

Here are some of my favorite quotes and advice I heard this year....

"The soul always begins a thought with an image." -Aristotle

"If you're open to mistakes, they're hardly mistakes." -unknown

A few pearls of wisdom from Jennifer B. Hudson...
"We must show up for our own lives."
"Mentally, spiritually TRAVEL."

Advice of Keith Carter..."Trust your gut - be decisive."

An excerpt from Emerson's personal journal, after have his own daguerreotype made at a time when nobody had been photographed and the word 'photography' hadn't even existed yet...
"Were you ever daguerreotyped, O immortal man?  And did you look with all vigor at the lens of the camera to give the picture the full benefit of your expanded and flashing eye?"

A couple quotes from Joseph Campbell's, The Power of Myth...
"The best things can't be told because they transcend thought."
"What am I ?  Am I the bulb that carries the light or am I the light of which the bulb is a vehicle."

As I awoke this morning (to a classical music station) I heard the following lyrics... :)
"I don't eat people"

And finally a quote from the character Minnie Finch on I Love Lucy...
"When I kiss them they stay kissed."


Here's to an incredibly creative 2013 filled with growth, opportunity, laughter and love!!
x

Dec 15, 2012

wet plate collodion

I haven't really ventured into a traditional darkroom since high school (I know, for shame!) but last weekend I got my hands 'wet' (pun intended :) and attempted the 19th century wet plate collodion photographic process.
I am completely enamored by this beautifully difficult, dangerous and potentially toxic chemical process.

Here's the process in a nutshell...
In the darkroom a (clean, polished) plate is coated with collodion, sensitized in a silver nitrate solution, placed into a plate holder, carried outside & placed into the camera & an exposure is made, then back into the darkroom for development...all of which has to be done before the plate dries within a span of 10 minutes.

Each and every image made becomes even more precious because making a single image is so labor-intensive.
Here is my very first tintype.
Wish © Brandy Trigueros 2012

Dec 5, 2012

street sketches

Although my personal style of photography is along the lines of narrative, conceptual and somewhat theatrically-based portraiture, documentary and street photography is something I aspire to do more of as I think it will help me to become a stronger photographer.  So this past weekend I walked the wet streets of LA and Santa Monica in search for the authentic.  I took the advice of Sam Abell, a great National Geographic documentary photographer: 
compose and wait.
 I had a long, interesting conversation with a good-hearted fella who goes by nickname Gypsy RiderAs his name suggests, he rides rails across the country & lives by barter & trade.

Dec 2, 2012

John Egerton urtext

Cool breeze
Warm fire
Full moon
Easy chair
Empty plates
Soft words
Sweet songs
Tall tales
Short sips
Long life