"Spheres"

This image was captured at the New York Botanical Gardens. What caught my attention was the repetition of the spheres hanging from the ceiling of the main rotunda. I rested my medium format camera on the edge of a bench and took the shot. Glad I did since I didn't have my tripod at the time. It's an interesting print once mounted and matted.

New Darkroom Paper

I recently tried a new product from Ilford, new to me at least. It's their MGFB Multigrade FB double weight paper. No doubt it's been around but new to me since I've not used it before.

At any rate, it gave me brilliant whites and distinctive blacks. The negatives I created were on Ilford HP5 (ISO 400) which I dropped down to ISO 100. Perhaps more than what was needed but the negs are very strong. No need for a contrast filter in my enlarger and, at f8, all negs printed around 10 seconds for a 4x5 print. The MGFB was easy to work with and very consistent. The images created were from a custom car show in Flemington, NJ. The negatives and the paper worked together very well. The results were sharp with enough contrast to highlight the details of each car. 

Needless to say, the only draw back to FB paper is the drying process and the resultant curl of the final dried photo. Surely there's a better procedure than my hanging the prints to dry but before investing in any more equipment, I'll revert to RC paper which I've used all along. Just wanted to try a "new paper".

If you're a B&W film photographer and do your own printing, please let me know about this film/paper combination or whatever it is that you like. 

Thanks - Hank

 A New Gadget

After many years of shooting, I found something that is making things a lot easier. Often I'd capture an image using a particular filter for a special effect. My favorite infrared film used to be Kodak's HIE which, as you know, is no longer available. To get the best infrared effect required your using a 25 red screw in filter. No big deal until you dropped it when you were finished with it. I had this happen more than once.

Now there is a resolution to this situation, at least for me anyway. I recently purchased a "Rapid Filter System" (manufactured by UURig) from B&H in New York City. Maybe it's been around for awhile but I just noticed it. It's quite clever and vey easy to use. It resembles a circular clam shell. One half screws into your lens while the other half holds your filter screwed in place. When you want the filter effect you simply "close" the clam shell and expose accordingly. When you wish a non-filtered exposure just "open" the clam shell take your next shot.

Ilford SFX 200 has been my film of choice since I can get a standard B&W image (no filter-clam open) and then proceed to create the infrared ones (R72 filter-clam closed). My shooting sequence is first negative at whatever my meter suggests rating SFX at ISO 100 and then (clam closed) for f8 @ 1 second and another @ 2 seconds. This way I have a standard copy of the image and 2 trial infrared copies, knowing what the image originally looked like. That's personal choice helpful to me.

I'd like to hear your comments if your using any kind of filter or SFX film.

Thanks - Hank

 

     

A new venture. Have you ever tried one? Well, I did and came up with this:

"NEW LIMITED EDTION POSTER SERIES - B & W steam locomotive prints 24 x 36 from the Webber Collection of negatives dating the 1930's. Published on premium luster paper, packaged in a sturdy mailing tube and sent to you via FREE shipping. Available on eBay at listing # 274728704267 (also-"steam locomotive posters"). Get your wall art today."

Like so many things in life, we never know unless we try.  Could be a new business, or something new in your business, a new relationship, a new job, or adjusting to the loss of one, on and on. Better to have tried and lost than to never have tried at all. Obviously, easier said than done but not impossible,

How are things with you now? Can I be of any help? Are you trying something new and it seems to be going nowhere? Don't give up, you're not alone. "Success is just one more failure that didn't succeed". If you believe in your heart it can be done, than do it. Just be ready for all the pitfalls, you'll have plenty of them. Remember, life is too short not to try. Stay on track!  

All prints sold - this offer is discontinued

 

"Overhang" - this images is one of my favorite infrared photographs that I captured more than 20 years ago while visiting our younger daughter, living in New England at the time. We came upon this quaint sea shore town. Walking around I saw a number of subjects and photographed most of them. As we moved closer to the water, I noticed this tree. It caught my attention. It provided me a unique composition, a tree so close to the building, and a whimsical title as well.

Have you ever come upon a special scene that appealed to you whether or not you photographed it? If you have, please a comment. I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks - Hank  

 Award-Winning Memory

In 1939, my father was a 25-year-old, Bronx-born amateur photographer who volunteered at the New York World’s Fair, which granted him expanded access to the grounds and a unique vantage point from which to photograph the event. Although numerous popular snapshots and professional photographs of the Fair exist, my father’s images taken in September of 1940 just weeks before the Fair closed, offer a distinct perspective: he artfully captured architectural shots at night with few, if any, people populating them. In spare, striking contrast, his images evoke the solemnity of the time, and conjure the sinister settings characteristic of the period's film noir.

I inherited my dad’s negatives from the 1939 Fair, and have the pleasure of reprinting them in my darkroom as interest in the Fair persists. His images have been exhibited in museums and licensed for use in television shows.

Perhaps his most iconic image was that of the 700-foot-tall Trylon and 200-foot-diameter hollow Perisphere--the centerpieces of the Fair--with a nearly sixty-foot tall statue of George Washington as he faces the future.

I’ve always considered this image to be a winner, and have submitted it to numerous competitions. I most recently entered it into the Vintage Image Photo Contest for the April 2021 issue of Black & White magazine, one of my favorite fine art photography publications. I’m happy to report that the image won! 

The magazine is on newsstands now. You can also view this image and all of my dad’s photographs in the 1939 World’s Fair Gallery via the link above to my website. 

 

License Agreements

It was a privilege for me to sign two agreements with COSMOS-POSSIBLE WORLDS which involved using three of my 1939 World’s Fair images. It came as quite a surprise. I was sent continual emails but I didn’t recognize the COSMOS name at all.

After several attempts at reaching me, I did a Google search and felt like a fool. They were the real deal. Getting unrequested emails is a hassle for all of us hence my reluctance to respond. However, now the story was very different.

We spent quite amount of time negotiating price and legal issues. They wanted to pay nothing and I wanted $1 million per photo. Needless to say, we arrived at pricing that was more realistic to both parties yet very lucrative to Webbers.

Our company attorney then advised as to who would use the photos, where they would be used, how they would be used, to what extent would they be used, and how often would they be used, and how long the agreement would last. Obviously, COSMOS had their own boiler form, but with further review, the agreement was accepted by both sides

COSMOS found my website which led to the agreements which led to the finished arrangement. Should you ever become involved in any license agreement, make sure you know what you’re worth (there’s no cookie cutter pricing), make sure you have a qualified lawyer, and make sure you over deliver for your customer.

I may have mentioned this before but if you have the Disney channel then click on National Geographic, then click on COSMOS-POSSIBLE WORLDS, then click on season 1 – episode 13. There you’ll see some of the images that are the results of these license agreements. They’re also available at https://www.webbersphotography.com/c/1939-worlds-fair Enjoy!

 

THE DARK SLIDE

For the years that Marie and I ran our studio, we used Hasselblad cameras and accessories. In my opinion, it was the finest film camera ever made. It was solid aluminum and made in a modular fashion. You had the camera body, then you attached a film magazine to the back, a lens to the front, and a viewfinder to the top. Hasselblad made countless variations to the modular parts to satisfy any photographic need.

Well, here’s the dark slide story. You see, you loaded the film magazine once it was removed from the camera. The dark slide protected the film from exposure during this process. Once loaded, you would then attach the magazine to the camera back and remove the dark slide. This would allow the film to be exposed by whatever image you chose to shoot.

It was at a wedding reception that I was feeling confident and creative. Feeling so, I went about shooting a roll of film creating some neat images. With everyone eating (you never photograph them then) I was free to do as I pleased. Got some cool shots of the property and other interesting images I knew the couple would want. All of a sudden Marie asked me why I didn’t remove the dark slide. ON NO! I immediately detached the magazine, threw away the film since you can’t rewind it, reloaded a new roll of film, removed the dark slide and gave it to Marie. I then went about to shoot the “shots” I already shot. Our customer bought a number of them for their wedding album. DARK SLIDE DEFEATED!

Quite often we forget the obvious when we do the obvious over and over again. Ever happen to you? Love to hear your story. Leave your comment below. Thanks – Hank

DUSK OR DAWN?

Both are quite appealing in photography. The sunrise gives a unique copper color to all the subjects it illuminates while the sunset shows as a beautiful gold tone. The challenge we have as photographers is to be ready for either “event” at the right time of day. Both appearances only last about 5 to 10 minutes at most. Therefore, you need to be ready to go prior to sunrise and in place for the sunset.

As a black & white film photographer, obviously I’m not capturing color. What I enjoy is the quality of light only present at these two times. Yes, you can photograph all day long from any and all angles but the early morning and evening light has a special appeal in making a fine art photograph as opposed to a shot at noon.

Have you tried either of these time “events” in your photography? If so, leave a comment as to what you captured and why. Thanks - Hank 

 

TO DO OR NOT TO DO – Did you ever think just that about building a photography business assuming you wanted one? Well, my wife and I did just that and started a portrait and wedding business years ago. We did baby portraits, family portraits, environmental portraits, school portraits, executive head shots, sports, photojournalism, corporate contract work, and then some. However, weddings were the most time consuming of all. Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays and then all the days in between for prep work.

 More than 15 years ago, I was President of the Professional Photographers of America – Central Jersey chapter. The members I was most close to have all abandoned wedding photography as did we. Nevertheless, there are many wedding photographers today who are doing quite well no doubt. Are you one of them? If so, what do you like the most about it? When my wife and I closed our studio, I sold all my very high-quality professional equipment but I kept enough to pursue what I’ve always enjoyed, B&W fine art photography from film.   

What do you enjoy from your hobby or your business? Would love to hear your story. Please leave a comment below. Thanks - Hank

 

GIVING – It’s always a good thing if you have an opportunity to donate your work for a worthy cause. My grandson attends an elementary school in New York City and as is the case in many schools, there are items and events that are outside the standard school budget. Therefore, the school staff organized an auction of all types of salable goods and/or services. My contribution was an 11 x 14 matted print of “Summer Snow”. The principal advised me that the print sold well and helped to generate needed revenue along with all the other auction entries. It’s always good to give.

Have you had an opportunity to donate something from your hobby or business? If so, leave a comment with your details. Thanks - Hank

 

COOL NEWS - If any of you have the Disney app on your TV, go to National Geographic, then to Cosmos, and then to season 1 - episode 13. In the first 5 minutes you’ll see some of my 1939 World’s Fair night shots that Cosmos paid a license fee to use which they found in

https://www.webbersphotography.com/c/1939-worlds-fair

The image above was not chosen thought it's one of my favorites, however, three other photos were. Pretty neat. Perhaps an Academy Award is next (ha ha). No harm dreaming big.

Have you had the opportunity to exhibit your work be it photography or some other medium that appeals to you, something you enjoy? Please leave a comment about your passion