pinhole # 14-15 / diptych # 178 (with pinhole # 16) ~ moving right along

kitchen light on chair w cat ~ Au Sable Forks, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen
straight v pinhole ~ Au Sable Forks, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen
decaying GMC hulk ~near Keeseville, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen

OK, first things first - in my first recent pinhole entry I mis-wrote regarding the name of the juried exhibit to which I am submitting pinhole pictures for consideration. I called it a pinhole exhibit when, in fact, it is .... Alternative Cameras: Pinholes to Plastic with submission criteria as images made with any plastic, toy, pinhole or homemade camera, plastic lens on a traditional modern camera, Lensbaby, camera obscura - just about any non-traditional camera or lens, film or digital.

On a side note, I also referred to the endeavor as a "competition" whereas it is really a selection process to identify and exhibit pictures which best realize the stated criteria. I mention that because I would never submit a photo to a "competition" inasmuch as making pictures is not a competitive undertaking. I have always felt that, if I wanted to enter into a competition, I would consider taking up ballroom dancing or maybe even curling.

With all of that cleared up, I am starting to get into the pinhole picturing making frame of mind. That is to write that I am starting to "feel it". Not sure what exactly that feeling is, but it's there. So. I'm just going with that flow and looking at the results.

In noodling around on the interweb, finding and looking at pinhole pictures, one clear characteristic of the pinhole genre (which I am defying) is that an overwhelming number (the absolute majority) of pinhole picture are monochromatic - BW or some tinted version thereof. Don't know why that is, it just is. Color pinhole pictures, while not scarce, are distinctly in the minority., Consequently, I have been experimenting with the making of monochromatic pinhole pictures with the idea that I will submit some tinted monochrome and some color pictures just to cover the bases.

The other thing I am working on is to perhaps make a few pictures which are even more ethereal or "conceptual" than those which result from just the use of a pinhole "lens". The reason for this possible pursuit is to make pictures which more closely resemble those of the juror, Susan Burnstine. An act which some might consider to be outright pandering, if you will.

However, the fact is that, when I decided to pursue the making of pinhole pictures specifically for submission to this exhibit, I actually had a conceptual notion in mind. But I wanted to get my head into the pinhole picture making mechanics and conventions before pursuing that specific conceptual idea.

Therefore, I don't think that pursuing a "conceptual" idea is actually pandering since I had the thought well before I knew what the judge's pinhole proclivities are ... something which I "discovered" just this AM.