Covid-19, post-coronavirus, film photography, and a zine making doubts.
An unusually long time has passed since the recent post i published here. It’s not like I have nothing to post or to tell – during all this lockdown period I was even more active with photography taking “business”. I used a wide range of cameras and media formats these two months of quarantine, isolation, misunderstanding of what is happening, and everyday rules changing dark-bright period of my life that I will remember forever and possibly will describe it as pre- and post-corona.
As many photographers documenting their lives and the everyday things happen around them, I also decided to shoot a corona-diary, some kind of a long term project about the changes and difficulties we encountered these days. Due to the nature of my work, I was allowed to move freely even on days of the complete lockdown. I used my camera to take pictures every day of this period, but the empty streets and the people wearing masks here and there become nothing special very quickly. I fill that I am left with nothing.
Another big frustration is my writing and designing ability. I finished with the selection of images for the first zine I wanted to prepare for my next publishing on Blurb. Yes, after the long reading and youtube reviews watching I decided on this online publishing platform, because of the format and the look I would like to get on my final product. Sure, I will run the test print and will know even better about the desired finishing. But first of all, I need a big ass kick. I have no how other photographers have enough time with taking pictures, selection, writing, their posts/blogs/vlogs/publishing designing.
I’m not bad with the only first task, probably selection of the appropriate images is also ok, it just takes some more time due to my connection to the taken images and inability to decide simply and easily what to include and what to exclude and consign to oblivion.
And today I would like to put here some mix of the different series images taken with different cameras on the different media.
The infected city, with the people isolated from each other and entered in quarantine.
The place I spend just a few holiday quarantine days when the moving between cities was completely prohibited and I haven’t any need to drive to the offices, so I just enjoyed to stay at home to feel this kinda vacation.
During my staying in the village, I exposed a few 120 film rolls with my Hasselblad 500cm. This was the first time when I used Minolta Spotmeter when the light conditions were not suitable for my regular Sunny 16 rule settings determinating. ilford Delta 400 was my film of choice.
Another two long frames of the ZONE series I took with one my favorite cameras, that was broken completely during the exposing of this last roll of Kentmere 100 that I pushed to ISO200. I love this film, especially looking good with the Kodak D-76 developer 1:1 or stock solution. Now I’m looking for the equal in terms of lens quality replacement for my longography Horizon 202 camera.
And the last for today’s post will be the small series of the first “Post-Corona” nature jam session with my friends – the old collective, but only now decided to take a name and to give life this new band “Soul Kitchen” playing an old school Blues ornamented with the modern vibes of the Stoner rock.
Sure its not all what i have to show and wanted to talk today. Stay tuned, stay safe, take care about yourself, and about your beloved.
Wow.. Victor I have lots to say but maybe few:)
You are the professional photographer yourself! who loves to shoot! Inspiring.
I’ve seen and have noticed on Instagram that you’re out for shooting during this lock down. Stay in your normal schedules unlike me I was so lazy took advantage of I have the right to stay in:):)
Yes this experienced will stay recorded as history of our life to the next generations. Proud to say we’ve survived. Looking through your photography has means a lot to us.
During this Isolation each of us found strength such as playing guitar on trees. A gentleman calmly having coffee alone with his mask on. We won’t be able to see these moments again. I hope not.
and the last you writing skills are beautiful with bit of jokes.
Thank you for your fantastic work. Love your work!
hey Naomi ! thank you for this quick response and for your point of view and such wonderful words. Some time ago i saw on twitter some group portrait of people wearing same masks like we use these days. The image was from the 1918. Yes we know from the history lessons about the 1918-19 Slanish Flu and the global disaster. But not many images we saw from this period of the history. So when i saw the images i got a strengthen feeling that I’m doing right and most of images taken on smartphones will be lost together with an Instagram stories and during phones replacing but the images taken with a real cameras and possibly printed or published will survive and this way the future generations will know better that nothing was changed. we are in 21 century still using the same simple masks as people used 100 years ago.
The history will repeat isn’t it? Great we can use masks in another 100 years.
Or go with Bandanna.. if I am still alive :):)
i have to buy a bandana. some red ones.
Great work Victor! Love the photos and the narrative. I’m glad you’re progressing with your zine making and already chose Blurb. I need a kick in the ass myself! But I’m not worried, it’ll happen very soon, there’s no pressure. I’m doing this for myself…
It would be great to see the end result!
Thank you for the support Yuri. I’m worrying a little bit bcos i know how fast and energetic i always do the first part – taking images and how long time taking to me this second part – the orginazing of the project to some visually interesting final product. also to write a text about. im so bad in this part.
I totally get it. Im in the same position as you and as many many people. That’s where we prove ourselves as artists… i don’t think there’s a perfect way to do it, just your way but i know it’s also good to have someone else’s view on a sequence beforehand. Good luck Victor.
thank you Yuri ;-))
I denied so.many interesting cooperations, interviews and projects exactly because of this issue. Today the final product is not just printed big size work but in most cases something that should be shown to masses through the media or in the case of the self published book or a mag – ppl are looking for some point.
Hope to start and to finish this 😉