AWOL

Bet you thought I’d run away. Or perhaps that I was trapped beneath a heavy bookcase and unable to reach my keyboard. Or, worse still, that I just didn’t care about you any more. The truth is that I’ve been a tad busy and unable to find the time to conjure up the enchanting mix of words and pictures that I know you’ve come to expect. But fret not, I have returned. After a brief but somewhat troubling interlude caused by a variety of technical problems, I have surfaced, gasping for virtual air, ready to give you my all.

My trusted Mac, reliable for over two years despite the abuse it regularly receives, decided that now would be a good time to turn its graphics card into jelly. Initially frustrating, it became a handy exercise in mobile computing whilst I waited for an unjellified replacement card to arrive from Singapore. I think I mentioned it in my last post but if you’re a Mac user and don’t have SuperDuper installed then you and I need to have serious words. Really, you can’t come running to me shouting “But Gav, why didn’t you warn me?” when your beloved computer goes up in smoke. For you have been warned and if you’re not going to listen to me then I really don’t know what else to say to you.

And my new 5D MKII has been giving me gip. Not that I’d be the sort of person to reinforce gender stereotypes but the darn thing has been so temperamental that I’m sure it must be female. Where my 1Ds MKII is definitely male: dependable, reliable, always there when called upon; my 5D MKII is a saucy little tease, pouting and sulking despite the soft, cooing words that I whisper to it. Like yesterday, when if you were in the vicinity of Chinatown after dark you might have heard my dulcet tones shouting “Focus, you daft bint. FOCUS!”

I’m not sure of the cause but I’m missing shots that I’d have caught with my 1Ds because the 5D just won’t focus. It’s not a contrast issue, it’s just lazy. Yesterday it decided to stop focussing altogether, no matter what lens I attached to it. In all seriousness it’s not acceptable and I’m giving serious thought to trading it in for another 1Ds MKII. I can’t afford to miss those shots that I’ve worked hard to get myself in front of and if the tools aren’t up to scratch then they’ll have to go. It’s a tough world, what can I say?

Now then, that’s more than enough of my stream-of-consciousness twaddle. Let me give you something uplifting, entertaining and informative as a reward for wading through the last three paragraphs.

Firstly, my friend and wildly talented photographer Mitchell Kanashkevich has generously poured his post-production secrets into an e-book. If you look at Mitchell’s portfolio you will see that he is one of those photographers who refuse to compromise with their post-production workflows. He knows how to wring every ounce of goodness from his digital files, as his recent series of Kusti Mud Wrestlers proves.

Mitchell’s e-book takes you step-by-step through his post-production techniques in Photoshop and Lightroom and the fact that he’s only charging $12 for the hefty download is reason enough to get it before he comes to his senses and charges what it’s really worth. You can find out more on Mitchell’s Blog, which I urge you to subscribe to if you don’t already.

On a more sombre note, I was recently lent a copy of “War Photographer“, a film about photographer James Nachtwey. I’d like to do justice to the movie with a few well-chosen words but there’s just no way I’ll succeed. So let me just say that you must – absolutely must – get hold of a copy if you don’t already own one. Watching it has had a profound affect on me and… well, just watch this clip to see for yourself. Nachtwey has a micro-camera attached to his SLR so you see the top-plate, control dial and photographer’s index finger as he photographs from the very heart of the action. It’s an extraordinary insight into his world and the way he works and is easily one of the most thought-provoking films I have ever seen.

Now a change of tack before I let you go on your way. This week is the final week of the summer term of the Bangkok Photo School and a busy week it is too. We’ve already taught three classes this week and will lead two field-trips at the weekend before the final classes for both our “Foundation One” and “Experienced” courses on Monday and Tuesday. There’s going to be a break for a few months as I have work in northern Thailand and Vietnam and then we’re taking what promises to be a great group to Bhutan for two weeks in September and October. I’m hoping to lead a further tour in Thailand in October and then the Winter Term of the Photo School will kick-off. I’m also squeezing in a few one-to-one workshops where I can and I’ll leave you with two pictures of recent Workshop participants. Young Luke and young Bruno were both encouragingly enthusiastic and I enjoyed photographing with each of them. If you’re interested in joining me for a Photo Workshop in and around Bangkok then check out the “Bangkok Insider” information page. Book now as prices are likely to increase soon in line with demand. Yes. I’m a popular guy, there’s no need to look so surprised.

There’ll be more from my growing “Things I must share on my blog” list before you can ask “Where the hell has he gone now?”.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 19th, 2009 at 2:41 am and is filed under Photographers, Workshops. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.