Christopher Walrath

To not run the risk of giving this one away I will post the rule in the middle of this blog.

I was trying to come up with a cover image for the January issue of Creative Image Maker. We turn one on January 15th so I wanted a photograph with a single candle lit. SO on the way home I purchase a small pack of birthday candles from the pharmacy in town. I get home and set up in my darkroom which doubles as the downstairs half bath, pungent at all hours. I lean my california edition of EW's 'Daybooks' against the wall on top of the hopper tank. I drape a black t shirt over the book and drape it down over the tank lid. I then light a cande and drip some wax on a flattish area to give the candle a leg to stand on. Success. I then bring in the tripod and the 4x5. I compose the image with the door closed and the light off. Meters too low so I add a stationery flood in front on the right. OK. f/11 for about 2 seconds. I bring in the Polaroid 545 holder and load in the P/N 55. I reset the shutter. Pull the envelope. Turn off the light, light the candle and trip the shutter.
After blowing out the candle I flip the lever to 'P' and pull out with a hearty 'A. P. U. G.' and count to twenty five Mississippi's and peel apart. Beautiful for two year expired 55 film. But after rinsing the neg I wanna try a slightly different compostion. Reload. Turn out light. light candle. Pop!
This one looks great. I'm rinsing the neg and just about done when I hear this odd 'whuff-whuff-whuff' behind the camera by the wall

Chris's Photographic Rule Number 8.

ALWAYS REMEMBER TO EXTINGUISH YOUR SUBJECT.

Yuo, one blow put out the T-shirt. Folded that down. Closed the door, turned on the fan. Stopped dropped and rolled to keep from breathing in too many fumes (in my darkroom, yeah right). A minute later, I grab the tshirt, rolled up, and head outside for a slice of Marlboro fresh air. My kid's ask what I'm cooking? It smeels terrible. My response? Creativity.

Dad, your a dork!



Oh, and there are some slight charring marks on the cover of a book produced by an eccentric photographer by another photographer who apparently has his own eccentric side as well. I guess I'm in good company after all.

Thank you.
Chris