APUG - Blogs - Valerie http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/valerie/ APUG.ORG is an international on-line community, completely devoted to traditional (non-digital) photographic processes. en Tue, 21 May 2013 13:15:23 GMT vBulletin 2 http://www.apug.org/forums/images/apug4/misc/rss.jpg APUG - Blogs - Valerie http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/valerie/ Its been a YEAR?? http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/valerie/335-its-been-year.html Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:52:08 GMT Dang! My last post was a year ago... time flies, huh? Well, as mentioned in the last post, I decided to keep track of hours spent in my... Dang! My last post was a year ago... time flies, huh?

Well, as mentioned in the last post, I decided to keep track of hours spent in my darkroom. I added up the tic marks on the wall for a grand total of ... 101 hours. Sure doesn't seem like much. I have to remind myself that this represents darkroom hours only, not time spent shooting or teaching. And there was only one month that no dkrm work at all was done--certainly an improvement over anything in the past when I would go months on end without stepping into that room.

As of Monday a 2011 log of hours has begun. The goal is to top 2010. Guess I'll check in next year with that total..... ]]> Valerie http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/valerie/335-its-been-year.html Darkroom time http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/valerie/235-darkroom-time.html Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:47:33 GMT I read somewhere that one must spend in excess of something like 25,000(?) hours doing something to become truly skilled at it. It has me thinking... I read somewhere that one must spend in excess of something like 25,000(?) hours doing something to become truly skilled at it. It has me thinking about how much time I spend at my photography. Not enough, I know that much.

So, in lieu of a New Year's resolution, all year I'm going to keep rough track of my darkroom time (not including shooting time). As of today, I've spent 15 hours in that glorious space. Not too bad, really.

As for what I'm working on, its the Fofofest images. Two portfolios are in the works. I'll just call them "Matilda" and "Equivalents" for now. Both I've been working on for years, in a rather unfocused manner. But now they are coming together, along with the dreaded Artist Statements. How I hate writing those things! But do understand the need, especially for a portfolio review. ]]> Valerie http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/valerie/235-darkroom-time.html Strange vibes in the air. http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/valerie/209-strange-vibes-air.html Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:50:48 GMT Well its been a long while since I've blogged. Actually forgot about this until someone recently mentioned it. So here's what's up: I'll be attending the Fotofest Meeting Place in March. No portfolio yet. How's that for insane? I am working on it (when I have time). Many negs, even more ideas. But not one single finished piece. It will get done-- it always does. The question is how high my stress level will go to get there. I am personally confident about what I'm working on and constantly reminding myself that if I am true to what I am trying to express, it will come thru. Maybe not to everyone, but to a few at least.

To bring up the stress level a notch or three, we started on the total kitchen remodel that we have dreamed of for 9 yrs. So now I sit in a kitchen-less home, trying to cook using only an electric skillet and crock pot, surrounded by boxes, plastic sheeting (that is NOT keeping the dust from the rest of the house), and looking at studs and rafters. Shopping for appliances (what to choose??), choosing colors and finishes, change orders that always cost more--- I am truly losing my mind and my patience.

The semester is going--ok. Strange vibe than I cannot put my finger on. I've never lost so many students so quickly. Not necessarily bad, as it means more room in the darkroom. And the ones still in class are great--enthusiastic. I even had one student say she dropped all her other classes--except photography! But there is still this odd feeling... cannot put my finger on it....Other teachers (not just photo) are sensing the same thing from thier classes, oddly enough. ]]> Valerie http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/valerie/209-strange-vibes-air.html <![CDATA[Students' views]]> http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/valerie/143-students-views.html Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:53:55 GMT So I'm sitting here grading student essays and sipping wine. The assignment is one I give every semester: visit a gallery or museum with a photo-based exhibit and write your thoughts. It is always wonderful to read how a few are turned on to art/photography.... most of these students have never stepped foot in a gallery or museum before this. I want them to see photos "in person", not via book or internet.

But this semester..... how amazing... gratifying... to read these essays and how the majority (not minority) are feeling real appreciation for what they are experiencing.. ]]> Valerie http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/valerie/143-students-views.html Ike aftermath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/valerie/74-ike-aftermath.html Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:09:36 GMT THe hurricane dealt us a direct hit. Massive destruction. The images from the coast just break my heart. Here, with power supplied by the generator,... THe hurricane dealt us a direct hit. Massive destruction. The images from the coast just break my heart. Here, with power supplied by the generator, we are only inconvenienced. Cleanup will take a long time, but we've had no damage to the house or cars and, more importantly, to ourselves.

I've taken lots of digipicts, but will venture out with a real camera soon: the lovebugs that gather along the sap rings of the just-sawn tree trunks, the tomato hornworms that ravaged my tomato plants worse than Ike, the make-shift clotheslines along my party patio, the baby squirrels (Mike, Ike, and Charlie) found in the treetop of a downed oak the next morning. ]]> Valerie http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/valerie/74-ike-aftermath.html Show Pt II http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/valerie/62-show-pt-ii.html Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:48:56 GMT The show is hung and, if I do say so myself, looks amazing (the entire show.. a mixed media suitcase celebration). My panos looked so huge at home,... The show is hung and, if I do say so myself, looks amazing (the entire show.. a mixed media suitcase celebration). My panos looked so huge at home, but rather puny on these gallery walls. Tonally, they harken back to my infamous "dark and contrasy" roots... But that's how fairy tales often are, right?
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]]> Valerie http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/valerie/62-show-pt-ii.html A show http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/valerie/58-show.html Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:12:43 GMT How exciting! Someone saw my panorimics online and invited me to participate in a group show! Theme of show:Suitcases. Creative juices... How exciting! Someone saw my panorimics online and invited me to participate in a group show!

Theme of show:Suitcases.

Creative juices apparently haven't all dried up (as I have currently been fearing). Ideas are smashing in. ]]> Valerie http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/valerie/58-show.html