Category: Sculptural Forms

Dan Nauman picked up his prints. Where are the artist’s salons?

This morning Dan Nauman, of Bighorn Forge, picked up three prints to represent his Lynden Sculpture Garden Gate in a competition. I’d photographed the main west Gate for Dan back in early August of last year. Below – you can see the photographs Dan chose for the competition. You can see the rest of the shoot as well, including the east, exit gate here.

We had a wonderful conversation about art and artists, craft and craftspersons. The last couple times Dan and I have been together we talked about the importance of exchanging ideas; talking to other artists in other mediums; critiques; etc. I’m currently reading Patti Smith’s Just Kids. I’m at the point in the book where she and Robert Mapplethorpe are living in the Chelsea Hotel – one of the artistic salons of the 50s, 60s, 70s – reminiscent of the Left Bank of Paris in the 20s – and reminding me of my own experiences in the 60s and 70s on the east side of Milwaukee.

Some many years ago I managed to get a couple salons together. A small group – a novelist, a poet, a couple singer-songwriters, a photographer – got together to sing, read, look at photographs. It was good fun. I’d like to do more like that. How about you?

As Dan walked out the door I asked him, “When, where and whom should we invite to the first artist’s salon of 2013?” And now I throw it out to you all – Want to get together with other “creatives?” Show and tell? Challenge one another? Let me know when and where you may like to do so. Let’s make 2013 a creative year of sharing.

(click photograph for larger view)

Leica R8/DMR, Various lenses

A new Fireplace Tool Set by Dan Nauman at Bighorn Forge

Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, Dan Nauman created this, 43″ tall, Fireplace Tool Set using mild steel, copper and mica. Additional photographs of this piece can be seen here.

You can see more of Dan’s work here; and follow his blog here.

(click photograph for larger view)

Leica R8/DMR, 60 mm Macro Elmarit

Bought some spring for the kitchen table

Narcissus (or Daffodil)

The youth of Greek mythology called Narcissus, who, in at least one of many variations of the tale, became so obsessed with his own reflection as he kneeled and gazed into a pool of water that he fell into the water and drowned. In some variations, he died of starvation and thirst from just sitting by the edge of the pool until he gave out, gazing at his reflection until he died. In both versions, the Narcissus plant first sprang from where he died.

(click photograph for larger view)

Leica R8/DMR, Carl Zeiss Plan 2.5/0.08 160/-

A closer look at lunch and lens rendition

Some photographers, upon receiving a new (or in this case old) lens, photograph brick walls, test charts and/or newspapers to test a lens. I’ve never done this nor understood the reason for that approach. I prefer to test a lens within the context of a photograph I’ll actually enjoy looking at — to discover the lens’ rendering qualities. Yesterday afternoon a Novoflex-Noflexar f:3.5/105 R arrived.  I rounded up the necessary ring and tube to hang it on my Visoflex III. Today I photographed my lunch with the lens. With only one frame exposed it appears that I will enjoy working with this 40 year old, $50 gem. It focuses continuously from infinity down to filling the M8 frame with a 25mm subject (on the long dimension — at a working distance of 18cm). Both sharpness and bokeh appear quite tasteful.

(click photograph for larger view)

Leica M8, 105 mm R f:3.5 Novoflex-Noflexar on Visoflex