Living off the Grid

sara505 · February 20, 2011

bdcolen wrote: »

Definitely both great shots - but countless orange cats were photographed in black and white before there was color. And, just for argument's sake I have to ask if the orange cat is the subject - because that orange DO stick out.

Not sure if the cat is the subject or not, but it's where my eye goes, and if it were BW, it would be totally lost.

I love the color shot.

clap

Flyinggina · February 20, 2011

FWIW, I didn't notice the cat right away. I was drawn to the young woman, then to the overall tones and textures of the photograph and then to the cat - which, combined with everything else, made the picture for me. If I were going to hang this on my wall, I would want it in color. As part of a documentary series, I am currently ambivalent. Waiting to see more ... please!

Virginia

swifteye · February 23, 2011

I have processed enough images now to share an initial batch. Keep in mind this series was designed as a slide show of about 190 images with a sound track that included taped interviews and music. This was originally shot and produced in 1986. I believe this series is still pertinent today- even more so, as we yearn for a simpler and less complicated life. With the digital age I am going to produce this as a video. I will try to show some restraint here and batch these images with the more key shots. Perhaps a sub-title to this show would be "an alternative lifestyle." I introduce to you the Brubaker Family. I will reserve commentary for another time. For now enjoy and comment on the images.

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Eia · February 24, 2011

Wow is right....very gripping!

sara505 · February 24, 2011

6,8,9,12,13 =iow, all the people shots are great. The others are fine, but the people shots are my favorites as images in and of themselves. I can imagine that put together as a slide-show with music, however, the images would all support each other very well.

So, this is off-the-grid in New Hampshire, not Appalachia.

swifteye · February 24, 2011

sara505 wrote: »

So, this is off-the-grid in New Hampshire, not Appalachia.

The White Mountains of New Hampshire. That is Mount Lafayette and Franconia Notch in the background.

Much more to come. It is a tough editorial task here!

jdryan3 · February 24, 2011

Great color, adn the lighting is wonderful given the mixed nature you had to deal with. 24-25 years old, so I'm assuming not digital, no chimping. Can't wait to see the rest of the series and any update on the Brubakers, circa 2011.

swifteye · March 7, 2011

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jdryan3 · March 7, 2011

Jamie these are still wonderful. The series, especially the second batch, puts to rest some of the ambiguity of the first post and thread title. Laughing kids, daily chores, a wedding (?) on the beach, the whole bit. I do have to ask if that is a gasoline can he is putting through the ice in #26.

swifteye · March 7, 2011

jdryan3 wrote: »

Great color, adn the lighting is wonderful given the mixed nature you had to deal with. 24-25 years old, so I'm assuming not digital, no chimping. Can't wait to see the rest of the series and any update on the Brubakers, circa 2011.

jdryan3 wrote: »

Jamie these are still wonderful. The series, especially the second batch, puts to rest some of the ambiguity of the first post and thread title. Laughing kids, daily chores, a wedding (?) on the beach, the whole bit. I do have to ask if that is a gasoline can he is putting through the ice in #26.

Their is a considerable amount of work to digitalize this project to bring the old slides (kodachrome with some ektachrome) back to life. It is a fun project.

Much more to come and I will have some up dated images in the end. Once all the old images are up I will write an essay to complete the story. This series will take several weeks to bring to a conclusion. As I have stated above these images will be produced with a sound track that has interviews, ambient sound, and the Brubakers singing and reciting poetry.

I am happy many of you are enjoying the show!

pathfinder · March 9, 2011

Love the Kodachrome palette.

I like the cabin.

Wood stoves warm you twice.

Cold weather gives pink cheeks, that Kodachrome captures perfectly.

Losing the color in these images changes their appearance drastically.

We are all going to miss Kodachrome, aren't we?

swifteye · March 9, 2011

pathfinder wrote: »

We are all going to miss Kodachrome, aren't we?

.....and now a brief intermission: a tribute to Kodachrome. We will miss your lovely colors!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SExsuRIGAlg

jdryan3 · March 9, 2011

swifteye wrote: »

.....and now a brief intermission: a tribute to Kodachrome. We will miss your lovely colors!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SExsuRIGAlg

cry:cry

Velvia has its place, but it is not Kodachrome

swifteye · April 24, 2011

The latest editions to the show (Sorry for the wait):
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sara505 · April 24, 2011

Jamie, these are precious, I love your style. The Kodachrome colors are delicious looking.
You've managed to capture a family - its comings and goings and relationships - very well.

PS, you might want to add #s to the images - this will make it easier to discuss the particulars. :-)

swifteye · April 24, 2011

sara505 wrote: »

Jamie, these are precious, I love your style. The Kodachrome colors are delicious looking.
You've managed to capture a family - its comings and goings and relationships - very well.

PS, you might want to add #s to the images - this will make it easier to discuss the particulars. :-)

Thanks, Sara. Numbers installed...I forgot to do that. Still a lot more to come....don't want to overwhelm....

lizzard_nyc · April 25, 2011

one go through is not sufficient for the volume and quality here.

On first go around after your initial post, I am completely drawn to #8. Usually I go right past anything with the copyright, it's so distracting, but even with it, I am completely drawn to that image and have looked at it for a good long time and can continue to do so.

swifteye · April 25, 2011

lizzard_nyc wrote: »

one go through is not sufficient for the volume and quality here.

On first go around after your initial post, I am completely drawn to #8. Usually I go right past anything with the copyright, it's so distracting, but even with it, I am completely drawn to that image and have looked at it for a good long time and can continue to do so.

This is why I am putting these up in batches, to give people to absorb the story as if they are chapters. (I know I can be undisiplined with my editing- yet this is a good place to find out what images resonate with people. I have excluded quite a few as it is.) The final intent, as I have noted before, is to produce these images into a video with the original soundtrack. I am in touch with the girls and the mother who are writing comments on all these images on my Facebook Gallery. I will be taking these comments and blending them as text into the video/images. I will also begin photographing them as adults in the same locations. A long process that I am excited about!

swifteye · April 26, 2011

Next chapter:
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Richard · April 27, 2011

Some more great images here, Jamie.

It's going to be interesting to see the final result.

Living off the Grid

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