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Category: eli

April 8th, 2023 - Eli

Comments Off on Shooting FILM

A friend of mine came by before a trip he looked at my bookshelf and says, hey do those cameras work? I’ve had some Minolta cameras sitting on my bookshelf for more years than I can remember at this point. I say they sure do… I took them down and forgot how to use them. Opened the back and exposed the film. Feeling stupid, I told myself you should use these. I find some of my old film and I mean old, like 90’s maybe older and put it in a Minolta x-700, its super expired old black and white film but heck its gonna go bad sitting here.

I buy a couple rolls of who knows what online. Shoot the couple I have and then find out just about nobody in New Orleans Developed film anymore.

I buy the easiest kit I can find, a Monobath chemical that develops 16 rolls. A pre-made and pre-boxed kit, just figure out how to get the film on the spool in the dark, pour the chemicals in and boom in a couple minutes you have something to look at. I can’t tell you how different and exciting it is, you just have to do it. It’s alchemy and magic. I never learned how to do this as a kid, many people did. I just shot and had it developed at the easiest place, whatever was open back in the day and there were lots of options. Today one.

I develop my couple rolls the cheapest film I could find and realize I want to shoot more. Like an addiction, but this is how I learn and if I want it, I do it.

Fast forward a couple months, and I finally have some photos id sell, I have a process I think is professional, at least something if a client asked me id say yes let’s do this. And having just bought one of the greatest digital cameras ever made, it’s just funny, I have something that can create anything instantly whatever I can dream it can do. And I go back to the hard way, at least for now that’s whats driving my fever dream.

I think it has to do with something being lost in the clinical sharpness of the digital photos we have all been inundated with on instagram, and the like. Everything is over-saturated, digitally manipulated and jumps into the you know its real but it looks too real category. As a photographer you want to “do it in camera” I started that by just shooting jpegs this year and directly publishing from them, no digital manipulation. Just to see, and now I’m shooting film. If we don’t stop ourselves from doing the things we want I think we are capable of greatness.

The cost, the cameras, the lenses, all insane, hard to get, none of it makes sense, you have to do a lot of research. No current company besides Leica even makes a good film camera today. Nothing you could call professional and rely on, my youngest camera was made in the 90’s my oldest in the 70’s. I like the idea of using something as old as me, but I like some of the modern features, like auto-winding. I try and not stop myself when I feel creative, and I hope you all do the same.

I posted on Instagram and Facebook earlier this year, right before mardi gras that this year I’m shooting for myself. I’ll shoot your events but with no demands, if you invite me you will get what I make, as a way to lower the stress in my life. That will continue, so shoot me an invite. If I can ill come no strings attached and shoot your event, party, whatever. I’m looking to grow expand, collaborate and have fun.

As a self proclaimed technologist, i think knowing and mastering the past is how we move forward. To all the people I made fun of for shooting film sorry, this shit is great. I get it now, I’m in, and I owe you a coffee.

Films I love below in no order at all.

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March 2nd, 2022 - Eli

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I leave the house around 10:30. Across Saint Claude I hit the stream of beauty. I take the stream to Franklin, the joy is amplified.

I cross Royal.

A man sits with his head in his hands the look of sadness permeates. I walk past him and make it 5 steps contemplating all of us, on the street having the best time, he sits 3 feet away sad. I look like magic, today I will be. I walk back thrust out my hand with a 20.

“Happy Mardi Gras brother” I say, he looks up and smiles

“How did you know” with a quick Triple take on that $20 the sadness lifts I see the person not the pain

“I just know” I say , “I’m magic” trying to be present but deliberate in my intention

“I’m one of the good ones” he says, longing in his voice, I tear up

“I know man”

We look at each other, he sees me glittery and gold, Today I saw him, and that’s what made the difference

He smiles, sunshine and sparkles on his face, shakes his head, today he can be whoever he wants

Happy Mardi Gras

Eli

More Photos below

Mardi Gras – 2022 Season – Photo Galleries Below

Mardi Gras Day

Lundi Gras

Krewe of Thoth

Blush Ball

Krewe of Freret – Krewe of Themis

Krewe du Vieux – KreweDelusion

Grab Bag

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September 10th, 2018 - Eli

Comments Off on Sunsets and more videos

 

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August 30th, 2018 - Eli

Comments Off on In Oregon I Caught Crabs and had a lot of Fun Doing it.

If you didn’t know back in the day I used to shoot a lot of video. Since I moved away from NYC I kinda got into photography a little hard. The following videos are the beginning of my VLOG. I hope to shoot some more and I hope you enjoy.

See ya next time.

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October 27th, 2017 - Eli

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Well.
Someone tried to shoot my neighbor Donald. You have probably seen his photo on instagram or on here I’m sure. One of the bullets went through the front of my house and landed in the kitchen. Waking up to the sound of gunfire, thinking its in your house is the least exciting thing I can think of. The strange thing is, I think we are so desensitized to gun violence its a week later and business as usual.

Well I shot a water ballet. Two legs bad was a water ballet based on animal farm. Quite awesome, I can’t wait to see what they do next.

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October 8th, 2017 - Eli

Comments Off on The calm during the storm

We got ready, booze, lighters, flashlights, water. Prepped and ready.. Get drunk before the power goes out and at least you can sleep. Everyone was out not he street waiting, music playing, drinks in hand. Its the neighborhood coming together and reaffirming why you live here. Why you stay to face a storm. You know the community will rally.

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