The American West Portraits; Hanging

I was very pleased with our trip to Paris to open my show. The photographs were received well, attendance was great and we had a wonderful time. 

We'll go back to close the show in June and do some more teaching, portraits and research for my next body of work. It's all very exciting. Thanks to everyone that helped make this possible. All of the sitters, the gallery, and most of all Jeanne!

These are some images that Fabrice Pejout posted on Facebook. These show the space, you can see why I get excited about my work hanging in this gallery. 

Here's an English article about the exhibition: France Revisited  

All 16"x20" Wet Collodion Positives - raw and real. photo by Fabrice Pejout

The main hallway - but there is a lot more to the catacombs that the images show. photo by Fabrice Pejout

Two 16"x20" Wet Collodion Positive plates. Photo by Fabrice Pejout

"A Photographic Heritage" by Benoît Boucherot

Yesterday afternoon I received a call from Jeanne. She told me I had a surprise in the mail and wanted me to guess what it was. I had no idea. As I rifled through my mind, trying to think what it could possibly be, she said, "It's the DVD from Benoît and it is amazing!" I couldn't wait to see it. 

The backstory goes something like this: When I was in Paris this year (March - June, 2010), I was approached by an artist/filmmaker named Benoît Boucherot. He asked if I would be interested in allowing him to make a documentary about my time in Paris and my photographic/artistic life. He explained to me what he would do and what his intentions were and I said, "Yes".

The result of his hard work and incredible talent is this, a 44 minute documentary about me, my family, my work and my time in Paris. I think he did an outstanding job capturing the feeling and the passion behind all of the hard work and incredible fun we had in Paris. 

When I get permission, I'll upload a clip or two from the DVD. I hope to offer this in my store at some point, too. The front and back of the DVD. It's in English and French, depending on who's talking.

Un documentaire non commenté de Benoît Boucherot
44 minutes - HD 16/9e PAL - VOSTFR
2010 - Les productions Rwann Hearn

" Photographe américain vivant en Allemagne, Quinn Jacobson a exposé ses ambrotypes et alumitypes au Collodion humide pendant 4 mois à Paris au Centre Iris pour la photographie. Depuis trois ans, son van bluesy parcourt toute l’Europe pour transmettre, lors de workshops, cette technique héritée de Frederick Scott Archer, l’inventeur du Collodion humide en 1847, contemporain de Daguerre et Talbot, disparu totalement oublié dans une immense pauvreté. Assisté de sa femme Jean et de leur fille Summer, il invite également régulièrement les chalands à être photographiés lors de séances de prises de vue réalisées avec ses chambres traditionnelles. Et la magie du procédé ancestral, et l’émotion de la révélation de l’image unique se rejouent ainsi sous nos yeux lors d’instants fugaces frappés d’une stupéfaction sans cesse renouvelée. Il a accueilli mes regards, ma caméra et mon Leica, dans son studio éphémère au mois de Juin. Cela peut bien se passer de commentaires... "

 

Marigny le Châtel, France

Saturday July 14, 2007 - Marigny le Châtel, France!
We took off Friday after work and ended up in Marigny le Châtel, France! Me, Jean, Summer, Denise and Lucky loaded the camera gear and piled in the car and took off for the weekend. It was one of the best (if not the best) trip I've had.
Marigny le Châtel is about 1 hour southeast of Paris. It's a small village in the country. The people are nice and the wine and food is yummy!


Katrina brings more wine as Thierry and Jean wait patiently for another glass.



I really like this image - Jean, Denise, Lucky and I were out walking before breakfast Saturday morning and I saw this reflector disc - I love to shoot picture in them - this one made it so painterly!


A wet plate (5x7) Ambrotype of Dr. Thierry Queinnec. He is a retired medical doctor that worked with amputees and handicapped people in his village for 25 years. He wanted to learn (and see) the wet plate process. We met him last month at the Paris Foto Show. He told us that the "tripod" of France is bread, wine and cheese. Look at the relection in his glasses in this image. I like that connection!


Denise and Thierry having coffee after lunch.

A cool French butcher sign I saw.


Having coffee after a seven course French meal - it was unbelievable!

Denise and Summer checking out a plum worm - it came from a fresh plum from the tree.

Jean says, "Prost" enjoying a couple of different French wines.

 

"The French Table" wife Katrina (left) and daughter Judy. Wet plate 5x7 Ambrotype.

Talking shop with Thierry - I can't speak French but I can say - Oui, Oui - Merci!

The gang having coffee Saturday morning with croissants! Magnifique!

Driving into the village.

The hotel we stayed at - we will be back again!!!

 

The Paris Foto Fair

Greetings & Salutations,

We just returned from a weekend in Paris. We drove over Friday (about 4.5 hours) and attended one of the largest photo fair/exhibits in Europe. We met up with a friend from Belgium named Carl. He introduced us to several other (alt) artist/photographers from Paris, Brussels and The Netherlands.


Saturday night we had dinner at Martin Becka's house in Paris (7 minutes from the heart of the city). Becka is a famous French Calotypist (he makes large negatives on paper and then contact prints them c.~1840s). He and his wife, Sophie, were very kind and generous. There were eight of us at his house. Everyone ate, drank, talked and shared/showed work. We didn't leave until after midnight - a truly wonderful Parisian lifestyle that I could embrace very easily.

Below: Jean and I in Bievres, France - Sunday, June 3, 2007.


Sunday morning we all met for coffee at a cafe in Bievres (suburb of Paris). After espresso (eXpresso if you are from Utah), we wandered the photo show for a few hours. We met up for breakfast at 0900 (Champagne, bread and a rice dish). Wandered the show again for a few hours and then met for lunch. After lunch, we said goodbye.

It was a fantastic time. I feel very, very blessed to be having these experiences. Who would have ever thought that I would get invited to share photographs, eat good food, drink good wine and talk art in Paris with a bunch of well-known artists?? Not me! It reminds me of that scene in "Wayne's World" where Garth is always saying, "I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy," when in the company of Heather Locklear *grin* (no, I don't idolize them, but it is a treat to share work, drink and food with them.. remember; I'M FROM UTAH!)

Below: The photo fair/show was loaded with 19th C. gear. I know where to go when I need another wet plate camera, lens, et al.



 


Above: This is the European Alt Photo/Artist gang.

They come from all over Europe to attend this show. This is an annual thing for them and now we are a part of it! Next Saturday, we are on way to Brussels. I had a mobile darkroom built (fits in the trunk of the Passat) and need to pick it up. We'll meet up with Carl (to the left of me in the photo) and Luc Saturday for lunch. I'm looking forward to some of that Belgium beer *grinning*

Oh, one more thing, driving in Paris is a real challenge - if you've never done it, you should give it a go sometime. It gives new meaning to "driving".

Below: When you are in Paris you have to get a Nutella Crepe! It's Parisian law!! They were so good!!!