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... "

 

Glass Memories

It’s funny how time works. A few months ago, I was pouring plates and contemplating what images I wanted toRockin' the "Glass Memories" T-shirt. Limited edition! make for my exhibit. And I was taking days to think about my work, or about one image. I was moving slowly and pensively. Time was a plentiful commodity. Today, I’m scrambling about checking lists, looking in boxes, talking to myself and running around here like a chicken with its head cut off. Time has become a scare commodity and there’s no way for me to buy anymore – we leave Sunday for Paris.

The good news is: I’m almost there. The big stuff is finished (thank G-d). I just completed framing the two big silver prints from Barcelona. I need to put the dust covers and wires on them, but that’s it. I ended up with 70 framed pieces and almost 100 images in this show. Unbelievable!

I got a brand new 8x10 camera from Steve (Rochester, New York) a couple of weeks ago. Much better than the first one I had! Paris will be its maiden voyage. I’ll use it for the demos, the work on portrait days, etc., and the students in the workshops will use 4x5 cameras. We’re taking one 4x5 and the gallery has three. I should’ve set my workshops up like this a long time ago. It’s easier to operate, less stressful and better for people learning the process. There should be some very interesting images coming out of Paris next week.

And yes, that is a bad-ass t-shirt! Notice the design? I illustrated a Wet Plate Collodion camera from the 1860s, with a big Jamin-Darlot (cone) lens and put it on contemporary tripod. You can click on the image to enlarge it.

28" x 32" - 16"x20" Silver Gelatin print from Collodion Negative/Positive - Barcelona, Spain

Exhibition In Paris, France

The website of Centre Iris Gallery for photographyI’ve had three photographic dreams my life. The first, to have a photographic exhibition of my work in Paris, France. The second, to have a book of my photographs published (a very nice 12” x 12” tri-tone, spot varnished images). And the third, to own and operate a (historical) photography school - the first three processes - Daguerreotypes, Calotypes and Wet Plate Collodion.

I’m happy to say that the first dream has come true! I’ve been invited to do a show in the center of Paris at a gallery called, “Centre Iris Pour La Photographie”. This is an incredible high for me. Paris is the birthplace of photography and the French, for the most part, really love and appreciate the art.

My exhibition will run from 9 March to 19 June, 2010. I will be doing a live demonstration of the process; I call them “performative lectures”, and a full-blown, two-day workshop during the exhibition, too.

This will be my second solo exhibition with my Wet Plate Collodion work. The show will consist of 50 – 60 pieces; Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Alumitypes, and Albumen prints (singles, diptychs, and triptychs). I’m going to exhibit both the, “Portraits from Madison Avenue” work and the, “Vergangenheitsbewältigung” work.

Wish me luck! I hope you can make the opening!

Collodion Images For Paris

I’m taking this image (below) and some 1/2 plate (CGAs) I made when I lived in the states, to Bievres (Paris). We’re going to do a small exhibition/show there – we should have about five or six people showing work (maybe more).

I like this image a lot (Whole Plate Black Glass Ambrotype). I also like how this presentation of it exaggerates, or esteems the content (some would say it contradicts). I actually glued (epoxy) the BGA to the black glass in the frame. If you wanted to remove it without damaging the image, you could.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it, but I do. The distressed image is a nice contrast to the frame and the color/tone of the image matches the frame as well. It conflicts and disorients me, and I like that kind of feeling.

This will be for sale at the show. I’m looking forward to hearing what people think about the work and the Wet Plate Collodion process.

This piece was later reframed and sold at the "Glass Memories" exhibition.

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!!!