4/06/2009 – Transition in Progress
The big move is coming along slowly. The new premises have been acquired and the
transition is in progress. It will take a couple more months to get everything moved,
and even longer to get properly organized. There's also work (aka "the day job")
to be done, and I'm currently blessed with plenty of that despite the economic ice age.
It is turning out to be an interesting year. Somewhat exhausting as well, but that's
the price of progress. I sincerely look forward to sharing some new sights, sounds, and thoughts
with you all.
Welcome to kent-media.com, website of media creator* and long-term far-east observer/resident Kent Ibbott.
* Media creator? In this case that somewhat nebulous moniker refers to the crafting of words, sound, and/or images in the service of communication, for commercial purposes as well as good old entertainment and philosophical enrichment. Much of that communication occurs across the cultural boundary between Japan and English-speaking countries. ... more ...
Classic Japanese architecture in the right setting is astonishing in the way it coexists with the
environment. The structures blend with their surroundings rather than overtaking and conquering.
Hiraizumi, in Iwate precture, offers many examples of how man once built and lived in harmony with
nature, particularly in the classic structures at the Chusonji temple complex and
the Takkoku no Iwa Bishamon Hall.
Click on the image to the left to jump directly to the "Hiraizumi Gallery."
Click the pic to go to the Hiraizumi Gallery.
Why go to the trouble of hauling a 4x5 film camera and hefty tripod around in this age of
digital convenience? Detail, gradation, and that special "large-format look" are just a few of many
reasons. Using a view camera with movements also makes it possible to keep vertical lines vertical
and avoid the woozy convergence that is the mark of a less flexible camera. The drawback is slower
setup and operation, but for me the results are well worth the extra time and effort.
To see what I mean click on the image to the left to jump directly to the "The Big Film Gallery."
Click the pic to go to The Big Film Gallery.
Fuji Velvia 50. This is a difficult film to use well, and it is absolutely unsuitable for some
subjects, but when it works it works very nicely. It delivers super-saturated color, but the
falloff into complete oblivion in the shadows is quite rapid. There isn't much latitude for
exposure error on either end of the tonal scale. But in some ways that makes it all the more fun.
Challenging, to be sure.
Be sure to take a good tripod (ISO 50, you see).
The photo to the left was taken with Velvia 50 using a Hasselblad 503CX and a circular polarizer to
get some serious green in the greenery.
Click the pic for a larger view.
Wandering around the backstreets of this enigmatic country with a camera has been one of
my favorite pastimes for many years. Once outside the tourist zone one begins to see snippets
of culture that, when perceived in the overall context of the country, function as sort of a
conceptual glue that holds the seemingly contary fragments that float on the surface together.
The "Shy Side" gallery consists entirely of such snippets, as I see them, photographed on
35-millimeter B&W film.
Click here to go to the galleries.
An article on how medium-format film stands up to current digital imaging is now available in the "Photo Gear" section. This was a most enlightening project for me, and I expect the results will be interesting to others who are undecided as to the merits of using film in this adamantly digital age, as well as those who simply need some substance to back up their faith in film.
You can access the article either via the "Photo Gear" button on the navigation bar to the left, or go to it directly via this link --> here.
