"It's not about creating something that will make you money. It's about creating something people can't ignore." - John Keatley
Kodak Tri-X 400
Words I've taken to heart since last year during a portfolio review with John Keatley. Today this photo was chosen and featured by Kodak. Although I love all types of film, I hold no brand higher than Kodak. To have them reach out and recognize my work is a proud moment.
"Why do we care?"
Great question. I share this to hopefully encourage you to keep consistent and progressive. It's not in vain and nothing great is created without success and failure. Own your process and think outside Instagram. What have you printed lately? What are you creating for you?
Story Behind The Shot:
This shot was taken on my flight out to Dallas, TX from Huntsville, AL to meet up with Kyle Steed and Brenton Clarke. It was the beginning of our desert get away that we all desperately needed as well vested husbands and fathers. It was time to get out of reach for a week. Well my adventure started with a hour and a half delay in my flight. Flying out of Huntsville is always a piece of cake. Never any security lines and the airport is international, surprisingly. For those that are in the know, any small airport just means a connection flight about hour flight away, normally. Well, Dallas is only about an hour and fourth five minutes so sometimes I get lucky and nab a direct flight into Dallas, this round I did.
Brenton had gotten to Dallas from Arkansas earlier that morning so Kyle and Brent had the day to start the relaxation process while I was starving in the airport wishing I was already in the air. The plan was to meet up for dinner and celebrate the beginning of what was sure to be a memorable trip. No such luck. Little did I know that the delay in my flight was going to put me at the perfect time of day to capture some absolutely stunning cloud shots. But before we get to that...
Ok, the flight is delayed a few times, I'm ready to be in Dallas already, it's time to finally board, and away I go to my seat. I have a window seat on a plan that is not full. Most everyone is on board and right before the door shuts, a passenger from the back of the plane comes up and sits next to me saying that "he had a tight connection and needed to sit closer to the front of the plane". No problem on my end but the guy was somewhat of a douchebag. That's to be expected if he's super anxious and has another flight to get to his final destination. I'm sure I'd be a bit short too.
The plane is small and Mr. D for short, is sitting nice and tight taking up the full arm rest. The plane doors shut and I look over to a seat one up and one over that has nobody in either seat. I look at Mr. D, then the seats, and shake my head. I have my Bessa R2a with Zeiss ZM 35mm in my lap loaded with Kodak Tri-X 400. I'm crunched next to the window and take in the landscape as it gets smaller and smaller. As we get to altitude the scenery gets quite dreamy. The clouds turn to cotton and the sun is cutting across them like a nicely lit portrait. Although Mr. D is still dominating MY row and I have to slightly maneuver my body to the left, elbows in with lens almost touching the window, I manage to not give an eff about Mr. D and soak in the heavenly scene that was itching for a frame. Camera up, focus dialed, soak it in... 'click'.
Knowing this shot was going to be something kept me satisfied the rest of the flight. What I didn't know at the time was that it was going to turn out this gorgeous. When I developed this roll and scanned it in, I saw this frame and audibly said "damn...", then onto the next frame.
As I shoot more film and know what frames are going to be next level and others that are just going to great memories, I've begun to accept that if only one frame comes out of a photo session then that session was more than worth it. Fortunately the majority of each roll I shoot turns out great, from my perspective, and why I keep coming back for more amazing analog shots.
To sum this all up, I couldn't be more proud to have captured this special moment with Kodak Tri-X 400 in a time I desperately needed a break from civilization. To read more about one of the sections of the desert get away, head over to Desert Salvation. I hope you enjoy.