John Wiley Howington Photography

Tea Toned 8x10 Contact Cyanotype Print

2011-10-20T15:48:00.000-07:00

The next step for this cyanotype print was to tone the image in black tea. This particular variety of tea looks to have given the image a black and tan with a hint of rose, must be the organic in the tea. The last time I used the same tea brand there was no rose tint. It is the beauty of this alternative process. One cannot control it. Best to sit back and enjoy the process.

Trust the Process

Time-Lapse Photography of The DripDrop Collective's latest installation "Pre-Nostalgic"

2011-10-12T22:37:00.000-07:00

The DripDrop Collective's latest and greatest installation "Pre-Nostalgic" July 20, 2011. By the end of the show I had taken over 7,000 photographs to create this time-lapse of the construction/deconstruction with original audio (thanks Todd) and audio clips of the Panel Discussion "The Usual Suspects" hosted by PNCA. As an experience the Pre-Nostaglic installation was impossible to capture, one must physically witness and explore it. As you move through it, out of it or above the installation completely transforms. I recall as I approached the epicenter, the crowd of people evaporated and I became totally immersed and surrounded, alone experiencing the audio dancing with the animation and sculptures. Needless to say I recommend the next time (Next Year Maybe) Pre-Nostalgic is resurrected - Go and experience it!

The Beast lives

2011-10-12T19:28:00.000-07:00

The "Beast" has been resurrected despite a couple minor setbacks, delays & frustrations. The bright bright UV light is no longer at the end of the tunnel! On a side note, online forums are sometimes full of crap. While waiting for the new $310 UV 220VAC bulb I read up on the efficiency and capabilities of the Beast via several photography forums, in general they indicated this process was not so good for cyanotype but worked like Shiva on 3 gum bichromates... Well folks, I'm here to tell you they are wrong. Maybe they didn't adjust the voltage on the power box or maybe they're just mistaken or maybe they enjoy arguing.

In my initial tests with an Iford FP4 (I think) 8x10 portrait, the prussian blues are cyano true blue. So far the benefits are a marked reduction in exposure time, for this negative, approximately 77% less time than using my homemade UV light box. Additionally, the light burns so bright and hot that my basement heated up to around 72 degrees F.
The first print (after I tone it with black tea, mount it to wood and cover with encaustic wax) will go to the Beasts previous owner, thank you Steve for the "Beast"!

I have yet to try 3 gum bichromate. For my next series of abstract portraits I will be diving into the 3 gum-tastic world...

2011-09-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

The Universe may have in part answered my plea for help regarding...

"Large Format Alternative Photography with a focus in Photojournalism using Interactive Installations".

A couple weeks ago a friends father was selling off his offset printing shop and one of those pieces was an awesome UV light with and integrated vacuum frame. (Polychrome vacuum frame 48"x41" with an Olec Olite LT1. Thank you Todd and Steve!!!) Steve appropriately named it "BEAST"

But how to get the Beast to Portland from Denver.

Crate and freight Shipping? Fly to Denver and U-Haul it back, renting a Zip truck. All of these methods were to cost $1,000 +

The cheapest and most fuel efficient option:

I convinced myself it would fit into my spacious VW Golf (The Bajada)... Steve was not so sure.

Upon arrival I immediately realized, the Beast was hugongus, made of steel and would not fit into or on top of the Bajada as it was. After disassembling the Beast (as it was brilliantly constructed to be completely taken apart and reassembled, one bolt size and one hex to take it all apart) and extensive negotiations, the essential elements were jammed into and on top of the Bajada. The original platform in which the Beast was mounted proved too much for my Bajada and had to be left behind; sadly disassembled and ready for the scrap yard.

The cannon ball run began Thursday and ended Sunday. Driving as far as my brain was capable is an interesting experience. I choose to sleep in the car on the side of the highway off ramp although slightly uncomfortable, utilitarian and on the cheap, it was awe inspiring to wake to an uninterrupted horizon filled with the ruby predawn light. Beautiful.

The Beast made it to Portland only one spacer and nut less than it began.

now to plan the Beast resurrection: Reassembly, install new bulb and get to work. A question, to build a new platform or use the one I have for my old 4'x5' UV light box? Not to forget; Wire a 220VAC outlet to power the Beast. Yep, A UV light that runs on 220VAC!

If the Beast preforms like I think it will, my process will be simplified with a marked increase in accuracy and precision.

my robe of hope is: within two weeks or less I will begin the first of my registering of muti-negatives for cyanotype/3 Gum Portrait series.

Working Title: Beauty is Soul Thick

working sub title: it takes a life time

more to follow

Put a Label on It.

2011-08-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

I had an impossible question rattling around in my head, Who are you as a Photographer? Too many directions, too many places to go and explore I didn't want to pin myself down. Today I was thinking about my strong desire to move forward, plagued by this universal question.

I put a label on it, First thing that came to mind seemed to stick for now.

"Large Format Alternative Photography with a focus in Photojournalism using Interactive Installations".

Now the easy part... Finding the becoming. What form or how shall I become? MFA? Ad hoc Gallery shows? Find a mentor(s) to hone my over-active imagination and guide me to the the Valhalla of my vision.

That said, Universe, I may need some help....

Take more photographs!

2011-07-31T08:49:00.000-07:00

From approximately 3,000 images a graduation movie is born.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-1ezFv6RNc

Dr. Tia A.K.A T-Bone asked me to take some photographs of her NCNM graduation, 3,000 images, I ask myself, is that too much or over doing it? I say No not at all.

Given the very next weekend I took over 5,000 images of cabin fever 2011. Which pales in comparison to the stop motion construction deconstruction of the Pre-Nostalgic installation,7,000+ images with 3 audio recordings. This post is really about not holding back, really immerse yourself in excessive crap photography to get it out of the the system and the good stuff will rise to the surface? Its a theory on the elusive road to great.

De-facto Montra

High Hopes

Low Expectations

Trust the Process

repeat

oh no not another "almost blogger"

2011-07-29T16:57:00.000-07:00

Yes, I was almost a blogger for about a minute, then busy with "the"cyanotype photography show in 2009!!! Gawd, distraction to no end. As the summer tries to actually begin here in Portland Oregon I hereby vow to inconsistently blog from here on out. A.K.A. no change is good change?

Hold on tightly let go lightly?

On a photographical note, the 3 gum bicromate workshop was cancelled in Montana, I will begin my own workshop, right here, no better place than South East Portland Oregon. Spirits only dampened by the lingering winter like rainy weather still plaguing our fair city.

Off to 3 gum madness right after I finish my other projects....

2009-05-03T16:08:00.000-07:00

Title: Robot John Jumps Through Water
I've shown the approximately 5"x7" original print to a couple friends, they say it looks like the evil robot is submerged in water, the in focus and out of focus of the image gives it a 3D appearance.

In the near future I will be printing negatives on the order of 24"x24", this will change the game a little as I think my uv light box is weak on the edges. I guess this means I need to build a 4 foot x 4 foot light box. Its endless really. I realized the other day that it might take me the rest of my life to fulfill my alternative darkroom aspirations; this is only the beginning.

Accidental Success during the cyanotype info-share

2009-04-30T20:06:00.001-07:00

A couple weeks ago my warehouse mate Grant asked me if I could host an information share using my UV light box, scraps of paper and a couple chemicals used to make the cool blue Cyanotype images. Yesterday 7 most auspicious individuals set in for a night of cyanotype play. It is my humble opinion that I may have learned exponentially more than they. We used small toys, leaves, jewlery, bones, sencils, really anything we could find even a blue wig came in handy.

The composite image in this post was a surprise. The beginning of this piece is difficult to see and at the time a mild failure. I attempted a cyanotype exposure of a chest x-ray of Todd. The chest was totally white, but the spine came through. (on the bottom of the image). the next piece was a photograph I took of Alex while performing at Union Hall with his band Riot Cop. I made a stencil negative of Alex, positioned put him in Todd's chest, sort of. I forgot to put a glass plate on the paper negative combo, which created a 3-D look, a slice in focus with the rest slightly out of focus but totally recognizable. Now the really strange bit, if you look at the back of Alex's head a strange shape emerged, a skull facing away from alex. Look at Alex's ear, this is the eye of the skeleton head. wierd cool acciedntial.

Several unconscious mistakes leading to a very interesting print, my best of the night.

2009-04-24T19:46:00.000-07:00

Recently drove to Phoenix Arizona (Family) with my 8x10 Pinhole camera. This cyanotype photograph is basically the only successful image from the pinhole so far. Given, it was my first time using the Pinhole camera I think one out of the lot isn't bad. In addition, this print is my first successful cyanotype print. The first of many. The photograph is the bones of a sauro cactus located in my childhood desert playground. The north side of South Mountain Park was for my cousin Kenny, Tom and I the embodiment of freedom. Unfortunately the surrounding landscape is being consumed by new large homes. On the bright side, some of the homes have been built in dry washes, meaning, when it rains which it will in large volumes, these homes will be washed away in beautiful flash floods that happen randomly.

First Blog

2009-04-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

A blog begininng, focused on the photography of John Wiley Howington.

This humble photograph taken at the John Lennon wall in Prague with my homemade 4x5 cigar box camera. It kind of serves as a marker from which I have turned a corner, Photographically. This corner has two directions, Large format photography (4x5 and 8x10) and Alternative Darkroom Prints.