The Other Pete

I would like to introduce you to a few of the photographers that inspire me. 

This is my best friend Pete MacIntyre. AKA "Mac." Admittedly he's a little, um, creative... (bizarre). But what artist isn't? 

Going through life sharing the same name as your best friend is a trying feat to say the least. Like when you walk down the street and someone says 'Hey Pete!' and we're not quite sure who they are speaking to. It's a tough life. It's also a lot of fun. 

I'm so brutal to this man; I could write a book about all the pranks I have done to him... Like the time I asked a girl out for him without checking with him first. I just happened to ask her if she "had anything going on tonight?" She smiled, "No I don't why?" "Well, neither does Mac, do you want to go out?" He wanted to kill me. They had fun. 

So, Pete has started his own studio photography Six Wing Studios, and you should totally check it out. 

With a diverse portfolio, Pete does a little bit of everything; weddings, headshots, landscapes... there's even a few pictures of me in there - revenge for all those pranks probably. And, well, as hard as it is for me to admit, Pete has grown into a much better photographer than me. He's constantly pushing himself to be better, and never seems to want to take the same picture twice. 

Our good friend, "The Ging"

Pete has not only been a great inspiration to me artistically but has also been one of those friend through the years. So if you need a good, zany, photographer for your special moment, or if you just need a picture to brighten your day, check Pete out. And tell him Pete says "hello."  

Don't Ask

With Apologies to Andy Warhol

V8

Brownie Hawkeye Experiment #1

So recently I picked up a couple of Brownie Hawkeye's with a bag load of old Kodachrome 100 ASA Color film, manufactured in 1984. (I love Kodak and for anyone who has never shot with film and only worked with digital, you are truly living in a deprived world.) The film is long expired, but I thought "why not?" Two cameras, the flash kits, a bunch of bulbs, and a bag of film for $20. Feeds my habit. I've never shot on film this expired - I know you can, but I've just never done it, and the results were surprising. - I hope you enjoy these.

Blue Angels 

Blue Angels

I'm still figuring out how close I can put the camera to my subject. I got a few inches too close on the flower. 

But check out how the film "halos" around the petals.

Flower 1 

Flower 2

I love the saturation in the marsh shot below. The shadows really worked out well. 

Marsh

It seems that the film is so old that the "Kodachrome" and slide number that is on the paper backing has bled onto some of the negatives.

Ellie and me  

Lily on the Beach

I want to introduce you to a new photographer. He's new to the 'biz' but a name you are going to want to keep an eye out for. He's my seven-year-old nephew, Logan Campbell.


Logan and I have been good buddies ever since he came on the scene. He tends to be a rather curious boy who always has a million questions and Uncle Pete never seems to have enough answers. 


This summer while on vacation he took an interest in a few of the cameras I had brought along. One in particular, the Agfa Billy Record, which had belonged to his great-grandfather and my grandfather, Don Weber. I've written about this particular camera before. 

I had the camera along one day at the beach (more pictures on that some other time) when Logan asked if he could take a picture. His chose his kid sister, Lily, to be his subject. I call his piece "Lily on the Beach." 

Prints are available through this blog, and I believe I could have them autographed for no extra charge. 

The Old Gray House II

I wish we still lived in a world where we still wrote on the edge of our maps; “beyond here be dragons.” Life should be lived with a sense of mystery, with that child-like curiosity that there is something out there left to be discovered. I found one of those places that exists just on the edge of the map, that sparks that mystery in my heart and makes that child in me come alive. “The Old Gray House” in Buxton, NC. 

Last year, the place was packed and I hovered on the edge of the visiting masses, hanging on every word Dewy Parr said as he taught about the exotic shells that he has on display. It was so busy that day, that I was only able to meet him briefly, which was the only regret from that trip.

This year though, I was lucky enough to stop by during one of the few moments when they weren't crazy busy. And found Dewy where I last saw him, back in his Shell Shack, working away. He greeted me with his warm smile and before I knew it we where sitting on a bench talking away like old friends. - Is it possible to feel at home in a place that you only visit once a year?


I think this is exactly what Dewy and Mary had in mind when they created this place. A place where you can be a kid again, get lost and find yourself on an unexpected journey. And I think I'm not the only one who feels this way. Talking with Dewy he told me, "I've been doing this long enough that kids who used to come by when I started this place, now have their own kids and they're still coming." - I can understand why, and I can't wait to get back next year.

 

You can find The Old Gray House off of Route 12 in Buxton. Turn onto Light Plant Road, across from Connors Supermarket. It’s the first house past the Pines Motel.

If you pop in, tell Dewy and Mary I say "Hey!"

For more information on The Old Gray House check them out on Facebook by clicking here 

or go to http://www.outerbanksshells.com/

If you would like to read my article from last here click here. 

These pictures where taken with a Mamiya C3 with TMX 120 T-Max 100 Professional Black & White. 

Flower Garden III

A few people have asked...

I shot this series:

100 ASA

2.8 f/s

and used a a Singh-Ray Vari-ND Variable Filter http://www.singh-ray.com/varind.html

I love this thing.

Flower Garden II

Here's a few more pictures from vacation. 

Flower Garden

It was a beautiful summer day; birds chirping, bees buzzing, camera shudder snapping.   

This summer while on vacation I found myself with a day to spare in Ohio.

Not entirely sure what to do with myself I decided to wonder out into, Phoebe's, my mother-in-law, garden. 

The next couple of post I'll show you what I got.

Random Things

You know those moments in life when you think, "I wish I had my camera." Here are a few of mine. 

Not really my best pictures but good memories. Moral of this story, don't ever forget your camera...

This first, ahem... art piece, was a little item that hung next to the sink in the bathroom at the beach house we stayed at last year. 

Ice Cream Truck that played Christmas Carols, in June.

Untitled 

Evidence that demands a verdict 

I think they sell pre-owned space ships and they have a coffee and gift shop.

You have to diversify your investment. 

Old Door

My Mum

The Campbell Clan

This being Mother's Day, I thought I would write a special tribute to my Mum.

My Mum is an amazing lady. Mother of three, Grandmother of four with two on the way (none of them mine, just to clarify), and a wonderful wife to my father. They have been married for 40 years (this fall).

Though she can sometimes be a rascal, I get it from her honestly. My Mum is one of the kindest, loving, most generous and warm people I have ever known. Everyone thinks that they have the best mom, and I hope you think that, too. But God knew what kind of mum I would need; someone who was just as strong-willed as I.

I love you Mum! And on behalf of myself, Ellie, Scott, Margaret, Chris, Melissa and all the grandkids... "Happy Mother's Day!"

Mom and Dad hanging out

Light Leaks

And this is what a light leak looks like.

After trying out my Grandfather's camera the other day I thought I would give my Great Uncle Ray's Jiffy Kodak Series II a try. However, it seems that time was not as kind to this camera. Upon further investigation I discovered the the billows in this camera has deteriorated along the folds. It's too bad really. This is quite a fun camera to play with. At some point if I get ambitious maybe I'll try to see if I can get this replaced. In the meantime I have a nice roll of some funky looking shots. 

A short note on my Great Uncle Ray Middleton. He was my Grandmother's (my father's mother) older brother, who fought and died in Italy during WWII. This camera was giving to my Grandmother, Matilda, before he left.  Though his Kodak hasn't survived as well as I wish it could have, I feel privileged to have it in my collection.    

My Grandfather's Camera

To say that I am excited about this post would be an understatement. I have been wanting to do this for sometime, and today I finally got my first roll of 120mm film back from the developer.

This camera belonged to my Grandfather Don Weber. It's an Agfa Billy Record, and to my knowledge this is the camera he carried with him during World War II. - He was a good photographer and took some really interesting pictures while in Europe. I'll have to scan some of the pictures he took with it and post them sometime.

Call me old school but I enjoy old cameras and trying out old formats, however, this time it was a little different. This was a really special roll for me to shoot as I discovered a connection with my Grandfather; clicking rigged dials, looking through the rudimentary view finder, estimating the focal length.  It was fun to see what it was like for him to take pictures 60 years ago.

 Footnote on location

 Gravestone 

Grain Silo  

 Looking down the rail line

Chicago

I was digging around my hard-drive tonight and found some old picture from Chicago. Enjoy.