Guilin Revisited

Guilin 5-18-91
This is Guilin revisited in the sense that I rescanned the neg and processed it in PS instead of Elements. Elements works fine but after years of working with PS, it's a little like getting into a car and having to readjust the mirrors, seat and steering wheels as well as resetting the radio. Both will get you there but one is more comfy.

I probably know more about Guilin from what I've heard that what I've seen. In Yang Shuo I remember immediately thought that I had to come back. But that was in 1991 and I haven't yet returned.

Lichtenstein at 50mph

Monday morning. 2/27/12

Guangzhou Motorcycle

Guangzhou 5/15/91

The original negatives are very thin, attempting to print was a waste of time and paper. Returning to my schedule of learning how to scan in 15 minutes or left, I am starting to make some headway from my experiments. these are just preliminary scans, with some work, I think a decent print will result. However I will then be plodding through how to inkjet print in 15 minutes or less.

Governor's Office in Illinois

Saturday. 2/18/12
Why would anyone would give up this beautiful office? And yet so many of our recent governors have done just that.

The state capitol in Springfield is truly a beautiful building.

Guilin

Guilin 5-18-91
This scan is not quite right and I'll continue to work on it. I'm still trying different variations of software.

Earlier on this day, a well dressed lady had broken one of the heels on her high-heeled shoes and had stopped at a street cobbler for a repair. She stood with one leg on the ground and the other with the broken shoe on the cobbler's box while he worked around her shapely leg. Her eyes were fixed on the sky as if nothing was happening while I reached for my camera. My relative/tour guide grabbed me at that moment and her gaze turned away. I lost that shot.

Another one from Springfield - Justice Is Not For Sale

Saturday. 2/18/12
"The mural on the ceiling represents the goddess of justice trampling on coins - indicating that in Illinois, justice is not for sale."

Lincoln's Kitchen

Saturday. 2/18/12

Lincoln Home in Springfield, IL

Saturday, 2/18/12
The most frequently photographed view of the Lincoln Home.

Zhong Shan University

Guangzhou + Knife 1991

May 14, 1991 Guangzhou

I don't often make a photograph on my own. I owe much to those who provide me with an assignment, given me a grant, and most of all to those who have given me direction. This shot was taken in a street market in Guangzhou and I was led there by my great uncle who was in his 70's at the time. An excellent guide, he would take me to the source, stand aside, and wait for me to finish shooting.

Guangzhou 1991

Guangzhou. May 14, 1991.

Although I've taken some of my best shots there, Guangzhou has always been a hard place for me to shoot. It has something to do with what I've seen there. In a city of millions I've seen situations there that I've never seen photographed and that I've been unable to photograph.

A shot from my great-uncle's balcony. There's a lot of life down there that has not been seen.

Two Scans

May 13, 1991. Taishan

I didn't know this. B&W negatives scan better as color positives than as B&W negs. Now I'm getting somewhere. the better scan above is the color scan.

My maternal step-grandmother on the right, a good family friend on the left. I had just brought my grandmother back to her home from the US. She was glad to be home.

More of the water reservoir

Water Reservoir

Taishan 5/19/91

This is the water reservoir for my mother's village, it's main source of water. In the lower right you can see part of the pump system needed to get the water into the village homes. The water level was below that needed for gravity to do its part so a pump was utilized to get the water out of the reservoir and down the hill. A relative worked at the pump to keep it running - we could see the bottom of the water. I remember asking him what would happen when it's gone and he just laughed nervously.

Taishan. 5/11/91

Yang Shuo 1991

Hangzhou - 1992 - Hula Hoop

Hangzhou. May 10, 1992
I shot this during my honeymoon in 1992. It is from a series of negatives that I was never able to print from because of the excessive contrast and exposure in the negs combined with the heavy density from the film development. I had no success (or patience) trying to burn in the highlights. Shooting Konica Infrared film in a 12 exp Mamiya M6 certainly is unlike shooting digital now. However finding a camera such as this that is digital capable is not going to happen. Definitely a challenge, and a worthwhile one. For me it was only the scanner that is bringing life into these negs. After 20 years I finally see a little detail in the highlights and hopefully this image and more will finally find there way to a sheet of paper.

I sometimes regret my failure to see beyond what I was shooting in China on this day. This transition period for China was a beautiful time to see and I was blessed to have a wife and companion to guide me through it.