Reach // Graflex Crown Graphic // Photo by June Ann D'Angelo

Reach: The Beginning

So, I've got my Graflex Crown Graphic which is a large format camera that I have dated to 1968 using the serial number. I purchased it from my buddy Steve for $100 and it is, without a doubt, my favorite camera in my arsenal at the moment. One of the cool things about this camera is the actual film is 4"x5". Now, think about those old rolls of 35mm film you used to pop in cameras. So, basically everytime I take a picture, I'm loading and unloading a new piece of film in the camera. There's something so genuine and authentic about having such a tangible process with each picture and I just absolutely love it. 

Ok...so I've found my favorite camera. Next, I was thinking what I want to do with it. I generally think of photography in terms of projects and concepts and themes and so different things were running through my head. I have an idea for a self-portrait project for some time that I want to shoot with this camera on film using double exposures, but need to practice those double exposures. So, I thought up another little project that will allow me to practice my double exposures in order to gear up for my self-portrait project. And that's when Reach was born.

Reach is a double exposure large format film project that examines the moments when we desperately wanted someone to reach out, not able to see that we were there for ourself the entire time. I've taken three images using three different subjects so far and I really love each one. Yes, we can get into the nitty-gritty and examine the exposure and this and that, but that's not what I love about film. I love that the image was put on that piece of film just the way the magic intended.

I hope this series can be a reminder to each and everyone of us that we are our own biggest supporter and we should be kind to ourselves.

***if you are interested in posing for this series, please contact me at juneann@geminijunemoon.com***

The Darkroom Wallet: Winter 2017-2018

The Darkroom Wallet

by June Ann D'Angelo

Diving into film photography is a very unique process. Everyone does it different. Some have been digital photographers for a while and want to start learning something new that is actually really old. Or someone might have taken a class in college and wanting to start their own set up. Or someone like me who spent years in front of a camera and wanted to get on the other side of that lens. I started with digital and just did not have a visceral connection to it like I do with film photography. So this is where I landed. 

Like many of you, there is a chance you probably knew someone playing with film photography and you decided that it's cool and want to learn. That person becomes your mentor and you slowly build your experience and darkroom. This is exactly how I received my first film camera. My mentor and buddy, Steve Yancey, gave me the opportunity to take a Graflex Crown Graphic off his hands for $100 this past summer and my obsession began. The rest of 2017 was spent learning how to use my camera and handing off my film holders to Steve and then he would develop them. 

At the end of 2017, I decided to get a bit more serious with it and decided to invest in my hobby a bit more. I was lucky that Steve had already tried out a bunch of different things, so it was easy to narrow down what I wanted and I have now processed my first roll of 35mm black and white film. Yay. As of now, I am set up to take 4x5's and 35mm images and process the negatives. I have two enlargers that I was gifted that I am also working on restoring so that I can go all the way to the prints. 

I am hoping to be extremely honest and upfront in this segment of the blog so that you can see what I am getting and how much I am spending. As I find cost-saving tips, you better believe I will be sharing them here with all of you. I must say that there are a lot of rice and beans dinners coming my way, but I don't think I'll mind one bit!

COST-SAVINGS TIP: Head into your local camera/film store and ask if they have student discounts. It might just save you a bit.

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Yogi Rachel // Pentax K1000 // Photos by June Ann D'Angelo

Yogi Rachel // Pentax K1000

Photos by June Ann D'Angelo

On December 21, 2017, my beautifully spirited friend, Rachel Kay, came over to play in front of my camera. I feel truly blessed when a friend will let me capture them. I put out requests on social media a lot for people to come over and let me shoot them, however it's rare when someone takes me up on that. And it was even more fitting that it was Rachel. She is one of the kindest yogis I know that still have a brazen sense of humor. 

So we grabbed our stuff and headed up to the roof. If you saw my recent blog post 'Film Load Failure' (see HERE), this was the shoot I was in the middle of when that happened. I felt so bad because Rachel was braving the cold and I could not get that damn camera to load properly. But, I finally figured it out and we were back to shooting. Thank goodness it wasn't too cold that day. I played a lot with changing the aperture and shutter speed and here is what I came up with. All of the images in this post were shot using my Pentax K1000 and color 35mm film. Film was developed at Walgreens for way too much money.

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Bear // Pentax K1000 // Photo by June Ann D'Angelo

Bear // Pentax K1000

Photo by June Ann D'Angelo

Bear...of course my first canine best friend would be my favorite photography subject. This photo is one of those cool little accidents that I happen to find interesting. This was the second roll of 35mm film I was shooting with my Pentax K1000 and the first roll of color film. I was working on getting familiar with the settings and had everything focused and then right as I pushed the button, the cat flies across the room and Bear quickly turns his head. This was the result. Definitely an accident, but awesome things generally are...