Half & Half - ISSUE 05

Diptychs, Sonic Youth & My Digicam Challenge

Shot on an Olympus PenFT with Ektar 100. Available now.

Housekeeping

Another week, another newsletter. Firstly, thank you for reading I hope this issue finds you well. I have enjoyed the feedback from some of you saying you are sipping your morning coffee whilst reading this, it feels so much more intimate than a story post on IG!

Do you ever feel in a creative rut or lack direction in your photography? Well my recommended reading for you comes in the form of an article I wrote recently that may help you work through those woes. Be sure to let know if it helps, or if there is another strategy you have found useful in the past, I would love to hear it!

I have added some new prints to the shop, and even if you don’t intend to purchase check it out as it’s a sneak peek of some shots from my first roll through a half frame camera! I have since fallen in love with this format and I will be sharing an article later in this newsletter pertaining to half frame, so read on for that. Prints are available in two sizes and are priced affordably. The quality from Darkroom.tech is unbeatable!

A very happy accident with this pairing!

The Best Live Set You’ll Ever See!

Okay, so if you haven’t noticed I tend to say loads of things are the best, which kind of makes nothing the best…but it’s hard not to when there is so so much good stuff out there! My love for Sonic Youth began early, but it was a slow burn not an instant obsession. Teenage Riot would play repeatedly in my room and I learnt all the words, loving the sentiment behind them and childishly dreaming of my very own riot in the suburbs of the sunny Gold Coast. Many years later I have branched out and realized just how much Sonic Youth have to offer in their prolific discography. They have many ties to the art, fashion, skateboarding and now even interior design world, and this is something that gives you a bit more to chew on when being a long term fan of a band than say Nirvana, who were much more celebrated at the time of the grunge explosion.

If you haven’t read “Girl in a Band” then you are missing out hard on Kim Gordon’s moving story of youth and womanhood. Do yourself a favor get a copy! The audio book is read by Kim herself, which is super cool.

It was fathers day here in Australia over the weekend and of course it was all about Lux! Well as much as he would let it be due to his utter distain for any attention, much unlike yours truly. This live from the basement set was played a few times and enjoyed like it was the first. Honestly it’s an absolute stellar performance from the band and the song choices are really great too. Sonic Youth, as great as they are, can sometimes be a little indulgent and carried away when performing live and I appreciated the restraint they showed here whilst doing weird shit with their guitars in true SY fashion. Let this video kick off your Friday and you will no doubt have a great night.

Two of the digicams I will be using for this challenge.

Digicam Challenge

Digicams are literally everywhere! Or is it just me? If you missed my chat with Ali from one month two cameras then go listen, if she doesn’t get you pumped for these little cams then I don’t know what will!?

You know I’m film for life, but I’m definitely not a “death before digital” film lifer. Why not have both I say? This month my usual lab, Ikigai, who literally do the best job in Australia, are closed for a few weeks for a much deserved holiday. Initially I was kind of bummed, but then I decided to embrace this and use it as an opportunity to detox from film and go all in with the digicam life!

So for the month of September I will be shooting exclusively with these little compact digicams and give my film cameras, and my bank account, a rest. Watch this space as there will be a lot of content to come surrounding this challenge, I’m really excited to try something new and see what comes of this. I invite you to put down the film rolls and join me throughout September if you wish. DM or tag me on IG if you are up for it.

I took a shot of Lux taking a photo of these flowers in the window, then I decided to get a shot of them myself too. Half frame is so cool in what can present itself with having two images on one negative.

Telling Stories With Diptychs

My recent adventures with a borrowed Pen FT have led to many questions and conversations around the format and how best to harness its creative potential. I turned to my newly found friend Ali to ask her opinion on creating more successful diptychs as my first roll produced some happy accidents, like the ones featured above, but others were mismatched and lacking in cohesion and story. Ali sent her informed opinions along with this article written by Dina J Salem sharing her experience with a Pen FT and likening diptychs to double exposures in the creativity and experimentation these styles allow for.

Not only did I find solace in Dina’s words but also feasted on her many amazing examples. Featured are some digital versions using photoshop to create the side by side format that half frame gives and this begs the question of whether or not it is kosher to be playing around with each single shot on film and creating your own diptychs? This is something I will be covering in a video next month along with the other challenges I faced using half frame for the first time. This article is super cool and so is Dina so, go follow her on IG A huge thank you to Ali for sharing this, she really is a wealth of knowledge and has such an appetite for the arts!

I loved getting two different shots of a similar subject and seeing how they compliment each other. I can’t wait to shoot another roll of half frame.

See you all next Friday. Enjoy the weekend ahead and if you loved the newsletter consider sharing it with a friend or on social media. Love Lucy xx