Blog

The photographic blog of Sean Wood (aka motionid)

Huis Marseille

While visiting Amsterdam I was determind to see a few photo galleries. I had no idea where to start looking and no idea if anything beyond World Press Photo existed there. The first gallery was Foam of Foam Magazine fame. I knew the magazine but had no idea it was based out of Amsterdam. It's was an interesting space but perhaps my timing to the gallery was not a match for the type of photography that I am interested in as I found most of the work on display at the time a bit too conceptual for my taste.

The Huis Marseille on the other hand I had not heard of and stopped by as it was on the route of other places to see. I had no idea what was showing at the time nor any expectations about the place. It turned out the entire building was being used for one large exhibition titled "Apartheid & After" put together as a showing of thirteen photographers work from South Africa. The whole experience was really impressive with each photographer having a different viewpoint on issues in the region. I'd never seen a whole building committed to showing one theme and I found it a very immersive experience. I would highly recommend adding the Huis Marseille on your list of galleries if you happen to be in that part of Europe.

Below are a small set of images of the space and the exhibition.

Contrails in Amsterdam

While in Amsterdam (I'm still here as I write this but about to leave) I discovered a lot of planes leaving contrails. I'd seen this occasionally but not to the point where there were so many planes and trails all in the same place. I recall a contact on Flickr from France posting a shot that reminded me of the same and that I must live in a low trafficked area. That and the weather where I live is not as conducive to making trails.Amsterdam was an amazing place but these contrails are the one thing that seemed to really grab my attention. Rather than just try to shoot the trails I've attempted to add a bit of unique context by leaving in the surrounding buildings or trees.

Route 71 square

Just off Route 71

A shot off route 71 near Mt. Fuji. This one shot with a VERY old Agfa B+W 25 asa film. The film is so old that the printing from the paper back on the film has made a permanent mark. The negs are pretty dark but I quite like the result. It seems like an effect you'd get playing with photoshop for an hour or so but it's straight off the neg.

Dunes

A late afternoon sky in black & white at Birubi beach.

These have been sitting in my computer for 4 years. Needless to say that is a long gestation period before they saw the light of day (or the internet). It's taken this long for me to get around to liking them. I'm hoping this very slow gestation is like a great song that grows on you over time. Music that instantly appeals tends for me to get old fast, so I'm hoping this approach to photography works in the long run.

These were shot on the Hasselblad with either Tmax or Trix (no idea which one unless I dig the negs out and look).

Mt. Takao

Old set of images from a trip up the mountain. Shot using the Holga and any film that was available at the time film.


More of the neighbourhood

More adventures with the Holga.

There is a block of public apartments near where I live that runs about 8 or 9 stories high. Access to the stairs leading to the top floor is open so I took a visit on a mid Sunday afternoon conveniently missing the sign (I discovered on another day) that said no trespassing or the police will be called. Thank god I didn’t get caught.)

Having now been up their and shot a role or two I’m keen to access a place with the same kind of view with the same hight and a lot less risk.

Tokyo is a lot more interesting when you can see beyond your own nose.

Shot using expired Chinese 100ASA film which helps produce the really spotting images.