Bryan Formhals Photography

Barbara - Bushwick, Brooklyn, 2011// Barbara is back in Los...

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:26:37 -0500

Barbara - Bushwick, Brooklyn, 2011//

Barbara is back in Los Angeles now. Even though this photograph was made in Brooklyn, it makes me think of L.A. I have these strange ties to Los Angeles that I don’t think I can ever break. I want to go back. It’s been three years since I left, but I’m still fascinated by it.

It’d be strange to walk down Melrose or Santa Monica again, as if I’d never left. The quick images would come and go, but what interests me most is connecting with the people I met during my L.A. days. What are they up to? What trip could we go on? What photographs could be made?

Brooklyn, NY - 2011// I’ve read over and over again that...

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:56:46 -0500

Brooklyn, NY - 2011//

I’ve read over and over again that you need to get out of your comfort zone if you want to evolve as a photographer. I generally believe that but I have a tough time doing it myself.

I’ve followed essentially the same process for about five years. It’s comfortable and enjoyable but not completely satisfactory on a certain level. For about a year I’ve had a glimmer of an idea for a new project but it really never became clear.

Then I was out walking this weekend and the project crystallized. The disparate pieces I’ve been thinking about for the last year united and I saw a much clearer vision. Now, before you think this maybe some big revelation, it’s not. This has happened before with project or ideas. Most of which I tend to discard before starting. It’s a necessary part of the process. Try for as many ideas as possible and see which of them stick with you and won’t leave you alone.

I think this new idea is one of those that won’t leave me alone. There have been others like this, most of which I’m still trying to wrap up in fact.

A central component of this new project will involve portraits, and that will take me straight into a territory that I fear the most.

New York City - 2011// I remember reading an interview with a...

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:56:41 -0500

New York City - 2011//

I remember reading an interview with a photographer (can’t recall who) where they said that they’d often go back into their archives and re-process photographs because their palette had evolved.

Boy, that was nice to read! I find color correcting and toning black and white photographs to be terrifying. I generally have a sense of how I want things to look, but getting there is a battle. First, my photoshop chops are feeble. Secondly, reading what the negative or file is giving me can be confusing. Do I force it into a direction I want instead of listening to where it wants to go?

None of this even address how any of these photographs look when printed on paper. I don’t mind the process though I suppose. It’s nice having your work in a state of flux. You can always go back and tinker with things. I’m sure photographers who’ve been published in Steidl have gone back ten years later and thought, “man, that looks like shit.”

Or maybe not. Who knows. It’d be nice if an interview stating that came out one of these days.

Times Square, NYC - 2011// Last summer when I was spending time...

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:59:10 -0500

Times Square, NYC - 2011//

Last summer when I was spending time wandering around Midtown I got sucked into Times Square a few times. I asked myself, “Why not try to make a few photographs here?”

I’m not jaded enough by NYC yet to find it completely revolting. There’s a certain absurd peacefulness to it that I find comforting at times. That normally lasts about 20 minutes though, and can be shortened to about 5 minutes if a bus passes by with tourists waving their hands back and forth as New York New York blares. Where’s a camera when you need it?

I haven’t been back to Times Square with a camera recently. I work on 34th St so I could wander over there after work if I wanted but the thought rarely pops into my head. Maybe that’s some sort of sign? I’ve been here for three years now which is nothing really in the grand scheme of things. Maybe I’ll go visit some crummy sports bar in Times Square soon to recapture some of that 2011 nostalgia.

California - 2008// Today the shelf with all my photography...

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:19:25 -0500

California - 2008//

Today the shelf with all my photography books and negatives collapsed from the wall, spilling everything all over my desk, bed and the floor. Nothing was damaged except at power strip. RIP.

Looking at all the negatives scattered everywhere nearly gave me a panic attack. It’s as if they were saying to me, “You have to not only scan us again but organize us in a meaningful way. Then you need to store us properly for posterity.”

These negatives are needy and demanding. And now they’re sitting on top of my dresser in a pile.

I’m sure my negative problem isn’t as severe as some people so I should probably stop complaining and move onto other topics.

New York// I have no recollection of making this photograph....

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:12:59 -0500

New York//

I have no recollection of making this photograph. I’m guessing it was from a night out in Brooklyn but I don’t know for sure. Did I meet this couple that night? Or were they complete strangers?

I’m not likely to figure it out anytime soon so I guess I’ll just have to go with it.

Surprise photographs on rolls of film are great.

Brooklyn, NY// I’ve been thinking about buying the Epson...

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:39:51 -0500

Brooklyn, NY//

I’ve been thinking about buying the Epson V700, but I’ve heard it’s not that great for 35mm. Damn it. I’ve also been thinking about those mirrorless cameras, especially the Olympus Pen series. Very tempting.

Maybe I’ll just give up on 35mm film and only shoot 120 film. That seems like a good compromise. Still, I have all this 35mm I need to scan again for a couple of projects I want to close the door on once and for all. Or maybe I’ll just wait until I’m 65 and make it a project for retirement.

Brooklyn, New York// I can see the Empire State Building from my...

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:07:05 -0500

Brooklyn, New York//

I can see the Empire State Building from my window in Greenpoint. When I first moved here I’d look out frequently wondering about Manhattan. Now I work on 34th St., a few blocks from the Empire State Building. During the day it’s all business. You go to work. Do your job, then get on the train back to Greenpoint.

Looking out the window is nice though. You can pretend, make up stories, project what you want onto the city, and time, and space, and existence. We take our imaginations for granted when we’re young I think. Eventually it withers up and decays. I can already sense it.

New Years Eve, 2011 - Fort Greene, Brooklyn// For the first time...

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:58:43 -0500

New Years Eve, 2011 - Fort Greene, Brooklyn//

For the first time in a few years, I went out on New Years Eve. It was a small house party on Fort Greene. I brought my Contax T2 and two rolls of film, one BW and one color. I wasn’t expecting to make many photographs but after a few libations I didn’t mind ambushing my new friends with my flash.

Photography is a real pain in the ass, even when you’re just messing around and having fun. One of the main problems is that I’m not a very skilled technical photographer. More often than not I feel like I’m fighting with the gear. When I started photographing in LA, it was rather simple: F/11 and follow the light.

But once overcast skies and the flash start getting involved, then everything just becomes point and hope. The whole night I was using auto focus with the T2 which didn’t turn out very well because the auto focus is a moron who focuses on the wrong subject matter more often than not.

Also, shit like this double exposure seems to happen about once a roll. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind it, but I’d like to figure out how I could maybe do it intentionally.

It’s all very difficult. I think I need an Olympus E-P3.

Jared Iorio - Zuccotti Park, New York, October,...

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:37:21 -0500

Jared Iorio - Zuccotti Park, New York, October, 2011//

Jared’s the only person I know whose directly involved in the Occupy Wall St. movement. He was camping at Occupy Los Angeles right away; he’s been up to Oakland; he’s slept at Zuccotti Park; and apparently he got married along the way. Too bad his revolutionary ways have forced his photography to take a backseat.

Brooklyn, New York// Re-up of film arrived today. I dug out the...

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:43:39 -0500

Brooklyn, New York//

Re-up of film arrived today. I dug out the XA which has been dormant since it hit a bar floor a few years ago. I’m not sure it works properly any longer but I’m tempted to put a roll through it just to see what happens.

Hollywood, Calif.// One of those nights I found myself with a...

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:03:36 -0500

Hollywood, Calif.//

One of those nights I found myself with a beer in my left hand and a PowerShot in my right. After two or three beers I didn’t really think much about it, I just pushed the button, then the flash went off. Nobody seemed to care so I chuckled and kept doing it. I didn’t know anything about photography at the time, but I know it was fun to press the button when things were happening, especially at the bar.

From the series Isobel of West Hollywood, Los Angeles 2006-2007

Venice Beach, Calif.// As I was walking down the Venice...

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 23:25:34 -0500

Venice Beach, Calif.//

As I was walking down the Venice Boardwalk daydreaming I spotted these dogs. As soon as I did I my walk sped up, I leaned in. A fraction of a second before I pushed the shutter this hand suddenly appeared, petting one of the dogs. Probably one of my very few ‘decisive moment’ type photographs.

MEDICINE - PUBLISHED BY HAMBURGER EYES

BUY IT HERE HAMBURGER EYELAND

From the series ‘Medicine,’ Los Angeles 2006-2007

Beverly, Blvd., Los Angeles// I’m not sure why I took so...

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:41:01 -0500

Beverly, Blvd., Los Angeles//

I’m not sure why I took so many photographs of myself during this time. It’s a bit strange. I suppose there’s really nothing wrong with it, but every time I did it I grinned at the absurdity. I started to call them ‘wanker shots,’ which I think is appropriate.

I still make these kind of self-portraits from time to time. Who cares? It’s just a frame. Do it and move on.

MEDICINE - PUBLISHED BY HAMBURGER EYES

BUY IT HERE HAMBURGER EYELAND

From the series ‘Medicine,’ Los Angeles 2006-2007

Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles// Fairfax was the route I’d take...

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:05:11 -0500

Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles//

Fairfax was the route I’d take home when heading back from Tom Bergin’s. Between Wilshire and Beverly it can be pretty quiet late at night. But once you hit Melrose the activity increases, all the way up to Santa Monica Blvd.

During this time I normally had the Stylus Epic with me and on a few nights mingled around the too cool crowds and made a few flash photographs. This photo was take right outside The Dime which was a small lounge frequented by celebs at the time. The nice thing about L.A. is that if you’re some dude with a small camera you’ll go unnoticed for the most part. I’d make my photographs and keep walking. No time to socialize when you need a few tacos and a Tecate.

MEDICINE - PUBLISHED BY HAMBURGER EYES

BUY IT HERE HAMBURGER EYELAND

From the series ‘Medicine,’ Los Angeles 2006-2007

Downtown Los Angeles// This one of the photos that ended up in...

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:25:45 -0500

Downtown Los Angeles//

This one of the photos that ended up in the zine that I’d sort of forgot about. I went back and processed it a bit differently which made me more satisfied with it.

MEDICINE - PUBLISHED BY HAMBURGER EYES

BUY IT HERE HAMBURGER EYELAND

From the series ‘Medicine,’ Los Angeles 2006-2007

hamburgereyes: MEDICINE PHOTOS BY BRYAN FORMHALS PUBLISHED BY...

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:52:06 -0500

hamburgereyes:

MEDICINE

PHOTOS BY BRYAN FORMHALS

PUBLISHED BY HAMBURGER EYES

BUY IT HERE HAMBURGER EYELAND

Very excited about this. Thanks guys!

Hollywood, Calif.// Better edits Bryan, better edits. Something...

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:17:00 -0500

Hollywood, Calif.//

Better edits Bryan, better edits. Something I really appreciate about the web is that you can transform yourself. I can delete photos, completely removing virtually any trace of them on the web and nobody will really notice.

From my current perspective, I have far too many photographs floating around the web. So many are poorly processed, or just plain old shitty and not worth the virtual space. It’s easy to say that now of course and who knows if one can ever curb their desire to share.

Processing and editing, processing and editing. The repetitive nature of it is sort of appealing. I just need more new photographs to work with, which reminds me, time to order more film.

From the series ‘Medicine,’ Los Angeles 2006-2007

Brooklyn// I shot a few rolls of 120 Portra with the Mamiya the...

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:06:25 -0500

Brooklyn//

I shot a few rolls of 120 Portra with the Mamiya the other day. I just took a walk around the neighborhood and followed the light. It was nice to keep it simple. Then again, I generally always keep it simple which might be a problem.

I working on edits for three zines right now, so have sort of not been thinking too much about new work. I just load up the cameras with film and then whatever happens happens.

*This was from one of the few rolls I shot in 2010 I believe. After going through my work, and talking to Ed Panar, I started to think, maybe should edit a series called “Objects That Saw Me.”

*Note: I probably wouldn’t do that because essentially that’s just copying Ed’s idea but I have found some of the expressions of objects in my photos to be kind strange. Either that or my mind is just fucking with me. It’s a possibility.

West Hollywood, Calif.// My friend Dave would have people over...

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:17:00 -0500

West Hollywood, Calif.//

My friend Dave would have people over to watch UFC. He lived in a shithole in the glamorous part of West Hollywood. It was an interesting contradiction but his parties were always fun, interesting and filled with stimulating conversation. He attracted good people.

I’d often take pictures not really knowing what people thought, then again, those were the type of parties where you didn’t care what people thought. I’m not sure I really ever made to many interesting ‘photographs’ but I have plenty of B sides to show. This is probably one of them. I’m not sure. I spotted it as I was going through the negatives last week and decided to scan it again.

From the series ‘Medicine,’ Los Angeles 2006-2007