black & white
The Story Behind the Photograph: A Study of Rhythm and Feet No. 6
©2009 Kiffanie Stahle, A Study of Rhythm and Feet No. 6
This image was taken almost a year before this version came about. I took this image of The Polymers at Old Ironsides in Sacramento, California. For the few months prior to this, it had been a running joke between us that I wanted a photograph of their feet.When I first looked at the image, I liked the composition, but knew that it needed something to make it special. Almost a year later, I was riding home from school on my bike, and bam, I saw this processing in my head. I raced home and started working on it. A few hours later, I had processed the raw image to match my mental picture. I love how this image combines the gritty feel of film, with the modern elements of digital photographs.
Biscuits
©2011 Kiffanie Stahle, Biscuits.
I was intending on posting a different image today, but last night I attended the Lightbox SF Mixer at La Boutique. At one point I was having a conversation with Julie Michelle about some of the things that we both were seeking from the local artistic community. I mentioned that I would like a place where I could go and take work for critique. A place where I felt comfortable asking if an image really worked. Or a place that I could take a series to find out if the images worked together in the way I thought they did.
The image above is the type of image that I would take. There is something that I really like about the composition of the image, but for some reason I just don’t think it actually works, regardless of the treatment I give it. Which makes me think that something must be off in the composition. The black and white treatment above is my favorite so far, but I’m still unsure what I think about the image. So, my fellow readers, does it work?
Old School Bike Seat
©2011 Kiffanie Stahle, Bike Seat.
Every semester I have grand plans of being able to keep up on both my art projects and my schoolwork. And every semester (about a month in) the art projects seem to fall by the wayside and school takes over my life. While I have more free time in my last year of law school than I did my first year, I still have yet to find the right balance of art time and school time. While that is no excuse for not updating the blog, that’s where I’ve been.
Earlier this week, I was avoiding doing some school work and looking through my photography archives. The main reason I started back through the archives was because I am craving a trip to Abbey Country. But in the process I came across this image. I took it when I was out and about shooting for the 200 Yards Show at Heart a few months back. While I ended up settling on another image of the bike for the show, there is something about this image that really resonated with me this week. In playing around with this image, I settled on a browner-tinged single tone image, rather than traditional black and white and like how it turned out. Hopefully, it resonates with you this week as well.
37.751151, -122.420147
©2011 Kiffanie Stahle, 37.751151, -122.420147.
This is the second image that I’ll be featuring at the 200 Yards show opening tonight at Heart (24th and Valencia). The other I posted a few weeks back. If you are in San Francisco please stop by tonight and say hi, or stop by Heart anytime before September 20th and check out the show.
37.754252, -122.421015
©2011 Kiffanie Stahle, 37.754252, -122.421015.
I want to apologize for my absence from the blog, I’ve been busy and have let my posts go to the wayside. While that is a lame excuse, it’s the best that I’ve got.
However, I’m excited to let you all know that the above image as well as another will be featured in the 200 Yards show that opens on August 18th. All the featured images have been taken within 200 yards of the host location (Heart near 24th and Valencia). This project was a challenge for me. The first challenge was the fact that 200 yards is not a large area (about one city block in either direction). The second was a creative process hurdle. While I have shot images on a theme previously, I’ve never been totally happy with the outcome. I’m still trying to figure out the creative process that works for me with themed shoots. Luckily this time around, there were lots of little details, some of my favorite subjects.
Both the images that I’ll be featuring are textural black and whites, because of that I chose a method of printing I’ve been wanting to use for a while, aluminum. I had them printed at Bay Photo, they arrived yesterday and I’m pleased with how they turned out. I’d love it if you would drop by the show and let me know what you think.
Cheyenne super
This photograph was taken on my first attempt at taking photos for the 200 Yards project. I really am obsessed with taking photos of old trucks. They combine some of my favorite photography subjects: things weathered by time, things with texture, and things that have a story.
Glacier Peak
©2008 Kiffanie Stahle, Glacier Peak.
Mail Slot in Woods
©2009 Kiffanie Stahle, Mail Slot in Woods.
Spokane Bridge
©2008 Kiffanie Stahle, Spokane Bridge.
Giant Geranium Leaves
©2009 Kiffanie Stahle, Giant Geranium Leaves.
A Study of Rhythm and Feet No. 6
©2009 Kiffanie Stahle, A Study of Rhythm and Feet No. 6.
Stump at a Glacier Lake
©2008 Kiffanie Stahle, Stump at a Glacier Lake.
Succulent No. 4
©2009 Kiffanie Stahle, Succulent No. 4.