AT WORK WITH A POSCA PEN (REEL)

Just a quick post from work this week. This custom order came through the factory which warranted the use of my overhead projector and Posca pens.

There was a time when both were in constant use, especially Posca pens. Uni-Posca is a Japanese company that seemed to burst onto the scene, largely in part to the amazing work of Drew Brophy on Lost Surfboards in the 90's.

I can remember a couple of seasons that got swamped with Posca Pen artwork requests on surfboards, and then like many fashions it faded off to be replaced by something new, now they are rarely required on surfboards. They are still an extremely versatile and popular pen, with many artists using them.

Anyway, it's good when a board comes along so the pen tin can be opened.

More photos of surfboards and waves can be seen at sleeplessink.com

CANON 6D II (FIRST OUTING)

Very happy to say I recently picked up a Canon 6D II and took it out on its first outing. Luckily I have owned a couple of Canon's over the years, so was relatively familiar with the operation and menu system.

I had been considering upgrading my Canon 40D because my lovely lenses (EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens / EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM Lens / Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM) outstripped what is becoming a dated camera body (2007 release date, 10.1 megapixels 

I enjoy watching a YouTube channel called Framelines which is sponsored by MPB, I hadn't heard of this company so I visited the site. It is a company that buys and sells camera equipment, the procedure was simple so I traded a couple of my unused Fujifilm lenses towards my Canon 6D II. Very happy!

So I coupled a dog walk with its first outing, just to get a feel for it, casually having a go without too much thought. I have been using a Fujifilm x-Pro 3 (+27mm & 35mm lens's) and the X100F since early 2020, so this felt quite different.

My Fujifilm camera's will remain my street photography camera's as I love them, I never want to be without them. However, the Canon 6D, coupled with my already owned lenses is going to be great for days when the waves are good and I can get some surfing shots. I also want to explore more of the coast, of which there is plenty around Cornwall, and catching seascapes, especially during storms, of which there are plenty in winter!

For more of my photography visit sleeplessink.com

ARTWORK ON SURFBOARDS (SHORT REEL)

Thankfully in amongst the surfboards coming through the Ocean Magic surfboard factory, many have graphics on them. Not only does this mean work for me, it is also another chance to load the spray gun, dip the bristles of a brush into a paint pot and add colour to what would otherwise be just a plain white surfboard.

Now, there is nothing wrong with a plain board, just a shaped foam blank, fibreglassed and then sanded. It is the choice of many, there is an idea of a surfboard being just for the business of riding waves...no frills.

But for a long time, almost from the beginning of surfboard production, graphics and artwork have been put on surfboards, using several methods, but mainly with an airbrush.  It seems to make sense that such an individual pursuit would invite colour for a further scream of being different, especially in the early counter culture days of surfing and surfers.

I have sprayed surfboards since 1989 and have worked in factories all over the world. Essentially the industry still uses the same materials as it always has done. Of course there have been advancements here and there, plus diversions into new technology, but really it is still foam and fibreglass with the option of some colour.

That's when I turn up!

More photographs of waves and living by the seaside can be seen @ sleeplessink.com

SHOOTING WITH CAMERA SETTINGS 1:1 ASPECT RATIO

On occasion, here and there, I have used the 1:1 aspect ratio on my Fujifilm X100F, which I have owned for a few years now. It's a lovely camera and using the square, 1:1 ratio, was just a way of exploring different settings without any idea to use or print the images.

For a long time I have been a fan of Vivian Maier, an American street photographer whose work I can just stare at and admire, page after page. She primarily used Rolleiflex cameras that produced 1:1 aspect ratio (6cm x 6cm) photographs.

Recently I found some of my earlier experimental (1:1) images and remembered the fun I had with an alternative approach and framing images differently. So now, rather than just running through the camera settings for the sake of it, I carry two cameras and have set the X100F to 1:1 and Monochrome permanently, and kept my X-Pro 3 to 3:2 aspect ratio and colour. This allows me to delve further into the approach while enjoying something new.

This, I must point out, is in no way my attempt to produce photographs as good or similar to Vivian Maier's work – I would think that impossible, her work is so sublime. I just find it quite natural to see images and frame up photographs using the 1:1 ratio. I don't see it overriding all my work, it's just very rewarding to have the camera all set up and ready to go when the moment presents itself.

At this point I'm not sure if there will be a dedicated page on my website for my black and white photography, we will see. Of course there is plenty of colour photography plus graphic illustration and collage work to be seen @ sleeplessink.com