A much needed vacation,
Took my camera, woke up at sunrise.
A nice direction to go towards.
First roll of Fuji pro 400H / The start of a new project?
Until recently, it was nearly impossible getting the Fuji pro 400H here in Israel. Well, at least if by buying at local shops and not, say, through B&H. So when Rea’s printhouse announced it was starting to offer it - I jumped on the opportunity to give this film a try.
Having never shot on it before, only watching some comparison videos on YouTube, I was really excited to try it out and see the results myself. Like all, I do like Kodak’s Portra 400; however, I sometimes find it lacking, and wanted to see if the Pro 400H can be another option to consider when shooting color.
Unsurprisingly, the results are skewed towards the “cold” end of the spectrum, with the blues and greens dominating. This is compared to the much warmer Portra 400.
When looking at exterior shots, I actually find it to represent reality really well, with the colors on the scan matching the true colors I’ve seen with my own eyes. This gives the film a certain edge over Portra, if you want to capture a scene as naturally as possible, perhaps. Or when aiming to get a cooler, almost “milky” feel to the image.
The first two images here are from a new project I am working on, set around Neve Tzedek Tower.
I intentionally wanted to try the 400H on this series. I felt the cooler colors will better serve the tones of the building, as well as the message of the project, which is to show how the tower is dominating the scene from wherever you’re looking.
Seeing the results, I think I will definitely continue with the 400H on this project.
For interiors, however, I find its lack of warmth as a disadvantage over Portra, as it does not capture the warm lights and tones associated, at least to me, with the feeling of being home.
* * *
All shots were taken with a Mamiya 645 Pro and an 80mm lens. Photos have been edited a bit with Photoshop to fix slight exposure issues and color balance.
Yellow bus in a drum scanner
This is one of my favorite frames from the ones I’ve taken in India.
When a dear friend of mine said he wants this printed and framed in his home, I took it as an opportunity to see how much can be extracted from the negative.
When I initially developed all my India photos, I gave it to the lab and asked for a basic scan (developing and scanning around 25 rolls of films ain’t cheap).
Since then, and while the lab did a brilliant job as ever, I found myself wanting to see some photos in their full glory.
So, as long as I was going to finally print this shot, I decided to send it for a spin on the only drum scanner around - at Rea Printhouse.
This is my second experience with drum scanning, and again I was blown away.
The amount of detail is truly astonishing, as well as its handling of color.
Before you are both the original, basic can, alongside the drum scanned one.
I believe the images speak for themselves.
New photoseries, 'pine.' up on the website
Been spending the summer quite idly, as a matter of fact. Not stress free.
Not taking enough pictures.
Acknowledging this, my idle partner-in-crime and I took a small hike near Jerusalem.
Surrounded by pine and cypress trees - I found my own feeling reflected by them; a noun perfectly describing a verb.
All Analogue exhibition - presenting some photos
I was recently invited by Noam Friedman to have some sessions at her new darkroom.
Noam is a great photographer, with years of experience in printing and darkroom operation. Obviously, I jumped at her invitation, having never worked in a darkroom before.
I am now proud to say that I will be participating in an analog print exhibition, created and curated by Noam:
ALL ANALOGUE: Group exhibition focusing on the print
I will present four images, printed on different paper types via various film formats.
The printing of these images was a true revelation, in which I learned a ton about the properties and capabilities of film. More importantly, I learned a lot about my photography style and about what I can do moving forward.
On the Corner of Foch Street and Rabin Square
In the day following the blast in the port of Beirut, the city-hall of Tel-Aviv was illuminated with an image of the Lebanese flag.
It was no less than an historic event; the façade of a municipality building in Israel, lit up with the flag of an enemy state.
It is a difficult thing to process, if to be honest - and it surely was the talking point of the day: on social media, on the radio and TV, as well as in personal conversations.
I took my Mamiya 645 and two rolls of Lomo 800 film, and I headed out to Rabin Square to try and document this unique event.
Once I reached the square, the sight of the Lebanese flag was really a shock for a second or two. I can understand both sides of the argument here, but I hope this gesture is a precursor of good things to come.
New work is up: Cover photo for Meuban's new EP
Proud to have my photo as the artwork for Meuban’s new EP - OAK.
I have been working with Meuban as a manger for about four or five years now, and it is a true pleasure to have the ability to contribute visually and artistically as well.
The artwork is based on a photo I’ve taken at Nahsholim Beach, Israel, and has further work done by the amazing Zohar Dvir, who created the image of the tree and has done all of the graphic design (and much, much more for the band, including two videos to accompany the release).
You can listen/watch OAK on your favorite platform via smarturl.it/meuban-oak.
New collection of photographs is up
Recently I visited my brother in Kibbutz Matzuva in northern Israel. He is there for several months, working in agriculture following his military service. I was there for two and a half days, and tried to capture what I could during this time about life in the Kibbutz.
The full text and photos are on the collection page.
'One Shot' lomography project
The so-called ‘first wave’ of the coronavirus has put us all in compelled lockdown; our space was reduced to that which is most personal. A lot of us used this time for self-reflection: we wondered on our place in this world, on our surroundings. We were – and still are – floating in uncertainty, trying to figure out what’s important and what’s not.
As for myself, I found how much my family matters to me, and how much I am comfortable with just being… occupying my small corner of the city. Time passed, and I started to appreciate all the small rituals I have adapted. I found that many like me have adapted the same rituals: we practiced yoga, we watered our plants, we invested in ourselves – bodies and minds.
I started imagining people I know, each one in his or hers corner, encircled with symbols of their rituals. It would have been interesting to capture this, I thought: people in their imposed fortresses of solitude. Luckily for me, Imanuela Oh invited me to participate in the “one shot” project: a Lomo LC-A camera that will go around, from photographer to photographer – each one taking a single frame.
I photographed my brother in his room in our mother’s house. Sitting on his bed – a home within a home – surrounded by posters and his vinyl collection (re-organized and cataloged during the lockdown, of course). An attempt to capture someone I love where they spent most of their time… a small moment between all the thoughts about changes in life and the “where do we go from here”s.
A month after this photo was taken, my brother moved to his own apartment, for the first time in his life.
* Taken with a Lomo LC-A and Lomo 800 film, as part of Lomography Israel’s “One Shot” project, led by Imanuela Oh. The entire project was published on lomography.co.il online magazine, and it includes works by wonderful photographers such as Yahav Trudler, Aviad Zisman, Ariel Pedatzur, Ariel Bendet, Noa Shalev and Lihi Brosh.
First time in a darkroom
Thanks to an invitation by an amazing photographer - Noam Friedman - I spent my first time in an actual darkroom. Kind of a dream come true, to work in that mysterious space with only a red light to assist you.
After developing film myself for the first time, this experience was a great way to continue the process (I actually printing an image from that self-developed roll). Working with the enlarger, touching the different types of paper, smelling the chemicals, seeing the picture come alive. Can’t wait to do it again.
There’s something truly therapeutic, meditative about this process.
Into the Medium Format world
Excited to take another step in the photography world, with my first medium format camera: the Mamiya 645 Pro. It’s a great leap from my fixed lens, aperture priority Yashica Electro 35.
Here are some samples from a test roll I shot (expired Ilford delta 100):
'Between two lines' featured in Haaretz
Proud to have my ongoing series about the Israeli flag - ‘between two lines’ - featured in Haaretz photography blog on this year’s Independence Day.
You can read the feature here (text is in Hebrew):
https://www.haaretz.co.il/blogs/photoblog/MAGAZINE-1.8801788
You can also have a look at the project gallery here:
Prints available!
Some of my photos of Tel-Aviv are now on sale at Telavivian.shop!
Telavivan is an online magazine featuring the local art, design, fashion, music and culinary scene of Tel-Aviv. I am proud to be featured on their online shop, alongside other great photographers from the city.
You can view and buy via this link:
https://telavivian.shop/collections/roy-mayer
(Limited edition of 50 per print size / Ships worldwide)
First time developing my own film!
The plus side of these “social distanced” days, is that you can finally attend to personal project that have been laying in the back drawers of your mind.
I finally tried (and succeeded!) to develop film myself.
It was great to take another step in the process of making images: to fiddle with stuff in a bag of darkness, to pour chemicals, to shake and rinse and being all careful (while also drinking beer) - and to finally watch the negatives come alive.
Here are some of the images from that session:
New photos in my 'Between Two Lines' project
Watch the full gallery here: roymayer.space/between-two-lines/
A walk through closed restaurants – day three
Yesterday was quite personal. I went by the restaurant I work in and got all the forms needed to apply for unemployment. Afterwards, I passed by Hanoi rest. The owners were there with their kids, cleaning and packing the rest of the produce. Somehow they kept a good mood; they invited me in with a smile, their kids played with my camera and took a couple of cute shots. They sent me on my way with a bag of groceries and a take-away lunch.
Later on, when dusk fell, I met my old employer at a pub I worked in. He was preparing for an online whiskey workshop (instead of the physical one that was planned, of course). He offered me a beer. Everything on tap needs to be finished, before it will go stale.
*Pictured (not in order): Café Noir, Hanoi, Mozner Bar, L28, Chicchetti, Emesh, Taqueria, Neve Tsedek a Place for Meat.
A walk through closed restaurants – day two
“The pendulum of Optimism/Pessimism swings wildly these days, don’t it?”
*Pictured (not in chronological order): Dallal, Nina Café, Suzana, TYO, Popina, Pronto
A walk through closed restaurants - day one
I’ve been a bartender for around eight years now. It is reaching the point of being a part of my identity – whether I like to admit it or not. And yesterday was a weird one: late at night I passed by the restaurant I work in; we raised a toast to a future unknown.
And today was a weird one, too: the city still teeming with life, but all the cafés, bars, restaurants – closed.
* Pictured (not in chronological order): Café Nordoy, Port Said, Sheleg, Cucina Hess 4.
Kids with signs
Taken at a youth rally against the minister of education, following his controversial remarks on homosexuality.
Rabin Square, Tel-Aviv, 15.01.20.
(Shot on Yashica Electro gsn with Ilford PANF50 and Ilford HP5 400)
