Kevin Bubriski article in View Camera Mag May/June 1993

[claudia_p]

Hello everyone,

 

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A friend and I are trying to find any details on the methods used by this photographer. We need to locate the above article quickly. If anyone has a back issue and can send me any details (film/developer etc.) I would be so grateful.

 

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Here is a site that has some of his work..

 

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http://www.lydarose.com/art/artists/bubriski.html

 

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If the article does not contain any details, can someone tell by looking at the pictures how this look/tone was created.

 

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Thank you,

 

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Claudia.

[pete_andrews]

It's all in the printing, by the look of it. They first two prints on

that webpage are obviously manipulated to make the subject stand out

from the background.<br>There's no chemical shortcut through special

film or developer. You just have to become a darned fine printer,

working from nicely lit and composed negatives.

[doug_mcfarland]

I would have to agree with Pete. Flash, burn, bleach and tone at the

hands of an accomplished printer would seem to answer the question.

 

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I find more and more that a major part of the final image comes from

good darkroom.

[sean_yates]

FWIW As I recall he spent more time in the article talking about the

why then the how. I do recall he used Polaroid with a Wista or Speed

Graphic and I don't recall him detailing printing technique at all.

The first shot has a wider than normal lens. How soos do you need

this?

[sean_yates]

Here it is...

 

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"I work with a field camera which conveniently folds up for packing

and carrying for months in a porter's basket....The tent doubled as a

space for shelter, as well as the darkroomfor loading and unloading

film holders and washing Polaroid Type 55 negatives."

 

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There's a tiny bit more but nothing on what you ask. His address is

listed as:

 

Kevin Bubriski East Street P.O. Box 559 Shaftsbury, VT 05262

Phone is (802)442-4516 Why not contact him directly? He was

suppossed to be publishing a book with these images.

[ellis_vener_photography]

From looking at the photos on the website URL you provided I

would say there are two things going on; a wonderful sense of

light , the lighting conditions the photos are made in and very

strong printing skills. Trying to figure out what film/developer he

used, won't get you there. Mostly I think the qualty of the images

is in the seeing, the vision of the photographer. The toanl

qualities (long scale lots of detail in the high lights) is indicative

of the negative portion of Polaroid Type 55.

[brian_ellis3]

When you refer to his "methods" do you mena the equipment, technique,

etc. or do you mean his ways of approaching the people, photographing

them, etc.? If you mean the equipment, in the article he says he uses

a "field camera." He talks about sheet film but doesn't say what kind

of film. He also speaks of using Polaroid type 55 (positive/negative)

film. He says he used the type 55 film so that he could give pictures

to the persons he photographed. This sounds a little odd since that

kind of film has to be exposed for either the negative or the

positive and he presumably was exposing for the negative so the

positives must not have been very good. That's about it for his

equipment. He discusses how he approaces the people, etc. but since

I'm not sure that's what you mean by "method," I won'd repeat all of

that here. If you're interested, send me a e mail. I'd scan the

article for you but I don't have a scanner large enough to handle it.

[claudia_p]

Many thanks to all who helped. Especially Sean for sending me the

article.

 

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The more I learn from you guys the more I understand that pictures

like these are created more out of the relationship between subject

and photographer, and the unique skill and artistry of the person

behind the lens. And not some magical film/camera combination etc.

 

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Thanks,

 

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Claudia

[emily_dobson]

I am a former student of Kevin's and I would say to answer your

question Claudia that Kevin is a very controlled and tight

photographer. That is -he has beautiful negatives and most definitely

dodges and burns in the darkroom...His prints are flawless in real

life and the web pages do not do the prints justice.