Gus Hernandez

“A poor workman blames his tools.” Sarvi. Ever so wise.

Stainless steel developing reel: You clip THEN pull opposite direction. Simply clip and wind? See results above.

One can dream, right?

“Digital cameras are incredibly sophisticated pieces of technology that do amazing things, but the Leica M6 is a such beautiful piece of mechanical engineering, like an old Porsche or a vintage Rolex Submariner, that using it is a unique pleasure all its own, independent of the results… but oh, what results!”

- Coop’s Flickr

By way of private financier (READ: DAVID LAYDEN) this beautiful piece is my new woman. Off we go. That sexy bitch and I. Our relationship awaits.

There’s a running joke with photographers, “If a photog has 1000 lights he or she will still want another light to kill that thousandth shadow.” Many who take it upon themselves to photograph make the mistake of worrying about the latest tech: strobes, ringflashes, fancy glass, pocketwizards, lightmeters… Etc. Been there, done that! Forgetting what the most important factor in a photograph is: The Subject. What’s a great exposure if it lacks substance, right?

A few years and $10,000.00 of photo crap later I’ve found myself with nothing more than a 1989 film camera. Hell, it’s not even mine. I own a Holga. That’s it. And I’m embarrassed to use the fucking thing. Damn you, hipsters.

I’ve been shooting film exclusively for nearly a year and I would like to believe I chose it and not the opposite. Truth be told I’m simply broke, but allow me the ruse of going said route for it’s romanticism. Grin. Obvious as it may be film is an entire different monster than digital and has been a surprising educator in photo. I’ve learned so much these past few months, unexpectedly, over my digital run. 36 shots. That’s what you get. Digital doesn’t require the patience and thought film expects of you.

There’s an incredible deal on an Omega B-5 sitting on Craigslist right now. Crossing my fingers it doesn’t sell until next paycheck.

Then I will disappear into a fixer induced death. A beautiful, black & white death.

After all, isn’t everything classier in black & white?

It will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine.

2009’s finer moments,

- Mooning a Lamborghini Murcielago at 70MPH on cruise control while Andy took the wheel from passenger seat.
- Getting body slammed into the concrete on my forehead.
- Dramarama’s Anything adopted as 2009 drunken anthem.
- Kicking a 3-ton truck in motion because “NOBODY FUCKS WITH MY FRIENDS!”
- Getting kicked off stage by Combichrist themselves at Bunker. Landed on concrete with my knee.
- Leaving my Girlfriend. (call me when you’re single?)
- 24 hour straight drinking session with the DTSA hoodlums!
- Waking up in a strange house full of dirty hippies then sneaking back in an hour later for my camera.
- Having a drink named after me at Memphis.
- All the wonderful folks I’ve met this year. You are the best supporting actors one could wish for!

That’s 2 scars, one bad knee and a hell of a year.

After telling me how much I rule for processing my own film the gal at the photo shop suggested I use odorless chemicals but I thought, “what’s the fun in that!?” I think I’m covered to develop film for now albeit short a few things: a large beaker, funnels, some clothesline pins. Passed on a film squeegee after reading they can gather dust and scratch your film. Still have a few Ilford XP2 rolls I’ll have to take in. XP2 is C41 processed black & white which makes it easier to develop around town, but alas, not at home.

For sheer posterity and not informational purposes picked up the following:

All my lighting and digital gear went out the door last year. I have a handful of toy cameras and the Minolta still so I figure I’ll just run with it. That said, gonna give developing / printing a shot. (punny?) Should be fun. Can’t wait to get raped by Samy’s! Beakers and chems and reel tanks… Oh, my!

“I’M SIGNIFICANT!…screamed the dust speck.”

Saw this last night at the show. Brilliant, sure, but brilliance isn’t usually paired with comfort. At some points I wondered if I was watching a Haneke work and not Scorsese.

A wonderful film about terrible people. I loved it. And frankly, it was a bit of a lesson about who I allow myself to become at times.