Pinhole I: Impressionism, England

January 23, 2019 by Colin Kubarych

Hello, 2019.

I spent the last bits of 2018 under a mountain of film negatives scanning them into digital format. Turns out a project like this isn’t something that lasts for hours or even days. Weeks and months is more like it. I nearly stopped all other creative projects and pursuits to finish this task and after over 1000 scans, I have made it to the summit, sort of.

The time away from the lens allowed me to reflect on my year, relive wonderful fleeting moments and dream up what’s next.

2019 is the year of film for me. The digital cameras will remain on the shelf, hopefully gathering a thick layer of dust, while I explore deeper into the world of analog photography…

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In November, I found myself back in merry ol’ England for work and I brought along a new toy, a Holga 135 Pinhole Camera. Over a couple of brisk autumn days, I wandered around Alton and documented my impressions of the English countryside…

Camera: Holga 135 PC

Lens: Pinhole, f/175

Film: Portra 800, pushed to 3200

With The Wild Ones

August 30, 2018 by Colin Kubarych

Ah, birthdays- another cycle around the sun. A simultaneous beginning and end. A day to reflect, scheme, dream and celebrate.

Ol' Boots turned 31 this year and at his request, we gathered in the enchanted canyon of West Clear Creek. There were no birthday challenges this year, no striving to keep age at bay, no desire to prove that the old boy's still got it. Instead, we laughed. We played. We photographed. We celebrated- not just the birth of one, but the gathering of many in a sacred place.

The best gift you can give to others, to yourself, is space to just Be...

And it's not a post about Boots without some wisdom from the Tao:

"Those who understand others are clever, those who understand themselves are wise."

Camera: Nikon FM2,

Lens: Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D AF (manual focus, of course :))

Film: Kodak Portra 400

Spring, Joshua Tree

June 19, 2018 by Colin Kubarych

A visit to Joshua Tree in the Spring Awash in color, my senses ring.

Waiting long for winters end Warmth, I forgot I kenned

The Homie Jack and Ally were on the trip but the delicate floral structures held my grip.

Click, click, click, click, click, click, click My shutter hammering like a drumstick.

A wonderful world full of stimuli So, a gallery for you of what caught my eye.

The Locks of Recoleta

May 09, 2018 by Colin Kubarych

Recoleta Cemetery- resting place for some of Argentina's most notable figures. Nobel Prize winners, former Presidents, members of high society, Eva Peron. Had I known any of this, I might have wandered with a different eye.

Instead, I walked into Recoleta knowing nothing and my eyes wide open.

As I ambled through the tightly packed streets and corridors (the cemetary is laid out much like the Buenos Aires city streets), a repeating unit caught my eye. I wasn't wondering about the names of the people, who they were, what they did or when they passed.

It was the locks. I could not stop looking at the locks.

Each grave has a lock. Each lock is different. From pristine and well kept to hasty and improvised to dusty and forgotten, the Locks of Recoleta asked me questions and told me stories.

I hope looking through this photo gallery will do the same for you.

Ponderosa Morning

April 28, 2018 by Colin Kubarych

This buffalo has been burning white hot lately and the upcoming stories will show you why. I went on a work run from late January until middle April starting in California, jumping the Pond to England, venturing to "El Fin de Mundo" in Argentina and capping it off (oooo, a little dome joke in there for ya) on the Mid-Atlantic in Maryland. What a trip. I saw, I drew, I dreamed and I documented plenty.

But how to start the story? While mulling this question over, I realized that I have been thinking about this website too linearly. Keeping a true timeline of events is a little too practical for what I'm after. So, the story starts in media res with my return back to Flagstaff and some much needed time off. Maybe even enough time to actually catch all the way up...

I returned to Flag swirling in creative energy and found that Ally and The Homie Jack were doing the same. Interesting stuff is in the works and it was pretty cool to be gone for so long while feeling like I never left. In fact, our creative energies conspired through the distance. Quantum energy...

I shot this short set while we enjoyed a lazy morning among the Ponderosa. It's a set that reminds me of exactly what it's all about...connection. There is an ease with which we all hang out and the more we do it, the more appreciative I become.

Enjoy!

Passion: Ally Viente

Pizzicleta

February 12, 2018 by Colin Kubarych

This is the first installment in a series that I am calling Passion. In it, I will follow and document people I know and the interests, hobbies and/or careers that make them tick. This word gets thrown around too often in trite phrases on motivational posters or inspirational memes. No one has ever found it in passivity. Passion is direct action. It is dynamic and there is a certain flow that I can't really explain in words, but I know it when I see it.

My friend Ally is the perfect example of passion.

Over 2 days in December, we hung out in her current baking laboratory, the wood fired kitchen of Pizzicleta* in Flagstaff, Arizona and I observed as she made the special bake of the week, cinnamon raisin bread.

Baking is a subtle, thoughtful art and watching Ally flit with ease about the kitchen made the bread all the more tasty. She even made orange ginger scones (not pictured) on her downtime because "I woke up wanting to make some." They were delicious. Ally bakes with love and delight and you would be remiss to not grab a loaf from her next time you're in Flag. Grand Canyon trip anyone?

You can follow Ally on Instagram: @ally.viente