Richard Vanek - Black and White Photography

I had full days so I have not much time to write here. I am still in south of London. Tomorrow I will be flying back home. I have found just a few hours to look around London and it was mostly in the evening. Over a day I met interesting people and I am really enjoying it here. I surely will come back to have more time to visit galleries and see more daylight London.
I wish you all nice first day in November!

I have a bag full of new papers I have purchased at www.silverprint.co.uk Home it will wait for me new set of inks and than longer time to calibrate the whole system and to start printing new way. I am looking to it. These days here in UK were great for me. I have learned really a lot. Not about photography, but about things I need for my daily work. Very interesting how hospitals are handling images and how they work using Philips Medical equipment and software.

Here I have two shots I made with my 2MP PDA. No special quality, but I like the images. See for yourself... Do you know where this old power plant was featured in '70? Tell me and if you first you got 10% discount on your next order ;-)

So I am back home with huge amount new paper from PermaJet and some testing packs from Hahnemuhle and Ilford Harman. At home I have found my new inks, so all is ready for new adventure and new way of making images. That is it for now. Soon I will come with some new images. Have a great weekend!

I was mentioned twice in local newspaper of the Zilina city. The place where I have solo exposition until 30.Nov.2007. Unfortunately the small article and than the interview with me is in Slovak language only. For you who can read it follow either two links earlier in this text or download pdf file where I put both texts. One day when I have a bit more time I may translate the interview in English.

This was the place we ran down when the school bell was ringing. We knew it is the end of the school time and the start of the game time.

I like to tell you what strange happen to me yesterday. You may know that I do offer once a month free print to people who never bought any of my fine art black and white prints.

So it happens in October. Two of three people got it and one person doesn't. I wasn't sure until yesterday as she had computer problems and I have got answer only yesterday.

What has happen is that yesterday I received envelop and in it was a free print which I have send about 20 days ago to her!!! The print was not in my package (look how good I pack my stuff) just in a bit heavier envelop. It seems like it was posted by Dutch TNT postal services. There was no information in it nothing just a print.

I have no idea what has happen. Print is absolutely not touched it is even in the same transparent internal envelop I use for each print. I only guess that sticker with destination address has been lost and they could only send it to me back (maybe sticker with returned address was left untouched). I have no idea.

In any case I will send the print again. I am really sorry for delay hopefully this time the person will get print and faster.

Did you ever had such a experience, that you received your goods returned from postal services without any notice?

With friends I went today to photo market. There was a lot of old rubbish and a lot of damaged lenses or destroyed the way nobody would use them anymore. A lot of large format stuff, very limited amount of digital. I was walking there for about 2 hours. I bought two things diffuser for my flash and Polaroid camera with pack of ten shot film.
I love it! Ultimate limited editions one shot one photo no negative ;-) -r-

I am excited like a small boy about this old for me new Polaroid camera. Instant picture in hand is great experience. We had a lot of fun yesterday with it. Later in night I have order some films. It is not cheap man, but at least to have some more fun with it.
Driving today early morning to work I had few ideas. I guess a lot of people before did that, but I like to use this camera to take some portraits and maybe night scene. I wonder how it will cope with lack of light, f10 is not really the lightest lens. I will post soon some shots, I hope new film arrive soon.

I just received note that I am featured at talentdatabase.com
Very nice thanks go to the editors!

I have received quite nice comments from people vote for me on photo blog awards so far. I have 27 votes. Voting is ending in one month and I see that it would be miracle if I would get somewhere close to top in that time. Anyway I would like to thank to all who voted for me.

Comments

Comment by hisamij316, 42 days ago

his work is striking and stays with one long after viewing .....

Comment by frodo, 42 days ago

Looking at Richo photos is like taking a journey into another land. Beautiful work! I wish I had a room I could dedicate to just his photos. I would spend hours there daydreaming

Comment by richo, 42 days ago

Frodo, thank you for your kind words.

My exhibition opens at 23 of October in Slovakia. You are more than welcome if you around.

Comment by buggal1989, 42 days ago

Very Ansel looking - much potential!

Comment by Twinight, 42 days ago

Images that draw you into that moment of time, I love Rich's work.

Comment by vernon.trent, 41 days ago

very cool!

Comment by andrejba, 40 days ago

breathtaking photos with heart

Comment by stee843, 38 days ago

Richo's photography is magical. His photographs make one want to escape into each image. He is a wonderful artist with talent larger than life. This site is not easy to use, and I cannot link to the photographs I love. However, I love all his work. Once a photographer myself, I can see Richo has the sort of talent top photographers in Hollywood have. His work is simply amazing.

Stee843

Comment by theystop2, 35 days ago

very cool !good shot

Comment by Crazyjeans12000, 35 days ago

Richo's photography captures the spirit of the moment. Such beautiful imagery!

Comment by theycallmeblue, 35 days ago

Richo is a wonderful artist, whose eye for what few see these days is amazing. The black and white photos have a sense of nostalgia rarely found in todays photographic expressions. Richo is also a very warm and kind person, a great friend to have.

Comment by DaveLBeck, 27 days ago

Ah - I have followed Richo's adventures through the world of b&w photography for years. A wonderful artist that can bring you into his world with good humor and hard work.

Comment by rightasrain, 26 days ago

Wonderful photos - there's absolutely nothing like black and white :-) (Hi Richard, dhillie53 here from ebay - Hillie actually - love your work!)

Comment by daviddek, 21 days ago

you are very good richo.
I like you pictures.

Today I have received hard cover version of my book. I am very enthusiastic about it. It looks very very good. Images from my "Remembering Childhood" project are in. The book is 28.5cm wide and 22cm high with hard cover which is in black linen. Tone of images is nice warm black. I have only four copies of it and two will be for sale on eBay very soon.

Here is few images of my book. And again some technical data:

1. Images from my "Remembering Childhood" project are in.
2. Size is 28.5cm wide and 22cm high.
3. With hard cover which is in black linen.
4. Tone of images is nice warm black.

So it seems. My book was sold one day after I put it using BuyNow for almost 120 US$ with additional print. I have got order for big print and two orders for smaller prints.
I am glad it is coming this early. I can't imagine what complication would that bring if orders are few days before Christmas. Post certainly is not able to deliver on time at that time of the year.

It is rather busy in last few days, books arrived and one sold last copy still available. Some orders, one for big print. I am giving lectures this week so coming home rather late.
I have so much to do and I feel I will not have enough time for it. My new inks and screen and print calibration. A lot of new film is developed I had no time to scan. About 30 rolls needs to be developed. So quite a material is still there.
Exposition is ending at 30th of November. I put quite a huge energy to propagation of my work. Hope it will pay back some day, now I love to focus on images again...

Bidding on last hard bound copy of my book has just begun. I am looking forward to see how it will go. This eBay is game and I am on it for3-4 more weeks :-)

Something very strange has happen today in the middle of the night. I was sleeping, quite deep, no dream. It was around 3am when suddenly hear in my brain somebody shout my name. Loudly! Just one time. I was sitting immediately, looked around, nobody anywhere. Just deep night, dark. I was very disturbed, not know what is was. I felt very scared.
Years ago I have read book from Francis Scott Fitzgerald when something similar happen to one of main characters. Next day he found out that somebody very close to him died. I hope that is not my case...

Tired after walking whole day. Seeing old the history of town. You sit at the steps to the curch and look down, tired and calm.

So I am siting here late night 1am. Chating with old time friend. Feel bit nostalgic, bit alone, but not really. I feel like I am on a wrong way. Need to turn soon.

Me and Viera I watching certain TV series. It is partly about russian artist. And watching it I start thinking how much time I am spending for thing which doesn't really have much to do with my photo work. I certainly need to change that very very soon. I feel it, it is going to happen I feel the right mood is coming...

I am reading now this book, great book. Written in my mother language, Slovak. I love it, yes I enjoy it really a lot. The language has so much power and possibilities to express feelings. I guess it is simple because is my first language so I can feel it better.
This morning while driving I was thinking maybe I should start using it as well a write some texts here in it. Text which expressing my feelings better way that I can do it in English. I guess I will limit the amount of people who could enjoy it. Feels like I will do that from time to time.

"Mám misku ktorá nemá tieň, mám plytkú misku...."