A.F. Lane

2011-10-08T19:33:00.000-07:00

I love my new little camera. I have not pulled out my 4x5 in months and need to fill the space with something, for now this works. I tell my students to make pictures constantly and feel as though I have been sounding like a hypocrite. So, in an effort to lead by example I am trying to make images all the time. This weekend is the last of summer I think. The sun is getting more and more golden and my shadow is getting longer. All this week I could see my breath in the morning, but today I think we hit 75 degrees.

2011-09-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

I finally bought myself a digital camera. I treated myself to the Lumix LX5.........so far I am in love.

I am also in love with my new surroundings.

2011-04-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

New images from the weekend. I really need to sit down and do some serious writing about what I am doing. I am not really ready to make any grand statements yet, sort of enjoying working with out any boundaries. But soon I will have to collect my scattered thoughts.

2011-04-03T15:23:00.000-07:00

A few more images. I have been so out of practice because of all my school work. I am excited about what I do get made though, however slowly it gets done. The ceiling fan is a favorite, and of course the one of Sadie. It is so exciting when that daylight saving moment happens. All of a sudden the sun changes and the light falls across objects differently.

2011-02-28T14:59:00.000-08:00

One of the undeniable attractions of being a teacher is the amount vacation time you get. Not to sound like I dont love every minute in the classroom, but I need every minute out of it. We just had "winter brake", a random little week off in the middle of the dreary month of February. I thought I would take a true hiatus and head home to Vermont where I new my family would take care of me and require little of me. I slept, I exercised, I snowshoed and most importantly I made images.

The above images are quite. I made images without the confining label "a body of work"and am happy with the outcome. They still go together somehow. Simple, haiku like. I am committing to black and white for a while. I need to step out of my color comfort world and step into something slightly more experimental.

I am especially proud of the image of the hair. It is amazing how when making pictures of meaningful things they always just look better.

2011-02-06T08:58:00.000-08:00

I think this is the beginning of something new. Since being married and becoming a teacher I have been going through some kind of identity crisis, or shift, or loss. I feel there are parts of me, from the past, that I don't know anymore and that are slipping away. My general mood has been incredibly quite and strongly turned inward. Without over thinking anything, this is the first image I made with these feelings at the forefront of my creative process. I liked the feeling of letting go of the precision of the 4x5, letting my bellows fall and bend.

2011-02-06T07:36:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple more images from the high school. High School has changed since I was a student. There are no more dusty chalk boards, the ventilation system is suited for a space ship and the students have a salad bar in the cafeteria. The general atmosphere of the place though is exactly the same. Walking in the doors is like walking into a vacuum, the hallways smell like nothing, floor wax maybe. The students are the same too. All the same groups strut the halls, the jocks, the skanks, the "punks", the brains, and my personal favorite the nerds. The nerds are the most open and friendly group of students, they even invited me to play magic cards after school which had my stay at the high school been longer I would have absolutely done.

2011-02-05T14:27:00.000-08:00

The other reason I have been busy is because I am back in school. I am currently getting certified to teach art k-12. The Maine College of Art has a one year program that has you in the classroom almost every day. I was really inspired by the high school environment. Every classroom is like a little pod set up for one activity. The environments are clean, almost sterile, and yet somehow loaded with the activity of students. Here are two images I made while in my high school placement. The hardest part was the lighting, it is so flat due to the fluorescents.

2011-02-05T14:15:00.000-08:00

It has been exactly a year since my last post. This last year has been so increadably and wonderfuly busy. As far as photo goes, I spent a lot of time editing work for a formal web site which you can view at www.alissalane.com.

In other news: On July 17th Ryan and I tied the knot. It was absolutely amazing. After 5 years we decided it was time to gather the family and make it official. My mother spent a year sewing that dress, it is exquisite. We were married at an old barn in VT right in our home town. The day was spent surrounded by friends, family, good food and drink, bonfire and fiddle music. Everything was simple and sweet. Most things were hand made, my step dad made our cake, my dad made the h'ourderves, my sister made my jewelry, Ryan made all the signage, and I made tablecloths and favors as well designed the whole thing. It was about 98 degrees on the big day, but the rain in the forecast was no were in site.

2010-02-05T11:58:00.000-08:00

More shots. Playing with how I want to title and present these. I sort of like the B&W super flat. I am convinced to mix color and bw in the same boddy of work. Maybe a part one, part two thing.

2010-01-21T10:07:00.000-08:00

I cant believe how long it has been since I lasted uploaded! I actually missed December. I shot a lot with my Windsor. I really really love the quality of them, I cant say that enough. The nice thing about it is the lens is actually glass, so it does not just simply have that plastic lens look even though the camera itself is plastic. I also enjoy shooting with the thing because I always have to guess what the actual image will look like because in the view finder it is very different. Any way more to come, have to film to develop.

2009-11-29T15:08:00.000-08:00

I went home for Thanksgiving and brought my 4x5 along. It is obvious that I had put the camera down for too long. I like some of the shots, but find the composition to be a little off, or the exposure to be wrong. These were quick scans and such, I am working on making finals of a lot of my work from the past 4 years.

The images from top to bottom: James's Table, Sam and Carley (Newly Weds), Mom's Kitchen, John's Desk, Ava, Home from College.

2009-10-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

My little plastic camera is getting way more use then I ever expected. It tends to live in my purse along with a whole bunch of other crap. But every now and then I see something worth shooting, sometimes it takes me a month to shoot one roll of film.....pathetic.

Working at a college I get to witness the way photography is changing first hand. Sometimes a student will ask me "what is all that noise?", and I say "that's called film grain". Or, I will look over their shoulders and see that they are dusting an image at %300 and I say "why are you doing that, you couldn't spot tone at %300" and they say "Oh, I have never spot toned". I proceed to go home and search for gray hairs. But really I am only about 4 years older then the average senior.... the times they are a changin', but that's OK. The point is they still make images, and great images at that. I like making this work because I never dust and I love all the grain (especially in the bottom photo).

2009-09-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I went to a wedding in upstate new york. It was the perfect environment to use my plastic camera. It makes everything look so gritty. It has better described the way I feel about my surroundings lately then a large format camera.

2009-08-29T19:11:00.000-07:00

This summer I found my self collaborating with another artist to start a small magazine. The magazine is called Shoot:. Shoot: is made up of images by contributors who send their photographs to us after having one month to conceptualize and capture a theme. We send out a theme, or topic, every month. Our hope is that the amount contributors will grow and become more diverse. Please check out our first issue at magcloud.com. If you are interested in recieving the monthly theme and becoming a contributor please email us at shootanything@gmail.com.

2009-08-07T11:12:00.000-07:00

Two images from our weekend at Acadia. I am disapointed in my self for not shooting more, I only made four images!!! The one on top is nice; my husband to be working the fire. The bottom one cracks me up! That is me about to hike a mountain. I did not meter very well because it ended up too dark in the blacks. More to come.

2009-07-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

I did it, I picked up my 4x5 again after a 6 month rest. I realized that I was getting so frustrated with my 4x5 because I was trying to make all my images with it....there are reasons (good reasons) that there are multiple formats out there. Now that I have loosened up as far as what I make pictures with, I can get tighter with what I make images about and in what format. These are three pics that I made this week. The top one, titled Relying on Ryan for Stillness, turned out to be a happy accident because I just could not stay still for a half second apparently and Ryan can, and that extends into out life and relationship as well, he's my rock. The second image, titled Summer Company Makes for Big Messes, is simply what my kitchen sink looked like after 2.5 weeks of company. And lastly Bob's Bike, this is my neighbors bike glistening in the late afternoon sun, the perfect little jewel to make me go get my camera.

2009-07-06T10:34:00.000-07:00

More images from the Windsor 35mm camera. Just some summer snap shots.

2009-06-08T14:29:00.000-07:00

Wowie zowie that was a big post! All I can say is that me and the ol' Yashica twin lens had a great weekend. I have really loved working with this camera. I recommend that everyone interested in photography own a twin lens. The way you shoot is just very diferent. The square format was originally developed for designers and when you get one in your hands you understand why. The square frame leaves no room for inconsistency, which I think compliments my concept perfectly!

I have been letting a little project brew in my brain for a little while. It might end up being called Humans' Nature, but that could be cheesy, so I have to think on it. I have become so interested in the way it seems apparent that humans want a connection with nature, or the natural, but due to out modern lifestyle and our need to control our surrounding's we end up creating our own natural environment, we make things to do outside, we construct our interaction with the elements. I still need to do more thinking on it, but that's where it is going.

2009-06-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

Here are some more images from my little junk camera. These are from a roll I took in VT. I just love this little camera and how it feels so tuff, I can drop it, throw it in the purse, and care less about the quality of the image. Sometimes I am amazed I used to be a 45 snob.......well I guess I still am, but I have learned to enjoy other mediums as well!

2009-05-15T12:15:00.001-07:00

Well I finally got my book out there in the world! It is currently for sale in both softcover and hardcover. I have not seen it yet, so I am not sure what the quality will be. I'm guessing it should be pretty good, blurb has a great reputation. Anyway, check it out here, there is a book preview option so you can get a little sneak peek!

2009-05-13T15:00:00.000-07:00

On my Sunday excursion at the Brunswick Flea Market, I found a Windsor WX-3 (pictured at top) 35mm camera. I had never heard of one before, but I could not pass up it's tiny little body and simple controls. Also, the one I found was just about as clean as the one pictured. The guy sold it, and a tiny flash attachment, to me for $5. I did not have my hopes too high for what I would get out of the thing, but I am more then happy about the actual results! These were all taken at the photo cook out at my house, a perfect time to try it out. This is a great little purse camera if ever you should find one. This week I am going to try some color film in there, I cant wait.

2009-04-29T08:16:00.000-07:00

More 2 1/4 work. After working so exclusively with a 4x5 for years I am amazed at how much more work I make with a portable camera. My favorite image on this roll is the one of Daniel smoking a cigarette on the top. I have made quite a bit of flash work with this camera but I have not digitized it yet.

2009-04-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

This is another image from my family album project. One of the responses I got was "oh, you used that Photoshop filter"....and I was like, damn it, no, I didn't but there is really no way to tell that these effects are done in camera. I am hoping that as I continue with the project the qualities will vary enough that they wont look "Photoshopy".

On another note, this is my mom and dad. It is the only image I have of them together. The photo itself has become an object that I cherish as it is a memory I do not have. I was really happy with the long exposer that made their faces unrecognizable because them together is a phantom of my imagination and past. I have no recollection of my parents being together and I love the way this image begins to illustrate that wishing to remember.

2009-04-27T12:48:00.000-07:00

What a weekend it was in Portland, ME. I can easily remember April's where it snowed, and this weekend it hit 80 degrees, twice! It was time to till the garden plot and add seeds to the soil. I hope to make many images of the garden this year as it grows wild. These are simple images for sure, purely a documentation of me digging in the dirt. Digging in the dirt feels so good, it was worth making pictures of. I especially love the one of me wiping my forehead with my cow manure encrusted hands.

2009-04-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

Four images from a roll I took this weekend. A project is definitely begging to take form.

2009-04-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

I have been working on a book, 20 Something. When it is complete it will be available from Blurb. I am still proofing images and editing. These two images will be in it as well as some of the images from a few posts back. I am so excited for it to be done. It was a super fast and sloppy project, which is just what I wanted to do. No over thinking it here!

2009-04-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

For the past couple weeks I have been shooting with my little Yashica LM 2 1/4. I was in a real photo rut so I tried a little trick I heard; put a handful of film on your dresser on Friday and make sure it is all shot by Monday. Well. it worked, it got me shooting. I really like what I have been doing lately, it is very simple. I don't have a statement of any sort yet, but after the summer I should have a nice little body of work. I have not made enough yet to edit down a solid grouping, but these are just a few from a roll I shot this weekend. The work has got something to do with my perspective of the place that I live and the small oddities within it, this will include more personal images too.

2009-04-08T15:52:00.000-07:00

I have been doing some experimenting lately. These are a few pieces I did about family. I think they are both the beginnings of something very different for me. I had so much fun making these. Writing about my parents felt like a relief, and recording the images of their path made made me feel like I had some how experienced it. I make so many images all the time and to simply make something with the photographs I have made and collected felt free and easy to do. Sometimes we get so reliant on one way of making that mixing it up a little can be all you need to re-spark your imagination.

2009-04-06T08:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend I found my self at a Dinosaur Jr. show, which was incredible. The mix of people there was great, balding men, families with kids, and of course the younger crowed that dreams of being part of a music scene as good as the early 90's. These two ladies were standing in front of me, they reminded me of being sixteen, and reminded me that I am almost ten years away from sixteen.

2009-03-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not I have been shooting a lot, but I have been in the darkroom mostly. I had a minute to scan this morning, and thought I would add this image. For so long I have been editing down the information in my images; basically setting them up. But lately I have found that mode of working to annoy me and it has slowed down my work flow a lot. So, I have been just shooting what is there...avoiding my OCD like tendency to clear the room of clutter (which is always there) when I take an image.

2009-02-24T13:30:00.000-08:00

This winter I have not been able to find the cash for 4x5 film and processing. In a way it is a good thing because it has broken me of my habits and made me pick up different format. These were made with a little digital point and shoot. I actually really love them. They are such a change from what I have been doing. Being able to carry the camera in my pocket and shoot at night was a great change.

2009-02-24T13:27:00.000-08:00

I took this one a while ago and just revisited it today. I like it, a lot. This is my Subaru and I watching the sunrise this fall in VT.

2008-12-12T13:19:00.000-08:00

There are some people in my life that I like to make images of over and over. Tara is one of them. I took this one after her long work day at Banana Republic, a job that she would rather not have. There is something torturous about knowing that you are a creative thinker that has to spend the day answering dressing room calls from those who are uninterested in your knowledge. There is a longing for a new opportunity that I see in T. A longing that I think she is not alone in having.

2008-12-05T08:40:00.000-08:00

Frozen fish sticks and chicken nuggets, that's whats made here. "Real Home Style Goodness" is whats on the sign plopped on top of the factory.

2008-12-05T08:08:00.000-08:00

The beauty of the waterfront in Portland is not exactly what you would be imagined by the common vacationer. There is still a heavy industrial feel to it. Ships come in with oil and coal and leave it for workers to push around and distribute to Southern Maine. In many ways I prefer this view to that of condo's, (those are the only two options these days for waterfront property).

2008-11-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

Few, I finally got a little portrait making out of my system. One day I just brought my camera to work and pulled people out side to make their image. I find working with the students here really inspirational, I feel more inspired as staff at the college then I did when I was a student here. The third one down is really really different then the others, but I threw it in there anyway.

2008-10-26T13:37:00.000-07:00

I went home last weekend and shot like crazy. It was so nice to be back on my turf. I know thatplace like the back of my hand. It was foliage season, obviously.

2008-10-17T08:27:00.000-07:00

Here is another image from the thicket. A thesis for this project is slowly being made in my mind. Greek literature is what began this whole thing believe it or not. In all the stories I was reading I noticed how, often, cities and towns were gated, and to go beyond those gates put the characters in danger of the temptations of the untamed. To throw someone out of the city was often a punishment. The banished had to fend for them selves in the wilderness. It's just the beginning of my idea, I will see how it develops.

2008-10-14T08:39:00.000-07:00

I am not exactly sure where this work is coming from, but I am absolutely loving making it. Maybe it is the result of looking at an Ansel Adams calender all year, or maybe it just being tiered of making portraits. I am enjoying the solitude of making on my own, portrait work is always a team operation. I can go into to the woods alone and shoot without being seen or seeing. The compositions that present themselves to me are sometimes phenomenal and I am always happily overwhelmed by the plants ability to overgrow each other.

2008-09-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

My dear Zoe Brown, quite possibly my favorite sitter. Zoe visited me recently and we both agreed that a nice portrait of her with one front tooth was necessary. Besides this detail, Zoe seems to give a lot as a sitter, allowing me and all of you, to look at her in depth on our own time.

2008-09-25T13:34:00.000-07:00

Ahhh summer. It is slowly leaving us behind. This is some of the family on the lake; Squam Lake actually, the same place that "On Golden Pond" was filmed. That is my Aunt Cassy all golden with sunlight.

2008-09-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

This was finally the summer that I was able to commit to a dog. This is Sadie. Ryan and I rescued Sadie from Greyhound Friends in Hopkinton MA. Apparently Sadie was terrible at racing because her breeder got rid of her at a very young age. Before us, Sadie had been in two homes and she is only 2.5! The other homes rejected her for aggression problems, she did snip at us once on the first night we had her, but she has been a dream ever since. I think she just finally found the right home.

2008-09-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

This is the famous Scott. He stayed with Ryan and I for a few weeks this summer. He was great company and a darn good vegan chef to boot!

2008-09-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

Whew, I have not been the best blogger lately. The good news is that I have been spending my time printing like crazy. It had been more then a year since I made an image larger the 11x14. Now I am printing 30x40's!!!!! I have also been shooting black and white which has been fun. I can develop my own film again and I enjoy having the control over the film in the developing process. Any-hoo, here are two new shots. The one on the top is an image that I am surprised I made actually. I tend to over think it usually and this time I just did and I like the results. The bottom is my little, almost three year old, neighbor. Making pictures of kids with a 4x5 is no easy task. Morgan did pretty good though, she may just be a natural!

2008-07-18T08:02:00.000-07:00

Something about these historical sight signs always gets me. They always look completely trashed. The little paintings that someone has done keep up the trend of only letting us view history through a folk art filter. When you really thing about the hundreds of events that happened around Portland you begin to view the land differently. I look at the current sight and can't help think about the encounter here between the 200 Wabanaki people and the Brittish. Though this sign describes a peace treaty, current situations would suggest that only the Brittish felt this way. Many treaties of this time ended with the chief explaining to his people that he was sorry because he miss translated the contents of the treaty.

2008-07-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

Nothin' like a great blue whale on a dreary day.

2008-07-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

It's Baseball season up on the hill.

2008-07-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

These are two images of my family after my Grandma Dorthy's funeral. She used to swim four miles in the ocean everyday and was a member of the shell club, hence our need to see the ocean after the church service.

2008-05-23T06:34:00.000-07:00

This is a little thing I did for my dad. My memories of going fishing with him as a kid are so vivid. Every time I smell a tackle box I am suddenly 6 years old with a mouth full of gummy worms sitting river side.

2008-04-10T14:40:00.001-07:00

There is something that I find continually interesting (visually) about where I work. There is a constant juxtaposition (art word) going on between the old and the new. Twice a month we have library meetings in the reading room which is where that lamp and fan are located. I stare at them constantly and think "what an odd pair", too very necessary, completely functioning objects from two very different moments in history. The second image is of tin types waiting for my attention, all these historic faces staring up at me from my faux wood desk. And lastly is the long hall, nothing special really, its just so darn modern and boring yet it serves as a path to the rooms holding thousands of stories.

2008-04-08T15:39:00.001-07:00

spring is exciting for everyone in new england. but it is possible that it is even more so for photographers. it is so nice to see the delicate colors that start to pop as the snow is melting and the trees are budding.

2008-04-08T15:37:00.001-07:00

two studies of ryan.

2008-04-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

The working docks of Portland ME are a dieing breed. Slowly but surely the condos, shops and restaurants crowd the waterfront leaving a smaller and smaller amount of space for the lobster men and other industries that need the space.

2008-02-26T15:25:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder where B&M Baked Beans are made? Probably not, but in case you did this is it in all it's glory. It is a strange water side factory, real run down looking. It is sort of the big mystery around here, many people have tried to go in but no access is allowed. Don't think about it too much, just enjoy them beans!

2008-02-26T14:56:00.001-08:00

One of the few benefits of living in this lonely town is the company of the ocean.

2008-02-18T11:27:00.001-08:00

oh man......I can't wait.

2008-02-18T09:44:00.001-08:00

During late fall I will often find little birds, like this one, on the sidewalk. I am not sure what it is that kills them, maybe it is simply the quick change in season that does not allow sick or weak birds to survive. I walk about a mile and a half to work and sometimes see two unfortunate birds in one walk. It is a fast reminder that winter is coming. This one was on my door step about a month after my grandmother past. Maybe it was a curiosity about how I was handling my resent loss, I am not sure, but something encouraged me to keep the bird in my freezer.

2008-02-18T08:52:00.001-08:00

It's dreary season in Portland ME.

2008-01-28T09:48:00.000-08:00

More images from the workplace. The first is an image of the reading room, the place where people dig through the stacks and find bits of their past. The second is of collections in waiting for their place among the shelves. And lastly the display case with bits of the libraries own history. Including (left to right) Red Tape which is used to tie together books whose bindings are on the outs, an old card catalog drawer, and a counter, a small box of dried kidney beans that was used to keep track of how many guests came into the library, plus many other little bits of our past.

2008-01-03T15:30:00.001-08:00

so maybe making pictures of your self because your the only person around is not the most legitimate way to make work, but it keeps you shooting.

2008-01-02T11:51:00.001-08:00

This is my cubical. There are many stereo types about office jobs, but I love mine. Working at the Maine Historical Society is Fantastic. I spend my days doing research, scanning historic photographs, and photographing maps that date back to the 1700's. The bottom image is the photo collection that I work on. There are over 140,000 photographs
including hundreds of glass plates, over sized prints and albums. Working with the collections has opened up a whole new interest...who knows maybe a masters in photo archiving is in my near future.

2007-11-27T18:55:00.001-08:00

I am not sure what it is about the mid-west that draws me to it. I guess it is just so bleak. It is opposite from the lush mountains that I grew up. It is also home to some of the best people I have ever met. I have driven through it three times now and every time I am in aw. You can see for ever and still there is nothing to see.

2007-11-17T17:50:00.001-08:00

Finally, I have scanned negatives from my new 4x5. I am very pleased with the results. This is a portrait taken of Zoe the last time I saw her. Driving your best friend all the way out to Iowa and leaving her their while you (I) trek back to Maine is no fun. Zoe is one of my all time favorite sitters. When we made this picture it was probably 105 degrees 100%humidity outside and it was my first time with the camera, so it took a while, and Zoe thought nothing of it!

2007-11-13T10:10:00.001-08:00

Sometimes, I think drawing myself as a religious icon is really amusing.

2007-10-29T08:53:00.001-07:00

Winter is for sure on the way. Today the high in Portland is 40, in three months it will be 8, if were lucky. For the most part I am looking forward to snow and all that winter stuff, but I will miss the sunshine being out until 8pm. The ultimate after work, summer activity this year consisted of: cold, cold Long Trail ale, a glove, and a baseball. Ryan and I are lucky enough to live by a park that looks over the ocean, a prime place for a game of catch. Now, I get home from work and sun is down and the air is way too cold to stand by the ocean. Guitar Hero has taken it's place, an equally fun after work thing. Hopefully Guitar Hero portraits are on the way....

2007-10-25T06:17:00.000-07:00