Since it is far too cold here in Germany, yes, even for me and Clover. We spent some time this morning putting together some of our favorite Ambrotypes from this past year into a calendar for 2011. If you are looking for something special for that Photography lover in your life…check this out. Not only do you get a cool new image each month, but when the year is over you have 12 prints ready to frame!
Click here to buy your Ambrotype calendar for 2011
Ambrotype Calendar 2011

Last weekend we had the pleasure of participating in the Accessible Art Fair at the Conrad hotel in Brussels, Belgium. It was a exciting fun filled weekend and we met and spoke with at least 3000 people in those two and a half days.

This year we brought our Wet Plate Ambrotypes and Albumen hand pulled Prints along to showcase. The public were very receptive to this historic techniques and enjoyed very much looking through our 100+ year old Charten Whole Plate camera.

We demonstrated the Collodion Wet Plate process in a dry manner due to the fact we were inside a very swanky hotel, but I believe the concept came across to everyone.

Here are a few images from the event and we hope to return again with something new again in 2011.

Thank you to everyone who came out in support to see us in Brussels!

What’s next you ask for Boston Thek Imagery? Well, on the weekend of 5-7 November 2010 you can out and meet artists and buy some amazing art! If you are in the Brussels area and even if you are not…it is worth the drive. Come by and say hello!

BAAF Laura Boston Thek

I must thank also my friends and neighbors for coming out in support. A big thank you goes to the Rathaus (town hall) of course, Frau Stahl who organized the night and Mayor Ziegler for his many kind words. Obsthof Schuhmann of Ladenburg not only personally marketed my exhibition by handing out posters and postcards but also arrived as a family with a HUGE beautiful basket of their amazing fruit for all visitors on the night to enjoy.

Well, enough of me…here is the exhibition through is eyes.

I had a nice visit with Mannheimer Morgan journalist, Hans-Jürgen Emmerich a few days before our Vernissage (opening) of the Ladenburg exhibition.
Here is a translation from the interview above:

When and how did you get into photography?

In 2003, While working as a museum designer for the US Army in Würzburg, my bosses saw some of my  and they gave me an amazing opportunity.  For 2 weeks I was a reportage
Photographer in France documenting 1st Infantry Division soldiers as they performed Memorial day ceremonies around France.

Since when you live in Europe, since when in Ladenburg?

I have been lucky enough to live in Germany and Belgium on and off since 1991.   I have lived in Ladenburg for the past 4 years.  That is why I decided to give this exhibition now with all the local Military leaving we have no idea if we will be here next year.  I did not want to miss the chance to say Thank you to Ladenburg.

Which camera do you prefere?

I can’t really say I have a favorite camera. Each camera teaches me something new, each camera shows me a different way of seeing.  If I have to pick I would say I love my Rolleiflex 2,8 GX….but I love working with my Ansco Large Format Studio Camera as working with a camera that large, it is like dance.  We must be in harmony to produce a great image.  I guess that is with all cameras.

How often do you use the iPhone to take pictures?

EVERYDAY!! I love my iPhone….it is wonderfully freeing to not have to carry heavy gear.

Which images you selected for your exhibition at Ladenburg?

A German friend of mine used the word AUGENBLICK to describe the images I chose for this exhibition.  Moments  where the light  was magical, a feeling of fantasy or a touch of the fairy tale that is present in the daily life  here in Ladenburg.  At least in my American Perspective.  Presently I have 30 images chosen, that can always change in the next two weeks as I never stop working, 15 of them are hand printed using the historic technique called Albumen printing.  This process was invented in 1850′s, where you coat paper with a mixture of egg whites and salt and then later sensitize the paper with Silver Nitrate.  The prints are then produced using UV light or the sun in a contact print frame.  The result is a rich print with an amazing finish.

Is there a favorite motif in Ladenburg?

There is so much to love about Ladenburg that picking one motif is difficult, but if I must pick, for me it is the Landscape that captivates and inspires me.  The ever changing light and vast sky, each day pulls me out of my studio and into the streets and fields.

The exhibition will hang in the Ladenburg Rathaus from 15 October until 29 November.  The Vernissage or Opening is 15 October at 19:00.  The idea behind this exhibition is to say THANK YOU to all the wonderful people of Ladenburg for making me feel at home these past 4 years.

After beating my head to design a proper Poster to market the collection an amazing college friend from Ringling stepped in and created this incredible marketing package for me. Curry Mendes’ skills are endless and to him I am ever grateful.

You can catch “Eine Amerikanische Perspektive” at the Ladenburg Rathaus from
15 October thru 29 November 2010.

Today I finished one part of the presentation, a new book.

Ladenburg An American Perspective

I hope you will stop by and check it out!

I have written to you a few times now about my husband’s interest in film photography and how he is inspiring me to join him on journey into medium and large format film photography.

Being a complete “Left Brainer” my husband really enjoys the chemistry behind film photography. Each evening, when he comes in from work, he changes his clothes and checks to see what film needs to be developed and he loads up more 4×5 plates for the next adventure.  He says it is a real stress burner for him.

What use to be known as our bathroom has now acquired the new title of “the Magic Room” as it has been transformed into his laboratory/Darkroom.

After much research he purchased an amazing bit of kit to add to our home studio, the Harrison Pup Film Changing Tent. As you can see in the slideshow, our Wheaten Terrier Clover, enjoys helping load film. The addition of this little tent has freed up a lot of time and made changing and loading film while traveling possible. We can even pop up the pup tent in the car or in the field if necessary. We can’t say enough about this great product.  Aftrer viewing the slideshow someone pointed out how a “Pup” tent is very appropraite for us.

If you are interested in seeing some of our combined film work, we have recently released a calendar for 2010. You can view and purchase this calendar at this link: SharedPassion

Here is a collection of images taken in the famous Partnachklamm gorge.  I hope you enjoy images and it’s release is in plenty of time for this up and coming holiday season.   Please stop by and let us know what you think of the latest calendars.

Thanks!

2010 Calendar Partnachklamm at Red Bubble

I am happy to announce, after a month of concentrated hard work, we revealed our work in Brussels this past weekend at the Brussels Accessible Art Fair.   The best way for me to describe the event for you is it was like Christmas morning for me.  After spending the past 3 years making every one’s gifts, I was blessed to watch their faces as they opened and discovered each image…each gift.

Honestly I was overwhelmed by the reaction of people to my simple images.  They really did get it!  Many said the subject matter was of ordinary things, shown in an extraordinary way…that each image was a magical moment captured on paper.

One key moment that sticks in my mind was when a British woman arrived with her son and they fell in love with the image of the bee frozen in air about to land on a poppy.  She told me the only reason her 9 year old was coming with her to the art fair was to see photographers.  I personally was floored by how so many of the children attending the event actually spent concentrated time in front of the images and paintings to admire them and enjoy them, but that is another story.  What I want to share with you is the fact that this Poppy loving woman bought the print and her son, the 9 year old bought a framed print of my image “Time Portal” where light is pouring through the forest and appears as a doorway in time.  We spoke together about the image at length and I told him how I believed it to be Narnia.  His mother kindly left her framed image with us on the booth wall  for the next three days but her son insisted he wanted to hang his in his room….THAT NIGHT.

I was so incredibly honored.  Actually I was so incredibly honored by all the people who came and spent time with me, listening to my stories, showed me support and all my friends and their endless belief in me and my work.

The weekend felt like a year to me, in the most wonderful way.  Though I was tired, I sort of wished it would never end as I was drawing such positive energy from everyone I met.

I wanted to make sure to take time while it was fresh in my mind to share this all with you and to say THANK YOU for your time and support.

This was ONE GIANT STEP for Laura kind!