My preferred experimental photographic style is Night Photography. I like the solitude of the exposure process and the creative vision required in composing images at night.
I often carry many artificial light sources to expose the details within the shadows during my night exposures. Hence, the title to this website. I carry everything from 2 million candle-power marine spotlights to bic lighters (and everything in between) to add light to my nightscapes, which are mostly lit by ambient full moonlight.
My photographic style and philosophy are based on the view that the subject of the image should initially be in darkness and then the photographer should add the light (direction, intensity, color and quality) to achieve the desired vision. So, as you can imagine, results from my studio work are much like my nightscapes.
Film choices include two main types: Bergger BRF 120 roll film developed in PyroCat HD developer or one of several Ilford films developed in Xtol (1:1) at 70 degreees. Both films are developed for extended times under near stand-still (no agitation) conditions. I also sometimes add density to the developed negative by toning the wetted negative in Kodak selenium rapid toner, since these high contrast night scenes (especially the ones that include the light source within the scene) need to be tamed a bit in the highlights. Alternatively, I use Kodak e100vs 120 color slide film.
Equipment choices include mainly film cameras for my night work. My favorite camera choice is my Fuji GX-617 rangefinder camera with a Fujinon 105mm lens fitted with a center-weighted ND filter. This camera uses either 120 (or 220) roll film and provides 4 (or 8) images per roll. The Fujinon lens is a 5x7 view camera lens that offers about 85 degree angle of coverage on a negative size of 6cm x 17cm (about 2 1/4 inch x 6 1/2 inch). Most other times, I use my Mamiya 7II medium format 6x7 rangefinder camera with a Mamiya 50mm lens and sometimes the corresponding panoramic adapter for use with 35mm film.
Light Sources include: monoblocks, strobe packs, on- and off-camera flashes, Lumedyne stuff, spotlights & flashlights, LED sources, fire, candles, home-assembled fiber optics, and of course, the moon.
Printing preference: Contact printing the negatives under a UV light source onto hand-coated palladium emulsions brushed on 100% rag cotton watercolor paper is my preferred printing technique. Although, I have been asked to drum scan my negatives and offer giclee' (archival inkjet) prints up to 24" x 72" in size on everything from matte, glossy & canvas print media. Please contact me for print prices and for the availability of stock images.
Have fun and enjoy the images. If you have questions, feel free to contact me.
Michael Koerner, Ph.D.
All images copyright © 2006 Michael Koerner Photography.
All rights reserved.