On the way down to photograph the Elvis Extravaganza Competition at the State Fair in Tampa, Florida, LUCEO photographer Kendrick Brinson and I made a detour to Weeki Wachee, Florida to see the glorious spectacle we had heard so much about. Fortunately, once we arrived, the 60′s-era throwback dank subterranean-theater did not disappoint. The curtain rose, and we peered through the glass-paneled wall as mermaids soared through the underwater theater, playing out scenes from Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘The Little Mermaid’. The whole show fit so well into the thesis of a body of work I’ve been working on for a long time entitled, ‘My Waking Life’. The idea is that the same surreal fantastical images that we find in our dream life can be found all around us if we simply stop and look. I normally find these images to be an elusive way of seeing, which is why the talented mermaids of Weeki Wachee are so refreshing to me. They’re a reminder to anyone who cares to make that detour off I-75 that our everyday life is full of wonder.
As for the three-headed monster, he’s on the other side of the glass. Me. My newfound obsession with film has left me juggling three cameras, the third acquired just before this trip and used for the first time below. So I have my trusty old Canon 5d Mkii as always, along with my new favorite, my clunky Hasselblad 500c, and the newest addition, a Ricoh GR1v which is a 35mm rangefinder point-and-shoot (slim as a deck of cards). Of course it’s the photographer, and not the camera, but I’m finding that these different tools close some doors for me and force others open. So, you be the judge – which eye wins this round?
CANON (including top image)
HASSELBLAD
RICOH
Matt
February 24th, 2010, 3:35 pm #
ricoh’s ftw!
i’ve got the grd3 and a gr1v.. they are my preferred mode of operation.. no brains necessary.. point and capture.
the lens on the gr1v is gorgeous.. i’ve never had geat luck with color film but with my bw stock its spot on.
David Walter Banks
February 24th, 2010, 4:15 pm #
Cool – one vote for Ricoh.
Yea, I’m loving the GR1v – so much fun and almost therapeutic for me to have the control taken away. I’ll post more from it soon.
Daniel Berman
February 24th, 2010, 5:55 pm #
For me, my favorite images were the mermaid shooshing on canon, and the 2nd hasselblad shot. Very surreal find!
Tom Leininger
February 24th, 2010, 6:16 pm #
I am guessing there is a difference in the film? The Mermaid shushing is a nice frame, probably the frame of the series.
The blue in the Ricoh is too much for me though, but I am guessing that is a film issue more than anything.
Daido Moriyama likes the Ricoh too.
jesse
February 24th, 2010, 6:38 pm #
this is amazing. i love it.
David Walter Banks
February 24th, 2010, 8:56 pm #
Thanks Jess, and I appreciate the feedback Tom and Daniel.
Not much difference in the film Tom, Kodak 160NC in both cases. I can see how the blue is a bit extreme, but I’m glad you like it Daido.
So that’s two Rico, two Canon, and one Hassy vote.
Ramsay de Give
March 1st, 2010, 11:40 am #
4th image on the Hasse take for me!
David Walter Banks
March 1st, 2010, 12:00 pm #
Thanks for the feedback Ramsay, but now I’m torn.