Manifesto

June 2, 2023

A few months back I wrote up a list of my creative beliefs. These were relevant only to me, and only for that given moment. The more I sat with the list, and let it gestate, the more I liked it as a sort of ad hoc manifesto. You know, all the great movements seem to have a manifesto. Karl Marx had his; Martin Luther nailed his to the church door. The Situationists, the Dadaists… hell, even my therapist helped me focus on a Dharma code…a spiritual, intention focussing manifesto, so to speak.

I have this current manifesto stuck to my studio wall, and also have it as my laptop wallpaper, so I look at it on a regular basis. I incorporated different influences; some from improv, some from my therapy, some from my art studies, and some from my rage and depression (if I’m being 100% transparent, which I am…)
I thought I’d share it here, in hopes that it pushes you, dear reader, to consider your own creative, personal, expressive values.

Some thoughts on each:

“Inactivity is not laziness.” There is great value in doing nothing, and if given the time and space, to do nothing for as long as possible.

“Destruction is creation.” I cribbed this from Picasso, thought I think it is a biblical idiom originally. It really rings true for me, especially in regards to my art practice over the past couple of years.

“Give things away.” Sharing my thoughts, my words, my blog, my podcast, my zines, my photos is an integral part of my interaction with my muse and with my world.

“Expect no reward.” Money, fame, and validation are all fine and good, but I try to create (and to live) with no expectations of profit, monetary or otherwise.

“Expect no audience.” No one gives a shit about you and your artwork. Make it anyway.

“Make boredom valuable.” Much of life is underwhelming, if not outright mind-numbing drudgery. Use this reality as fodder for thinking of things to create.

“Make something every day.” Take a photo, write a note, sing a song, bake a loaf of bread. One creative act a day keeps the wolves at bay.

“Remain curious.” Hard to be bored when there is wonder all around you.

“Say ‘Yes, and…’’ ” As in improv, so in life. Agree and add to other ideas. Saying “no” ends all potential immediately.

“Be the ‘you’ the world needs.” A bit woo woo, a bit snowflakey, but I don’t care. You were born, you’ll die. Be the best version of yourself you can be.

“Live until you die.” Like they say in Shawshank Redemption…. Didn’t realize it was a Stephen King quote.

feel free to snag this image for yourself…

2022: 39 Twenty Four Frames Per Second

October 22, 2022

The line between moving pictures and still photography is thin, and vast at the same time. So much in common, and so much much unique to each. I have played with moving imagery throughout my life, in parallel yet separate lanes from my still photography. This week, some of those lines bot blurred, some of the lanes got crossed.

I took a film workshop this past Sunday, run by the cinematic renegades at Basement Films. I got to play with old 16mm movie film, culled from an archive of educational and industrial films. A few arms-lengths of old film, hand manipulated, then spliced to create a loop. Think of it as a handmade animated GIF.

There is something magical about film: the feel of it, the look of it, the tiny replications of reality. Even more so when laid out in strips, 24 frames making a second of moving imagery. Each frame its own sliver of time. Each frame its own still photograph.

2021: 30 Lomography Film Swap; Part Three

July 24, 2021

Wow, I shot a roll of color, after it was exposed by Lomo-friend Shaiana in Hong Kong. Really wild, cross-global results.

2021: 28 Lomography Film Swap

July 10, 2021

I like to tell myself that I’d never join a cult, although the matching outfits does have some appeal. The closest I’ve come to this kind groupthink is in improv, and of course, in my passion for film photography. We film heads are niche dwellers, for sure, and there is a particular sect that I’ve grown extra fond of, the good folks who populate the world of Lomography. I’ve been posting my film-based work on my “LomoHome” for quite some time now, and I genuinely appreciate the audience there. In fact, it’s much more than an audience, it really feels like a community.

A few months ago I answered a call for Lomographers interested in taking part in a film swap. The idea is that one person shoots a roll of film, then sends it on to another person to run the same roll through their camera. After processing, magical, serendipitous double exposures are revealed. Of course, the chances of crystal clear, sensical images are next to nil. Instead, the overlapping images create their own unique look. And when you compound this randomness with the fact that the images are from two very different locations…well, that’s when wonders appear.

I was sent a roll of black and white film with a fellow Lomographer from Germany. Their location was a nice foil for the urban desert shots of my southwest US environs. I am pleasantly surprised by the number of “winners” we achieved on this shared roll. But even more satisfying was the opportunity to collaborate with a another like-minded film shooter, especially since our shared roll is part of a larger group of over fifty film shooters.

Enjoy the gallery below and keep an eye out for more to come.

2021: 14 Hey, Lomography!

April 3, 2021

Short and sweet this week, since I actually just emerged from 5 days in the high desert of West Texas… a HUGE thank you to the great folks at Lomography for a featured article on their website and social media platforms that hits today. A nice deep dive into my latest “destruction” series, featuring (tongue in cheek) easy to follow instructions… so you too can make your own mess. All kidding aside, at numerous times in my life, Lomography films and cameras have inspired and reinvigorated my photography. It is indeed an honor to have my work featured by these film renegades.

Check out the full feature here:
https://www.lomography.com/magazine/346051-5-1-mastering-the-art-of-hand-manipulation-with-nick-tauro

2020: 10 (Proof It, Dummy)

March 7, 2020

Shifting into high gear on my next self-publishing project. I’ve been keep my cards close to the vest on this project. It will be a departure for me in number of ways. I plan on hand binding the main book, but I am also working on two additional versions of the release. The proofing and dummying up process has consumed me this week, and with so much hand work ahead of me, there is only a small glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Persistence. So much persistence needed.

I was also struck with a small hint of spring fever this past week, as the temperatures in New Mexico have been hovering around 60 degrees most days. I took my monthly walk through the bosque to work on my year long, half frame project. The Kyocera Samurai is transforming my creative approach to this project, in a really good way. I also popped off a roll of black and white last weekend, playing around with architectural details and shadow play. Always be looking.

2020: 7 (Enter The Samurai)

February 15, 2020

If you’ve been reading this blog these past few months, you would know that I’ve been bitten by the half-frame camera bug. A cherished souvenir from a trip to Japan last year is the gorgeous Olympus Pen EE-S. As much as I love this camera (and I do love it) it does have some serious limitations. I have been able to adjust my shooting style to accommodate the zone focusing system. The biggest hurdle is that the ISO range only goes up to 200. Not really conducive to shooting in every condition. This was especially apparent when I popped off a roll of film on a snowy early morning in the bosque. The camera struggled in the low light. Since I’ve committed to a year long project shooting half-frame, I really wanted to have a solution that would let me shoot a faster film. Enter The Samurai.

The Samurai is a ridiculous looking camera, without a doubt. It looks like a 1980s camcorder. Though it will never win a beauty contest, it is a secret weapon that I immediately appreciated when it finally arrived via an Ebay seller in Japan. Buying it sight unseen was a bit of a risk, but after a quick test roll, I realized I scored a perfectly functioning model. It has tele / wide zoom capability. It has a DX code range that goes up to 3200. It has a clunky but functional auto focus. It has a flash (which I had to figure out how to turn off.) Though it might be hard for me to justify a camera purchase not being a symptom of G.A.S., this little oddball is satisfying a need in my process. If the contact sheet above is any indication, I will most likely be using this gem for more than just my current year-long project.

2020: 6 (Film and Apple Pie)

February 8, 2020

Shooting film is very much like making an apple pie. You put so much effort into assembling the correct balance of ingredients, but you still have to wait for it to bake… and cool, before you even know if it tastes good or not.

In the world of “instant everything, order your food, your groceries, week, post text, chat, I want it now, I will not wait, I demand satisfaction” it is an almost meditative, zen like practice to shoot film. You don’t see what you get while you shoot. You aren’t sure if your film is even being exposed correctly. You have to wait until your film is developed before you see any results. And then, if you are like me and you scan your film, it is a longer process of scanning before the final, positive images pop up on my monitor.

Why do I do this? It slows me down, makes my shooting feel more intentional. The extra investment of time and money makes me value each image just a little bit more. I wait in anticipation to finally se my photos. Like waiting for a gift to arrive, or waiting for a stew to simmer on a stovetop for a few hours. It heightens my anticipation and makes the payoff more worthwhile every time. Even if my film is underexposed, or out of focus, or boring, or not “sharable.” It still have more substance to it.

If anyone would like to swap a nice apple pie for a few rolls of film, give me a shout.

Frames I scanned while writing this post. 36 exposures.

2020: 5 (36 Exposures)

February 1, 2020

I have been sick this week. Sicker than I have been in a long time. I got my annual flu shot, but it didn’t protect me from whatever ‘crud” I’ve been battling for the past 10 days. It really hit me hard this week. I missed two improv rehearsals, and three and a half days of work. And it is not done yet. While I sip some lemon, ginger and honey tea… and scan a roll of film I developed last night, I thought I would share 36 random thoughts that came to my mind this week. Maybe it’s the vast amount of over-the-counter medications, or the upended schedule of work and sleep that this illness has brought, but one thing being stuck in bed affords you is plenty of time for your mind to wander.

1: I have too many cameras. I am trying to weed out my collection, by giving cameras that I haven’t used in a long time one more chance to stay in my favor. Otherwise, I might “gift” it to a deserving friend, or it goes on Ebay. I shot my Olympus Trip 35 this week, and I’m scanning the film as I write these words. Not sure I need another zone focusing pocket camera.

2: I have too many cameras, and I bought another one this week. Damn you Ebay, damn you G.A.S.! Since I recently fell in love with a sexy little half-frame camera from Japan, I’ve been smitten by the unique format half-frame cameras provide. It is very “lomo-esque” in many ways. I really love the freedom of shooting this way, so I broke down and bought a Yashica Samurai from Japan. When it arrives, I’ll give you more of my thoughts on this oddity.

3: Courage is a rare quality these days… just watch the news.

4: Hot water is a gift from the gods. A hot shower, a hot bath, a hot cup of tea… all essential this week.

5: “Babylon Berlin” on Netflix is a binge worthy treat. Decadence and intrigue. Weimar Germany at its worst, and best. Bonus points for the opening titles, and the amazing theme song over each episode’s closing credits.

6: You can use Google extensions to block out your Facebook news feed and to block out suggested videos on YouTube. Who knew? I didn’t. But this tip via Joey Schweitzer / Better Ideas literally improved my life this week.

7: Posole vs Green Chile Stew from Garcia’s. Which is better? This is neck and neck for me right now.

8: A 20-something co-worker was listening to Duran Duran at the office this week. I turned him on to Kraftwerk. My Gen X, good deed of the day.

9: Eddie Murphy was great in “Dolomite Is My Name.”

10: If I am honest with myself, I admit that I fear living a life of mediocrity.

11: I could eat pizza or pasta every day.

12: Pulling the bed covers over my face never fails to make me feel like I’m eight years old again.

13: Regrets are a bitch.

14: John Green’s podcast “Anthropocene Reviewed” never ceases to amaze me. Or push me close to tears.

15: “The Candid Frame” is probably the best photo related podcast out there. Ibarionex just released his 400th episode. Quite an achievement. Every talk is quality.

16: Can I really commit to 36 of these?

17: Yes, it’s all about the follow through.

18: David Bowie’s album he did with Tin Machine in 1989 holds up pretty well 30 years later, though some of the lyrics could have used more polish.

19: I can’t decide if reading old journal entries from decades ago is a good or a bad idea. I was kind of dumb back then.

20: You could stay at a youth hostel for about 5 bucks a night in 1989.

21: Wow, three different thoughts, all about 1989, wtf???

22: There is a video posted on YouTube of a movie I acted in. A college film, made by some dear friends. I watched it last night. I was a bit of a “pretty boy.” And a bad actor. Or maybe I was pretty good for a guy who’s only previous stage experience was as a background thug in a high school production of “Fiddler on the Roof.”

23: The neighbor’s dog barks all day long while she is away.

24: Is it better to be a big fish in a small pond, or a small fish in a big pond?

25: Scanning film is meditative.

26: Photo District News is going away. After 40 years in print. That makes me sad.

27: Instagram is the devil. But a necessary devil?

28: How do you carry your burden of responsibility? I’m not asking this rhetorically.

29: Life is short.

30: I used to like the smell of stop bath. Now I prefer the lingering aroma of fixer.

31: I took the Jeopardy online test this week. I actually auditioned for the show a couple of years ago but didn’t get on. I blame this guy.

32: The new Destroyer album is well worth your time.

33: I listened to Tyler, The Creator after reading he won a Grammy. And I enjoyed it. Go figure.

34: I always want to know who got me sick. Like, who spread the germs that got my sick. I need someone to blame. Which is pointless, I know.

35: I got my wife sick. She can clearly blame me. She is also 100% tougher than I am. I’m a wuss when I don’t feel well.

36: I truly hope someone out there was entertained enough to get to this last thought. Thank you. Want a free camera?

2019: 41 (Contact Sheets | Half-frame Camera)

October 12, 2019

Shooting film is always a roll of the dice. You don’t know what you’ve captured on film until days (or weeks) later, after you’ve gotten your film processed. During my recent trip to Japan, I bought an old Olympus Pen EE-S, a half-frame film camera, on the first day of the trip. To those of you who are unfamiliar, a half-frame camera exposes only half of the usual 35mm film frame. Instead of 36 frames, the camera yields a whopping 72 photos per roll. An added bonus (or challenge) to using this camera is that the images are formatted vertically (as you can see on the contact sheet above.) So when I bought the camera, I had to trust that it was functioning properly. I knew I wasn’t going to see the results of this experience until I returned back home… so if the camera wasn’t working properly, I’d be shit out of luck, and there would be no opportunity to re-shoot the photos.

Here’s another curveball I needed to deal with. I wanted the film not only developed, but printed as contact sheets. Not a digitally layout of all the frame scans, but an actual, darkroom printed, contact sheet. I’m betting most of you reading this have never gotten a real contact sheet made. You lay the strips of film on a sheet of photo paper, expose it under the light of an enlarger, and then run that paper through photo chemistry. The result is what you see above. A nice way to judge all the photos from one roll of film. I actually had to ship my film to a lab in New York City to get this done (full disclosure, I also had them scan the film so I could have digital version for social media, etc.)

When the package finally arrived this week, I was relieved and excited to see the results. First off, the camera worked like a charm. Sure there were a couple of dud frames, mostly due to my bad skills at framing a moving subject, or not paying attention to the zone focus adjuster on the front of the lens. Otherwise though, the exposures look pretty much spot on. The exposure is controlled by a selenium meter on the front of the lens (see image below) which then adjusts the shutter speed to give a properly exposed image. The camera was made in the 1960s, so I was dubious whether it would function properly. If it didn’t work, I paid for an expensive, albeit very attractive, paperweight. Thankfully, my fears were not realized, and I have two rolls of memories from my trip.

This little gem of a camera… small, lightweight, and easy to use will most likely be in my pocket no matter what or where I decide to shoot next. It will be a unique addition to any other digital or film camera I might decide to use.

The wonderful Olympus Pen EE-S half-frame film camera. A thing of beauty and simplicity.