For The Record

January 20, 2017

#0498_11A - Mission St., San Francisco. 2106

For the record, I do not support President Donald Trump.

I do not support his policies, or lack thereof. I believe he is ill equipped for the office. I believe he is uninformed and willfully ignorant. I believe his intentions are single in nature, to enrich himself and his family by way of the presidency.

I am disgusted with the Republican Party, not only because of their policies, but because they could have stopped this. They could have stood up for something. They could still shutdown this circus and attempt to make things right, but they value power, not progress. I'm looking at you Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell. Shame on you both. You have harmed this great nation with your inaction.

More importantly, I do not support a hateful president.

I do not support a man who degrades, demeans and assaults women. This is not locker room talk. This is not acceptable. This is not normal behavior. If you believe it is, you are part of the problem.

I do not support a man who demonizes immigrants, Muslims, African-Americans, Latinos or anyone else that does not look or speak like him. This is not ok. This is not acceptable behavior for anyone, let alone a president. This is racism. This is xenophobia. It is not an "opinion." It is disgusting.

I believe education is a right, and not a mechanism to build "God's Kingdom" as the nominee for Secretary of Education has said.

I believe healthcare is a right, and the size of your bank account should never determine wether or not you live a healthy life, or live at all.

I believe all people, women, men, gay, lesbian, trans, black, brown, white, red, green, purple, yellow, whatever you may be and however you identify, deserve equals rights, equal pay, equal treatment under the law, equal access to healthcare and housing.

I believe the roles are reversed. Those of us in big cities who value diversity aren't living in a bubble. Those that believe the only "real" Americans are the ones that look, speak and act as they do, this is the bubble. The bubble of ignorance, of intolerance, of racism and homophobia and misogyny.

I'll be on the street tonight, in the pouring rain, cameras in tow, to show the world that we do not support this president. We support equality, we support diversity, we support human rights. We are not in a bubble. We are the majority. And we will drag all of you with us, one day, kicking and screaming if need be, out of your bubble. Because you deserve better, all of us do. For the record.

Word On The Street

January 18, 2017

The City feels quiet these days... there's a silence in the air, people are worried...

#0494_33A - Muni Riders, San Francisco, 2016.

#0495_17A - Howard St. San Francisco, 2016

Inauguration day looms large and everyone seems to be realizing all at once that this is not in fact a horrible nightmare, but our reality, at least for the foreseeable future.

I've never felt more fortunate to live in the Bay Area. We've got our problems, but we're also one of the most diverse, open minded, inclusive and progressive places on earth.

I read an interesting thing the other day that really resonated with me...

"What if the people who live in diverse cities filled with multitudes of points of view aren't the ones living in a bubble?"

I'm sticking with that.

Flora, Take #2

January 13, 2017

Take #2 from a shoot with Flora (http://www.modelmayhem.com/3055887) in October of last year, we shot through intermittent rain and a stiff wind, which is a hell of a lot easier for me to work in than for her, as it turns out...

Amber, Take #2

January 09, 2017

Second take from a shoot back in October (when the world was a brighter, warmer place...) with Amber (http://www.modelmayhem.com/ANudeMuse) at Marshall's Beach in San Francisco. Sifting through these images... I'm really looking forward to printing some of them soon, watch for a print release from this shooting coming up...

As always... if you want to get in a print releases as well as other bits and pieces I'm releasing each month, visit patreon.com/jszymanski.

Print Release, January 2017 - No. 0430_25A

January 01, 2017

#0430_25A - Sonia And Brittany, Queen Anne Hotel. San Francisco, California. February of 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 35mm f/2 lens, Alford HP5 film.

Occasionally, not often, things just seem to fall into place... having been invited to a party by a model I'd worked with some years prior, along with a few other creatives, a couple other models, a few more photographers, things got weird, and this image happened.

Digital proofs were printed on Canson Fiber Rag, 5x7 proofs were printed on Ilford Cold Tone Fiber. All prints should ship this week.

To get in on monthly print releases and to support my work, visit https://patreon.com/jszymanski/.

If you're interested in purchasing this print you can find it in my shop... Here's the link: https://www.josephszymanski.com/shop/no-043025a

Happy New Year… and enjoy…

Flora, Take #1

December 23, 2016

For the record, models are pretty tough customers. Sure I've worked with a few prima donnas over the years, but they were the exception not the rule. Flora was no different. We ended up shooting during the first big rain storm of the season. Thankfully it was somewhat intermittent...

There were a few good breaks in the weather that allowed for relatively un-soaked shooting. The light was wonderfully soft, and It made for some interesting images to say the least...

Word On The Street

December 16, 2016

Sonder: n. The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines and worries - a story that continues around you and is connected to thousands of other lives.

#0469_27A - Sleeping Man, Muni Train. San Francisco, CA. September of 2016.

#0470_05A - Man With Gun, Market Street. San Francisco, CA. October of 2016.

#0470_03A - Sunbathing Woman, 3rd Street. San Francisco, CA. October of 2016.

#0469_22A - Cafe, Mission Street. San Francisco, CA. September of 2016.

#0469_31A - Museum Goers, 3rd Street. San Francisco, CA. September of 2016.

Amber, Take #1

December 09, 2016

After several false starts Amber and I were finally able to pull it together and shoot again in October. She's a wonderful model and just a lovely person... you can see more of her work at http://modelmayhem.com/ANudeMuse or at http://anudemuse.com/

All images shot with a Leica M2, Leitz 90mm f/2.8 on Ilford FP4 125 film.

#0472_31A - Amber, San Francisco. October of 2016.

#0472_19A - Amber, San Francisco. October of 2016.

#0472_17A - Amber, San Francisco. October of 2016.

#0472_27A - Amber, San Francisco. October of 2016.

Prints, Books, Etc.

December 05, 2016

So it's the holidays, again... and seeing as the buying season is already running full tilt, I though I'd remind all of you about all the really amazing stuff that you could buy (from me) that isn't from Wal-Mart or Target... so in turn, I can buy more film, bourbon, shampoo, you know, important things...

Fine Art Prints

I've updated and added a bunch of new prints to the shop... and I'll be adding more throughout the month. In addition to regular prints I'm putting up some framed finished pieces that I have on hand at reduced prices...

Books On Demand

All three books that I've put out listed in the shop as signed copies, limited to what I have on hand... you can find them here...

If you're not interested in a signed copy you can pick up any of them on demand through http://www.blurb.com/user/origin at the links listed below...

Fragments: http://www.blurb.com/b/6271657-fragments

No Particular Significance: http://www.blurb.com/b/4537424-photographs-of-no-particular-significance

Midnight: http://www.blurb.com/b/3425560-midnight

Print Release, December 2016 - No. 0419_10A

December 02, 2016

A quick snap from last December, at the cafe where I pick up coffee most mornings, on New Montgomery Street in downtown San Francisco.

No. #0419_10A - Cafe Window, New Montgomery Street. San Francisco, CA. December of 2015. Shot with a Leica M2, Zeiss 35mm f/2 lens, on Ilford HP5 400 film.

Prints should ship out in the next week or so... All digital proofs are printed on Canson Fiber Rag, 5x7 proofs are printed on Ilford Cold Tone Fiber.

To get in on monthly print releases and to support my work, visit https://patreon.com/jszymanski/. If you're interested in purchasing this print you can find it in my shop... Here's the link: http://www.josephszymanski.com/shop/no-0419-10a.

Word On The Street

November 28, 2016

A few snaps from my periodic magic hour strolls. Now that daylight savings time has ruined everything I'm really missing these late afternoon walks. Seems like the best place to be this time of year is the darkroom...

#0468_28A - Market Street, San Francisco, CA. September of 2016.

#0469_12A - Market Street, San Francisco, CA. September of 2016.

#0465_15A - Castro Street, San Francisco, CA. August of 2016.

Patreon Updates...

November 21, 2016

Finally getting back into some semblance of a routine, and feel more eager than usual to get back to work. As such I've updated a few things on Patreon going forwad...

#0478_13 - Self Portrait In Mirror, 2016.

First and foremost, I've changed the payment schedule from per release, to per month... I've got a lot of new work to share and new prints in the queue, so I'll be releasing a new print each month in addition to normal posts.

Second, I've added another tier of support at $5. It's the quickest and easiest way to support my work. For $5 a month you'll get access to all exclusive content I post on Patreon, behind the scenes updates, process notes, discounts on prints and books and the like.

Once again, to support my work, please visit patreon.com/jszymanski

Thanks to everyone for all the support....

Word On The Street

November 18, 2016

Seems trivial sometimes, in light of recent events, wandering about making pictures. Maybe one day it will matter, people will remember, we'll have this record, we were here. Sometimes I have to remind myself that the work is important, even if it isn't important to anyone else, it's important to me. Now more than ever...

#0465_05A - Market Street. San Francisco, CA. August of 2016.

#0466_14A - Powell Street Station. San Francisco, CA. 2016.

#0463_24A - New Montgomery Street. San Francisco, CA. August of 2016.

#0465_10A - Lovers, Market Street. San Francisco, CA. August of 2016.

#0469_10A - Man With Dogs, The Castro. San Francisco, CA. September Of 2016.

#0459_10A - New Montgomery Street. San Francisco, CA. May of 2016.

Something Happening Somewhere...

November 14, 2016

#0461_02A - Market Street, June of 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 21mm f/4.5, Ilford HP5 400.

A man sleeps on Market Street at 5th Street, one of the busiest shopping districts in the city of San Francisco. In the fall of 2016 the median rent for a one bedroom apartment in this neighborhood hit $3,190 per month.

#0463_34A - Castro District, San Francisco. August of 2016. Leica M2, 21mm f/4.5, Ilford HP5 400.

A statue of Donald Trump entitled "The Emperor Has No Balls" appeared in San Francisco and other cities around the country on August 18th, 2016. Created by Las Vegas based horror artist Ginger, the statue in the Castro at one point adorned a hat with the slogan "Make America Gay Again." (This image was taken when we thought was all a joke, now it's a nightmare.)

#0461_32A - Castro & Market, San Francisco. August of 2016. Leica M2, 35mm f/2, Ilford HP5 400.

A homeless woman in the Castro District, San Francisco. As of the fall of 2016 the median rent for a one bedroom apartment in this neighborhood hit $3,630 per month.

#0469_08A - Market Street, San Francisco. September of 2016. Leica M2, 35mm f/2, Ilford HP5 400.

Frank Chu, a local San Francisco eccentric, walks the streets of The City campaigning for the impeachment of various presidents for collaborating with aliens. He's been at it since 1999. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Chu

We Know Things Are Bad...

November 11, 2016

I'm appalled, disgusted and embarrassed to be an American today. It's not about political views or difference in policy. It's about a candidate running on a platform of hate, racism and misogyny, and winning. I thought we were going in another direction, and it makes me sick to my stomach how wrong I've been.

Yesterday I apologized to my entire class, about half of which are here on student visas, for what they are about to endure in this country from here on out. They're scared, and I don't blame them. It was quite honestly the most embarrassed I've felt in a room in recent memory.

My wife is devastated. This election will affect her patients directly is horrific ways... In her own words "I spent the day in clinic working with patients who already have so little, but have so much to lose in the next 4 years. How do you take away health insurance from 22 million people? How do you deport 11 million people? I see fear, hatred and violence written on the bodies of the people I serve. How much more can they take? The gap between what is needed and what I have to give has never felt so great. My heart is breaking tonight."

This is not a difference of opinion. I'm not upset because of some trivial disagreement. Stop telling me to respect your views, that's for things like "I don't care for coffee" not for things like "I think Mexicans are rapists and all Muslims should be banned from entering the country." The ignorance displayed by so many in this nation is absolutely staggering, and I refuse to tolerate it. Bigotry is not an "opinion."

But things don't stop. Tomorrow we all have to wake up and do it again. I know I'll wake up and go to school and continue to teach, and I'll make photographs and create art and put good things out into the world. My wife will wake up and go to clinic. She'll help those that truly are in need, the most marginalized and vulnerable among us, people with so little left and so much to lose. She will do whatever she can to keep her patients safe and healthy. We'll both take solace in the fact that we're part of a community that doesn't judge people on race, color, creed or sexual orientation, and we'll make sure those within our community know that they are valued and respected.

War is not peace. Freedom is not slavery. Ignorance is not power. Now more than ever, it is so important that we keep moving forward, no matter what.

In the long famous words of Howard Beale, you've got to get mad. You've got to stand up and say "I'm a human being god dammit, my life has value." Get up, go to your window, stick your head out, and yell "I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this anymore."

Write, create, speak out, help, educate... If we stop, it's over, and hate wins.

Print Release, November 2016 - No. 0373_22

November 07, 2016

#0373_22 - Louie's Barber Shop, Castro Street. San Francisco, California. September of 2015.

Shot with a Voigtlander R3m, 21mm f/4, Ilford HP5 400 film.

Some of the worst experiences of my life have been haircuts... but since moving to the neighborhood some years ago, I've grown to enjoy going to the barber shop at Castro and Market Streets. I actually debated whether I wanted to release this image at all, it's not something I'd typically print, andI originally printed it at the request of the owner of the barber shop , but in the process decided it might be worth a second look...

Prints should ship out this week. All 5x7 inch proofs are printed on Ilford Cold-Tone Fiberbase paper, and 8x10 proofs are printed on Oriental-Seagull Fiberbase paper.

Visit the print shop if you want to pick one up... or you could get prints cheap every time I release a new image if you head over to Patreon and support my work.

Notes From The Road

November 04, 2016

#0463_02A - Somewhere in Oregon. August of 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 21mm f/4.5, Ilford HP5 400.

We finally made the trek up to Eugene, Oregon, by way of Ashland to see a family friend, and to visit Cougar Hot Springs, which is quite possibly my favorite place on earth...

It was the first time I'd ventured anywhere without crutches or a cane since breaking my leg in May, but soaking in hot water for 5 days took the edge off. Felt good to be on the road for a while, seems like the summer just sort of melted away this year...

Safe to say this may have been the last long haul for our beat up old Honda... what with a bad front end and no air conditioning, I think it's about time to put her down.

#0464_08A - Joanna, Oregon. August of 2016. Leica M3, Zeiss 50mm f/1.5, Ilford HP5 400.

#0462_14A - Highway 5 North, August of 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 35mm f/2, Ilford HP5 400.

#0470_25A - Yosemite Valley, October of 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 21mm f/4.5, Ilford HP5 400.

Randomly ended up in Yosemite Valley in October with some old friends for a day... Hadn't been through there in years, and I completely forgot what a circus it is during the high season. Additionally, the last time I was out that way, selfie sticks weren't yet a thing... Strange to take a step back and see just what's become of this great American Landscape.

#0470_18A - Yosemite Valley, October of 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 21mm f/4.5, Ilford HP5 400.

#0470_15A - Yosemite Valley, October of 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 35mm f/2, Ilford HP5 400.

Alison, Take Two...

October 31, 2016

#0459_35A - Alison, 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 35mm f/2, Ilford HP5 400.

Through editing the last couple rolls from a shoot with Alison in May (see the first set here)... mostly with the 35 and 21mm. I've always found wide lenses kind of interesting in a studio setting, gives a sense of depth that's often lost with long glass.

Still really bummed that I've got no studio access, though it's forced me to try new things and new locations. Necessity is the mother of invention after all. Have a few shoots in the queue on location that I'll be posting over the next month.

Also watch for a new print release in the next week or two... been slaving away in the darkroom working on some old and new material. Head over to Patreon if you want to get in on early, discounted prints...

#0460_03A - Alison, 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 21mm f/4.5, Ilford FP4 125.

#0460_20A - Alison, 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 21mm f/4.5, Ilford FP4 125.

#0460_36A - Alison, 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 21mm f/4.5, Ilford FP4 125.

#0460_31A - Alison, 2016. Leica M2, Zeiss 21mm f/4.5, Ilford FP4 125.

The Emperor Has No Balls

October 21, 2016

I'm going to stand on a soap box for a minute, because I just want to put a few things in writing, for the record, for my own piece of mind, just for the sake of saying it.

"The Emperor Has No Balls" Statue by Las Vegas based horror artist Ginger. Castro District, San Francisco, California 2016.

I'm tired of the false equivalency. Donald Trump is a privileged white man who inherited a metric fuck ton of money from his father, ran a bunch of companies into the ground, gamed the system, stiffed his employees, paid no taxes, and made a reality TV show where he fires people, who now says the system is rigged against him while whining that a Supreme Court Justice was mean to him. Cry me a river...

He brags about sexually assaulting women, then belittles the appearance of those women who have accused him of such acts. Who knew that G.O.P. stood for Grab Our Pussy...

He is alleged to have purposefully walked in on minors in a state of undress at a pageant he operates.

Just let that sink in...

He is openly undermining the integrity of the election process with absolutely no evidence what so ever that there is any fraud taking place.

News organizations are now hiring security for their correspondents while attending Trump rallies because of the violence he promotes against the press and the danger his supporters present.

He is racist, sexist, xenophobic, and quite frankly, a pig. All this aside, I am appalled at an educational system that produces voters that seem to think any of this is ok, and I am appalled at the Republican leadership that says nothing in the face of such disgusting, dangerous rhetoric. I'm looking at you Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell...

Hilary Clinton is quite possibly the most qualified person ever to seek the presidency of the United States. You might not agree with all of her policies, I certainly don't. But to compare her to Donald Trump is absolutely, in no uncertain terms, completely and entirely ludicrous.

Donald Trump is a joke, and it's not funny anymore. Get out and vote.

New Prints, October 2016

October 14, 2016

Slowly getting everything migrated over to the new platform... working on getting some new prints listed in the shop. Will hopefully be adding more as I go through some past negatives that I've been meaning to print. For now have a look at the print shop for the most recent additions... and as always, stay tuned for more...

No. 0363_23A - Castro Street Station. San Francisco, California. June of 2015.

No. 0369_07 - Rodeo Beach, Marin County, CA. July of 2015.

No. 0419_28A - Dogs, Ocean Beach. San Francisco, CA.