Category Archives: Photography

Panteón de Santa Rosalillita – Baja California

Posted on May 12, 2014 by John Durant

Something about Mexico is best left unspoken. It’s clear, almost obvious. To an American traveling south looking into death’s steady gaze can be unsettling. Best not to linger too long while the winter sun drops below the coastal range. Ray … Continue reading →

Posted in American Photographic Artists, B&W negative film, Baja California, Cabo San Lucas, Catavina, f/64, Film, John Durant Photography, Kodak P3200, Kodak Plus-X, Kodak T-Max, Kodak TMY, Kodak Tri-X, Mexico, Photography, Volcano | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Make Something Beautiful (part two)

Posted on November 26, 2013 by John Durant

                  Japanese woodblock: my vintage Canon F-1n (20mm f/2.8) Start with something completely familiar – like an analog single lens reflex. Find a chunk of clear Douglas fir and sketch directly to … Continue reading →

Posted in American Photographic Artists, B&W negative film, Baja California, Canon F-1, color negatives, color transparencies, f/64, Film, Fuji RDP3, Fujichrome, Ilford Delta 400, Ilford FP4, Japanese block printing, John Durant Photography, Kodak P3200, Kodak Plus-X, Kodak T-Max, Kodak TMY, Kodak Tri-X, Photography, Rolleiflex, San Diego, Vintage cameras, Wood block printing, woodblock | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Land That God Forgot – Part Two

Posted on October 17, 2013 by John Durant

 El Progresso, Northern Baja California – December 1998 Driving through Mexico in the winter is something I’ve done all my life. Traveling on highway D-1 brings to mind the classic topics of life, death, creation and eternity – mainly because … Continue reading →

Posted in American Photographic Artists, Cabo San Lucas, Catavina, Color negative film, color negatives, desert, f/64, Film, Fuji RDP3, Fujichrome, Ilford Delta 400, Ilford FP4, Kodak P3200, Kodak Plus-X, Kodak T-Max, Kodak TMY, Kodak Tri-X, Mexico, Mojave, Philipp Rittermann, Photography, Vintage cameras, Volcano | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

On the Windward Side of San Simeon Point

Posted on September 3, 2013 by John Durant

Three frames of Kodak TMY 400 Inside the cove at San Simeon Point the wind is blocked by a headland planted with groves of eucalyptus and cypress. The ocean is calm and the air is still. Glassy waves rifle up … Continue reading →

Posted in American Photographic Artists, B&W negative film, California, Central Coast, color negatives, color transparencies, f/64, Film, Kodak T-Max, Kodak TMY, Kodak Tri-X, Photography, San Simeon, Vintage cameras | 3 Comments

How To Make Something Beautiful (part one)

Posted on May 29, 2013 by John Durant

Wood-block print: Rolleiflex f/3.5 with rare reversed D. Start with something you love. It has to be the kind of thing you can’t leave alone, something with a pleasing heft, well made and beautiful. Like an old Rollei. Find a … Continue reading →

Posted in 6:19 Format, American Photographic Artists, B&W negative film, Canon F-1, color negatives, color transparencies, f/64, Film, Fuji RDP3, Fujichrome, Ilford FP4, Japanese block printing, Kodak P3200, Kodak Plus-X, Kodak T-Max, Kodak Tri-X, Photography, Rolleiflex, Vintage cameras, Wood block printing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Ocean Waves

Posted on March 12, 2013 by John Durant

In 1937 Ansel Adams said: a great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed. Continue reading →

Posted in American Photographic Artists, Baja California, California, Color negative film, color transparencies, Film, Fuji RDP3, Fujichrome, Mission Beach, ocean waves, Photography, San Diego, Santa Monica, Southwest, surfboards, surfing, Torrey Pines | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Up High In Mexico

Posted on December 4, 2012 by John Durant

                               Tecate Peak, Southwest Slope, Baja California Fifty miles from my photo studio is the Tecate border crossing. To get there, take California 94 away from … Continue reading →

Posted in 6:19 Format, American Photographic Artists, B&W negative film, Baja California, Catavina, color negatives, color transparencies, desert, f/64, Film, Fuji RDP3, Fujichrome, Ilford FP4, John Durant Photography, Kodak P3200, Kodak Plus-X, Kodak T-Max, Mexico, Panorama, Photography, Rancho La Puerta, Southwest, Storm, Tecate | 2 Comments

Sound Check

Posted on October 10, 2012 by John Durant

  One thing I like about jazz, kid, is that I don’t know what’s going to happen next.                                             … Continue reading →

Posted in 6:19 Format, B&W negative film, Bossa Nova, Cal Tjader, California, Canon F-1, Charlie Byrd, color negatives, color transparencies, f/64, Film, Ilford FP4, Jazz, Kodak Tri-X, KSDS Jazz 88.3, Latin Jazz, Photography, Stan Getz, Storm | Leave a comment

Coming Full Circle at the University of California San Diego

Posted on March 15, 2012 by John Durant

   On Assignment at Eleanor Roosevelt College – University of California, San Diego Driving into San Diego from Los Angeles, one of the first things you encounter is the University of California. If you were making that drive – say, … Continue reading →

Posted in 6:19 Format, Architectural Photography, BergerABAM, California, Eleanor Roosevelt College, Flores Lund Engineering, La Jolla, Mid-Century Modern, Modern Architecture, Moshe Safdie, Panorama, Photography, Ricardo Rabines, Safdie Rabines Architects, San Diego, Southwest, Taal Safdie, Torrey Pines, Uncategorized, University of California San Diego | 4 Comments

Jamie Sterling’s 10’6″ Balsa Gun

Posted on November 22, 2011 by John Durant

Balsa wood has a lighter density than cork and it grows all over the place from Brazil to Mexico. It’s straight, buoyant and is used to make beautiful surfboards – but that’s just the beginning. To make a balsa surfboard … Continue reading →

Posted in B&W negative film, Blue Cheer Surfboards, California, Hoy Runnels, Mabile Surfboards, ocean waves, Photography, Rusty Surfboards, San Diego, Skip Frye, surfboard shapers, surfboards, surfing | 2 Comments