Eric McCormack
Eric McCormack is dedicated B&W photographer who is lucky enough to live in the great city of Portland, Oregon, where he’s had several shows of his work. We’re happy to present his smart photographs here, including several square-format Rolleiflex shots, and his Q&A, below (All photographs Copyright Eric McCormack, All Rights Reserved):
I got my start like several others of my age. My uncle lent me his Kodak Brownie and I shot a roll of black and white film which he processed and printed in his makeshift darkroom in my Grandparents’ house in Allen Park, MI. I was immediately hooked! I shot more film with the Brownie, but I wanted my own camera. I than purchased a Kodak disc camera. I thought that I was going to make masterpieces with this camera (I was all of 12)! When I received the processed film and prints from the Photomat I was crushed the prints were nothing like what I had envisioned. The prints were too grainy and frankly bad. I started to save my paper- route money and later bought a 'real 35mm camera, a Ricoh 35mm. I could not afford a Nikon. I shot religiously, notating all the exposures. Later my grandfather gifted me his (medium format) Rolleiflex which I still shoot with today.
I have shown in galleries in and around Portland and Seattle. I have met with some critical acclaim in the local papers for my work.
I now reside in Portland, OR. I have been here since 1999.
How much of your work in is B&W?
I would say about half of my work is in black and white, about 49% to 51%. Most of my portraits are in black and white.
Pls. tell us why you work in B&W; what does working in B&W mean to you?
Black and white film to me is pure. Shooting and viewing in B&W breaks down the image into tones, after the composition there are just the tones. It simplifies the image. There is no distraction of color. I like to challenge myself with looking in tones of grey, instead of relying on color to carry the image.
Where do you find inspiration? Who are you photo heroes?
My inspiration is drawn from the everyday, mostly from the things that are around me. I look for interesting points of view and perspectives.
In my portraiture I try and 'see' the person who is in front of me and capture who they are.
One of my heroes is Minor White, while in college I did a report on him and opened my eyes to different artists. I like his more abstract work and I feel a connection to them.
Another photographer is Joel Peter-Witken... I am drawn to his macabre imagery. I first saw one of his photographs in a small gallery in Boulder, CO. I was not familiar with his work and saw his photo and old man facing himself. I wonder how he photographed him, than I read the note along the image, than it was very clear. I could not look away. I still am drawn to his images.
Technical: camera, lenses, film, digital or darkroom approach & materials.
Well I have 3 cameras A Nilkon FM2 with a 24mm and 50mm a Rolleiflex Xenar 3.5 and a Leica M7 with 50mm ƒ2.0 Summicron (which I purchased used last year. I bought it as a therapy from shooting digital and production photography). Since I have been shooting for myself again and have been enjoying it.
Do you have your own darkroom?
Presently no.
Anything else you'd like to add?
For my recent birthday my wife bought a developing tank and I have been processing my own B&W film. I am finding that I do like the whole process.
My website is here www.dezel.net and my flickr posts are here. http://www.flickr.com/photos/82678094@N00/sets/72157626377352254/
