Sometimes even in retirement the months get so busy that time simply slips by and soon there is no extra time to write a new Story Behind, this is one of those months. So, I am re-sharing the very first Story Behind Every Photograph from January 1, 2017. It’s a fine image of Hartford City Hall with quite an interesting backstory !
The actual photograph you see began a month earlier when 4 longtime friends met at City Hall using my access permit. There are certain insurance regulations and paperwork I must comply with to gain access to City Hall as a photographer. During an October visit we were eagerly awaiting the return of a good friend and great photographer, James Monteiro, who had moved to Santa Fe 20 years earlier. We all had a good reunion and a day of photography in City Hall, large sheet film for me while the others used small digital recording devices. A 5×7 film image of the 4 of us is below.
Friends, Hartford City Hall
There is an incredible 2-story staircase to access the 2nd and 3rd floors. In the middle high above the staircase is an alcove with a huge arched window, the alcove is barely big enough for a person, nevertheless, my friend Peter Bosco decided to traverse a ledge about 12” wide to gain access to this alcove seen in the featured photograph for this month. Peter, seen in the photo below did traverse the narrow ledge and came away with a gorgeous wide angle composition which upon his safe return he showed all of us immediately on his LED screen. I went home that day envious of Peter’s fortitude and shot from the alcove, nevertheless, happy to see an old friend I hadn’t seen in near 20 years. Rolling around in the back of my head, I wondered if I would ever have the nerve to walk the ledge over to the alcove with the big camera, one day in the future I rationalized!
Peter Bosco
I applied for another permit before my friend was to return to New Mexico and I was told due to the City of Hartford’s dire financial state a $50.00 per hourly charge for any photographer was now in place, I was granted one last free access waiver for Nov. 20th. Three of the four of us returned for a last visit, knowing this visit could well be my last hurrah I had thought all week long about getting enough courage to walk the ledge and climb over the alcove enclosure to safety and have someone pass my 5×7 Deardorff up to me to make what was sure to be an incredible image!
With the others off in other parts of the building and no security guard in sight I setup the 5×7 camera with a 90mm Schneider lens, cable release attached to lens, film holder in back of camera, level in my pocket, meter holstered on my belt but left the camera and tripod behind this time. Determined to get the shot I began a practice walk out onto the ledge and got all the way to the last bump out where the ledge narrows to about 7” wide, the stairwell now a good 10’ ft drop off the ledge. Couldn’t do it, I stopped and turned back, wondering if I would ever make it out there. Just then my friend Peter Dylag came by, knowing how much I wanted this shot he said, Stop! when you get to the bump out turn and face the wall and pull yourself around the bump out while holding onto each side of the bump out, I did and it worked perfectly, a few more feet and I was to the alcove enclosure, I hoisted myself up over the thigh high marble railing to safety inside of the enclosure. With tripod fully extended Peter was able to hoist my camera up to me now safely inside the alcove to bend over and pull the camera up and over the marble railing. The dark cloth was quick to follow and I was ready to go. I was now working against time worrying the security guard would come by and throw us all out for doing something so clearly dangerous and stupid, or worst, call the police.
I leveled the camera; composed the image with a 90mm lens, I chose to leave part of the floor below to give some sense of dimension and scale. I metered the scene and inserted the Delta 100 film holder. I placed the underneath of the staircase on Zone 5, which pushed the opposing light colored Granite walls onto Zone 12. I figured for an N – 4 development, to the layperson, this was an enormous amount of contrast for B&W film to record. Stopped down to f 32 and exposed for 2 minutes. I always expose one film holder exactly the same, two sheets of film, the first to zero in on the exact development and the second as backup to make minor adjustments in negative densities via development if necessary. While getting the camera ready Peter was video taping me and asking me for some feedback on the experience. I was hurrying, I wanted to get back to avoid security catching me and also to get the hell back safety ! I gingerly traversed the ledge back to safety and met Peter near the area where I had to squeeze by the brass railing, we each high fived and let out some primal exaltation about my triumph and prized shot recorded !!
A Video clip is included and linked in Blue above on the experience.
Because it may well have been my last time there I had both camera systems with the 5×7, the 7×17 and with all respective lens for each, a lot of equipment. As the three of us gathered up the equipment and made plans for lunch I hoisted up the backpack with the 7×17″ camera, carried the smaller backpack with 5×7 camera, grabbed the tripod and small collapsible step stood and headed to the ground floor. Said good-bye to the Security Guard Oscar and headed to the car. Had lunch, rushed home, dropped equipment off and ran out to my granddaughter’s basketball game and dinner at my daughter’s house following the game. Returned home after dark and began putting away equipment and retrieving film holders to transfer development information from the cell phone…Damn !! I couldn’t find my small backpack that carries only 5×7 film holders, nowhere could I find the film holders from earlier in the day. Sent a message to Peter, he did not have the pack and didn’t have any idea where it might be !
Knowing at my age I have sometimes forgotten where I’ve put things it started to sink in that I may have left the exposed film backpack at City Hall. I knew the Security Guard works 16 hour shifts so I jumped in the car for the 15 minute ride to Hartford, now long after dark I get to the entrance and of course the gate which was unlocked @ 7 am is now locked and I am in near total darkness, save for a few street lights. There are two other doors which I tried twice, both locked, as I returned to the center door I began to think, do I turn the car around, shine the headlights in the doorway and lean on the horn in the hopes the Security Guard comes to the doors, I decide that was not the right approach. I began to think I’ll be back here first thing the next morning when City Hall first opens. Wait, my boss is away and I am in charge and have to be in early for a Production meeting. I say to myself, the hell with the meeting I am not leaving the backpack to be hopefully turned in by someone in City Hall during the workday, worst yet, an unidentified strange backpack could spell panic ! As I shake the gate in disgust one last time to see if somehow it has magically become unlocked I begin to turn towards the car and out of the corner of my eye in near darkness I see a discolored brass doorbell, I press hard on the button and hear the noise from inside. Low and behold, I see the Security Guard get up and move towards the doorway. As he is making the 50 ft. walk towards me I wonder if he will actually come to confront someone standing in darkness or just motion me away before he recognizes me. Fortunately, he opens the inside door and makes his way to the gate and recognizes me, I explain I have left a small backpack with the precious film of the day behind, I need to come and in and retrieve it. Fortunately, for me it was left on the second floor where the three of us were last making plans for lunch ! This month’s image might never have come to pass had I not retrieved the pack that night. The only positive spin I can conjure up is forgetfulness and absentmindedness are signs of a Creative mind !! The other side of that positive spin came from a famous photographer after hearing this story said to me, “I always thought you were smarter than that Steve”.
Lesson learned…till the next time !!
Another exquisitely created image and fitting addition to your City Hall portfolio. Well done as usual😜
Knowing your love of heights and ledges (lol) I am proud of you taking that risk for an outstanding shot!
Thank you again !
Thanks for the kind words
Fantastic image – awesome – yes a creative mind!
Thx for your kind comments
Excellent shot Steve, your dedication and efforts paid off.
Thx for visiting my blog and your kind words
I shot that staircase but as you said…not from that vantage point! Very nice image!
Thx for your comments
Simply “breathtaking”!
Don Ayotte
PS Outstanding effort!
Thx for your comments Mav…hope you’re well
Fabulous shot Steve.
Thx for taking a look at my Blog
Thx Paul for taking a look at my Blog and your words of wisdom !!
Steve- this proves very few significant images are taken without hard work. It is beautiful. I would have loved to see the expression on your face as the image appeared in the developer.
It’s an outstanding work of art Steve. And the story behind the photograph is equally amazing. .
Thx Paul for taking a look at the Blog and your kind words
You are the craziest cousin I have–obviously, the most creative and talented. Awesome photograph.
Thx Cuz for your inspirational words…passion does cloud one’s judgement !!
GREAT IMAGE STEVE! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Ron, appreciate your kind words !
Technical exposure and development details aside, this is a remarkable composition – the alignment or the columns from foreground to background and the choice of framing was no accident, I’m sure – a border to border masterpiece – no easy feat with such a wide lens. An exclamation point to the rest of your body of work from this magnificent piece of architecture.
Extremely kind words from an accomplished Large Format photographer and friend !
Road-trip time…very inspiring…the shot is fab!🤓
Thank you Steve for checking in on my Blog and kind words
Thank you Tony for having a look at my Blog and your kind words
Hi Steve,
What a great image!!! I’d love to see both a print and the negative. Aside from a truly beautiful image, that’s quite a technical achievement as well. Thanks for the opportunity to view.
Tony
That Image is so superb it takes my breath away. And what a wonderful story to go with it! Happy New Year my friend. May 2017 bring many more photographic opportunities your way.
Thx Chris for your extraordinary words of encouragement, one day our paths will cross again !
Steve, this is a wonderful presentation about a wonderful image. The chance to enter into the process is enormously rewarding. It should capture the imagination of anyone with the slightest interest in photography.
Thank you Ken, from one accomplished Large Format photographer to another
Happy New Year to you and Vicky. What a fabulous image Steve, though I’m not surprised. You have an incredible ability and your writing is more than awesome.
Thx Marty for your kind words, a Creative New Year to you and Stella as well !
Thank you for sharing your insight in creating this image. It is always so wonderful to hear the adventures of my colleagues.
It is truly a beautiful image.
Thx Dennis for your kind words !
Great story for a great image Steve. I have a few of my own where I risked life and limb for a particular angle of view. One involved hanging from a climbing harness with my tripod strapped onto the exterior of some railing. I wish I could still find the picture of me doing this. I wonder sometimes how I have survived some of the risks I have taken over the years. Sometimes the image doesn’t in the end seem worth the risk. But sometimes………like yours here.
Thx Kirk, passion does cloud our judgement now and again !
2 thumbs way up!!!!!….a 4×5 drone is what you needed……although the sound of that sweet super angulon hitting the marble floor might be just a bit scary….
Thx Gary, wouldn’t want that 210 Computar in harm’s way either !
If I tried half of the stunts I pulled 15 or 20 years ago to get into position for 8×10 shots now, I’d be dead. Glad that you could get the shot before the guard returned.
What would we put in your obit ?
Famous” Photographer got shot !!!!!! ”
To bad he didn’t live to develop the film!!!!!
LOL…we’ve talked about this…not interested in the “artist dying promotion”
Steve,
Wanted to wish you and the entire Sherman and DeLuca families Happy New Year! Hope you guys enjoyed yourselves during the holidays!
I can only reiterate what everyone of your photographer friends and family have said previously… Absolutely amazing work! Nicely done! Some of your best work and I know there’s more incredible images to come!
Will do Paul and thank you and Sarah for the complimentary words !
Steve,
You are an inspiration! Thanks for telling such a great story and for sharing the engaging image. I have occasion to go to City Hall for business and I have always thought of you when I enter the building, based on the earlier images. The building has such a character and immediately captures my emotions whenever I enter, no matter what strange business may lay before me. The stairway invites you to take it as you will, quickly on the inside rail or more of a stride on the outside. I continue to be amazed at your gift of exploring the nuances of light and shadow in what to the casual observer may often seem a dark space.
Best!
Brian McCarthy
Thank you Brian for your very generous and inspiring words !
Happy to made the image, Steve. Yes, another great story in your body of work. It’s partly why we do what we do. Hartford City Hall is a great space – you have a great body of images there.
Maybe you should keep a crash helmet in your camera bag – just in case.
Thanks Peter for your kind words…you were the inspiration, or challenge for me to venture out there and I’m glad I did !!
I grew up in that area and actually never was able to go there. Through your eyes and bravery to go beyond what you see in order to get the perfect shot in your eye is what makes you YOU! I got the sense in your video that you enjoyed ever minute even though you were scared. I’m all about light transfer, it opens my eyes to all different shapes and light. The way you explained just made me want to be there. So thanks again SS for yet another great photo. D
Thank you Darlene, Always luv and appreciate your thoughtful words. I haven’t always made the wisest decisions, somehow things work out for me over time.
Skilled eye. Teenage spirt. The combination that worked
Thanks Francis for your inspiring words !!
A very captivating experience!! Love this especially at this time ♥️