"Journey" Accepted Into Permanent Collection

I'm excited to report that another one of my Holga toy camera images has been accepted into a museum's permanent collection. The Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, Florida just recently notified me that the donation has been approved by the Collection's Committee.

Journey, 1998

Image size: 6" x 6", Paper size: 11" x 14", Framed size: 20"h x 19" w

Edition size: 15, B/W toned silver print, Forte Polygrade V paper

Collections: Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa

(In Honor of Fred E. Larson)

Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland

(In Honor of Daniel E. Stetson)

I wanted to offer one of my iconic toy camera images (the one that started it all for me--my first body of work entitled Environmental Portraits) in honor of the outgoing director Daniel E. Stetson whom will be moving on to another museum, the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, TN.

Dan is a wonderful, passionate art-loving person that has a wealth of knowledge of ART and the ART WORLD and can hold you captivated with personal stories of his personal connections and interactions to many contemporary artists that we all know. I'll never forget the opportunities we've had being invited to the Museum's after party dinners because he thought it would be someone we would either enjoy or should get to know (as he would put it). Artist we've had the pleasure of meeting: Radcliffe Bailey, Herman Leonard, Joyce J. Scott, David Handschuh, Donald Sultan, Clyde Butcher, Joshua Mann Pailet, Bernice Steinbaum and a few others. So many times I would just pinch myself at those dinners where often we would get to converse with the artists, curators or gallery owners on a personal level. It was insightful, educational and inspirational for us and I'm so thankful for those evening hanging out with Dan and Todd Behrens (his curator at the time).

So with that said, I want to say thank you Dan for all the good times at the Polk Museum of Art and I'm glad I can honor your tenure with this donation. Good luck Dan and we hope we stay in touch!

More Blocks for Art-O-Mat

... how I spent my weekend.

Past POSTS about the Art-O-Mat Project

Welcome HolgaDirect!

I would like to welcome HolgaDirect to my blog rail (look for the graphic above on the left side on the rail, scroll down a bit and click it to go to the site).

If you're looking for a Holga to purchase, this is a great place to get one. On the site you'll see features, product, resources, a glossary of terms and how to choose which Holga to buy. All good stuff. There's even a section on the history of the Holga.

I like the interview feature too HolgaDirect put on their site ... right now check out the one on Jeff Dojillo introducing you to his work. And coming later this month or early February, I'll be the next feature! Yep, ToyCameraPlay will be in the HolgaDirect house. Sorry, too much sports talk radio for me! I'm juiced up on this one! Must be the hurt the Tampa Bay Lightning put on the Washington Caps tonight. Ouch. Go Lightning ... 1st place in the division.

Anyway, check the HolgaDirect site often for I'm not sure of the date my interview will go live, but I can give you a hot tip as a blog follower, they'll be a great surprise Rick and I will be offering our followers! You'll have to visit and stay connected to find out ... until then ... Check it out!

Holga Images from Savannah, GA

Savannah, SC

Holga w/Fisheye Attachment

(c) Matt Larson, 2010

Pond

From the rediscovered negatives series.

Pond
Holga Camera
(c) Matt Larson, 2010

The Art-O-Mat Project

Well, I'm almost ready for my first shipment to Art-O-Mat.

I think this is the perfect fit for ToyCameraPlay and it has been a fun one to work on this past week. I'm printing select toy camera images shot with the various cameras mentioned here on my blog and sizing the images to 2" x 3", which is the image size of the paper for the Polaroid Zink printer and the Art-O-Mat blocks. They were made for each other.

All and all, this isn't going to be a money maker but I think it's a great way

to promote my blog, get more followers, market my images and build a new collector base. I also plan to have buyers e-mail me and tell me where they bought their piece of art and which piece they bought.

I think it should make 2010 a fun year! Let me know if you find one in a machine next year (they won't be until late January before these are available).

Holga Image, cropped for Art-o-Mat Project.

Polaroid Image, cropped for Art-o-Mat Project.

iPhone Image, cropped for Art-o-Mat Project.

Mini Diana Image, cropped for Art-o-Mat Project.

All photographs (c) Matt Larson, 2009

Finally! A Toy Camera Printer!

Wow! A toy camera printer! Life is complete.

So I spent the afternoon testing this little POLAROID jewel for I have an idea for a project I've been wanting to do with my toy camera images. In my hand is an image of wall art shot with my iPhone. This image is painted on the back wall of my favorite breakfast place--First Watch in DT Tampa. Exiting the printer is one of my favorite Polaroid 600 images of some man-made oyster domes in Old Tampa Bay that was cropped to fit the format of this printer ... to the right is an image recently shot from my Argus Bean on a trip to Kentucky. And below is a Holga image of an old church in Santa Fe, while on a trip to hear Keith Carter many moons back, one of my all time favorite photographers . Anyway, can't spoil the surprise yet, but I'm testing, testing, testing and have high hopes for this fun blue tooth toy polaroid printer.

Toy camera images printed with toy camera printer

(c) Matt Larson, 2009

New Holga & Diana Images!

Old Church--Santa Fe, New Mexico--Holga Camera

(Raw scan of negative on flatbed scanner)

Lighthouse--St. Augustine, Florida--Diana Camera

(Raw scan of negative on flatbed scanner)

Leaves--Tampa, Florida--Holga Camera

(Raw scan of negative on flatbed scanner)

Sneak Peak--It's nice to finally see some of my upcoming Diana and Holga images from previous trips. I think it's time to hit the darkroom. More to come soon.

All images, (c) Matt Larson, 2009.

Good Day in the Darkroom!

Today, I worked in the darkroom!

Don't let this happen to you! Today was the day I faced my past--
my past rolls of unprocessed film.

And I must say, it was a good day and I got it all done.
I'm all caught up and will soon be ...

... making prints from my NEW negatives.
And, lesson learned on letting the unprocessed film get out of control.

All images, (c) Matt Larson, 2009

NEW BLOG HEADER, NEW YEAR

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

I wanted to thank everyone for following my blog this year, it has been a blast working on it and sharing what I've been working on. Considering how CRAZY my life has been at work (three job title changes and dodging multiple layoffs) throughout 2008, I'm proud I was able to keep the blog going ... from our first Open Studio Sale to my year-long Polaroid Project.

ABOUT MY BLOG HEADER
Now that the Polaroid Project is done, I wanted a new header to reflect where I'm going in 2009, work-wise. Thanks goes to BOXFOTOS for designing it for me--she rocks! And I'm happy to say, it's back to film. It's back to my faithful Diana and Holga cameras! And to the 10 rolls of unprocessed film that is a year-plus old now. I'll share the contact sheets with you once the rolls are processed. I need to focus on making exhibition prints and getting in more exhibitions. Oh, and I do plan to self-publish a book on the Polaroids and will have that for sale soon. Watch for that! And finally, I want to put some movie clips on the blog ... yes, it will be with cheap, toy-like cameras too. Why? Why not.

OTHER CHANGES ...
This blog is taking over my identity ... it's by far surpassed my website SHOOTINGblind.com and Matt Larson. That's okay for I thought that may happen, and it did. So, on the rail is now a link to SHOOTINGblind for those that need more information like past exhibitions, artist statement, etc., etc.

And I'm on Twitter too, everything I shoot with my iPhone (a new project) automatically feeds this blog. Note that when that happens, it does not generate a "post." It just appears, so you'll have to check back often. If you're on Twitter, look me up ... I'm TOYCAMERAPLAY. Go figure.

More changes and new stuff will be happening as all these changes and improvements happen ...

So to recap ... my new blog header reflects all my favorite cameras and therefore reflects the type images you'll see. My blog IS now my OFFICIAL website and TOY CAMERA PLAY is king. Business cards and t-shirts to come. T-shirts ... hummmm, anyone want a t-shirt. :0)

Thanks again for following ... thanks for your support!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
Matt
toycameraplay

Oh My! New Toy Cameras! Holgas, Dianas and more!

Check it out! Urban Outfitters is now a photographer's best friend and "the source" for toy cameras. Now, toy camera lovers can purchase a fancy Holga and/or the new Diana F+ cameras. Look at the in-store display I saw while recently in Charleston.

So, don't wait ... grab one for yourself and give one as a gift during the holidays. Oh, and by the way, Urban Outfitters is also selling film and other cool accessories--one stop shopping. An added bonus, they come in really cool colors ... my oh my ... check out the link to their store ...

Glazer Children's Museum Silent Auction

IMAGINATION Gala 2008 An original photograph by me, and hand printed by me will be offered this Saturday at the Glazer Children's Museum silent auction.

A special evening celebrating a new way of inspiring children and families to learn. April 26, 2008 6:00-11:00 p.m. For more information about the event contact the museum at: (813) 277.3199 or info@cmtampa.org

Donated Artwork:
“Angel” (shot on Montana's Yellowstone National Park in 2000)
Matt Larson (b. 1960)
B/W toned silverprint
20"x 19"
Edition of 15 (1/15)
Value: $500.00
Starting Bid: $200.00
SOLD

If you would like to place a bid on this photograph, please call the number above, I'm sure they'll be happy to take it. One-hundred percent of this donation benefits the Glazer Children's Museum. Please note, Rebecca Sexton Larson is also donating a print! Check out BOXFOTOS ... place your bid today and help Tampa build a beautiful new museum for children!

Hollis Garden, Lakeland

Toy camera Holga-roid images taken at Hollis
Garden in Lakeland, FL.

Portfolios

Envoironmental Portraits

Elder                            

b/w toned silver print

image size 7"x7"

paper size 11"x11"

framed 20"x19"

Holga camera

Roadside Cross #19

b/w toned silver print

image size 7" x 7"

paper size 11" x 11"

framed 20" x 19"

Holga camera

www.shootingblind.com