August 16th, 53,33,42

Thirty-three years ago today I went to work at my first freelance photo job after finishing college. I remember that day because it was my birthday, I turned twenty, and it was the day that Elvis died, he was forty-two years old. I have never been much of an Elvis fan, but I seem to remember that day in a "where were you when" sort of context.

I was at Bill Ellis's studio on Edwardia Drive in Greensboro. I printed some black and white fashion photos and shot a picture of some cedar ice-cream makers. After a few days working there, I had a call for a full-time job at Glen Godfrey Communications in Raleigh, that started in September as I recall. A year later and I was back at Alderman's where I had been an intern, then in 1982 I was off to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 18 months. When I returned to the US, I had so many options, but in October I rented the building that still serves as my work space and started the company that is now known as Mark Wagoner Productions.

Today I went by Bill's old studio and sat in the parking lot and reflected on all of the experiences and travels of the past 33 years. I have made many great friends and relationships that I cherish. There is not much I would change.

MWP wins the Greensboro 48 Hour Film Project

Mark Wagoner Productions and Monkeywhale Productions teamed up to produce a short film titled "The Adventures of Martin Dockery, Horologist" under the MWP Collaborative moniker, for the 48 Hour Film Project. This is the third project for MWP this year. In addition to winning best film, we won best costumes, best acting, best graphics (this was for the stop motion paper animation work), and best directing.

The story is told in the serial film format; it is a good verses evil science fiction film, with touches of western movies and a nod to the late Ed Wood. It will be shown in Las Vegas in October, and if it wins there, it will be shown at the Cannes Film Festival.

Teaming up with Harvey Robinson and the Monkeywhale crew has been a very rewarding venture, not only because of awards, but primarily because of the experience. Film making is a team project, and the goal that we have as a team is to create a space for us all to produce work at a level that surprises us. For the 48 Hour project we put together a team of 35 people, which produces its own logistical problems but opens so many possibilities. I am very grateful for all of the hard work that the MWP team put into this film.

MWP has several more projects in the works right now, stay tuned...

I've got roids, and it's fun!

I have been excited for a few months now waiting for a chance to shoot some of the Polaroid film from the "The Impossible Project". These folks are mostly past Polaroid Corp. executives and staff, and they took on the task of re-engineering Polaroid film after production was stopped. The companies that made the dyes and some of the other chemicals had closed out the production when Polaroid canceled its light-sensitive photo products, and so it was necessary to come up with new solutions for instant film based photography.

There are several new films for the cameras that shoot 100 type: SX70 and 600s. The new film is not the same as you may have used in the past. I have tried 5 films and would say that the 100 type sepia film and the PX70 color for the SX70 are my 2 favorites.

Here are some of the first results.

Layla

Saliba

Grisson

Natalie and Kelly

Harvey

Phil

Lauren

Watermelon Rinds