Drunken Photography

[Robbie Shymanski]

I just spent my entire day reviewing several thousand photographs taken for an architectural survey. An amazing snowstorm has hit my Chicago. As I was walking home, all I could think of, other than having to compile all of those retched photos into a watchable PowerPoint, was how much a ripe tumbler of Maker's would suit my mood, coupled with my desire to take long exposures streetlights and the falling snow. So it all begs the question, what is the average result of alcohol and shutter clicking?

[davidb]

Ask Frank Petronio...

:)

[John Kasaian]

I've been known to use vodka as a field expedient lens cleaning solution ;)

When I take LF gear sking I'll take along a few miniatures of creme d'menthe which comes in plastic bottles (so if I fall I don't have to worry about picking pieces of broken glass out of my rump roast!)

[Mark Sawyer]

What was it Tom Waits used to say... "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than no front swings and bellows light leaks..." Or something like that...

[rippo]

i find alcohol works best when reading the LF forums.

(oops, my margarita is empty. gotta go refill...)

[Capocheny]

i find alcohol works best when reading the LF forums.

(oops, my margarita is empty. gotta go refill...)

Rippo,

LOL... I agree!

And, it's a lot easier to focus on a computer screen than it is through a 90 f8 in the middle of the night. :)

Cheers

[AF-ULF]

I go through several gallons of Everclear a year working on wet plates. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Andrew O'Neill]

Getting plastered and painting seems to work well but not with photography.

[Hugo Zhang]

Mark,

That's a nice picture with beautiful light!

[Frank Petronio]

I theink it works out gr8t

Seriously, the ability to do a decent shot with a couple of shots in your system makes for some interesting pictures of other people in similar conditions. Not falling down drunk but with a little buzz.

Just don't mix it with cold medicine... not a good idea.

[Dave Aharonian]

I once tried taking shots of the northern lights after consuming a few too many on a camping trip. I actually left the lenscap on and couldn't figure out why I couldn't focus. Once I solved that I tripped on my tripod. Gave up at that point.

[Brian Ellis]

I don't know about combining alchohol with photography but I can tell you alcohol and darkroom work aren't a good combination. Many years ago there was a period when I used to keep a bottle of brandy at hand in the darkroom. For some strange reason many of my photographs from that time are turning brown and discoloring while the ones before and after are fine. I don't think it's a coincidence that the only ones going bad are the ones from the brandy era.

[Hollis]

I find that it works wonders, especially for the type of work that I produce. A lot of my shots are taken in places that the sane or sober man would not readily dare enter but a few nips of whiskey, a tyvek suit and a respirator are all that are needed to tempt fate in a less than friendly area. Also helps with the cold...

[eddie]

har har har!
i was shooting my friends wedding a few months back. after all the "must shoot" stuff was covered i began a bit of drinking.....well it got rolling pretty fast. i was feeling pretty good. i also started to shoot more:).
i remember thinking that my N90s was not focusing so well (maybe it was the beer:)....) i shut off the AF and began to use manual, f8, and the built in range finding dot.
i woke up the next morning regretting my decision.......well, i pulled it off! they were in focus (thanks to the photo god). my buddy loved all the photos and has been paying me compliments since. i have also got about 3 more weddings out of it.
i will not try that again for sure on my "paying" weddings, but it was fun for this one.

eddie

[Vaughn]

Back in the 70's I do remember having an interesting time looking at the GG -- everything on it seemed to be always moving in curious unpredictable ways. The image might have even turned out okay if I had known about the need of a bellows factor.

Vaughn