Bob Shell: Film Makes A Comeback

Birds eye View Film photograph of red vintage Porsche 911
Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 1985

Text by Bob Shell, Copyright 2023

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Film Makes a Comeback

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For years in the 1980’s and 1990’s I wrote for an industry publication named Photo Industry Reporter. Because it was for photographic dealers only, it didn’t conflict with my job as Editor In Chief at SHUTTERBUG, a consumer magazine. 

I loved writing for Rudy Maschke and Ed Wagner, who owned and operated it. Both men are gone now. When both were in their 80’s they sold the magazine to Jerry Grossman, formerly an executive at Nikon. When the whole industry changed, the magazine changed, too. Now it’s named Digital Imaging Reporter (www.PIR.com). Because of my long history with the publication, they send it to me, and it helps keep me up on what’s happening in the photo industry. 

In the latest issue, Jerry Grossman wrote an interesting editorial about the latest trend in photography — film. Yes, the younger generation has discovered the joys of film photography. So much so, in fact, that film is in short supply. 

Pentax, one of the oldest camera manufacturers, and now part of Ricoh, has just announced a project to develop a new line of film cameras. Can the other camera makers be far behind? 

Not so many years ago, used film cameras were very difficult to sell. Now prices on the classic film cameras from companies like Canon, Nikon, Minolta (now Sony’s camera division), Pentax, Olympus, Hasselblad, Mamiya, and many others are going up. 

Maybe the ones I have in storage will have value when I’m able to sell them, or use them again. 

This increased interest in film has revived its companion, darkroom work. A few years ago you couldn’t give away darkroom equipment. I know, I tried. I had a very elaborate darkroom with two enlargers, automated film and print processors, safelights, and everything else to process film and make prints. I tried to sell it all, with zero success. 

If I still had it today, I could probably sell it easily. 

The return of interest in film photography parallels the interest in vinyl LPs, turntables, tube amplifiers, all the audiophile stuff that was once called ‘Hi-Fi’. Many recording artists are issuing their music on vinyl today, some issuing only on vinyl. I can verify that vinyl albums played on quality turntables through tube amplifiers and topnotch speakers have a ‘warmer’ sound. 

Similarly, images photographed on film with high quality lenses and printed on high quality photographic paper with a high silver content have a unique look that can’t be duplicated digitally. 

With the return of darkroom, the old argument over which kind of enlarger will return. Are condenser enlargers that send a focused beam of light through the negative better than diffuser enlargers that bathe the negative in unfocused, diffuse light? Photographers used to argue about that late into the night. I’ve owned and used both, but preferred the diffusion systems because they produced smoother tones to my eye and suppressed dust on negatives, cutting down on laborious print spotting. 

My two enlargers were a Zone VI 5 X 7 that used a cold light head, and a Saunders/LPL 4 X 5 that used interchangeable diffusers for different negative sizes. Much of my commercial work was made on 4 X 5 inch film with a Toyo studio camera or my 4 X 5 Zone VI field camera using Schneider-Kreuznach lenses. I tried other makes but couldn’t beat the image quality of the Schneiders. I also had an old Kodak 2D 8 X 10 camera made in 1918. I fitted it with a Voigtlander 300 mm Apo-Lanthar lens in a Compur Electronic shutter. Every once in a blue moon a client would want an 8 X 10 transparency. 

Once a magazine demanded an 8 X 10 transparency. I photographed it in an all-day studio session on Fujichrome Velvia for maximum color punch. Believe me, an 8 X 10 Velvia on a lightbox will practically punch your eyes out. The results, a three-quarters view of a nude holding a bunch of flowers, was lovely. Then the magazine printed it about 1 X 1 1/4 inches on the page! I could have shot it in 35 mm and it would have looked fine at that size. I’d expected full page. Photo editors are strange beasts! 

But, once again I seem to have drifted off topic. Due to the increased demand for film, film manufactures are working hard to meet demand. That’s not as easy as you might think, because film, particularly color film, can’t just me made, packaged, and shipped. Like fine whisky, film must be aged before sale. I’ve visited most of the major film makers and seen their aging vaults. I don’t know if they still do, but Kodak used to age their film deep underground in old salt mines. The temperature was constant down there, and the salt blocked most cosmic rays that can fog film, particularly high sensitivity films. Because of the need to scale up manufacturing again and the aging process, it may take film companies a while to catch up to greater demand. Be patient.

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About The Author: Bob Shell is a professional photographer, author, former editor in chief of Shutterbug Magazine and veteran contributor to this blog. He is currently serving a 35 year sentence for involuntary manslaughter for the death of Marion Franklin, one of his former models.  He is serving the 13th year of his sentence at Pocahontas State Correctional Facility, Virginia. To read additional articles by Bob Shell related to UFO’s, click here: https://tonyward.com/good-enough/

Mikala Mikrut: Prostitution in Nevada

Prostitute working the streets at night approaches a car
Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2023

Text by Mikala Mikrut,  Copyright 2023

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Prostitution in Nevada

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Prostitution has been a contentious issue in the United States for a long time, with many states having different laws regarding the practice. However, the state of Nevada stands out as the only state where prostitution is legal in certain counties. While this may seem surprising to some, the history of prostitution in Nevada is actually quite rich.

It’s important to note that not all counties in Nevada allow for legal prostitution. While it’s legal in 10 out of 17 counties, only 6 permit it in every municipality. The majority of active brothels are located in rural, isolated areas, with at least one in 7 different counties. However, prostitution is not allowed in Clark and Washoe counties, which include Las Vegas and Reno respectively, and it is also prohibited in Carson City. It’s worth noting that despite the legality of prostitution in certain counties, illegal prostitution is still much more prevalent in Nevada.

The history of legal prostitution in Nevada dates back to the mid-20th century. Weekly health checks for prostitutes became a regulated law in 1937, but it wasn’t until 1942 that prostitution near military bases was suppressed by order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1949, the Nevada Supreme Court upheld Reno officials who tried to shut down a brothel as a public nuisance after the order was lifted just a year before. In 1951, both Las Vegas and Reno closed their red-light districts as public nuisances. However, Joe Conforte, the owner of Mustang Ranch near Reno, managed to convince county officials to enact an ordinance that would allow for the licensing of brothels and prostitutes in 1971.

Under Nevada state law, any county with a population of up to 700,000 (as of the last decennial census) is allowed to license brothels. However, prostitution may be further regulated or prohibited altogether by incorporated towns or cities that allow it. Currently, there are only 21 legal brothels operating in Nevada, with about 200 women employed at any given time among the 21 locations. Some locales even have multi-unit complexes of several separate brothels run by the same owner.

In 1986, HIV testing became mandatory for sex workers, and in 1988, a mandatory condom law was passed to further protect the health of sex workers. A study conducted in 1995 on two legal brothels found that sexually transmitted diseases were absent and condom use was consistent among the sex workers. Few sex workers reported using condoms in their private lives, meaning that mandating condoms just for their work improved the health and livelihood of sex workers tremendously.

Despite the state’s efforts to make legal prostitution a safe and regulated business, illegal prostitution remains the most common form found in Nevada. In an effort to combat this, both Reno and Las Vegas have worked to expand their tourism base by attracting more families to hotels and casinos. Legislation against prostitution was enacted in 1971, making it illegal in Clark County to combat the street prostitution that was once rampant on the streets. However, sex workers can still be found in casinos and bars attempting to make contact with potential clients.

It’s worth noting that legal prostitution in Nevada only grosses about $75 million per year, while illegal prostitution in just the Las Vegas area grosses about $5 billion per year. This means that the majority of prostitution that actually occurs in Nevada is located in the metropolitan areas of Reno and Las Vegas, despite the state’s efforts to come up with solutions to make prostitution safe and regulated.

In conclusion, legal prostitution in Nevada is a complex issue that is surrounded by controversy. While it is legal in certain counties, illegal prostitution remains much more prevalent, particularly in urban areas. The state’s efforts to regulate and make prostitution safe for sex workers have had some positive impact, but there is still much work to be done.

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Prostitution has been a contentious issue in the United States for a long time, with many states having different laws regarding the practice. However, the state of Nevada stands out as the only state where prostitution is legal in certain counties. While this may seem surprising to some, the history of prostitution in Nevada is actually quite rich.It's important to note that not all counties in Nevada allow for legal prostitution. While it's legal in 10 out of 17 counties, only 6 permit it in every municipality. The majority of active brothels are located in rural, isolated areas, with at least one in 7 different counties. However, prostitution is not allowed in Clark and Washoe counties, which include Las Vegas and Reno respectively, and it is also prohibited in Carson City. It's worth noting that despite the legality of prostitution in certain counties, illegal prostitution is still much more prevalent in Nevada.

The history of legal prostitution in Nevada dates back to the mid-20th century. Weekly health checks for prostitutes became a regulated law in 1937, but it wasn't until 1942 that prostitution near military bases was suppressed by order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1949, the Nevada Supreme Court upheld Reno officials who tried to shut down a brothel as a public nuisance after the order was lifted just a year before. In 1951, both Las Vegas and Reno closed their red-light districts as public nuisances. However, Joe Conforte, the owner of Mustang Ranch near Reno, managed to convince county officials to enact an ordinance that would allow for the licensing of brothels and prostitutes in 1971.

Under Nevada state law, any county with a population of up to 700,000 (as of the last decennial census) is allowed to license brothels. However, prostitution may be further regulated or prohibited altogether by incorporated towns or cities that allow it. Currently, there are only 21 legal brothels operating in Nevada, with about 200 women employed at any given time among the 21 locations. Some locales even have multi-unit complexes of several separate brothels run by the same owner.

In 1986, HIV testing became mandatory for sex workers, and in 1988, a mandatory condom law was passed to further protect the health of sex workers. A study conducted in 1995 on two legal brothels found that sexually transmitted diseases were absent and condom use was consistent among the sex workers. Few sex workers reported using condoms in their private lives, meaning that mandating condoms just for their work improved the health and livelihood of sex workers tremendously.

Despite the state's efforts to make legal prostitution a safe and regulated business, illegal prostitution remains the most common form found in Nevada. In an effort to combat this, both Reno and Las Vegas have worked to expand their tourism base by attracting more families to hotels and casinos. Legislation against prostitution was enacted in 1971, making it illegal in Clark County to combat the street prostitution that was once rampant on the streets. However, sex workers can still be found in casinos and bars attempting to make contact with potential clients.

It's worth noting that legal prostitution in Nevada only grosses about $75 million per year, while illegal prostitution in just the Las Vegas area grosses about $5 billion per year. This means that the majority of prostitution that actually occurs in Nevada is located in the metropolitan areas of Reno and Las Vegas, despite the state's efforts to come up with solutions to make prostitution safe and regulated.

In conclusion, legal prostitution in Nevada is a complex issue that is surrounded by controversy. While it is legal in certain counties, illegal prostitution remains much more prevalent, particularly in urban areas. The state's efforts to regulate and make prostitution safe for sex workers have had some positive impact, but there is still much work to be done.
Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2023

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About The Author: Mikala Mikrut is a regular contributor to Tony Ward’s blog. To access additional articles by Mikala, click here: https://tonyward.com/mikala-mikrut-what-happens-in-vegas-stays-in-vegas/

Shanell Verandez: Philly’s Black and Brown Fashion History

 

Text by Shanell Verandez,  Copyright 2023

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Philly’s Black and Brown Fashion History

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Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who’s the Fiercest of them all?… My past or present as a model?

A thought that danced in my mind as I reflect on my snapshot vignettes of Philadelphia fashion scene’s past. I started modeling during the “Fashion Posh” era in Philly. There was so much talent booming within the fashion industry during the 90’s and 2000’s, especially in the black/brown community. It was a time where you could thrive as a freelance model and still land the same jobs that the signed models were getting. There were three big agencies in Philly, Askins, Reinhard and Expressions, who were only using the same group of black/brown models to fit their quota. I started with a smaller agency named Freez Frame in olde city, because they signed and worked with a lot of black/brown models until they went out of business and the models money. That’s another story to reflect upon another time.

One of the many treasures were the photographers… Milton Perry, Terrance Boykins, Les Beverley, Lindy Powers, Stephen Hudgins and the legendary Tony Ward to name a few. I only got to work with two of them then, Les and Lindy, at the time. I met Lindy Powers through a chance meeting from another model at the Palmer’s Social Club during a fashion show I was modeling in. She loved to photograph black/brown models and showed an interest in me for a test shoot. After the shoot, she gave me my first portfolio book, comp cards and told me that I would do really well in Europe (Italy) and NYC( her agency Wilhelmina) but first placed me with Askins here in Philly. She wanted to help me with my modeling career. There was one special modeling gig I did with her that reunited with legendary model and makeup artist, Paul Luna, who was the makeup artist and hairstylist for the shoot.The photo shoot was a success and became running local ads in the Ritz movie theaters show bill.

  Another Philly fashion treasure were the fabulous designers shows and venues within the black/ brown community! “Fashion Montage” was the biggest black/brown fashion show held annually in the summer by Julie and Ron Wilch at the Robin Dell East. I was honored to walk the runway for five years and appear on their show bill cover twice. At that show, is where I met a few talented, black/ brown designers, some I still have the opportunity to work with presently. Most noted one was the Couture/ Scarf designer, KVaughn, who was quite the eccentric designer every model wanted to work with. I had the pleasure to model for KVaughn then and currently in the present. I remember when he lined all the models and pointed me out and asked me if I had a black thong. I said yes and he stated to me that all he wanted from me was a thong, my big hair, and a jacket on the runway. Another noted designer was James Nelson, who grew up in the same West Philly neighborhood as myself and hired me as an usher at his fashion shows until I was ” mature” enough to walk for his shows.  Another show venue was actually a legendary restaurant in olde city named “The Middle East’. Almost every designer or boutique had a fashion show there. Before it closed down, I had walked a fashion show for a popular local bathing suit designer, Esha, who designed a female warrior princess leather and wire bathing suit exclusively for me, because she admired my athletic physique. At that time, fitness modeling started to become more marketable and I had a muscular build due to martial arts training and playing semi-pro beach volleyball.

During this time I was traveling to NYC a lot to do work or travel with my ex beau who owned two boutiques in Philly and Atlantic City called “Eleganza”. He was an Italian who only sold Italian designs, especially Versace. I would travel with him to the showrooms and help him pick out designs for the new seasons. Until one day I showed up with him at the Versus (Versace’s second fashion line)show room completely exhausted ( hung over) from the night before and a model didn’t show up. Guess who had the right size and look? So I sobered up and showed out and got hired! I guess Lindy Powers was right about “Italy”.

Then there was Shampoo Nite club where I honed my runway walk through the likes of Phoenix, Justin, Shannon, Cyoni and Noel. Every week was a fashion show there… the Color theme shows that lasted 12 hours, the Fetish boutique shows and one particular designer I got to meet and befriend, Jay McCarroll who went on to win the first season of Project Runway. This venue became an open door to everything Philly fashion and beyond. During this time I also got a chance to meet fashion editors whose magazines were thriving in the black/ brown community, most noted were “Colors” by K.C. Bajai and “Ambiance” by Paul Tucker. I never got the chance to model in those magazines but I slayed their annual runway shows. 

  Last but not least, there was and still is John Blassingame, the Godfather of the modeling pageants/ competitions within the brown/ black community. He is a mentor and a fashion staple to a lot of upcoming black/brown models. I had a chance to meet him at the Bronner Bros. hair fashion show I modeled for in Philly. The Bronner Bros. is a black owned hair company based in Atlanta, Georgia and they produce some of the most extravagant shows there.

So many vignettes, so little ink… but more to come as this city is still producing some of the best fashion talent still, instead of flyers, there is social media outlets to do the work. As I continue to reflect on my model work , past and present… the people and places may have changed or gone extinct but their fashion imprint still lives on in Philly!  As far as myself, I may have grown older, but my mind , body and spirit are still intact and ready to strike poses and slay the runways… Until then 

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To access additional articles by Shanell Verandez, click herehttps://tonyward.com/shanell-verandez-a-simple-lady-with-a-complex-soul/ 

Like Father Like Son and The Magic Garden

Isaiah Zagar voyeur
Voyeur. Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2022

Text by Tony Ward, Copyright 2022

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Like Father Like Son and The Magic Garden

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During the summer of 1996 I produced my first couples test shoot for Penthouse Magazine.  At the time I was looking around my neighborhood for a place to shoot and became intrigued by this place called The Magic Garden.  It was founded by artisans Julia and Isaiah Zagar.  We were friends from the neighborhood of Bella Vista where we raised our kids and enjoyed the artistic flavor of South street where the Zagar’s envisioned a dream of a creating an utopic art space that would attract visitors from around the world. Eventually their dream came true.  Little by little over a period of years Isaiah, an artist and well known mosaic specialist worked on the creation of the  space with assistants that he assigned to assist with various aspects of the project under his supervision.

One day, after having breakfast with Isaiah at the 4th Street Deli, he invited me over to see the progress he was making.  I asked if I could take some erotic pictures of a couple that I had cast for an editorial for Penthouse Magazine.   He jumped at the idea. Isaiah mentioned that although his father, Asher Zagar ( lived on the premises at the time) was a Playboy fan, surely wouldn’t mind witnessing the photo shoot that was to take place at his home by Playboy’s biggest competitor.  The father and son were so intrigued by my work that they decided to join in on the production. I first photographed Isaiah and the couple with a my Hasselblad camera.  I directed Isaiah while nude to descend down a flight of steps while acting like a voyeur.  I don’t think he was acting.

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Asher Zagar looks on while couple performs sex act
Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2022

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In the second image, I switched over to my Nikon and photographed his dad casually seated on an outdoor terrace while reading a book with the couple making love next to him.  This particular photograph was published in the book of Tableau Vivants, Editions Stemmle, Zurich 2001. To see more photos from the tableaux vivants series, click here: https://tonyward.com/portfolios/tableaux-vivants-1994-1996/

It is know wonder why these days the Philadelphia tourist bureau has listed The Magic Garden as a destination while traveling through the city of brotherly love.

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To access additional articles by Tony Ward, click here: https://tonyward.com/studio-news-first-annual-friends-of-tony-ward-studio-luncheon/

Bob Shell: Photographers Fight For Their Rights, And Win!

classic nude photograph of white female in forest with great ass
Photo: Bob Shell, Copyright 2022

Photography and Text by Bob Shell, Copyright 2022

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Photographers Fight For Their Rights, And Win!

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As reported in the June issue of ‘Professional Photographer’ magazine (the official publication of Professional Photographers of America, PPA.com):

On January 24, Grand Teton National Park released new rules governing wedding and portrait photography, and only wedding and portrait photography, within the park. These rules stated that wedding and portrait photographers had to apply for a $ 300 commercial use permit to make photographs of their clients in the park. The photographer had to be CPR certified, wear a nametag while working in the park, carry general liability insurance that covered work inside the park, pay a monitor to observe them while they worked in the park, and pay the park 3% of their earnings from each session in the park. The wedding parties were limited to 40 persons and could only be photographed at six designated locations. Photographers were no longer allowed to photograph small wedding parties of twelve or fewer persons in other areas of the park. Portrait sessions were limited to areas within a half mile of a road. Finally, photographers were required to notify the park 30 days before any session.

These rules went into effect without any advance notification to photographers or any photographic organizations, and with absolutely no public input.

In January of 2021, the US District Court for the District of Columbia issued a ruling in Price v. Barr holding that permits and fees for commercial filming are unconstitutional under the First Amendment. The ruling did not specifically address still photography, but its extension to still photography is obvious.

Grand Teton National Park is in Wyoming. Over 400 photographers and associated persons signed a letter to Wyoming Senator John Barrasso opposing the new rules. The Professional Photographers of America was joined in opposition to these new rules by the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), and the North American Nature Photographers Association (NANPA, of which I am one of the founders).
As a result of this opposition to restrictions on freedom of expression, the National Park Service has launched a review of its policies across all 50 states and US territories.

On a personal note, when I was holding my nude photography workshops from the 1980s through 2002, I had wanted to hold some in National Parks. I was told that nude photography in our National Parks is specifically prohibited by National Park Service rules, even though prominent photographers have done it for years.

My late friend Galen Rowell wrote an article in ‘Outdoor Photographer’ opposing this ridiculous policy and drew a lot of flak for it. So, if National Parks Parks were out of the question, I approached the State Park Commission in Nevada, which has no such rule, and welcomed me. I conducted an annual nude photography workshop in The Valley of Fire State Park near Las Vegas for years with no problems. Yes, there was paperwork, and I had to carry insurance indemnifying the park, but it was not a major problem.

Generally speaking, photographers respect nature and go out of their way to leave behind no traces of their presence. (But Ansel Adams carried a saw and was not above sawing off an obstructive tree limb to get just the right picture!)  When my workshops were over, I always walked the whole area picking up discarded film packages and other trash, much of which was not left by my workshop attendees. We had zero impact on the park and were welcomed back year after year.

Photographers must assert their right to photograph anything and anywhere so long as they cause no harm.

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About The Author: Bob Shell is a professional photographer, author, former editor in chief of Shutterbug Magazine and veteran contributor to this blog. He is currently serving a 35 year sentence for involuntary manslaughter for the death of Marion Franklin, one of his former models.  He is serving the 13th year of his sentence at Pocahontas State Correctional Facility, Virginia. To read additional articles by Bob Shell related to UFO’s, click here: https://tonyward.com/more-thoughts_on_the_ufo_phenomenon/