Amanda Shopa

Film Photography & Fiber Arts

Category: Photography

  • Weeks 77–80 of 209 Weeks

    Weeks 77–80 of 209 Weeks

    “I am not that air, I am the pattern that it assumed, temporarily.” —Ted Chiang

  • Weeks 73–76 of 209 Weeks

    Weeks 73–76 of 209 Weeks

    “The only recognizable feature of hope is action.” —Grace Paley

  • Second Attempt at Using a Pinhole Camera

    Second Attempt at Using a Pinhole Camera

    So it was a bit of an adventure to figure out a backdrop, how I could use natural light, and how to get my tiny little pinhole camera at the right height.

  • My First Roll of Film with a Pinhole Camera

    My First Roll of Film with a Pinhole Camera

    Shooting with a pinhole camera made me rethink everything I knew about photography. What exactly was in frame? No idea. How long should exposures be? Not sure. Did I remember to advance the film or did I just create a double exposure? Who knows?

  • Fogged Paper, Testing Procedures, and Ilford’s (Excellent) Customer Service

    Fogged Paper, Testing Procedures, and Ilford’s (Excellent) Customer Service

    My mind whirled. Did I somehow expose some paper to a white light? Was the top part of my seated incorrectly, letting light leak onto the border of the print? Had my safelight gone rogue? Had my chemistry gone bad?

  • Weeks 69–72 of 209 Weeks

    Weeks 69–72 of 209 Weeks

    Week 69 of 209 Weeks:Whatever it takesMAKE Whatever it takes—Anna Brones (Yes, the original quote is “Whatever it takes,” but I wrote it incorrectly on this postcard.) Photo Notes: This is the ceiling of a temple (maybe?) in Seoul, South Korea. This was taken in 2018. Correction—I believe this was taken at a palace, Changdeokgung.…

  • Chasing Light Leaks (and Still Thinking About It)

    Chasing Light Leaks (and Still Thinking About It)

    I needed to make my darkroom light tight. I figured I’d need a cheap caulk gun and a few tubes of caulk and I’d be done in an evening.

  • Weeks 65–68 of 209 Weeks

    Weeks 65–68 of 209 Weeks

    Week 65 of 209 Weeks: “What if I fall? Oh, but my darkling, what if you fly?” –Erin Hanson Photo Notes: This photo was taken near Stillwater, MN on September 6, 2018 when I took a hot air balloon ride with my stepdad. Week 66 of 209 Weeks: “The challenge now is to grasp and shape history:…

  • A Restless Winter

    A Restless Winter

    This year it feels like we skipped from November to March. This winter was snowy and cold and it felt like winter—except we didn’t get that winter rest.

  • Weeks 61–64 of 209 Weeks

    Weeks 61–64 of 209 Weeks

    Week 61 of 209 Weeks: “Small is good, small is all.” —adrienne maree brown Photo Notes: This was taken at Western Illinois Threshers in August 2018. I think it was at the flea market. Week 62 of 209 Weeks: “We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond.” —Gwendolyn…