Bob Cain Moves to Digital Age
Bob Cain
I am proud to present our new guest – Bob Cain, a retired photographer from Canada who has achieved success in selling his art prints.
PG: Hello Bob, tell us how you got interested in photography and what you did in your early day.
Bob: When I was 10 years old my family moved into a house with a darkroom in the basement. My brother and I began to use it with that great enthusiasm that young boys have. We started with fold up Kodaks, developing the film and printing the pictures. In short, learning the whole photographic process. We even shot and developed 16 mm reversal movie films; shooting such classics as ‘Death with a smile’ and ‘Mayday Parade’.
Ferry Passengers - Living on an island I take lots of ferries and ferry pics. The reflected light transforms this photo-it seems staged and this intrigues my eye.
It wasn’t until my early 20’s that I realized what I really wanted to do in life was photography. I found a job with a commercial photography outfit which did everything; editorial, commercial, advertising, copying, portrait photography. We also made giant prints and offered drymounting and wetmounting services.
We worked with line film, continuous tone, and produced half-tones.
During these years I took night courses at University where I discovered the artistic side of the craft. What an education!
Victoria Harbour - This photo combines two of my favourite approaches. Centering the subject and capturing the lone soul.
PG: What happened after you had completed University and what do you do now?
Bob: I worked my way up to the managers job but discovered that the long intense work hours were destroying my interest in what I’d loved.
I quit and moved my young family to a small island off the west coast of Canada. There I somehow became the island photographer and archivist. As well as shooting weddings, passport photos, and Artist’s work I recorded the daily life of the islanders.
Last year I announce in the local paper that I was retiring. I would no longer do the work I’d been doing for the last 30 or more years.
Today I work on my archives and shoot my own stuff. Still as busy as ever and enjoying the ‘retirement’.
PG: I know you were successful in selling your prints. Please tell about it and also about your achievements.
Bob: I sold my first print in 1965. I had set up a display in an outdoor market in Gastown(Vancouver) and was flabbergasted when a couple bought a print for $10!
First sale - I was so flustered and unprepared that I had to borrow wrapping paper from a fellow exhibitor.
In the sixties I published a series of black and white posters (I named my outfit Vancouver Postergraphics) and employed a couple of salesmen to push them. They did OK and a couple of department store chains began selling them.
I’ve participated in a number of group shows in Vancouver and Victoria British Columbia as well as few one man shows.
Early on I’d built a 20×30 ft studio on my island property and every year I did a pre-Christmas show where I sold many prints to Islanders and visitors.
My photos have been published in a few books and magazines. Also I was the island stringer for the nearby town newspaper. They printed many of my island life photos.
I’ve won a few awards and contests over the years.
PG: I suppose you are into film photography?
Bob: Film naturally although I’m getting excited about digital. I’ve been busy digitizing all my prints. The digital age is the archivist’s dream. There is no better way to organize and output spanning 50 or 60 years.
Cruise ship - I love the movement in this. The sharpest part is the little girls face. Serendipdous, I know, but I was there and I did take the picture.
PG: I am sure our readers would like to know what equipment you use.
Bob: Here is some of the equipment I still have and still use.
Plaubel 4×5 monorail and a Simmons 4×5 enlarger, Rolleiflex TLR and Durst 6×6 enlarger, Rittrek 6×9 SLR and Durst 6×9 enlarger, Nikon F(yes the original bought in Japan),Nikon F2 and a Leitz Focotar enlarger.
I’ve been using Leicas for years and have ended up with my all time favourite camera, the Leica M6.
I carry a little Lumix(DMC-Fs15) which satisfies my never ending urge to photograph.
In the studio I have two San Kuang 250 amp studio lights.(enough power for the stuff I used to shoot) and background paper.
I also use a Seal Commercial 200 drymount press.
PG: Have you travelled much?
Bob: I’ve travelled often always with a camera and the attendant arguments with x-ray border guards.
In 1983 I had the privilege of accompanying the artist Jerry Pethick to Paris to photograph his show at the Canadian Consulate. A month in Paris!
Moonrise - I call this Moonrise over St John's Point and, yes, it's an intentional borrowing from Ansel Adams. A planned photograph, I was fairly confident that this would be the track the moon took.
PG: Any tips or advice to our readers please!
Bob: I know it’s a platitude but it is as true now as it ever was. Shoot what you like – period. You’ll never be disappointed.
I’m biased, I know, but young aspiring photographers would be better off getting commercial training than sitting in a classroom.
PG: Thank you, Bob!
Bob Cain’s web site: Rcainphoto.com/blog and rcainphoto.com
