This my entry for the #monomad challenge.
I went ahead and tried mix photography with poetry. The result was the following poem that goes along with the photos. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it.
There are no joys like sanding. Except sanding isn't a very exciting activity. The whole act is tedious, messy, repetitive. The results of it are far more interesting. Smooth surfaces. Even surfaces. Along with it, the true face of wood's grain. Yesterday, I made the experiment of posting a video about the whole process. Only 10 minutes. It sounds easy. But it's a time-lapse. It was 7 hours of work.
In the meantime, I took plenty of photos of the stages and sections I was working. I also replicated the idea of holding the instrument at arm's length. This time, it was easier. Like most things are when you do them enough.
I'd also like to think my black and white photos are getting better. At least, that's my perception. I'm not trying to compete with a professional photographer. There's no way I could. But I try to compete with myself. And that's an interesting idea.
The process of sanding needs a refined sense of touch. Your eyes lie. Hands tell the story better. Once the surface is soft, you know the grit needs to go up. From coarse to fine. Until wood has a texture of silk.
The video above is for the fans of colours and moving pictures. Here, we work with more refined ideas. Here's the gallery of the process.
Contemplation, sweat and sawdust.
There are no joys like sanding. Rough spots begone. Silkiness coming forth.
All photos are mine. Taken with my Redmi Note 8 Smartphone.
I apologize to my Spanish readers for the lack of translation, but the prose poem with the photos loses all it's rhythm in Spanish.
Follow me on Instagram for enquires and commission.
If you'd like to help the workshop grow, you can make a donation here.
You can find me at discord as bertrayo#1763
