RASK

Jonas' Letter of Intent

I remember the day that I joined KAGE quite vividly. I was in awe. I was in awe that I got to join a group of like-minded people that I not only looked up to as a photographer, but that I actually idolized somewhat.

I still cannot believe that I get to interact with my KAGE brothers and sister(s) on a regular basis. To get feedback and inspiration from people that I truly admire is a gift that I’m very thankful for everyday.

But what happened over the course of these past years, is that the interaction grew to an almost halt. We each had way too much on our respective plates, dealing with living and staying clear from angst and depression during a very altered reality/world.

We tried to kick it into gear several times, but we were always on the backbeat. We were dragging. Not pushing.

But I think that the glow of KAGE never died. It just faded.

Now, more than ever I think the lot of us wants to see that glow spark into a burning fire. Like it once did.

I sure know I do.

At the end of 2021 I ended my ambassadorship with Fujifilm. It was a very hard decision that I simply had to make. It required me disappointing a lot of good friends in Tokyo and the rest of the world. But I have a profound belief that the friendships go deeper than my involvement in the ambassadors program.

So what I need to do with this project is a return to basics.
A return to a time when I made images for me. Just me. A time where I experimented with all sorts of brand, materials and nuances, not thinking about reviewing a piece of kit, or testing/giving feedback to developers.

I need to re-learn how to do storytelling that has my unique footprint.

How will I get there? I have absolutely no clue.

But I will wear my camera everyday - And I will chase the life around me looking for the story in the mundane.

Jonas Dyhr Rask
January 27th 2022

Definition 030 | Addiction

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Images and words by Jonas Rask

In exploring what define me I cannot escape the obvious. I am a complete addict of photography. Not just digital photography, but to an even bigger extent; analog photography.
If some of you out there know me, or have been following my various online outings over the past 8 years, you will surely know that I live and breathe photography.

It has become an integral part of me, and I am so fortunate as to not be financially dependant on doing photography. I’m known in the photography circles as a hobbyist. An amateur.

The fact that I’m an amateur has a huge effect on the way I see and practice my photography. I take pictures for me. For fun. For relaxation. For commitment. For learning. For exploring. For documentation. For the stories.

I started out shooting digital, but after 6 years, my curiosity made me look at the old analog process. As a natural part of my evolution as a photographer it was a step forward while looking backwards. It was something new to learn, and to explore.

A new fix if you will.

It’s no secret that I own many cameras. I think the total has surpassed 40 or 50 by now. And oddly enough, the majority are analogue cameras. They’re pieces that I’ve collected slowly but surely. Rolleiflex 2.8E, Leica M6, Pentax 67, Bronica RF645, Contax G1&G2, Hasselblad 500C, Fujifilm TX1… the list goes on. They’re precious items. They’re the cream of the crop. I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s part of the analog fix for me. And part of my love for aesthetics.

But don’t be fooled. They’re not just for show and shelf life, because of the rule.

One rule that ensures constant usage of my cameras no matter the season. The rule states that if a camera doesn’t see usage within a 6 month period it needs to go on to a shooter that will appreciate it more than me. My house is not a camera museum, nor will it ever be.
All these old tools work in different ways, and they all challenge my creativity in an equally differentiated manner.

So will I show you my camera collection now? No. I’d much rather give an example of the essence of photography for me at this point in my life. An expression of the rush that my addiction and continuous photography-fixes give me.

The pictures in this story are all shot on a Saturday morning in late June 2020. As usual I had an idea, and I asked my sweet daughter Nanna if she wanted to spend some time shooting. This has become out thing. We have an amazing time while doing these pictures, and we always have tons of laughs.

I had an old AGFAPAN APX25 B&W film in the fridge. I had found it in a box many years ago. I had no clue how It’d been stored, nor how old it was. I looked up the film stock and saw that it was in production from late 1980’s until 2000-something.

The rule is to overexpose these old films by 1 extra stop per decade expired. I figured I’d play it semi-safe and gave it 3 extra stops. That means shooting it at ISO3. Yes, ISO THREE.
I measured the light needed, put an old National flash on my Hasselblad 500C with the 80mm f/2.8 and used that to trigger my modern Good AD200. Shot as a single light.

After the shoot Nanna actually developed the film herself in Rodinal chemistry.

The result is full of flaws, old disintegrated film traits as well as permanent letter markings from the film paper.

But I absolutely love them! Because of the process of getting there. Because of the technical learning involved. Because of the risk-taking. Because of the fun we had while doing them. But most importantly for the precious moment captured in such a unique manner. I will probably never forget this Saturday in June where we shot this roll.

That is the reason for my addiction.

And here are some behind the scenes shots of Nannas developing session. Shot on the Fujifilm X100V

Definition 021 | 39 Last Street

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Photography and words by Jonas Dyhr Rask

Camera slung across the chest, closing the door to the apartment behind me, getting hit by the pulsating life and sounds of the vibrant city life.

It was how I really started photographing those 9 years ago. I bought myself an X100 camera, and immediately hit the streets. It evolved from there, that’s for sure. Over the course of two years I got sucked in deeper and deeper. It was almost like an addiction. It was an addiction.

I would get lost in it for hours, days even. I still do.

Street photography has become such an integral part of me, that when I’m not able to practice it at least twice a week its like holding my breath past capacity. It feels like I’m choking.

It doesn’t have to be thematic. It doesn’t have to be documentary. It just has to be.

All the time, it has to be.

Today was the last chance to go shoot in the city before I turn 40 on friday. Looking back at my 30’s they contain all my photographic experiences. When I was 30 I shot my first street shots. It’s crazy to think about, so I try not to. I don’t want to dwell. I want to push forward. Look forward.

So today, I did what I do at least twice a week.

I drive to the city, camera slung across the chest, closing the door to the car behind me, getting hit by the pulsating life and sounds of the vibrant city life.

I breathe.

I photograph.

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(all shots shot during an hour this afternoon. Shot on the X-Pro3 with the XF35mm f/1.4)

Sensual // Sensory

GENERATOR

Guidance: Make it more sensual.

Assignment: Today you must shoot a single subject using multiple exposures (a series of 6), using a novelty or vintage lens (otherwise pick your fastest glass) and your favorite camera.

BY JONAS RASK

With my huge vintage lens collection, it wasn’t the choosing of the gear that proved tricky for this assignment. It wasn’t the fact that I should shoot a series of 6 images of the same subject matter. What proved to be the real challenge here was sticking to the guidance.

Sensual does not equal sexual. It does not have to be. I thought it had to be. But I chose not to.

I chose the senses.

But how do you go about that with only 5 of them around.

I will leave the 6th up for interpretation. I know what it is to me. Do you know what it is to you?

Shot on the Fujifilm X-Pro2 using a 1971 Minolta Rokkor 58mm f/1.2 and a 12mm extension tube.

One day late

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By Jonas Rask

I was supposed to get this story done and uploaded yesterday.
But I didn’t make that deadline.
Obviously.

We weren’t supposed to dig into our archives and reuse material that had already been shot.
But I dug into my year old gallery.
Obviously.

So, why was I late? Why did I dig? - Because I was lazy and didn’t get my portraits shot? Not really.
I shot self portraits. I portrayed my good friend Donald, I portrayed fellow photographer Frederik Vohnsen, I portrayed my kids, nieces and nephews. All within the last 14 days.

So I didn’t need to be late, and I didn’t need to dig.

I have this camera. It’s nothing fancy. It’s old.
I love that little (big) thing. It shoots packfilm. Old Fujifilm FP100c or FP3000b. It’s a fantastic feeling to shoot a portrait of someone I know with this camera. To show them the positive, then go home and develop the negative using bleach and a glass-plate. It’s oldschool charm that really makes you commit to your craft, and to your portrait.
But the Fujifilm FP100c and FP3000b are no more. I have collected a lot for storage in my fridge, but they’re way past expiration already. And when they’re done - then no more. Then only digital noise.

So, again I’m late. They’ve all expired, and I have to dig deep into the corners of online stores to find the few remaining packs for me to maintain my storage.

So I’ll continue to be late, and I’ll continue to dig.

The below images have been shot using a Polaroid 600SE camera and a Mamiya Sekor 127mm f/4.7 lens.
Some are shot on FP100c, some on FP3000b. Some are scanned as positives, some have been scanned as negatives.

My consumerist confession

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BY JONAS RASK

It’s a funny thing really. When I first heard the theme for the whole consumerism issue, I thought to myself that it would be one of the most hypocritical things we could do as a collective.
Why, do you ask?
Well first and foremost because 6 of us either is or was brand ambassadors for Fujifilm at some point in time. That means playing a big part in ensuring continuing growth and success for the Fujifilm corporation, which in terms actually translates directly into adding to the consumerism within the camera industry.
Obviously we tried to lighten the mood a bit by agreeing to use our oldest available digital camera. A way to show, that using the newest tech doesn’t always matter, even though we ourselves have a real knack for creating hype surrounding a new camera release.

To make matters even worse, on a personal level I’m so addicted to buying new camera stuff that I make myself sick! - I consume cameras at a rate that most people only dream about. So for me to write about consumerism is like having a certain US president write about humility and altruism.

But I thought to myself, why not just embrace it, and show the world that I am a big part of this consumerist train. I chose to take my X-Pro1 and XF35mm f/1.4 with me on vacation.
A vacation so filled with consumation, that it actually made me sick to my stomach at times.

We went on a trip starting in the fasionable West Palm Beach, followed by a 7 day cruise and ending up in South Beach Miami before heading home. I cannot think of a more point-proving vacation that that.

USA is the epitome of consumerism. We drove around in cars with 6.4L V8 engines that had 30 gallon tanks. We consumed gasoline at a pace that wasn’t even funny. At breakfast cafés we had the most grotesque sized servings of eggs and pancakes. So large that 6 children shared a 10USD order of pancakes and only ate 2/3 of it.
Shopping is conveniately and safely done inside malls. Outlet malls, center malls, childrens malls. Oh boy did my family get some shopping done!

Then the boat. - Superflous in all its appearance, environmental footprint, Phillippine labour forces, food consumation and wastegeneration. Complete with casino, bars, restaurants and buffets the size of manhattan.
What a machine! Perfectly tuned for consumerism!

Miami beach was a site to behold. One car bigger and more noisy than the next. People flashing their latest fashion accessories, pets- or plastic surgery procedures. A real theatre grotesque.
But you know what? I had a GREAT vacation. I consumed, like I usually do, and didn’t give it much thought. Just like I usually do!

Well maybe I did think about it this time - because of this project!

As it turns out I did think more and more about it. And in hindsight I made myself sick to my own stomach. Will I change things a little bit? I sure hope so. Will it be lasting change? I don’t know. Maybe I’ll evaluate at the end of next year.

But I sure hope so.

Join Our Club

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BY JONAS RASK

I’ve known these guys for a very long time now. I met all of them, except Kasper, back in 2002. The year I started medschool.
We had no idea what we had gotten ourselves into at the time. We thought this was just education. It turned out we were quite heavily underestimating the importance of what we had set out to do. We were on a path that would shape our future in a quite profound way.

Back then we cared less about the healthcare system setups, the union politics, the suicide rates, medical rarities and the Hippocratic oath. All we cared about was friendship…. and anatomy.

I flunked anatomy, big time.
I thought it would be like high school. I thought I could pass the tests by just acting interested and use my intelligence. But I found out the hard way, that being a medstudent required an insane amount of work and effort. Every day. Unfortunately the gang moved up a semester while I was stuck doing the anatomy thing all over again for another 6 months.
But luckily we kept hanging out despite.
Our bonds were strong.

Many things happen during the course of a 6 year stay in university. And after those 6 years, comes clinical internships. Then the clinical speciality education.
Spread across the country, we still managed to get ourselves (and our growing party of wives and children) together for special occasions. Not as often as before, but we believed in quality over quantity.

We now live within 45 min of each other (except for Tobias who moved out west and has to drive a little longer), and even to this day we still get together.

It’s our club of friendship.

I treasure it more than I could ever express.

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Copenhagen Light

BY JONAS DYHR RASK

I don’t really want to write too many words in todays story. I’m tired. Tired of words. Tired of broken promises. Tired.
Copenhagen was great. Observing it yet again was great. Capturing it was great.

Copenhagen Lights

shot using a pre-production GFX50R - GF63mm and Canon 40mm f/2.8 STM

October 17, 2018 at 11:50 pm (Tokyo, Japan)

Photography and words by Jonas Rask

Ending the study of capturing the mundane everyday.
Ending the stories that lie in everyday living.
Ending the narration.

In Japan. A place that for me is not mundane, nor everyday.
But for some it is indeed.
Mundane everyday
Everyday Living,

Ending the narration.

October 10, 2018 at 10:10 pm (Maarslet, Denmark)

Photography and words by Jonas Rask

I have a thing with numbers. I guess it is what drives my sanity in times of chaos. Its about absolute order of things. It has been like that for as long as I can remember. I always excelled at math instead of linguistics. I chose the mathematical line in high school, and obviously ended up in medschool. So numbers are a big factor in my life.
The Chronicle 90 journey is almost at the end of its lifespan. Again it was a quest of numbers. 90 days. 1 post a week.
Next week I’ll be visiting Fujifilm in Tokyo, so this week is all about preparing for that trip. Mostly about dates, hotelsbookings, time schedules, etc. You know…. the numbers.

So imagine my delight when I saw todays date.

10 images today. On 10/10. At 10:10

Now that is a journal entry in its own right. Regardless of story.