Christiaan Phleger

The name Four Silver Atoms refers to the minimum number of quanta that constitutes a latent image formed in or on the surface of a silver halide grain in a photographic emulsion.

I know, pretty esoteric.

This photoblog is a personal expression. Sometimes it is about my professional photography, sometimes it is just about an image that I like or even perhaps an image that moves me to write about it.

I’d have to say that this photoblog is personal, but hey, all art is personal. Sometimes it is not. Most the time it is.

I shot my first frame at four years old and never stopped.  I’ve been deeply involved in traditional black and white since a teenager, I process and print myself, old school style, mix my own chemicals from scratch, and I modify my own formulas to suit my needs.

I shoot mostly Nikon, and have been a Nikon Professional Services member in good standing since 1994. I also shoot Leica, Pentax M42, Olympus, Contax, and even Canon (the Horror!) in 35mm. I shoot Rollei, Mamiya, Graflex in medium format, Speed Graphic and a great old Calumet in 4×5. Thankfully I’ve yet to get the 8×10 bug but there is still time…..

I like to shoot everything: cutting edge digital, E-6, C-41, B&W and even K-14 (R.I.P.).

I’m a huge lens fanatic, I maintain and modify lenses for myself and others.

I’ve been a hard core surfer since 1982, and I’m well versed in the wave riding arts. I prefer to shortboard whenever possible but I enjoy longboarding as a recreation and I am an avid Lis Keel Fish rider. I like to rush larger waves, nothing really over 12 foot Hawaiian scale these days but I had an extensive big wave period in my twenties. Once it a while I like to scare myself a little…

I’ve surfed around the world.

Email me at foursilveratoms@gmail.com if you’d like to chat, catch up or get an opinion on photography, lenses, surfboards or what the swell is going to do.

If you’re so inclined, follow me on Instagram at christiaanphleger.

I can be found on Facebook as Christiaan Phleger.

Much Aloha from Hawaii,

Christiaan