8x10 Self Portrait...

Of course this blog image will never do this photo justice. I have said multiple times that it is an amazing thing to see an instant 8x10 image of yourself. It really never gets old. That being said, I really don't like images of myself, but part of the process of photography is satisfying the urge to create. Some days, you just need to create something. Yesterday was one of those days. I used up one of my two exposures of 8x10 Polaroid 809 film. I am saving the other one to take a photo of Sherri that matches this relative subject size. Looking forward to sorting through these images years from now and reminiscing at how great we really had it...

lunch time self portrait...

Took this image today at lunch holding and looking through a severely scratched-up piece of glass. The imperfections & reflections are blurred by the shallow depth of field of the Polaroid 180. The expired Polaroid Sepia film is still producing great images...

fade to black - hibiscus...

My first successful try at Polaroid Fade To Black film. My first shot was a portrait of Sherri via the instant lab, but I botched it during the peeling process. Took this one of a hibiscus plant in our back yard at lunch today (with my SX-70) and peeled it successfully.  I am now determined to take a portrait next because the tones will inevitably yield an incredible image...

the beauty of film...

Took this photo over a month ago. I was going through my instant photos the other day and realized that I had not posted any of these images from that day. This one is my favorite because of the tones that are rendered from the expired Polaroid film. A few things are technically wrong with the image, but I won't focus on them here. Instead, I will focus on the beauty of my oldest daughter embracing the latter stages of carrying baby Allister. Her arrival is imminent and we are all so excited to greet her into this world...

Tyler and Pyper...

So many memories were captured today. We had such a great time together as a family eating meals and enjoying our afternoon outside in the sun and by the pool. For some reason, Pyper was so excited about taking photos today. Thought I would post this one first because it is Tyler's last Father's day with only one child. Allister makes her debut later this week...

albert...

I have found out a few things in this venture with instant film. It is never cheap and no matter how much you think you know, the results can still be unpredictable. I have some 8x10 film with a manufacture date of October 2012. It has been cold-stored, but time has taken it's toll on the chemicals. The lesson learned here is to use more film, more often to avoid the divot results that you see above. My brother-in-law Albert and Sherri's sister were staying with us a couple of days. This photo was a last-minute, go-get-the-camera-out type of photo. The sun was setting fast and we were all in the back yard getting ready to start roasting some marshmallows for s'mores. The composition and exposure were spot on. I guess I have to embrace everything about instant film, including the divots. That is why I ultimately decided to post this photo. Made me think that instant film is much like us as individuals. Sometimes we just need to put our flaws out for everyone to see. In the end, I am so glad Albert let me take this portrait...

looking for shade...

Somebody was looking for some shade to get out of the sun...

please do not approach...

Got to see the Hawaiian Monk Seal in one of the lagoons while I was out walking. If his reaction was any indicator, he was not very impressed with me... 

somewhere in Tennessee...

Pulled off the road into a field to take this one. It was somewhere outside of McMinnville, Tennessee...

a rough day in Hawaii...

It was a rough day in Hawaii. This coastline was right down from where we were staying. I walked down this coast every morning. Couldn't ask for more relaxing mornings...

colors in bloom...

This is one of the few instant images from Hawaii that was full of color and not overly red/dull from the heat and humidity. When this film is colorful, it is a-m-a-z-i-n-g...

a cloudy day in paradise...

We had a couple of our days in Hawaii that was overcast part of the day. I would have to say that a cloudy day in paradise is still a great day...

sharing is what it's all about...

My Polaroid Spectra is probably my least used camera. I decided to use it for some black and white instant photos this weekend. When I take instant photos of Pyper, she likes for me to take two images. That way she gets to keep one. Sadi also wanted an image of her and Pyper. It is worth every penny when I get to share those images with them...