sharing the limelight...

What a special thing for a father and daughter to share the same birth day. It may seem like you have to share the limelight (and she will always win), but it's really something momentous that you will always share together. Finishing the day out with one more Happy Birthday Tyler and Pyper Tyndell...

texas...

Didn't have the best of luck with photos on the day of the Texas State Fair. This is one of my favorites because of the ominous look in the sky. The heat was unbearable, the clouds were forming and it finally started raining soon after this photo. After all these years of living here, the unpredictable Texas weather never seems to surprise me...

unashamed...

regardless of our beliefs, we will always lead more productive and fulfilling lives when we are unashamed...

ben...

pre-dinner photo...

Snapped this one before we headed out for dinner tonight...

this makes me smile...

Took this one tonight after eating dinner with Pyper. It never gets old taking pictures of Pyper (come to think of it, it never gets old taking pictures period). I was looking through the large quantity of instant images that I haven't even scanned and Pyper was everywhere (in different poses, with different expressions and at different ages). Someday, I will need to do a photo collage with just images of her. I have said it before, but when Pyper grows up she will be one of the few people her age that has almost her entire childhood documented with instant film. Definitely makes me smile... 

the beauty of decay...

Even though it is slowly expiring, the Cool Film still has some of the most unique colors and textures. Still have three more packages of this film left. It is rewarding to be able to capture a landscape that is decaying on a film with the same destiny...

heritage hall...

la rumba...

blake - #1

an empty nest...

Amazing how time flies... Only yesterday, we were walking Sadi into her Kindergarten class with Ms Sikes at Bowie Elementary. If only I had realized at the time that the wheels were set in motion for this inevitable day of dropping her off at a college campus and having to return home to an "empty nest". Some days, while raising her, we were able to get past certain phases/attitudes knowing that this day was coming. On other days, as it got closer, I couldn't even let the thought cross my mind without tearing up.

A little over a week ago, we had the task of moving her to another city, unpacking all her stuff, giving her hugs (and one last piece of advice), getting into our car and driving away. Not because we wanted to; because we had to. Without going into too many details, I really felt as if I left a piece of my heart in Stephenville, Tx that day. There is no way to describe it without using the word 'void'. That being said, as the days have passed, the void has began to be filled with anticipation, hope and excitement for her. 

Below are a few photos that were taken with my SX70 camera and one pack of Impossible color protection film. I took a few digital photos with my iPhone and Fuji x100s, but these photos will be my "go to" images for remembering the day... 

you are my sunshine...

caught the neon sun shining tonight...

francisco's diptych

Here is another image that I took of Francisco while in Sacramento. This image included his Bronica. This location had plenty of large windows for shots like this. I scanned the images as a diptych and I plan on using the same images for an emulsion lift on aluminum. Will update this post and add it as soon as I get it done...

lively decay...

Doesn't happen all the time, but today was the day. Pulled my Land Rover up into an unknown/unsuspecting person's driveway just to take a picture of this flower bush. It was a very rustic yard (aka. unkept), but the extremes of the liveliness and the decay stood out as I passed by. I am sure glad Sherri wasn't with me. That way I didn't have to explain my keen sense of creativeness to her all over again... 

the mystery machine...

saw this van in a parking lot on my way home tonight...

golden palm...

threes...

In celebration of the 3rd birthday of the Impossible Moment in Time Flickr group, this month's theme is three. Here are my two photos of three...

three cups of coffee in the morning...

and three tacos for dinner...

glowing start...

My first image with my recently acquired Impossible/Holden SX-70...

my instant hobby/habit...

It has been a little over a year and a half of shooting instant film for me. I have spent more money on all of my cameras, film and accessories than I ever really want to think about. My hobby, photography, has always been expensive. At least Sherri has come to accept that. Now when a package arrives unannounced at our house she doesn't open them to see the how much I spent. She just waits for me to get home and ask the same two questions: what did you buy and how much did it cost. I answer the questions and that is all that she says about it.

So I've spent alot of money on instant photography... With that money I have produced more personal satisfaction than digital photography can ever dole out. There is nothing like producing an image that requires so much thought and is instantly available to hold in your hand. Something about holding the image in your hand; right after you take it. Something about watching the image develop; it's ok to peek while it is developing. Something about having all the images stored away; even if it is in a shoe box.

As much as I enjoy shooting expired Polaroid and Fuji film, I can't imagine instant photography without The Impossible Project. Not only have they revived interest in instant photography, but they are a group of individuals that genuinely want you to enjoy the experience of instant photography. They continually are going out of their way to make sure that information and inspiration is constantly available to all that want to embark on this journey. To TIP, I owe a huge amount of thanks!

With all this being said, here are my final images for Roidweek 2013:

Set up one of my SX70 cameras on a tripod and used a self-timer to capture this. I can never seem to leave the house with just one camera. This kinda shows a typical photo outing for me...

Roidweek 2013 Day 5, Image #1

Shot this 8x10 portrait with my Toyo 8x10 camera pointing directly into the sun. I had hoped for a little flare, but instead a got a low contrast image that I really like...

Roidweek 2013 Day 5, Image #2

Leonard...

Roidweek Day 3, image #1:

I met Leonard in Baton Rouge, LA last Sunday. We stayed downtown on Saturday night and I got up early Sunday morning to walk around with my Polaroids. Leonard and I struck up a conversation and as always it led to him asking me about the SX70 camera that I was carrying. We talked about the camera and the film. Leonard told me how he used to take pictures all the time, but that was long ago. I asked him if he wanted a photo and of course he said yes.  I took two and gave him one...