What better way to start a new school year as a photography teacher than to have your photo taken (on instant film) on the day before class starts in the classroom where you will be teaching students how to use instant film...
a proud dad...
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I have been planning on a color 8x10 of Maci and Sadi all summer. Just hasn't worked out... Until today... Kinda a last minute, but still a bad time, happens to be the one day this summer it rains, I gotta get one before Sadi leaves for college kind of picture. All of the imperfections aside (both in the picture and in our sometime disfunctional lives as a family), I stare at this image and realize that I have lived a truly blessed life and had the honor of helping my incredible wife raise two absolutely beautiful girls. It is moments like this where I honestly couldn't be more proud to be their dad...
saturday mornings...
As much as I like traveling, I love Saturday mornings at home with my family (and my coffee makers). Pyper stayed with us last night so we went outside right after she got up to play some golf (Pyper calls it baseball) in the back yard. She looks a little rough, but it WAS before 9:00 am on a Saturday...
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...
francisco chavira...
I lugged my 8x10 camera from Greenville, TX to Sacramento, CA to get this image (and to let Francisco experience shooting an 8x10 view camera). After developing the image today, I was nothing but smiles. I am over the top with the images that you get from the Impossible color test film. A bit muted, but the light blue background is very close to the actual panel in the shot. I prefer to play it safe when shooting this film and purposely overexpose a 1/2 stop or so. It helps bring out the shadows and overall just makes a image that is exactly how I like it...
the simple moments...
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Spent the evening over at Maci and Tyler's house. Ended the night with this photo of Maci painting Sadi's toenails. Capturing the simple moments means the most. Sadi leaves for college in two weeks. As much as I look forward to this new chapter for her, I will surely miss these moments...
as easy as flying a kite...
Sherri and I took Pyper out to fly kites today. Pyper really liked the idea of flying a kit. The trouble was, when you handed her the handle, she panicked an threw it down every time. Sooooo... Sherri and I spent alot of time flying the kites and chasing the kites when Pyper let them go. Was able to at least capture one image of the afternoon...
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...
catastrophy averted...
Captured this image today with my Polaroid Big Shot camera. I started having trouble with the developer spreaders a few weeks back and this image was the last one that I was able to pull through them before they completely broke apart. As you can see, it tore the edges of the film and the developer only spread on part of the image. Film is so unique in that an otherwise ruined image can be salvaged. In addition to saving the image, I fixed and improved my Big Shot camera. I had a Polaroid back for a Hasselblad camera that I bought at a garage sale for $5. The roller assembly snapped right in the slot where the spreader bar assembly was on the Big Shot. Until I get a Hasselblad camera, this works great...
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...
as american as instant film...
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Now this is what can be done with Impossible PQ 8x10 Color Protection Film! Based on this photo, I am ready to place my next order on the day the film releases public...
success in the studio...
A collaboration with the one and only Justin Goode. With this setup taking so much time, I couldn't imagine letting Justin just take one 8x10. This is my version with Polaroid 669 film and the 600SE camera...
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
so happy...
Wouldn't be a completed roidweek without a photo of my most willing instant film subject, little miss pyper...
Roidweek 2013 Day 4, image #2
the hardest part of leaving...
Roidweek Day 3, image #2:
"the hardest part of leaving is what you left behind"
Sometimes inspiration comes from the strangest events...
"the hardest part of leaving is what you left behind"
Sometimes inspiration comes from the strangest events...
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...
Roidweek 2013 - Day 2...
Proof that adding "instant" to any vacation makes it even better.
Below are my 'Day 2' images:
the shack...
Below are my 'Day 2' images:
the shack...
sadi in black...
Roidweek 2013 - Day 1...
Inspiration has been hard to find over the past few months. I think it takes an event like Roidweek to make you dig down deep and search for inspiration in the past photos and look for inspiration all around you to capture new. That being said, here are my first two images for the week:
by the sea...
by the sea...
taken back...
some clasping leaf coneflowers...
My first PX70 color protection film in quite a while. These flowers are all over the highways in East Texas. Oh, how I have missed this film...
enjoyed...
An old sign in front of a store that I used to go to when I was growing up in Childress, TX. All that is left is the sign and an empty building...
mum...
These mums are in front of our house next to the street. They have been there for years and they just keep withstanding the harsh seasons and coming back stronger...
nternational...
Got my composition just slightly off. Now it is an nternational. The "I" is missing and silent...
morning pods...
Noticed these flowers against the clouds on the side of the road on my way to work a few days ago. This is why I try to keep a camera in my car...
a milestone for Stratton...
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Went to Childress, Tx over the weekend to celebrate another milestone in our family. Stratton (top & middle photo) was graduating high school. I got a big shot photo of him and one of him with mom and dad right before he was leaving for the ceremony. Sawyer didn't make the photo so I grabbed one of him on Sunday before we left...
just like finding gold...
Every chance I get, I jump at the opportunity to take pictures of Sherri. Got a near-mint Polaroid OneStep Red Stripe over the weekend at a flea market and talked Sherri into letting me try it out. Popped in my last pack of Gold Frame Impossible film to celebrate the occasion...
old glory...
Flags can be one of my favorite things to photograph. Especially when you find something other than a flag flying on a flag pole. Saw this one and had to turn around and stop to take a photo.
Gorgeous colors, even on the long-ago-expired Polaroid 669.
May God bless the USA...
minnie maci...
Maci bought a new pair of sunglasses yesterday. Seemed like a perfect fit for a photo using the expired Polaroid 669 film...
Sadi - Instant Prom 2013...
A few instant photos of Sadi before heading to her prom. These are always fun! Bet I was the only dad taking pictures with a Polaroid...
little princess...
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A cloudy morning, but the perfect day to play outside in your pajamas (not me, but Pyper :))...
8x10 Color Test Film - Take Four...
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Took the picture of these textile spools using available afternoon light coming through the window. A little bit over-exposed in the highlights, but still very colorful and super sharp. Large format cameras rock when it comes to nailing the focus exactly as you want.
morning light...
Morning light is always the best. Saw this outside our back door right after I got up this morning. The film captured it exactly as I saw it. Love the colors of PX70 cool film...
instant therapy...
Needed some time away from "real life" and work today. As part of the time away, I was able to take quite a few photos with my SX70, Leica M8 and iPhone. Here are a few of instant shots...
dinner with Pyper...
Sherri and I had dinner with little miss Pyper tonight. She was so excited to go. So excited that she wanted me to take her picture. I absolutely love those eyes...
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