regardless of our beliefs, we will always lead more productive and fulfilling lives when we are unashamed...
tyler...
This is my first image from a pack of expired Polaroid Chocolate film that was given to me by Steven Reeves of Makeshift Photography during a Dec 2012 Polawalk. Didn't really have a reason to pull it out of the refrigerator until today. This weekend is the weekend to pull out the last pack of Chocolate film and shoot away so that we can post the photos in the Flickr group "the last bite of chocolate (film)" on October 28th (National Chocolate Day).
Glad Tyler was available for an impromptu photo. Looking forward to some more portraits this weekend...
Polawalk TX - 8X10 Portraits...
Last weekend a group of instant film fanatics from all around the metroplex, the state, the US and abroad converged on Texas for our 2nd annual Texas State Fair Polawalk (ie. #PolawalkTX). Even with all the visitors, we didn't get a large Texas-sized heap of good weather. The weekend was plagued with clouds, rain, heat and humidity. Unfortunately the main event on Saturday ended up being a sunny, bright 90 degree humid day. This was absolutely brutal on the visitors (and even the native Texans). As a follow-up to this event, we spent the next day resting at a local studio in Deep Ellum (many thanks to Makeshift Photography) and just photographing each other. I had planned on spending the entire weekend using my 8x10 Toyo View Camera and Impossible 8x10 instant film at all the different locations. Due to the unpredictable Texas weather, I had to compress the entire four days of 8x10 shooting into one. Justin Goode also broke out his 8x10 Burke and James Grover to take a few photos, including the ones of Toby and Cameron below. Toby Hancock wanted to be photographed by both Justin and myself. His goal is to become the most photographed person on 8x10 instant film. He is well on his way after the Texas trip (I think he has been photographed by four people now)...
Speaking of 8x10 photography, it must be said that 8x10 photographs taken with a view camera are nothing short of amazing. The entire process takes you back to a day when photography, as the sole means of capturing a portrait, was very rudimentary. When you are behind the camera the reality of seeing a reflection of the focused image projected onto the ground glass is absolutely surreal. As all of the people below can attest, "the 8x10 process" takes patience from both the photographer and the subject. My main goal with 8x10 photographs is to slow down and spend enough time with the subject to produce an image that makes them smile when they see it. I think all of these image met that goal.
A well-deserved thanks to The Impossible Project for bringing the idea of instant film back to life and for supporting all of us instant film fanatics in more ways than we can ever mention. For me personally, without the encouragement & support from the staff at the online US Impossible Office (specifically Anne and Patrick), I would have never gone this far with instant photography.
Now to the photos...
Speaking of 8x10 photography, it must be said that 8x10 photographs taken with a view camera are nothing short of amazing. The entire process takes you back to a day when photography, as the sole means of capturing a portrait, was very rudimentary. When you are behind the camera the reality of seeing a reflection of the focused image projected onto the ground glass is absolutely surreal. As all of the people below can attest, "the 8x10 process" takes patience from both the photographer and the subject. My main goal with 8x10 photographs is to slow down and spend enough time with the subject to produce an image that makes them smile when they see it. I think all of these image met that goal.
A well-deserved thanks to The Impossible Project for bringing the idea of instant film back to life and for supporting all of us instant film fanatics in more ways than we can ever mention. For me personally, without the encouragement & support from the staff at the online US Impossible Office (specifically Anne and Patrick), I would have never gone this far with instant photography.
Now to the photos...
Toby
*by Troy Bradford
Toby
*by Justin Goode
Celina
*by Troy Bradford
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Juli and Will
*by Troy Bradford
Jessica
*by Troy Bradford
Ben
*by Troy Bradford
Frank
*by Troy Bradford
Cameron
*by Justin Goode
wow...
Pyper's expression says it all. I recently received a surprise package of expired NIGO film in the mail from a guy in NYC (Kyle Depew) after I sent him a working packfilm camera. One picture and I remember what I loved about this film...
an afternoon with my girls...
Sadi was in town this weekend. Cooler weather and I got to spend the afternoon eating out, shopping and drinking coffee with Maci, Sadi & Pyper. A fun day indeed...
mckinney cafe...
Got a new-to-me camera (Polaroid SLR 680) on Monday and I finally got a photo of one of my favorite signs that I have never photographed...
saturday night homework...
Sadi stopped in for a surprise visit this past Saturday night. As the night got late, she pulled out the homework and I set up the camera. Love how you can take night time ambient light photos with the 3000B film...
sunday afternoon together...
Nothing better than spending time together over coffee on a beautiful fall sunday afternoon...
at the carwash...
Was on my way home tonight and noticed how lonely it looked at the carwash at night. Thought it would be a great photo using my Polaroid 600SE and Fuji FP-3000B film.
whitewashed wood...
Used my Fuji x100s to take the image and printed it to the PX680 film via the InstaLab. Wanted to see how well the whites would show up. Really like the overall look/feel of this image. Another one that goes well with the wood border.
from another time...
Believe it or not, I saw this today on my way back to work at lunch. Was really wishing that I had my SX70 with me, but then I remembered that I have the instalab. Captured this with my iPhone and then printed it tonight after getting home...
a portrait of Matt Ronan...
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Had the pleasure of meeting Matt Ronan, in person, today. He came to Greenville to pick up some film that he bought from Tyler. Since he drove over an hour to get here, I felt I should at least ask if he was willing to do an 8x10 portrait before he left. Fortunately, he was up for it. In all practical terms, the day was definitely a bit too warm to be taking portraits outside at 1:30 pm (right at 100 degrees outside), but we found a shade in downtown Greenville and set up the behemoth of a camera and proceeded to take this portrait. Definitely glad we did!
Another testament to the whole community of instant film. So much interest in giving back to each other and such an emphasis on meeting one another. Just like holding a physical print in your hand, there is nothing like meeting someone in person, getting to talk face-to-face, shake their hand and take an instant photo...
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...
me and the M8...
Took this image with my Leica M8 and 50 Summicron using a mirror outdoors. Brought to Impossible film via the Instalab. The light leak across the top is the result of me swapping film and not getting the darkslide all the way back in place. I felt the effect added to the image...
being a little picky...
The original image was with my Leica M8 and 50mm Summicron. Slowly, but surely, I am culling through some of my favorite Leica images and converting them to Impossible film via the Instalab...
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...
the beginning of something new...
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...
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