troy bradford instant photos

captain...

I would have to say that this is one of my favorite instant photos that I have taken. The colors, composition and textures are absolutely amazing.

The photo was taken at Cap's birthday party this past weekend. I couldn't have asked for a better stare/pose. So glad we were able to celebrate with him and really glad that he let me take this photo...

a man and his dog...

Was able to capture this photo of Tyler and Wilco on Sunday afternoon with my Toyo 4x5 camera on Fuji 4x5 instant film. Love being able to catch special family moments on so many types of film and cameras...

the right stuff...

Expired Polaroid Sepia film; Polaroid 180 Land Camera...

I think this was exactly the right film and exactly the right camera to end up with a portrait exactly how I wanted it...

shades...

Two photos of Tyler near dusk when we were leaving Pyper's gymnastics. Low light, large aperture. Trying to test out a couple of photos every night with my Polaroid 180. If I'm going to test it, portraits will always be my favorite...

shooting at night...

One of the photos from my Polaroid 180 last night...

shawn roller...

Shawn is another one of "those people" that I met on Twitter and ending up meeting in real life. I messaged him last Friday night and ended up meeting downtown McKinney for some coffee, coversation and a portrait. The coffee at Spoons Garage was excellent, the conversation was definitely the highlight of the morning and we ended the time with a few portraits. I slightly overexposed the 8x10 and evidently somehow produced a light leak. My guess is that I didn't compensate for the film being so cold. I think that I redeemed myself with the Fuji FP-100C portrait taken with my latest acquisition (a Polaroid 180 Land Camera). Will have to give the 8x10 another try to show Shawn what the Impossible 8x10 film can really do...

maci and pyper...

Spent the afternoon with these two. What a great Saturday afternoon! Started it off with a quick photo...

faces of pyper...

This is a project that I have been working on since mid February right after I received my order of the Impossible Cyanograph SX-70 film. I ordered the film with the intention of using it in the Impossible Instant Lab. All of the photos, with the exception of one, was taken with my Canon 6D camera and 50mm f/1.4 lens. I didn't really start out with the idea of using almost all of the film documenting Pyper's different facial expressions. But after my first pack of film, I realized that four of the photos were all of Pyper. When I looked at them together, the idea came to me. I decided to use the remaining three packs to see if I could come up with a consistent group of photos showing Pyper at age 3. I remember with my own two girls how soon we forget the expressions that we saw every day for a season of there life. Their personality will always change and if you don't have photos to document it, then you will eventually forget. This project was my reminder of how entertaining Pyper can be. It was such a fun experience, because I became very intentional in recognizing her expressions and I wanted to try to capture as many as possible in a small amount of time. I definitely didn't want this to become a burden. Many of the photos were taken and within seconds I put the camera away. The project was also my reminder of how fleeting every moment (and expression) truly is. Life if fragile. You need to stop and live in every moment that you possibly can. Sometimes you need to stop and capture the moment. Take it in and if you are lucky enough to have a camera, take a photo...

I realize that some of the photos are not perfect. By normal standards, the bright areas are blown out or overexposed. This was a learning process for me with this film and the instant lab. I didn't want to let the quality of the photo keep it out of the set. I honestly believe that all of the photos have a very unique character to them. Just like Pyper...

Brent Cunningham...

So sometimes I immediately know I want to take a photo, but I know it's not the right time. I passed Brent several times while walking around Nashville, but to be honest the lighting was just terrible. It was overcast and he had on a hat. I could just see the photo turning out with a dark shadow where his eyes were suppose to be. Knowing that, he just had something about him that made me want to stop and talk for a bit and ask for a photo. He was a street performer playing the guitar, so I knew that this photo was going to cost me. Even more of a reason to make sure that I got the shot. After stopping to talk with him, I realized that the photo became less important. What a soft-spoken neat guy to be able to talk with. I didn't realize until after I got home, but he has been playing the streets of Nashville for some time. Here is a video from 2008. When I finished talking and asked to take a photo, the sun started peeking through the clouds and he tilted his head back to let the sun in under his hat. I took the photo, said my goodbyes and went on my way. Got about two blocks down and realized that I was so caught up in the conversation and taking the photo that I forgot to even ask him his name. I turned around and went back. He saw me coming and just smiled. I guess he knew what I was about to ask. When I asked his name, he said "after you took the photo, I was wondering why you didn't ask what my name was". After all this, I am so glad I got to meet Brent. This is now one of my all-time favorite street photos...

Phil...

Met Phil today while I was in downtown Nashville for a couple of hours. Amazing how things work. I was a little bummed that the Johnny Cash museum didn't open until after I was leaving downtown, so I just ended up walking around. If the museum would have been open, I would have never met Phil. He stopped me because he saw me with a Leica around my neck and a Polaroid camera in my hand. He thought that I was "some kind of professional photographer". I laughed and explained to him that I was just a random guy that liked to walk the streets in cities that I visit looking for things to photograph. After talking for a bit, I asked him if he wanted a photo. I took two instant photos and gave him one. I sure hope his turned out as good as mine...

leica m6...

A little bored today. I should be scanning photos, but it was much more fun taking more. Haven't used my Spectra in a very long time. Thought I would give it a try with the closeup lens attached...

a moment in time...

Here is a portrait of Sadi that I shot today before she left to go back to college after spending her Spring Break with us this past week. What at great week it was! I am so glad that we still get these opportunities to spend time together as a family.

As I become more intentional with my family photos (both analog and digital), I have come to realize that every picture has the potential of becoming an important moment in time. I try to take as many candid snapshots as possible, but the occasional posed shot is just as important to stop that moment in time when you were exactly who you were at that moment. I want my kids and grandkids to have tons of printed analog images to occasionally sift through and have the opportunity to talk about the moment that they were taken. I want each and every portrait/candid to be something that I remember, but more importantly something that they will remember much later in life...

a quick photo...

Before heading back to work today at lunch, I had Sherri step out onto the patio for a quick photo. That seems to be my "pickup line" nowadays. Step outside and let me take a "quick photo" of you. Easy to say when using an SX70 camera. Hard to use the same line for 8x10 photos...