the allure...

An older photo from one of my trips this past Spring to San Diego.  Not for sure what it is about this photo that appeals to me, but I just keep going back to it. Probably has something to do with the allure of the ocean. My hope is to be able to go back someday...

a familiar side of Sherri...

When we travel around in the car together, I usually drive and Sherri is in the passenger seat. Since I always seem to have a camera with me in the car, I often take photos of her. I can tell you that she doesn't like this tactic. But sometimes they turn out to be one of my favorites...

out of place...

Another shot from this past summer during the fourth of july parade. With no context and taking the picture at face value, this vaquero seems a bit out of place just marching along with people and cars in the background.  I really like this shot, especially the fact that he is waving my way...

home of the free...

Finally getting around to scanning some of my instant film from this summer. This one was taken at the local fourth of july parade. I remember how amazed this guy was that I took his photo with an SX70 camera in 2015...

the stare...

We were eating lunch and I noticed the light on Allister's face. It looked like the perfect light for testing out my newly converted SX70 camera with 600 film. Turns out, I was mostly correct.  The lighting on her face was spot on.  Unfortunately, the fluorescent lights in the background turned out a bit green. Lighting aside, I love it when I am able to catch her staring at the camera...

together...

It's always good to be together again as a family. It warms my heart to see these two talking and laughing with each other. It takes me back to simpler times when they were growing up...

smiling makes you cooler...

Took two shots to catch Allister smiling for the camera, but this one seemed to work. Catching her (because she is always moving) with a manual focus instant camera is sometimes luck at best. We were down in Stephenville yesterday visiting Sadi and I was outside of a boutique keeping Allister occupied. I love her emotions that are developing. Of course, smiling is the best indication of her happiness when she is this age. She seems very happy (and therfore very cool) here...

from above...

Took this one tonight as the sun was setting. This is exactly why I had my Holden SX70 converted to a 600 camera by @2ndshotsx70service . It makes the camera so much more useable and versatile. As you can see, the exposure is perfect! The beauty of an "instant" print in your hand is beyond compare...

no lifeguard on duty...

More from my trip to Oceanside Pier. It always amazes me how the simplest of scenes can make such a unique instant image. Many of these images will end up in frames on my walls...

sun bathing...

A couple of images from a stop after work at La Jolla Cove California a few weeks ago. The blue in the images is a bit overwhelming, but at the same time it compliments the water beautifully. Nothing like getting close up to take an instant photo of a sea lion. After I pressed the shutter and the picture ejected, the sea lion's eyes opened and then slowly closed back. Wasn't the least bit phased by me. Gotta love that calm attitude...

all together...

We have our separate lives, but every so often we all meet in one place. Such a good time getting together. Took some digital images, but it's always more rewarding to capture these times on instant and 35mm film. Took this one with my Polaroid 180 camera and snagged some others with my Leica (to share later)...

progress...

For the most part, all of the progress on our new house has been captured on my iPhone or DSLR camera. Along the way, I have captured a few instant images. Found a Polaroid Super Shooter to load up with film and leave in my Land Rover for captures like this. This one shows where we were at this past week. Almost ready for the stone/brick and the interior sheet rock is essentially complete. Such a neat process, but I will be much happier when it is over. Progress indeed, but still quite a ways to go...

staying after class...

Ended up taking my Leica M6 and one of my Polaroid SX-70s on my trip to Carlsbad, CA. This was my favorite capture from the short time that we had on the beach before sunset. I often take images without people, but I always stray back to taking images that somehow include people in them. I shot this one while walking back from taking a photo of the Oceanside Pier from the beach. The students were going over some post-surfing class pointers with the surf instructor. To me, this image is perfect on black & white instant film.  It makes the image timeless and I really like that...

my catalyst for change...

Been such a long time since I have posted anything to any of my blogs. I still continually shoot all formats of film (instant pack film, instant integral film, instant large format, 35mm and 120mm) on almost a daily basis, but I have hardly posted anything but digital on Instagram lately. As I write this, I know that I will be leaving on another business trip tomorrow and the easiest film camera to take with me will be my Leica M6. I have taken some amazing shots with this camera (will know for sure when I finally decide to get my 5-6 rolls developed), but it is far from the convenience of instant film. As I get make time over the next few weeks, I hope will be posting more of my instant film. Let this photo tonight be my catalyst for change...

soft light...

A shot of Sadi from yesterday in the City Place Starbucks in the West Village. Exposed using available light through the windows. The soft light increases the likelihood of a properly exposed shot on Impossible black and white film...

the result of boredom...

Been a while since I shot my Toyo 4x5 camera. Was at home tonight with little to do, so I got the camera out and shot a couple of large format selfies. I look at this process as creativity as a result of boredom. It is so neat having instant film, like this Polaroid Type 59, to get such unique photos that you can hold in your hand as a finished product within minutes.

joy in the imperfections...

Felt like I needed to get out and shoot my 8x10 today. The weather was not exactly cooperating with me but I decided to try the shot. It started raining on me (and my camera) in the middle of taking the picture, so I got in a bit of a hurry. I guess I pulled the film holder away from the camera and let in some light. I lost some contrast, but I still like the final image. 

Such a surreal winter scene from the viewpoint of a winding/disappearing road through a local cemetery. As weird as it may sound, I love visiting cemeteries. Any time that I stop at a cemetery, it always makes me reflect on my own life. More than anything, I realize how fragile this life really is. Just as many of the details in this image, some days I feel that my life is disappearing before my eyes. My takeaway for today is to slow down, enjoy the things around me and cherish the memories (no matter how imperfect they are)...

a little too close...

Pyper was sick tonight. Running a fever of 102 degrees. After the Tylenol took effect, she was all smiles. I captured this one on my Spectra camera with the closeup lens. I am not sure that I should be getting this close to a sick kid...

crawling...

Allister started crawling this week. Caught her in action this morning before I headed in to work. It makes my day when I am able to capture moments like this on instant film...

beautiful decay...

A house in my hometown that is in a definite state of decay. It is such a treat, when I am visiting, to get to drive around and capture memories of the past. I grew up riding my bike on the same streets of this town not knowing that I would someday come to appreciate the stillness and state of the neighborhoods that I once lived...

more for the album(s)...

So happy to be able to use my instant film to take portraits/snapshots of family. My album(s) are filling up more and more every month. So many photos that I have to order more albums. Such a great problem to have...

Sadi came home for a few days and as always, I used the opportunity to take some photos of her. Fuji FP-3000B is always a great choice for any and all occasions.

laguna beach in black and white...

The black and white shots from my trip to Laguna Beach seem to be my favorite. The dark, gloomy mood makes the photo something that I keep coming back to time and time again. After going through several packs of the new Impossible black and white film, my opinion is that it is best used for landscapes. The contrast, and tendency to go darker than expected, makes it a terrible portrait film but a fantastic landscape film...

happy birthday Maci...

Birthdays were meant to be celebrated. It is always fun when we get together as a family to share in the celebration. Maci turned 24 yrs old today and she still lets me take photos of here blowing out the candle(s) on her cake... 

Sherri and I are so proud of the daughter, wife and mother that she has become. We couldn't dream of her being or doing anything else. It is so special to get to spend each and every birthday with her.

I know I could have taken my Canon digital camera and captured a much "better" image (by most people's standards), but the unique type of images that come out of Polaroid cameras always tug at my heart. I am so glad that Tyler brought home that Polaroid box camera from a garage sale over three years ago. The memories that he and I have captured since then with these silly analog cameras will forever be some of my most treasured possessions.

Happy Birthday Maci Tyndell!

pretty in pink...

After taking this photo with my Polaroid SLR680 camera and flash, I heated it during the development. Sometimes this heating brings out the color and sometimes a color is added. In this case, it fits the photo perfect. I would say that Pyper definitely looks pretty in pink...

todd...

Following an afternoon/evening at Laguna Beach, we ended up going back to Shutter + Light to shoot some studio portraits and talk instant photography. One of the many advantages of Fuji FP-3000B is that you just need a little light to get the photo. The shadows make the photo even better.

It is so rewarding to have friends around the US to be able to visit when you are travelling. Definitely appreciate all of my friends in California. Both instant & film photography have opened so many opportunities for me to meet new friends that I would have otherwise never met...

laguna beach silhouettes...

Sometimes removing the colors brings out the shapes. This is definitely one of those times...

laguna beach sunset...

The result of getting a chance to travel to California the day before a business meeting. Not a bad end to a day in Laguna Beach. Impossible instant film renders the sunset quite a bit different than a digital image. More of a pastel tone and darker shadows, but defintely still a breath-taking view that I will never get tired of photographing...

red river views...

A few more images from our trip out to the Red River...

snow caps...

A view out of our hotel window while we were visiting family in Childress, TX over the holidays. It was a cold dreary day, but the closest thing that we had to snow caps in the flat plains of Texas...

winter cactus...

A little over-exposed, but it was my own fault because I accidently moved the exposure wheel to lighten without noticing until after I had taken the photo. Still a beautiful winter photo of the rugged terrain in West Texas (near the Red River)...

roadside attraction...

A roadside attraction on Hwy 287 South of Vernon, TX...

 Over the last 20+ years, we have passed this car many times on the way to/from our hometown of Childress, TX. The owner of the car and mannequins often dresses these girls in festive attire to match up with the season. This year was no different. If you are ever out that way (and the car is out), make sure to stop and get your own original picture...

ready to shoot...

Tyler and I got a chance to get out an explore a new area of Childress this year.  We try and get at least one afternoon to photograph the town and the surrounding area. This year we headed out North of Childress on highway 83 to the Red River. I took several images that I will post over the next few weeks, but this one was a favorite from the day. Probably didn't have to travel all the way out to the Red River to get this one, but that's where it happened...

this light...

During our annual Christmas visit to Childress, we stayed at a local hotel. Pyper and I were going up to the room and out of the corner of my eye I saw this light. Fortunately, I had my SX70 with me and Pyper was good with having her picture taken. The SX70 doesn't always do good with extreme light and extreme shadows, but I definitely like the outcome of this one. Definitely one of my favorites in a long time...

under new management...

The "new management" never quite materialized. Another failed attempt at revitalizing a grand building in downtown Greenville. I have taken several photos of this building over these years. I still love documenting the decay of what might have been...

home of the jumbo shrimp...

This photo is long overdue for me. It is one of those local places that I am determined to document on film prior to it being torn down or made into something other than a restaurant.  This restaurant has been through several name changes and owners, but we will always remember it's original name "Caddyshack". We spent many a weekend night here with our friends and all of our kids. It was basically the only place in town where all 15-20 of us could dine out and sit together. The kids have all grown up and the families have moved around, but we all seem to somehow occasionally stay in touch. Not the same as the days where we laughed and dined together on a weekly basis, but when we see each other it is like we never stopped...

broken view...

A partial success in taking an instant photo in downtown Greenville the other night. I posted my iPhone photo of the same view a few days ago. An almost dead chemical pod left only a small part of the building on the left side. After my initial disappointment, I realized that I really like the "flawed" image...

shawn - take 2...

Had another opportunity to meet up with Shawn Roller in downtown McKinney. Always a pleasuring gettinng to sit down and talk photography with him over coffee. It even gets better when we get to photograph each other. To add even more to this visit, he brought me a Polaroid Big Shot camera that he found and I was able to fix his Polaroid 250 (hopefully it's fixed right this time :))...

take the photo...

Snapped this one after trying to focus for what seemed like an eternity. Pyper was getting impatient...

the latest analog find...

Finally found a fully-working manual typewriter in my price range (that I liked) today. Like many things analog, it takes practice to make perfect. I forgot to hit the shift key to get the "1" in "2014", so it ended up being a small "i". It is weird seeing a typewriter without a "1" on the number row. Can't wait to use this more and more for things like sending out postcards and potentially even writing letters...

the next big shot...

Allister's first Big Shot image. She didn't even see it coming. Eventually, she will associate the super-bright flash of light with the famed camera...

twin sisters...

Was able to get two photos of the two of them together. This is a rare occurrence, because they are both equally against being photographed. That makes these images twice a momentous...

take it when you can...

Here is my last Polaroid Fade to Black shot... I have been saving it to take one of Maci. On her way home tonight, she stopped by our house and let me take the photo. It was almost dusk, so the light was limited. Looking back over the other shots, the film definitely responds better to sunny conditions. However, sometimes you just have to take the photo when you get the chance (and this was one of those times). Still love the shot...

shawn...

Was able to capture a couple of instant images of Shawn Roller tonight before all the light disappeared. Good thing I had the Fuji FP-3000B in my camera for the occasion. Shawn was gracious enough to add Sherri, Sadi and me to the session that he had scheduled with the Tyndells. After the family session, it was great getting to interact and exchange photos of each other. That being said, definitely looking forward to family photos...

a bit of reflecting...

Another one of my many reflection photos. I sometimes take these because I get bored, but mostly because I want to have images that show that I mostly inhabit the space behind the camera. These images, coupled with the many that I take of others and the things around me, will ultimately be a part of documenting my time spent on this earth...

downtown with Sherri...

Spent some time walking around downtown Greenville and combing through the antique shops with Sherri. As always, I had an instant camera with me (in this case, my Holden SX-70). Stopped long enough to snap this one before we left. It is so much better continually producing these physical prints instead of just a bunch of images on my iPhone and computer. My collection is growing by the day...