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...