the word hope...

On this past Sunday, I read about a mural that was painted in downtown Greenville over an 8 hr period the day before. I hate that I missed the opportunity to get a photograph of the artists in action.  But I did stop by on Sunday afternoon to get a photo of a portion of the mural.  The word hope rings as true today as it always has. Here is an excerpt from a blog post that I did several years back:

hope - to have a feeling, chance, desire, expectation or wish to do something or to make something happen...

Without hope, our lives would be meaningless. We all have hopes that get us through the day (week, month or even year).  Hope is something that transcends all things.  Let me say it again...  Without hope, our lives would be meaningless.

I love this excert that photographer Robert Adams wrote and how he relates it to hope. "Of all the sacred places on the coast, none is more comforting than where rivers join the sea. By the river's disappearance we are reminded of life's passing, while by the ocean's beauty we accept it, in a hope we cannot explain."

We could all learn something from this.  Maybe by trying to focus a little less on the fleeting failures in our lives and focus a little more on the hope in our lives that eternally matters.

exposing my weirdness...

I know I am weird. I was passing by a spot in my office and noticed the sun and my shadow. Knew that I had to take a picture so I grabbed one of my SX-70s and framed/shot the image above. Something so simple, yet potentially complex. So little detail, yet so much about me...

mack truck...

Sometimes the image is in the small things. Found this Mack truck on the side of the road along Hwy 287. Took a photo of the truck and then noticed the boss of a hood ornament and couldn't resist getting in close for the 2nd photo. Amazing what you can find if you just stop, get out of the car and explore...

pictures of us...

It is always a good day for me when I get to take a picture of Sherri. It is an even better day when I actually get her to take an instant photo of me with one of my Polaroid cameras. She's not completely brainwashed yet, but I have made some progress...

little indian...

Trying to be more intentional on capturing closeup images of the family as we all age together. Pyper had a pre-school thanksgiving program where she had pilgrim and indian costumes. After the program, she still wanted to wear the indian costume so I felt it was a good opportunity to capture this image. This whole program brought back memories of Maci at nearly the same age. It is crazy how Pyper's looks and mannerisms mimic Maci so closely...

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...

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...

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...

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!

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...

searching...

I seem to be constantly searching for the time and passion to capture photos that I will cling to as the years pass. This is one of those photos...

nothing but smiles...

gotta love it when you get to capture people when they are happy. two precious girls with beautiful smiles. it makes me smile to hold these photos in my hand...

pre-dinner photo...

Love it when I get the opportunity to take a photo of Sherri before we head out for a dinner/date night...

headlights and horses

Two contrasting images, yet they belong together. Hopefully it is obvious why...

The first is color 600 film taken in Bodie, CA and the second is black and white SX70 film taken in Greenville, TX. There was no pre-planned agenda to purposefully take the photos, yet the accidental placement of these two images together seems so perfect...

one of many...

Not for sure if there are may occasions when Pyper comes over and I don't take at least one instant photo of her. This was taken over the weekend when she spent the night with us. The SLR680 is becoming my instant film camera of choice for photographing a child that is always on the move. So glad I kept this camera, instead of selling it after I bought the Mint SLR670m. 

bodie at night...

Flew from Dallas to Santa Ana and then drove over 1000 miles over 5 days, including this stop in Bodie, CA. Couldn't have asked for a better opportunity to try out my newest addition to my camera family (the Mint SLR670m). This was my first attempt at a night photo and it was exposed for approximately 20 seconds and captured on Impossible 600 Test Film (the building was painted onto the image with a flashlight). I could have easily taken the same photo with my Canon 6D, but it would have never had the character of this image. I really cannot wait to explore the unlimited artistic possibilities of the Mint camera... 

looking for shade...

Somebody was looking for some shade to get out of the sun...

please do not approach...

Got to see the Hawaiian Monk Seal in one of the lagoons while I was out walking. If his reaction was any indicator, he was not very impressed with me... 

a rough day in Hawaii...

It was a rough day in Hawaii. This coastline was right down from where we were staying. I walked down this coast every morning. Couldn't ask for more relaxing mornings...

colors in bloom...

This is one of the few instant images from Hawaii that was full of color and not overly red/dull from the heat and humidity. When this film is colorful, it is a-m-a-z-i-n-g...