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...

just look up...

So many things to stop and photograph along Hwy 287. I've traveled this road from Decatur to Childress for over 25 yrs every time we go to our hometown to visit family. I've talked (and thought) about stopping to photograph hundreds of items along the way. On our way back home (over the Christmas holiday), I convinced Sherri to let me stop twice to take photos. This sign (and many just like it) has been softly speaking to me over the last several years. I can now check this one off the list...

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...

add a little light...

My goal this year is to get back to my blog and add photos along with the story and only add the photos to Instagram (mostly the same pictures without the stories). This is my first one of 2017. A photo of Allister taken today while her and Pyper spent the day with Sherri and me. It was our last day off from work/school/daycare. Most of my instant photos are taken in bright light, but this one was captured with subtle window light in an otherwise dark room. Wow, the results were spectacular!  I love how I have so many closeup pictures of these two girls. Someday, they will all look oh-so-good in an album for everyone to remember the years of the girls growing up...

princeton cafe...

Took this one a few months ago when I was passing through Princeton one afternoon on Highway 380. Figured I better sieze the opportunity of capturing this place with no cars around. Clean lines and distinct colors makes for a good photo...

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...

memories...

The main reason I buy cameras/film is to create tangible memories of the ones closest to me. I absolutely love that Sherri and I have so many memories of the 24 years that we have been married and I look forward to every year (and memory) that is ahead of us. Took this photo when we got home from a day spent together eating brunch and searching for unique things for our house...

another halloween in the record books...

Decided on headshots for my instant Halloween memories. Getting in closer provides fewer details on what they were wearing, but it shows more about their emotions from the day and who they really are. In this case, closer is always better...

aunt jePyper...

Sometimes you have to just be ready to take the picture. This is why I always have a camera with me. Met up with the Tyndells to eat dinner and immediately had Pyper step outside with me to take this one. Just the right light and just the right subject...

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...