in their own world...

A image of Pyper and Allister that was taken over the Christmas holidays. They look so peaceful & happy. Even if it is watching movies on an iPod/iPad. With their intent focus on the movies, I was able to sneak in and capture them acting as if nobody was around...

positive and negative...

Two shots of Cap from the weekend. It was so fun to get to shoot these. Cap is a photographer in the making and he was soaking all of this up. The first shot is a Fuji FP-3000B positive and the second one is an FP-3000B paper negative. Cap wanted the original, so I gave it to him. It is amazing what you can do with the paper negative. Both photos were taken with my Polaroid 180 Land Camera and two studio lights... 

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...

tonight I shot film...

Definitely not one of my best self-portrait poses, but I wanted to show the success of a New55 negative that I captured tonight. I shot this one using the new wood wall in my studio/darkroom as the backdrop. Alot went into this shot to set it all up and photograph myself with the Toyo 4x5 camera and Fujinon 210mm lens. An overwhelming success on the focus. I think that this is as sharp as I can expect from a self-portrait. Lots of guessing on the location of my face, but I got it right tonight. For the lighting, I used one strobe and tripped the shutter using an air-bulb cable release. All-in-all, this is the result of needing something to take my mind off all of the stress from the day. Sometimes I watch TV, sometimes I listen to music, sometimes I read books. Tonight I shot film...

weekend - let's do this...

Spent the weekend doing quite a few things, but ended it with this photo tonight in my studio. Love taking pictures of Pyper and being able to play with lights to get a unique look in a photo. Took this one with my Polaroid 180 camera on Fuji FP-3000B film. 

Do not discard...

Double and triple exposures are not something that I've done very well.  This one accidently turned out (and I really like it). I was trying to take a photo of Maci with a flash on my Polaroid 250 Land Camera.  The flash didn't fire, so I took another one. After it didn't fire the second time, I figured that one more wouldn't make it any worse. No flash again, so I pulled the print and was amazed at the results. 

So much can be brought out of this one simple photo that some might discard. 

It demonstrates how time does not stand still. Ever... 

It represents an end to a year that was definitely a blur for me. Where did it go... 

It helps reiterate why I have backed off on social media to enjoy the here and now in my life at home. Real images capturing real moments of real people that mean the world to me... 

It is a wonderful image of my oldest daughter that I will cherish. Forever... 

It helps me understand that good things can come from stepping outside of your norm. In everything...

add a little light (part ii)...

Here is another photo from today. This one of Pyper was taken in the same place as Allisters, except with my another camera/film. I used my Polaroid 180 camera and Fuji FP-3000B film with the portrait closeup lens. I am continually amazed at the photos that come out of this combo. Some may think that instant film is gimmicky. They should understand that these photos are the basis of so many of my memories of my family. They have (and will continue to) become some of my most valuable keepsakes to pass on to my kids, grandkids, etc...

me by me...

I realize that I post quite a few film photos of myself. Many times I wonder what people think and then other times it really doesn't matter to me what they think. As I have often said, I get bored and there is nobody to take a picture of, so I end up photographing myself. After spending such a large amount of time at work, photography is my means of releasing/relieving stress. Some nights it is almost a necessity to pick up the camera. This was one of those nights. In the case of this one, it is a photo of ME by ME (sort of). I have one similar to this (except it is an 8x10 photo) that a friend of mine took of me with my 8x10 camera. This one was entirely taken by me using my Polaroid 180 on a tripod with a self-timer. I always seem to like pictures of myself with my Leica M6 and this one is a winner in my book. One of my fears in life is that my family will forget me when I am gone. My goal is for them to have tangible memories of our time spent together on this earth. Unfortunately, I am behind the camera for most of the photos that are taken around our house so there are very few with me in them (relatively speaking). A photo like this represent something to me. Think about it. It shows me being photographed with one of my favorite cameras by none other than myself. And the funny thing is that the actual photograph was taken by nobody (since it was a self-timer). What a mind-bending concept for no reason other than to provide my family with a subtle memory of who I am...

out of place...

This is a house from Childress that was in the neighborhood where I grew up.  It was right across the street from a city lake where I spent many of my days. It is one of the more unique houses in the town/neighborhood. As much as it belongs in the landscape of West Texas, it is totally out of place where it is built. I think that is why I like it so much. As an added bonus, there is an Airstream in the yard...

two happy people...

Definitely appreciate Tyler for catching this moment of me and Allister. There couldn't be two happier people than what you are looking at right here. Amazing that Tyler caught this with a manual focus rangefinder instant camera (Polaroid 600SE). A bit posed, but yet so random and natural...

a new chapter...

One of my struggles with having many types of cameras is never really "focusing" on any one particular camera. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy them all, but I probably miss out on becoming an expert on any one camera because I am constantly switching out between types of cameras. I recently got my Hasselblad back from being repaired/CLA'd. Seems that during the past week I have been shooting it more than any other camera (thus my decision to include it in the photo). Tonight I decided to finally dust off my Toyo 4x5 camera and shoot my first frame of New55 film. I have had the film for a few weeks, but I just haven't had time to set up the 4x5 camera to try it out. Not the most exciting shot, but I can now say that I have shot New55 film. The positive and negative both seem to be true to what I metered. I am beyond excited to find some more interesting subjects so that I can shoot more of this film...

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...

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...

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...

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...

laguna beach silhouettes...

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