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...

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...

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...

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!

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...

another end to summer...

Another end to Summer is upon us. Sherri and I take Sadi back to college tomorrow. Got the chance tonight to take one last photo of Sadi and Maci while we were all eating dinner at Tamales in Greenville. Gosh I am so proud of both of these girls...

the beauty of film...

Took this photo over a month ago. I was going through my instant photos the other day and realized that I had not posted any of these images from that day. This one is my favorite because of the tones that are rendered from the expired Polaroid film. A few things are technically wrong with the image, but I won't focus on them here. Instead, I will focus on the beauty of my oldest daughter embracing the latter stages of carrying baby Allister. Her arrival is imminent and we are all so excited to greet her into this world...

maci and pyper...

Spent the afternoon with these two. What a great Saturday afternoon! Started it off with a quick photo...

adding a little color...

A couple of great images of my beautiful girls tonight before we had dinner at Grimaldi's in the West Village in Dallas...

our goofy family...

Finally convinced everyone to get together for a "quick" instant family photo today after lunch. It has become a tradition, since I started my journey into instant photography, to take a photo to start off each new year. A little late, but we got it done. This was the fourth try after three "serious" poses. They all had issues with composition/lighting. Ironic how the goofy pose turned out best...

an afternoon with my girls...

Sadi was in town this weekend. Cooler weather and I got to spend the afternoon eating out, shopping and drinking coffee with Maci, Sadi & Pyper. A fun day indeed...

a proud dad...

I have been planning on a color 8x10 of Maci and Sadi all summer. Just hasn't worked out... Until today... Kinda a last minute, but still a bad time, happens to be the one day this summer it rains, I gotta get one before Sadi leaves for college kind of picture. All of the imperfections aside (both in the picture and in our sometime disfunctional lives as a family), I stare at this image and realize that I have lived a truly blessed life and had the honor of helping my incredible wife raise two absolutely beautiful girls.  It is moments like this where I honestly couldn't be more proud to be their dad...

the simple moments...

Spent the evening over at Maci and Tyler's house. Ended the night with this photo of Maci painting Sadi's toenails. Capturing the simple moments means the most. Sadi leaves for college in two weeks. As much as I look forward to this new chapter for her, I will surely miss these moments...

minnie maci...

Maci bought a new pair of sunglasses yesterday. Seemed like a perfect fit for a photo using the expired Polaroid 669 film...

instant therapy...

Needed some time away from "real life" and work today. As part of the time away, I was able to take quite a few photos with my SX70, Leica M8 and iPhone. Here are a few of instant shots...

my girls...

Sherri's birthday was today... As always, I love being able to have an excuse to take pictures. Sherri and Sadi were enjoying some peanut butter cake (made by Maci).  Maci, Sherri and Pyper posed for me right before we left for the night. Notice Pyper's shiner. She got it by falling off the bed a few days ago. No matter how many times I have read her the book Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, it just doesn't sink in that "one fell off and bumped his head"...

sit and spin...

Maci and Pyper playing on the sit and spin.

maci and tyler...

They stopped by and dropped off Pyper on their way to a Pike Christmas party. Had several of my instant cameras ready to take some quick photos. This one was my favorite of the night...

sherri, maci and sadi...

It is pictures like this that makes you want to take more instant photos.  Some may say that the photos are washed out, but I would counter that the soft tones just make the picture that much more special.  I took the same picture with a digital camera, but this Polaroid Softtone film (still available in limited quantities at the Impossible website) is incredible to hold.  I keep pulling the pictures out to look at them. What a lucky man I am!  A beautiful wife, two beautiful girls and the moment/day captured on film that I can instantly hold in my hand...

maci and pyper...

Photos from this weekend...

This is why I buy Impossible film!  Not because it is some perfect film that always works as I want it to. I buy it because it produces one of a kind pictures that are totally unpredictable, somewhat artistic and cannot be replicated in the same way with digital. 

As I hold these Impossible images in my hand, I love how they both have stories that run deep through the layers of the photo. Such a personal experience to be able to pull these photos out and hold them while viewing...