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...

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...

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...

cold and blue...

Another 4x5 selfie in the record books. I can't quite figure out how to control the color of this film.  It's definitely not the temperature of the film. I heated this film before exposing and before processing to get it to 80-90 degrees. I think it must be the color of the light. This was taken in the shade and it seemed like a blueish light. At least it matches how cold it was outside in the shade. Regardless of the results, it is always fun to play around with my 4x5 camera and instant film...

before we left...

Today, I wanted to use a film that I hardly ever use and take it in a place that is not my norm. The film was expired Polaroid Type 59, the camera/lens was my Toyo-View G 4x5 / Fujinon 210mm f/5.6 and the location was in my office using cloudy window light. Because of the scarce lighting, I used a shutter speed of 1/2 second and hoped for the best. Sherri is becoming more accustomed to me surprising her with another hairbrained idea for a picture. I have taken so many pictures of her lately with all of my different cameras and film, she is probably becoming numb to it. This picture was a spur-of-the-moment photo request when we were on our way out the door. I had the camera set up in my office with a film holder loaded for the occasion.

Not for sure why this particular box of film has the orange band across the middle, but it has been there on every shot. If the exposure is dark, it seems to show up even more. Even with the orange band, I can't wait for more pictures with this film. Glad I still have almost 3 boxes of 20 left...  

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...

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...

off the beaten path...

Always amazes me the things you can come across if you just take the time to get off the beaten path and explore the backroads. Most of the time I am in a hurry to get somewhere and I take the fastest route which usually involves Interstates. Not exactly the scenic route. Saturday was such a refreshing day in that I had an open schedule to do whatever I wanted with no reason to be in a hurry. I spent some time in downtown Denton to visit with Armand at Denton Camera Exchange and then headed north to Dennison, Sherman and Celeste on my way back to Greenville. Didn't really find the "fall landscapes" that I was looking for, but definitely found my share of stops. I caught a couple of the stops on some Polaroid 690 expired film that ended up being my favorites for the day...

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...