happy birthday pyper...

Back in September of 2012 Impossible offered a limited supply of the Pigeonhole Edition of PX 680 color shade film for sale to Impossible Pioneers.  As soon as I saw it, I knew that this was the perfect film to buy for Pyper's 2nd birthday party. THIS FILM WAS MADE FOR A PARTY!

I still had one exposure of Gold Frame PX680 color shade film in my SX-70 camera. Before we left for the party, I solved that problem.

pre-pigeonhole picture

After we arrived at the North Texas Children's Museum (in Commerce, TX) for Pyper's party, I loaded the film and this was the darkslide that pops out.

Lots of kids all around and it was her nap time, so she started out a little shy.

Got a picture of the cake before the action began.

Take 1 - Mom and Pyper blowing out the candles.

Take 2 - Tyler and I both wanted to get a better angle so we re-lit the candles and tried again. (It is a curse being a child of a photographer :))

The Children's Museum had all of these old artifacts that children could play on. This was a keyboard at the mission control station for a space shuttle takeoff. I had to get the Gateway 2000 emblem to add to the authenticity of the photo.

Pyper was tired of having her picture taken so I got one of her mom and dad.

A few days after the party I still had two pictures left so I took Pyper out while her mom went shopping. She was showing off her hair. Her mom tied her hair in the shape of a bow. What a little model she was.

I darkened the exposure a little on this one because the back ground was so reflective.  I should have left it alone. Still a super-cute picture!

Alright Impossible Project, I need some help with topping this next year.  You have a few months to come up with another great idea, but my expectations are high.  :)

Happy Birthday Pyper!!!

a new adventure...

My first glimpse into a new photography adventure... 

To be honest, I never really thought that I would be so fascinated by a picture. The whole process of arriving at the point of holding an Impossible 8x10 picture in your hand is really an extraordinary experience. The end result here is that it sealed my fate of diving into 8x10 photography. Unfortunately, there is no backing out now... 

A big thanks to Justin Goode for spending so much time talking me through his experience so far with 8x10 photography and for taking the picture below.  Also many thanks go out to Anne at The Impossible Project for her incredible generosity and continued help with my many questions.   

roses for both of us...

The benefit of me getting Sherri roses is that I get to use them for a picture.  Luckily I had some gold frame PX680 film in my SX-70 camera.  Red DEFINITELY goes with gold...

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"...

blue man...

golden glow...

Got a little too close and the flash washed her out just a little.  The red glow goes good with the gold frame...

welcome...

looking down...

another picture that makes me "feel" tall. unfortunately, the camera was almost at floor level...

my beautiful wife on film...

I absolutely love capturing images of Sherri!  It always surprises me how much she hates having her picture taken.  However, I would have to admit that it makes every one that I do take even more special to me...

standing tall...

power lines...

positive

negative

justin...

deep ellum neon...

Grabbed this image on my way out of deep ellum tonight. I think the fact that it was drizzling rain added to the effect of the red dragging down the image...

art district high rise...

take an ordinary high rise,

add a small tree to the corner of the frame for perspective,

capture the image with Impossible PX70 Cool Color Shade film,

and out comes another piece of artwork...

afternoon coffee...

continuing my days off.

love it when this is the substance of my afternoon...

UNO...

A little diversion from all the eating over Christmas...

the stare...

Spotted these sheep today near downtown Greenville. They were in a fenced area around a company that sells stone/rock. Despite what some may think, this is not an everyday sighting in Texas. :)

 So I get out of my Land Rover with my SX-70 to go take the picture and they move away from the fence. Then I noticed that there were some berries on a bush (outside the fence of course).  I grabbed some of the berries and stuck them in the fence. Immediately they ran towards me. After they finished eating, they just stared at me.

Look at those eyes!  What an intense (almost creepy) stare...

the color of cold...

Two images that were taken this morning when it was 21 degrees F and a 10-15 mph wind.  Found out quickly that I wasn't the only thing that didn't react well to the cold.  I also took two images with my Leica M8 and the colors are what I would consider more true to life. That being said, the images below at least are screaming that they are cold...

the magic of christmas...

The meaning of Christmas is inarguable to me. It is absolutely about a Savior!  

However, the magic of Christmas lies in a child-like innocence of surprise at the smallest gift (in this case an Elmo sandwich case).  Love that I can capture these "forever" moments on Impossible film...

fixer upper...

love...

mckinney inn...

Almost shot this one too dark.  It was bright and sunny so I set the darken wheel all the way dark to try and get a blue sky. I guess you could say that I succeeded there.  The sky is definitely darker in this picture than it was in person.  Wish I would have gotten down just a little lower to remove the reflection in the middle of the picture.

leaving...

Took this one this evening when Sadi was pulling out of the driveway on her way to a Christmas party. It was my last shot in a pack of PX70 Cool Film. I wanted to try a shot through her car window with the reflections from the sky.  The lower right corner is a reflection of the clouds and the horizon.  A very imaginary/whimsical look.  I love everything about the look of this film!

silos amonst the trees...

the bear...

Had to go have my Land Rover serviced this morning at Land Rover Frisco. Not one of my favorite things to do because it always involves money (lots of it)...  Fortunately, the dealership is always accomodating and they have great coffee! Scored a bonus today because I brought my SX70 loaded with some PX70 Cool film.

looking up...

justin goode...

After Justin took the image of me, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get a photo of him.  Black frame Impossible film was made for portraits of people.

This is my favorite type of photography, so this photo alone made it worth the trip to Fort Worth...

closeup of me...

This is one of the many photos from the Sundance Square polawalk on Saturday evening. It was taken with an SX-70 camera mounted on a tripod using Impossible PX70 Cool Film. 

Justin Goode, the organizer of the walk, took the photo.  He is such a talented photographer with an eye for composition!

waiting on the next one...

I pass by this cemetary multiple times a day on my way to work and back home.  There are two of these canopies that get moved around the cemetary based on the location of the next burial.  A morbid thought, but every time I see it staked to the ground I think to myself how it seems to be "waiting on the next one". As I get older, I often carry this a step further and realize that someday I will be the "next one". 

Keeping this in perspective helps me appreciate and enjoy each day even more... 

christmas excitement...

Had to get a picture of Pyper in front of the Christmas tree/presents at our house. Especially when I walked in and she was here and all dressed for the occasion.  She doesn't exactly look excited does she...

Sadi in the studio...

Got the chance to take a couple of pictures of Sadi today. She had Tyler take some outdoor shots, so I set up a little bit of studio equipment to take a couple of Polaroid 664 shots with my modified 250 camera when she got home. What a beautiful girl! There is no other picture like an expired Polaroid...

table tennis - 1962

Scored this beauty on Saturday.  Found it on craigslist in great shape. The table has the date December 18, 1962 stamped on the bottom of the table by none other than "Inspector 93". The Brinktun Utility Table turns 50 in a few days!  Wonder of "Inpector 93" is still around?

Took the picture with a Polaroid 100 Land Camera that was manufactured between 1963-1966.  So that means that the table is older than the camera.

Lots of good days ahead for this table (and the camera) in our family...

stealing pine cones...

Took my SX-70 with me on my drive back to work today.  Had it in my head that I was going to find a pine tree to photograph.  The intentions were so strong that I even took a step stool just in case I couldn't find one that was "low hanging fruit". A little apprehensive, but I found one in front yard of a house. Grabbed the stool & camera and headed for the tree. Set up the stool, check the exposure setting on the camera and quickly focused on the pine cones. Snapped the picture, grabbed my stuff, jumped in the Land Rover and drove off.  It was like I was stealing something.  Thank goodness for the Color Protection film.  No time for shielding when you are stealing...

cool...

The image and the subject are both so cool...

change...

One thing I love about going to Childress is driving out to the country (in the middle of nowhere), stopping the car, getting out and just walking around. Many times the only noise is the wind. What a relief this is! Makes it so easy to look around and think about what you see. Really think about what you see. No hurry, just time to think...

Notice the beaten down path disappearing into the distance leading up the right side of the picture. The sign in front of us clearly tells us to turn left or right. The road that the arrows are pointing to are paved. They were built so that the drive would be smoother. But regardless of how rough the path that we are on may be, we always want to keep going in the same direction. Some may say that it is the path of least resistance.  Mainly because change requires us to make a conscious decision to turn; it requires an action on our part. We subject ourselves to the unnecesary bumps ahead in our life because of a natural resistance to change. Why do we resist the signs of change in our life so much? Could be that we are so busy with our life that we completely miss the signs? We are travelling so fast and so focused on what is in front of us; the pursuit of more (more money, more power, more stuff, just more...), that we completely miss the obvious change in direction that is needed.

My challenge to myself (and you if you are reading this) is to get away to a place where all you can hear is the wind. Slow down. Maybe even stop and get out. Look around. Evaluate. Pay attention to the obvious signs. Don't be resistant to changing direction. Consider the consequences of ignoring the signs. Move slower. Most of all, enjoy what is around you.

All of this from a picture taken for no apparent reason, with an old analog camera, on expired film by an aging guy in the middle of nowhere...

sit and spin...

Maci and Pyper playing on the sit and spin.

focus...

Sometimes the picture is taken to express a feeling. Impossible film is the perfect medium to express this!  

In the morning while on my first cup of coffee...

Trying to gain a focus to start the day... 

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...