lunch time self portrait...

Took this image today at lunch holding and looking through a severely scratched-up piece of glass. The imperfections & reflections are blurred by the shallow depth of field of the Polaroid 180. The expired Polaroid Sepia film is still producing great images...

fade to black - hibiscus...

My first successful try at Polaroid Fade To Black film. My first shot was a portrait of Sherri via the instant lab, but I botched it during the peeling process. Took this one of a hibiscus plant in our back yard at lunch today (with my SX-70) and peeled it successfully.  I am now determined to take a portrait next because the tones will inevitably yield an incredible image...

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...

Tyler and Pyper...

So many memories were captured today. We had such a great time together as a family eating meals and enjoying our afternoon outside in the sun and by the pool. For some reason, Pyper was so excited about taking photos today. Thought I would post this one first because it is Tyler's last Father's day with only one child. Allister makes her debut later this week...

albert...

I have found out a few things in this venture with instant film. It is never cheap and no matter how much you think you know, the results can still be unpredictable. I have some 8x10 film with a manufacture date of October 2012. It has been cold-stored, but time has taken it's toll on the chemicals. The lesson learned here is to use more film, more often to avoid the divot results that you see above. My brother-in-law Albert and Sherri's sister were staying with us a couple of days. This photo was a last-minute, go-get-the-camera-out type of photo. The sun was setting fast and we were all in the back yard getting ready to start roasting some marshmallows for s'mores. The composition and exposure were spot on. I guess I have to embrace everything about instant film, including the divots. That is why I ultimately decided to post this photo. Made me think that instant film is much like us as individuals. Sometimes we just need to put our flaws out for everyone to see. In the end, I am so glad Albert let me take this portrait...

looking for shade...

Somebody was looking for some shade to get out of the sun...

please do not approach...

Got to see the Hawaiian Monk Seal in one of the lagoons while I was out walking. If his reaction was any indicator, he was not very impressed with me... 

somewhere in Tennessee...

Pulled off the road into a field to take this one. It was somewhere outside of McMinnville, Tennessee...

a rough day in Hawaii...

It was a rough day in Hawaii. This coastline was right down from where we were staying. I walked down this coast every morning. Couldn't ask for more relaxing mornings...

colors in bloom...

This is one of the few instant images from Hawaii that was full of color and not overly red/dull from the heat and humidity. When this film is colorful, it is a-m-a-z-i-n-g...

a cloudy day in paradise...

We had a couple of our days in Hawaii that was overcast part of the day. I would have to say that a cloudy day in paradise is still a great day...

sharing is what it's all about...

My Polaroid Spectra is probably my least used camera. I decided to use it for some black and white instant photos this weekend. When I take instant photos of Pyper, she likes for me to take two images. That way she gets to keep one. Sadi also wanted an image of her and Pyper. It is worth every penny when I get to share those images with them...

the banjo...

Funny how my favorite photo from Hawaii could have been taken anywhere in the world. Took this photo one afternoon while my cousin Pete was playing his banjo. I love the blur of the fingers and the sharpness of the steel. Not a worry in the world that afternoon. We were just hanging out getting ready to go snorkeling in the Pacific. I wish life was always that easy and relaxing...

just another photo of me...

My first attempt at expired Polaroid 4x5 Type 59 film. Shot this in a studio setting using two strobes. Really love this film...

captain...

I would have to say that this is one of my favorite instant photos that I have taken. The colors, composition and textures are absolutely amazing. 

The photo was taken at Cap's birthday party this past weekend. I couldn't have asked for a better stare/pose. So glad we were able to celebrate with him and really glad that he let me take this photo...

a man and his dog...

Was able to capture this photo of Tyler and Wilco on Sunday afternoon with my Toyo 4x5 camera on Fuji 4x5 instant film. Love being able to catch special family moments on so many types of film and cameras...

the right stuff...

Expired Polaroid Sepia film; Polaroid 180 Land Camera...

I think this was exactly the right film and exactly the right camera to end up with a portrait exactly how I wanted it...

shades...

Two photos of Tyler near dusk when we were leaving Pyper's gymnastics. Low light, large aperture. Trying to test out a couple of photos every night with my Polaroid 180. If I'm going to test it, portraits will always be my favorite...

shooting at night...

One of the photos from my Polaroid 180 last night...

shawn roller...

Shawn is another one of "those people" that I met on Twitter and ending up meeting in real life. I messaged him last Friday night and ended up meeting downtown McKinney for some coffee, coversation and a portrait. The coffee at Spoons Garage was excellent, the conversation was definitely the highlight of the morning and we ended the time with a few portraits. I slightly overexposed the 8x10 and evidently somehow produced a light leak. My guess is that I didn't compensate for the film being so cold. I think that I redeemed myself with the Fuji FP-100C portrait taken with my latest acquisition (a Polaroid 180 Land Camera). Will have to give the 8x10 another try to show Shawn what the Impossible 8x10 film can really do...

maci and pyper...

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

faces of pyper...

This is a project that I have been working on since mid February right after I received my order of the Impossible Cyanograph SX-70 film. I ordered the film with the intention of using it in the Impossible Instant Lab. All of the photos, with the exception of one, was taken with my Canon 6D camera and 50mm f/1.4 lens. I didn't really start out with the idea of using almost all of the film documenting Pyper's different facial expressions. But after my first pack of film, I realized that four of the photos were all of Pyper. When I looked at them together, the idea came to me. I decided to use the remaining three packs to see if I could come up with a consistent group of photos showing Pyper at age 3. I remember with my own two girls how soon we forget the expressions that we saw every day for a season of there life. Their personality will always change and if you don't have photos to document it, then you will eventually forget. This project was my reminder of how entertaining Pyper can be. It was such a fun experience, because I became very intentional in recognizing her expressions and I wanted to try to capture as many as possible in a small amount of time. I definitely didn't want this to become a burden. Many of the photos were taken and within seconds I put the camera away. The project was also my reminder of how fleeting every moment (and expression) truly is. Life if fragile. You need to stop and live in every moment that you possibly can. Sometimes you need to stop and capture the moment. Take it in and if you are lucky enough to have a camera, take a photo...

I realize that some of the photos are not perfect. By normal standards, the bright areas are blown out or overexposed. This was a learning process for me with this film and the instant lab. I didn't want to let the quality of the photo keep it out of the set. I honestly believe that all of the photos have a very unique character to them. Just like Pyper...

Brent Cunningham...

So sometimes I immediately know I want to take a photo, but I know it's not the right time. I passed Brent several times while walking around Nashville, but to be honest the lighting was just terrible. It was overcast and he had on a hat. I could just see the photo turning out with a dark shadow where his eyes were suppose to be. Knowing that, he just had something about him that made me want to stop and talk for a bit and ask for a photo. He was a street performer playing the guitar, so I knew that this photo was going to cost me. Even more of a reason to make sure that I got the shot. After stopping to talk with him, I realized that the photo became less important. What a soft-spoken neat guy to be able to talk with. I didn't realize until after I got home, but he has been playing the streets of Nashville for some time. Here is a video from 2008. When I finished talking and asked to take a photo, the sun started peeking through the clouds and he tilted his head back to let the sun in under his hat. I took the photo, said my goodbyes and went on my way. Got about two blocks down and realized that I was so caught up in the conversation and taking the photo that I forgot to even ask him his name. I turned around and went back. He saw me coming and just smiled. I guess he knew what I was about to ask. When I asked his name, he said "after you took the photo, I was wondering why you didn't ask what my name was". After all this, I am so glad I got to meet Brent. This is now one of my all-time favorite street photos...

Phil...

Met Phil today while I was in downtown Nashville for a couple of hours. Amazing how things work. I was a little bummed that the Johnny Cash museum didn't open until after I was leaving downtown, so I just ended up walking around. If the museum would have been open, I would have never met Phil. He stopped me because he saw me with a Leica around my neck and a Polaroid camera in my hand. He thought that I was "some kind of professional photographer". I laughed and explained to him that I was just a random guy that liked to walk the streets in cities that I visit looking for things to photograph. After talking for a bit, I asked him if he wanted a photo. I took two instant photos and gave him one. I sure hope his turned out as good as mine...