Holga

I shot two rolls of 120 film with the Holga last summer on the shore of Lake Huron at The Huron House in Oscoda, Michigan. My husband go to this bed and breakfast twice a year -- once during winter and once during summer. Well, the black and white roll didn't turn out. Just two prints from that roll -- of something abstractual that I have no clue what it is. But the second roll of expired 120 color film turned out rather nice, I think.

You can view the rest of the images on my Flickr page.

In other Big News, tomorrow is the Art at the 625 at 625 S. Saginaw Street in downtown Flint. The event runs from 6:00 pm until 10:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served, and there are nine -- maybe ten -- artists showing/selling their work. Should be an amazing time.

Heading West

I've been wanting to take more self portraits, but I've found that getting a good focus with a manual camera has been nearly impossible for me. For some reason, I just can't 'get it.' But a quick search today gave a really simple answer --it's called reverse focusing. What you do is use a tripod. Put your camera on it and then figure out where you want to place it, and where you want to aim it at (that is, where you will be). Then, take off the camera and go to the spot you will be at and then set the focus so that you are focusing on the tripod. Manual cameras, I guess just care about distance, not so much a particular object, and so then you take the camera back to your tripod, set the timer, and scramble to your spot, pose, and wait for the click. Advance the film, and repeat as many times as you can stand to. Sounds simple enough, huh? Now I just have to give it a try. I will let you know how it goes.

[For some more ways of setting manual exposure, go here.]

Photo: Black and white film. From my Trainspotting Set on Flickr.

Knotted Up Inside

I shot some film over the weekend, and I am pretty happy with what I came away with. I am in the process of posting more prints for sale in my Etsy Shop. I have more to say, but I am all knotted up inside. Periods suck.

Remembering Where I've Been

I always have good intentions of keeping track of where I've been, but sometimes that I just get so caught up in the moment, that I just don't see the point of remember everything, but it's also nice to record progress, which to me, is the point of living. Progressing to where you can feel yourself changing and growing every day. As adults we so often loose that child-like growing (I think of my own kids and how every day I see and watch them change) and just become stagnant. I guess we figure that we grow up and then just grow old. It's the laws of nature. But the mind does not have to be that way, just our bodies. But the substance that makes us who we are keeps growing and expanding. So, maybe keeping track of that can be important. Anyways, I digress (i.e. ramble!). Here is what I've learned/done/wanna keep track of:

** I was able to get my dozen prints to Shots Magazine in time for their Feb. 1 deadline. I just received confirmation for USPS. I also ordered their self-portraits issue just because I really believe in this magazine. It's amazing seeing a magazie filed with photos rather than pages and pages of ads for things I cannot afford and/or do not need. Pick up an issue if you get the chance.

** I learned that I really enjoy shooting images of food. I've had such a love/hate relationship with food up until recently (I was heading into anorexia around the time I met my to-be husband) . But now I see that loving food is fine if you eat right and enjoy it and are thankful for what it does for the body rather than engorging oneself. Nothing wrong with that.

** I submitted a photo for a Jones Cola label. Pretty neat if you ask me.

** I have plans for a mini photo shoot. Nothing fancy, but I plan on shooting of a roll black and white along the railroad tracks behind our neighboor hood.

And that's about that. I am sure there were other things along the way, but I rather just keep those thoughts blurry and filed away.

Photo: Film, 35mm, shot with a FUJICA using manual exposure. More film images here.

Cold Feet

I have cold feet. I am rethinking about submitting to Shots Magazine, but for some reason I am feeling like my work is not good enough to submit. It might just be hormonal or something, but I am feeling rather insecure.

Photo: self-portrait, film.

Logan

Logan has adjusted to being in our new home. I almost typed "finally" before that adjusted, but I stopped myself because three days to adjust seems more like a short while than a long while. The first night here, he was pretty much scared to go to sleep -- or maybe too excited -- but the second night, he was plain old stubborn (I think he gets that from his dad, or maybe from his mom, but probably from the both of us) and I sat with him and sang and talked to him while he "screamed it out." I was there, and so I know he wasn't so much scared as stubborn. Finally, I said, "Look, Logan, this is your bye-bye bed; this is your room; Mommy is here. You are tired. Go to sleep, butthead." And I left the room and shut the door. He yelled for about another 7.27 minutes, and I am guessing fell asleep. He slept for 14 hours. The next day, he seemed better and he even napped after crying for about 5.24 minutes. And last night, he went to bed without a peep. I am relieved. He's adjusted and in record time which leads me to believe he is a healthy, well-adjusted little guy.

Photo: Film, Logan watching TeleTubbies at our old apartment.

Blurry Bath Time Babies

I am learning to see past a technically "bad" photo to see the good that's really there -- the reality of the subject and the emotion rather than, oops, the focus is off. The thing about film that I used to find so frustrating (more so with my last two rolls) is the capturing a perfect subject but the photo quality is not so perfect. But when I look at this -- I mean, when I really look at this -- I see my children. My children. My beautiful, wonderful, perfect children and it overwhelms me with so much emotion. They love each other, and I see it here, and capturing that moment is what truly brings me joy. (I know I was giggling when I took this!) There is no longer a technical disappointment of "Oh, this is not good," but rather the emotional response and the joy of "Oh, this is so so so good."

Photo: Blurry bath time babies. Film.

Don't Know Why, Just Do

I have figured out my scanner, and that makes me incredibly happy because now my prints are matching with what's on screen. I've also figured out how to shoot with my glasses on -- just not worry about it and shoot. I took my 52-Weeks self-portrait today. I wonder how that's going to turn out. Unlike digital photography, my film camera does not have automatic focusing, and so I have to kind of measure how far I am going to be away from the camera and then set the focus kind of guessing where I am. I would talk about f.stops and the like, but I am still pretty clueless.

I sold another print today (I sold one yesterday, too), and it's the exact encouragement I needed. I've also discovered there is a local photography lab right here in town (I guess Dorothy was right; everything we need really is just in our own backyard). Here's to hoping they develop 120 film, too, because I would love to be able to afford to shoot more Holga. I've also got a couple of ideas lined up of things to go out and shoot, it's just a matter of setting aside some time to. We are moving this weekend, and everyone knows that moving is kind of hectic and stuff, but I also know that I work well under pressure, and so I know it will be just fine. I have my own bathroom (well, Chris, my husband and I do), and I have this hope of learning how to develop my own negatives and possibly learn how to prints some prints. But one step at a time -- Rome was not built in a day, like they say (whoever they are. Who are they anyways?).

Photo: Hidden.

Winter's Berries

I shot an entire roll of black and white film using my FUJICA st605n on New Years Day. As my third roll of film, I am pleased. There is something so very Zen about being in the snowy woods with nothing by the sound of a nearly-frozen creek, birds calling, and the whoosh of clumps of falling snow from trees. You may view the entire series at my Flickr page.

Photo: Winter's berries available at my Etsy shop.

Self-Portrait in Bathroom Mirror

This is the year I practice/learn how to shoot film. Film photography -- to me -- is very Zen. I slow down. I think about what I am doing -- what I want, what my purpose is, set the dials, take a breath and shoot. Then I wait. Sometimes an hour, sometimes a few days, sometimes nearly a week while waiting to finish up a roll. Then I look and it brings me a lot of happiness looking at tangible prints in my hands. Sound kind of weird, but it feels more real to me and solid even though I am just looking at images of something that have already passed. Not to mention no post processing. I got so used to altering reality (zapping out a zit here, erasing something that looked weird there), but for now, I just want to focus on reality and on here and now. Film does that for me. So, yeah, that's about it.

Photo: From roll #3, self-portrait in bathroom mirror.

Scarecrow Covered in Snow

Roll #1 shot just before Christmas turned out okay, I guess -- there was just one photo that I felt was actually good, and it was my first capture. I have a lot to learn to learn, and I'm anxious to take a PHOTO100 at my community college in May. I am pretty much about of creative ideas at this point. Besides the same mundane stuff I look at daily, there is nothing new or interesting going on in my head.

Photo: Scarecrow covered in snow.