'Roid Week is always so inspiring! Here are my two photos for today--I hope you enjoy them.
Montague Terrace (in Blue) But we know, don't we? And we'll dream, won't we? Of Montague Terrace, in blue...
E-Z CHEK No. 7
Both of these photos were taken this past summer, using my SX-70 camera and beautiful nine-year-expired Time-Zero film I received from Tina as part of my Proposition Project.
I shot these photos of my dogs in the summer 2010 using my SX-70 camera and 9-year expired Time-Zero film that Tina very generously gave me for my Proposition Project. Thank you, Tina!
Sometimes you get a pack of film that is very distinctive. I was so lucky to get this beautiful pack of 9-year expired Time-Zero Polaroid film as part of my Proposition Project, and I love its rich blues and speckled imperfections.
I bought a lovely pale blue and cream hydrangea bouquet to photograph with this pack of film, and I was particularly taken by the way the expired emulsion played with the light shining upon the flowers. Someone on Polanoid mentioned to me that it was reminiscent of moonlight, and I really like that description.
Hydrangea in a Ball Jar, or, Moonlight click for signed prints
Cold War Unicorns (2010) Camera: Polaroid Sx-70 Film: Polaroid Time-Zero (expired 2006) This is from my first Proposition pack. There are signed prints for sale here.
I'm totally excited about this spring's 'Roid Week! Today's the first day, and the group pool is already packed with awesome instant photography images! Here are my first two submissions, both shot with my SX-70 and using the gorgeous Time-Zero I received as part of my proposition to my readers!
The Thing of Dreams This is yet another shot of the red poppy anemones I got awhile back. I couldn't stop photographing this beautiful wildflower bouquet! There is a signed print of this photo in my etsy shop!
The Redbuds A beautification group in my town gives away small trees once a year to residents, and a few years ago, I got a dormant redbud tree from them to plant. It looked like a stick, but it's grown into an impressive young tree now! This spring, it was covered in redbuds, too, which was beautiful!
I can't wait to share more Polaroids with you all week long as part of 'Roid Week, and see all the other great photos taken all over the world with instant cameras and film!
If you read my blog regularly, you know that I sent out a call for people to send me packs of Time-Zero film to shoot, in exchange for the originals! Well, here's the second installment of my presentation of some of the photos I've taken from the first pack I received. You can see the first installment here. I hope you enjoy them!
Red and Purple Anemones in a Jar I love these beautiful flowers; they became the subject for many photos, including one of my favorites that I've ever taken, which you can see here.
Clown Hamburgers I love this sign, which I found in Haltom City, Texas! I hear the burgers there are awesome, but they were closed when I visited. I'll have to go back!
I'll be sharing more photos from this awesome pack of film very soon! Thank you so much to Jeff for this special chance to shoot my favorite film again!
Awhile back, I posted a blog where I made a proposition to my readers: Send me a pack of Polaroid Time-Zero film, and I'll shoot it for you! Well, two kind people sent me packs of film, and I've shot one of those packs so far! Here are a couple of images from this pack, sent by Jeff. Thank you so much, Jeff, for this amazing pack of Time-Zero expired in 2006!
This is a Secret signed print available here I love these beautiful ranunculus flowers, one of my favorite signs of spring!
The Orchids Are Blooming Again signed print available here I have a small collection of orchids, and I'm always thrilled when they grace my home with their beautiful blooms!
I have so many more images to share with you from this pack, and I can't wait to shoot the second pack I received as well! And remember, if anyone else would like to take part in this project, check out my proposition and drop me a line! :)
I have a little proposition for you! Do you have any spare Polaroid Time-Zero film laying about? If so, I'd love to shoot it for you! Here's my proposition:
You send me the film, and I will shoot it and send the originals back to you! What's the catch? I have the right to shoot what I want, scan them before I send them back, and sell any prints from the scans, if they come out nice!
If you'd like to enter into this little deal with me, send me an email! Regardless of how old the film is, I will shoot your film (provided the battery inside works!), sign the originals, and send them back to you! And if you're wondering what I do with Time-Zero, check out my Flickr set of Time-Zero Polaroids I've shot since 2005!
Between finishing the semester, preparing for Christmas, keeping up with my Etsy shop, and general business, I haven't had a chance yet to put up my Christmas tree, shoot new Christmasy photos, or shoot any of the beautiful Polaroid Fade to Black film that I recently got from the awesome PolaPremium folks! So, until then, here's a Polaroid from last year...
'Roid Week at Flickr has officially begun! Aside from the two photos of my dogs that I posted here yesterday, I posted the photo below as a submission for day one. I'm really excited about the photo-collage below, for it depicts photographic memories of a beautiful day this past July when I was lucky enough to visit the breaktaking Grand Canyon. I was especially lucky to have some lovely expired Time-Zero film with me--my favorite film I've ever shot. Although I've posted a few images from this day in earlier posts, this is the first time I've presented all twelve Time-Zero photos that I shot together. I hope you will enjoy them!
The Grand Canyon Time-Zero Project (2009) Camera: Polaroid SX-70 Film: Polaroid Time-Zero (Expired) Click here to see each image larger
And don't forget my 'Roid Week sale! Now through Friday, 6 November, I'll be celebrating 'Roid Week with a Sale in my Etsy shop! Buy any Polaroid print in my shop, get another of equal or lesser value free! Just mention "Roid Week" at checkout in the comments to the seller, and I'll send you a free print!
Anyone who has a casual acquaintance with my photography knows that I love to take pictures of signs, particularly of the retro neon variety. One of my favorite signs I've ever seen is the classic Circus Liquor Sign in North Hollywood. This was the sign under which Alicia Silverstone's "Cher" character was mugged in the film Clueless, and it's one of the best examples of mid-century neon I've ever seen. I was lucky enough to shoot some photos of it in August, and these two are my favorites.
My heart goes out to everyone in my home state of California dealing with horrible fires, including the Station Fire, which is, apparently, the biggest wildfire in Los Angeles in over 100 years.
I was in LA a few weeks ago, and I shot the remains of my last pack of Time-Zero film. I have had several "last packs"--packs I thought were my last, only to be blessed by kind souls who keep giving me more! However, I'm pretty sure this really was my last pack, RIP. In any case, this is my second-to-last Time-Zero shot. I've named it after the place where I shot it. I wish it didn't remind me of the current fires; I think of it more as an elegy to lost hopes, coupled with a smog-drenched sunset. Hollywood is, after all, a pretty nasty place, but it continues to draw us, moths to flame...
Hollywood (2009) Camera: Polaroid SX-70 Film: Time-Zero *expired*
Oh Summer, you're fun and all, but here in Tejas, you're just too darn hot! Please, please, consider leaving us for the next 9 months or so...it's not that we don't ever want to see you again, but it's just that you're SO fun, we can't bear you all the time!
Shade (2007) Location: Dead Sea, Jordan Camera: Polaroid SX-70 Film: Polaroid Time-Zero
As a child, I loved to ride my bike--a swank blue 1970s Schwinn with a banana seat and straw basket--all over my neighborhood. I had a little car-battery-shaped transistor radio that I kept in my basket, listening to AM radio and turning it with each turn to maintain reception! Although I got a ten-speed as a teen in the 80s, I never fully embraced bike riding as an adult. Even as an undergrad at Chico State, nestled in a notoriously pro-bike town, I preferred to walk over ride.
However, I've always appreciated the aesthetics of the bicycle, and now that I'm in my late 30s, I've decided to take the plunge again and get back onto a bike! After a lot of research, I recently ordered a custom-made, handmade, American-made Industrial Newsgirl bike from Worksman, the longest-operating bike maker still producing their products in the USA. I haven't gotten my bike yet, but once I do, I'll update you on my return to cycling!
In the meantime, I thought I'd post a few of my favorite bike-themed photos that I took in Amsterdam, the beautiful city of bike-a-holism, back in 2006! Also, check out this fascinating look at Amsterdam's bike culture from a tourist's perspective!
A Bike in the Morning Camera: Polaroid SX-70 Film: Polaroid Time-Zero
This summer, I'm growing several vegetables in a little container garden I created! Along with chiles, herbs, and lettuce that I'm growing in aerogardens indoors, I'm growing three varieties of tomatoes (heirloom Beefsteak, Roma, and Heatwave), two varieties of bell peppers (sweet yellow and big boy green), and tomatillos outdoors. I'm also growing red hot cherry peppers and poblano chiles outside, as well as rosemary. It's so exciting to watch them all set fruit, and I can't wait to harvest what I hope will be a bounty!
While I wait, I've been inspired by heirloom produce from a local organic market. Recently, I got this beautiful heirloom tomato, and I just had to take a couple of photographs of it before enjoying its juicy sweetness! It was absolutely delicious with purple and green basil from my aerogarden and some ripe avocado! Simples pleasures, such as pure organic food, lend so much richness to our lives!
Today's I'd like to continue the tribute to signs that I started in my previous post. Old signs are so fun to document, and I hope you'll enjoy today's selection from my collection of retro sign snaps!
Cocktail Hour (2005) Camera: Olympus e-300 Digital SLR Location: El Paso, TX
The Parliament House (2006) Camera: Polaroid SX-70 Film: Polaroid Time-Zero Location: Orlando, FL
Drugs (2008) Camera: Velveeta Shells and Cheese Dinner Plastic 110 Toy Camera Film: Solaris 110 film (200 speed) Location: Denton, TX
Pump 'N' Munch (2008) Camera: Lomo LC-A Film: Kodak Ektachrome e100g Cross Processed Location: Pine City, MN
Also, today (May 25th) is the last day of my Memorial Day Weekend Sale! I will ship all orders from my Etsy shop FREE WORLDWIDE! To get this special deal, just mention "MEMORIAL DAY" in the "Note to Seller" section of the Etsy checkout process! I will then refund you your shipping costs through PayPal!
If you've looked carefully at my body of work, you know that I love taking photos of cool vintage and retro signs! As a professional historian, I appreciate signs as cultural productions and documentation of human desire, and I want to collect images of as many as possible, before they disappear. As a photographer, I love the aesthetics of sign design. Here are a few of my favorite sign photographs that I've taken over the past few years. I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do!
Apollo Liquors en Lomo (2008) Location: Austin, Minnesota Camera: Lomo LC-A Film: Kodak Ektachrome e100g Cross Processed
Diesel Fried Chicken (2006) Location: Van Horn, Texas Camera: Polaroid SX-70 Film: Polaroid Time-Zero Note: This sign, sadly, no longer exists! I'm so glad I took this photo!
Also, beginning today and running through May 25th, I will ship all orders from my Etsy shop FREE WORLDWIDE! To get this special deal, just mention "MEMORIAL DAY" in the "Note to Seller" section of the Etsy checkout process! I will then refund you your shipping costs through PayPal!
Please feel free to pass this deal on to your friends, and thank you! Also, if there is a print you'd like from my portfolio but you don't see it in my shop, just let me know and I can list it for you!
My grandparents always had Hens and Chickens in the rock garden section of their yard. I love the way they spill out of their containers and spread! I recently bought these and hope they thrive.
Hello! Thank you for visiting my site! I am a university professor of history, but when I'm not writing, reading, or teaching, I love to take photographs with my many historical and contemporary cameras. I'll use this blog to discuss my own photos, as well as my appreciation for other artists and craftspeople. Feel free to explore the links below to visit my extensive online galleries, my shop, and the links to some of my favorite things! If you see something you'd like to hang on your wall, please let me know by emailing me. Have a lovely day!
