I always try to keep at least one camera on me at all times, because invariably, if I don't have one, I'll find a photo opportunity! Still, there have been a few times in the recent past when I've stumbled upon something wonderful and only had my phone camera! Fortunately, the camera in my G1 Android phone is pretty nice for moments like this. Here are three of my favorite PhoneCam images.
This one begged me--a lover of all cool signs!--to take its photo! I was impressed with the sharp quality and vibrant neon colors of this little Googlephone Photo.
Sigel's Liquor and Beer (2009) Location: Addison, Texas
This one comes from a random encounter on campus. I walked up to the priest and said, "May I please take your photo?" He said, "Why you would want to, I don't know, but ok!" Why would I want to!?!?!? Are you serious?
Talk to a Catholic Priest (2009) Location: University of North Texas
This is my terrier, Orson. He is hard to photograph, so even a decent cell phone picture makes me very happy! I LOVE HIM!
My Little Boyfriend (2009) Location: On the furniture!
Even if you only have your cell phone at hand, get out there and shoot the world around you!
Today I went to Fort Worth, and what did I find? A rare creature...the iconic Jackalope! It was an extremely hot day, but that didn't seem to deter this mighty animal (not quite a rabbit and not quite an antelope) from surveying his terrain! I just had to share these images right away...it's not every day you can get a Jackalope to pose for a photo!
My whippet, Laika, loves to sunbathe! She loves the heat so much that I have to monitor her when it's hot, to be sure she doesn't get burned! Here she is earlier this weekend, enjoying the 100+F heat of Texas in the summer!
Laika, 3 July 2009 Camera: Diana+ Edelweiss with a Fujifilm Instax Mini Back Film: Fujifilm Instax Mini
And here's a secret special for you! From now until Friday, 10 July 2009, buy anything from my shop, mention "blog!" at checkout, and I'll refund your shipping!
I'm excited to announce my latest gallery show, a solo exhibition of forty of my favorite Polaroids!
Instant Gratification: A Celebration of Polaroid by Nancy L. Stockdale Union Gallery 3rd Floor, UNT Union University of North Texas Denton, TX (click for directions)
The show opens on Monday, 29 June, and will run until 23rd July 2009!
To celebration my first solo show(!), I've created a companion book, available at Blurb!
You can buy the book here, and check out all the photos in the book and the gallery here!
I hope everyone who makes it to the show enjoys it, and I'd like to thank all of you reading this for your encouragement--I appreciate you!
Hello everyone! I'm excited to direct you to the beautiful Our City Lights blog for an interview with me! You should also check it out because there will be a GIVEAWAY from my Etsy shop!
One of the images that Diana (the wonderful woman behind Our City Lights) featured in the interview is today's subject:
I shot this photo while strolling through the fun flea market in de Pijp, Amsterdam. That boy was throwing something of a tantrum, while the girls stuck in the cart with him looked on with disgust. This was a classic Lomo Street shot, as I really did "shoot from the hip", as the Lomography people like to say!
I took this photo yesterday, moments before I saw the video of the death of a beautiful young woman in the streets of Tehran, Neda (ندا ). Although I have yet to have the good fortune to visit Iran, professional and personal experiences in my life have made that country's people and fate important to me. As I watched this woman die in the video, and then saw, in the subsequent hours, her memory become a symbol for the Green Revolution sweeping through sectors of Iran, I thought of this image. With her tragic and untimely death, Neda has become larger than life, a symbol of her nation's historic struggle for genuine independence and representation. So many Iranians have been martyred for the cause of freedom over the past century. I continually hope that there are no more Nedas. May the Iranian nation, like all nations around the world, find their own equilibrium, one that is truly just for their society.
For Neda (20 June 2009) Camera: Polaroid Sx-70 Film: Polaroid Sx-70 Blend
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
Do you have fun plans for this summer? (or this winter, if you're in the Southern Hemisphere?) I'm catching up on a lot of work, but also planning a road trip through the Southwest and home to California next month! In the meantime, here's one of my homages to summer, shot on my roadtrip to Minnesota that I took last summer. Check the spelling--do you really want to eat "TenderMAID" hamburgers?
I came home from work the other day, and my husband had made this sweet bouquet from wildflowers, volunteer pansies, and blossoms from the crepe myrtle in our yard. I pulled out my Polaroid SX-70 (loaded with SX-70 Blend film) and took these photos!
A Wildflower Bouquet
Wildflower Bouquet in the Sun
I hope you enjoy these simple little photos! Small, lovely things like this make life worth living!
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!
