SUNSHINE+love

January 27: the start of a collaboration project in 2012.
Last year, I set out to take a self portrait on the 8th of every month. I don’t get many photos of myself, since I’m usually the one behind the camera, and the few I get are reflection photos. So I wanted to challenge myself to get a better self portrait. And, well, let’s just say I didn’t do so well. Click to see last year’s set.
So I want to try it again. This year I’m turning 27 in March, so I thought that would be a good date to set: the 27th of each month.
This year I’m not alone, though. My best friend Paulina is joining me (she turned 27 on Dec 27th). I’m really glad to have a partner in crime this year! My main goal: no more mirror shots, at least for this project. I should also set the goal to find my wireless remote control. Where is it?!

At my local sunset spot. The light leaks on the Black Slim Devil can get quite dreamy, to me.

This corner of paradise is in Arkansas. Near the small town of Danville.
I have a friends who loves swimming holes. He guided us here.

Here’s to so many lovely sunsets for you in 2012.

Since I got on the analogue wagon and started telling my friends about it, something keeps happening: my friends (or their parents) have given me rolls of film they’ve had for years. The first batch of film I got was from Coger’s dad. He gave me a few rolls of Kodak TMax 100 that expired in the 06/2006. Then I got film from Sandy, a few rolls of Kodak Gold 200, expired 07/2006. Then I got 3 rolls of Kodak Ektachrome 100HC from a film swap, those expired in 1994 and 1995! The last batch of film I got from a friend, is still to be reviewed… but it’s expired as well.
I’ve been taking it easy at shooting with all these. I used some of the Kodak Gold 200 in California (this sunset was shot with one of them) and it yielded this beautiful aqua tones. It’s so dreamy! Here’s the rest of that roll (click)
The Kodak TMax 100 is going to be for portraits only. I’ve used one of the rolls, I have two more to go. Here’s that set (click)
I used two of the Kodak Ektachrome 100HC in California in November 2011. They were the first rolls I used on my LC-A+… BUT I made the mistake of asking my lab to cross processed them for me. And after developing the rolls, they decided the images weren’t good enough to scan for me (gasp!). So they just gave me the film developed. Since I don’t really give up until I’ve tried it all, I’m on the mission of finding my own photo/slide scanner and bringing those images to life with a little help from my friends.. I mean, Photoshop. I’ll report back on this soon.
Because you never know what you will get when using expired film, you have to have a good attitude about it at the moment you take the shot. I wasn’t so heartbroken when I found out about the two rolls that my lab decided not to scan for me. Not because I don’t care about the images, but because when taking them, I was letting them go and just trying to catch the moment. I’m pretty excited about experimenting with all this old film. And I hope my friends keep passing around their film on to me.
Viva la vida!

I did some charcoal drawing last night. This is the model’s view. (via @darbyi)

My Indian Summer Jr. seems to be gone from Northwest Arkansas. But don’t worry, I got exactly what you need: Summer photos!

This is my Summer in Film. After getting a bit tired of digital post processing, I took a break last Summer and decided to document those beautiful weeks in film. This is the result. I know… pretty awesome.

Warning: there are lots of photos of my niece and nephew. And maybe too many self-portraits (but hey, no one else takes my picture.) If you want to check it out at your own pace and per roll, here’s the link to the collection.

Enjoy.

❖

The Tree at Mount Magazine, AR.
A friend showed me how to get to this tree a few of years ago. It’s one of the best sunset spots in Arkansas.

On a summer afternoon. Holding one of the shitcams. Sometimes they give the best photos.