Yosemite in the fall with my Yashica-D

Meet my Cameras - part 2

I had been talking about experimenting with different film formats for some time, so for my birthday a few years ago the husband got me a sweet little Yashica-D. When I first started thinking about broadening my horizons into medium format film, I had in mind one of the new Holga type cameras, so when I opened up the box and saw this I was completely blown away, and a little intimidated.

Here was this vintage camera without a modern convenience to be found. Sure, in theory, I could figure out all on my own the appropriate f-stop and shutter speed to use depending on the light level, but my memory was a pretty fuzzy on the process. I had gotten so lazy with digital cameras that so easily slip back into automatic mode that I wasn't sure that I could take a decent photo without help from a computer. And on top of that I had to wonder if this puppy would actually work at all. Ebay sellers make no real guarantees with this sort of thing.

So I tried it out. And it worked! To this day it seems like some sort of miracle that I can make this thing take pictures. But it is so much fun to use and definitely not without its own learning curve. My first roll I never developed prints of because I thought of it as really just a test, so my first ever shot on is still only in negative form. Here is a somewhat diluted version of the first shot - I just scanned the negative and then inverted the colors.

Through the Viewfinder

On my quest to figure out the world of super 8 film, I stumbled across a photography technique called "Through the Viewfinder" or TtV.  In this method, the photographer basically takes a digital picture looking through the viewfinder of another camera. The end result gives the look and feel of an old style film camera, without the cost of film and with the immediacy of digital. It is a pretty intriguing process, albeit a bit silly looking on the part of the photographer. The flickr pool has some beautiful shots though, and the process seems simple enough. I do have my own TRL camera at home so maybe I will have to give it a try.

Meet my Cameras - part 1

I have never in my life used real film to make a movie, but it has always been one of those things I wanted try. Call me nostalgic if you want to, but there is something so enchanting about real film. So a couple of years ago I finally gave in to the urge and picked up this little gem at a thrift store. I had seen cameras in the past, but nothing like this. This camera came in the original case and with all the original manuals. It even came with a warranty from J.C. Penny. I just couldn't pass it by.

Then it sat in my closet for a few years.

I'm finally feeling brave enough to give it a try. So now I'm beginning to try to figure out this whole world of film making via my Bell & Howell Super 8mm camera. Stay tuned. I hope it works!

How would you like to be remembered?

Our local paper had an article on StoryCorps and I was reminded of just how awesome they are. The idea is simple enough: create an accessible, ready to go sound booth for anyone to record their story. Free, simple, open to anyone and everyone. The booth was a great idea, but personally, I think their mobile studio is just plain brilliant. What better way to preserve the stories of real people than to bring the studio right to them? It doesn't hurt that they use a sweet airstream trailer to boot.

There is something so simple and pure about hearing someones voice telling their story in their own words. I think that it is essential that we all take the time to get those great stories recorded so that they can survive beyond the life of the storyteller.

Check out StoryCorps.

Found Friday

One of my favorite ways of exploring the past is through postcards. I have a rather large collection of postcards, both old and new, that I love going through from time to time. Also, postcards are kind of the prime example of kitsch, which is a big weakness of mine. With so many mass-produced images of nearly anywhere in the world circulating around, it so easy to see what a certain place used to look like, and how it has evolved over the years. Today I stumbled upon a site that has collected many postcards of time square (talk about kitsch!) and compares how the place has changed over the years. It is very fascinating and worth a look. Times Square via Man Made

Foraging with Josh

One recent project i've been working on is with my good friend Josh. We started a video series about foraging lands on the margin. It is great to get outside and do some shooting, plus I always learn something. Here is the latest installment, all about foraging for nettles.

For more information, head over to Agrarianista