grape leaves

what i'm working on

this is a large format image (meaning, shot with film and a large format camera) of one my nephews. I shot it with Delta 100 (an ilford film). To get images like these onto the computer, I use a scanner, like an Imacon (which merged with Hasselblad in 2004), which scans the film at a high-resolution rate. Shooting with a large format camera is the rough equivalent of a 150 megapixel camera. However, because of the beauty film gives in its output, even if there were a large format equivalent in the digital world (there is, digital backs for these types, etc etc), I still love the film. It gives me the look I want EVERY TIME. I love his skin tone in this image and the sheen of his hair. He actually reminds me a lot of my brother when he was the same age.

oh, but I digress.

Because I scan the film, dust is introduced into the file as white spots. Fingerprints, etc, are a common ailment of large format photographers, and by scanning the film I am able to remove the dust, scratches, and processing issues from the file SO when I print, I get a gorgeous image every time. The above image has no touch-ups yet, its just what I'll be cleaning up this week.

can someone who loves me:

please buy this dress from the gap on the off-chance that i have a girl? please?

colorado: sleuthing

this lovely couple was eating their lunch on this rock.
their hats link them remarkably.
I kept trying to get a picture of them.

they were watching me.

i felt instinctively they would not consent to me taking a photograph.
my heart rate began to rise each time i thought they would say something to me.
I tried my best, knew i had failed...
and went on to photograph in the orchard (yesterday's post) and at the campus chapel (post coming up).

somehow, we got to talking with them. THEY WERE TOURISTS, TOO. HAD NO IDEA I WAS TRYING TO PHOTOGRAPH THEM. were monumentally nice about it and posed for me. We exchanged information and I'm sending them a print. I sure hope they like it.

sometimes it is really worth it to ask.

colorado: myself

I wanted a nice picture of myself. these trees were incredible. we (marti and i) were on a self-guided tour of a college campus in durango, colorado. it is not a usual thing that someone can take a picture exactly the way you envisioned it. but somehow, my dear friend did just that. I love the lines the trees create, receding to the right and simultaneously drawing your eye to me and towards the busy branches. I want this to be an image my children know well, one that speaks to them and says, "This. THIS is my mother."

why i should never be involved in airport pickups

On aug. 29th, I had the worst airport experience of my life.* It was so horrendous I didn't even write about it on here because it was too "everyday personal life" and that is not so much what this blog is about for me. However, now that i have had a 2nd altercation (in mid-september) with involvement in airport happenings, its time to share the hilarity. It can't be helped. ESPECIALLY since a camera got involved this time around.

I picked up my sister's friend from the airport and gave her a little tour of SLC. When said sister and her husband (pictured above), came to pick up her lovely friend, he took the keys to my car to retrieve her luggage. He decided to throw the keys to his wife (didn't want to come up the stairs, which I completely understand, we are on the 3rd floor)... however, keys had their own plans. They went onto the roof.

So, this image is of my brother-in-law, on top of my roof, retrieving my keys. This was not an awful event, frankly it was kinda hilarious. However, it is now seeming to be that certain activities are stacking up against me. I could write a LONG novella (oxymoron, I know) on my adventures, altercations and assaults at the grocery store Smiths.

Do I need to stop doing any airport activities and stop going to the grocery store? Seriously. Even a girl from DC with the ability to whip out east coast attitude at a snap has had enough.




*The aug. 29th incident involved a smoking car, lost keys, and a tow-truck leaving my car because they would not waive the $3 parking fee I was told was a courtesy. Would not take payment over the phone. Involved me at my pregnant-wit's-end, sobbing, because I had to teach a bunch of nine-year-olds at church the next day about how adversity makes us stronger. the irony was not lost on me then, nor is it now, but the whole thing was deplorable. Seriously, the Grimm Brothers were sitting in the corner while I was telling it, and even they were saying NO WAY.

wednesdays: film and soccer

I'm back to film in my regular, snap-shotty life. This was a low-cost B&W C-41 process film (same process as color negative, just doesn't have the dyes in the emulsion layers, and so is b&w). nice that is isn't as expensive, but is extra grainy without very much tonality or dark tone depth. I will say, though, It is so definitively FILM, which makes it appeal to in spite of its deficiencies. We had finished taking our family pictures and we were playing soccer in a field. W had just brought the ball to me and T was chasing him. I love his gleeful smile, how big he's getting, and his sense of play.