Hooooooray!!

Good Day!!

I have some really great news. Some one I know owns a very busy apple orchard and gift shop. They asked me if I would like a corner of the shop to display and sell some of my photos! My first real step into the world! My heart is racing!

So I've been pretty busy having things printed and picking out matching mattes and frames. Post cards and note cards- all sorts of things! I have to admit, I am excited and realize this is the first step, but I'm scared as hell. Criticism is the how you learn and better yourself, but I don't take it gracefully, I'm afraid. I feel insulted and unsure of myself after a suggestion. Clearly, something I need to work on if I'm going to go far.

Let me also say that this isn't about the revenue for me. I mean, ultimately, I would like this all to pay for it's self one day. But I don't think in dollar signs. I'm more honored that you hung a photo I took proudly on your wall. Or the photos I took of your newborn brings tears to your eyes every time you look at them. It's more about the IMPACT, the emotion I want to give you. So, lol. buy my prints!

I'll be up at the shop this weekend to see my corner and get a feel for which ones would sell best- maybe I'll see a common theme to run with. Who knows, it's all fun!

I can't thank these people enough for the opportunity and for believing in me. Many, many thanks....



I'll leave you with a quote my one of my favorite people said to me after hearing this news:

"Be filled with the humility of one whom is truly loved" MC



Indeed..... indeed....

Sagamore Creek

Good morning!

   Every day on my way to work I cross over this little bridge over the Sagamore Creek.  With out fail, every morning the sunrises are incredible.  This morning there was some low lying fog and I was moments from the sun peaking over the tree line. So I bailed off the road and ran down to the bridge!  This morning's offerings...

Kodak

   You know when you break up with some one, it's all you have to NOT think about them?  To distance yourself as far away from them as possible so you can heal?

   I did this when I left the photo lab. After working for the same one since I was sixteen, it was like a break up when I left.  Sitting and crying, thinking the wine is helping. Thinking I am not capable of working anywhere else, this was all I loved....

  After a few days of sobbing, I picked my life up and moved on into other things.  It's been many years since I left the lab, with out giving my age, and although I'd always have one eye on a lab if I were in a drug store, I never really gave it another go since.  I suppose I am bitter, that now they really only cater to the digital customers.  Most lab techs now-a-days can't suggest film to you, let alone, help you get it out of your camera.  Sorry to insult, but today's lab tech aren't "lab techs".  They're part-time teens who could care less about your dinosaur film camera....

  Just the other day, in a pinch, I called Wal-Mart (gag) to see if they could process- JUST process- a roll of color 120 film.  The girl told me that they couldn't process any film there, they'd have to "send it out".  I asked how this made her a one hour lab- she replied that they could still print my digital uploads with in the hour. Geeee, thanks....

 I have a local lab that I try to always use, to support the Indy movement. Their techs are knowledgeable and seem capable.  I was going to send one roll of 120 I have to develop to Kodak to see their results against my Indy lab.  (Hey, it's my choice to move around and compare!) Only to be informed that Kodak DOESN'T PROCESS FILM ANYMORE.   Shock to the system, took me a few minutes to wrap my head around this one...

   So this is where the break up-ignore thing comes in. Being that I had to pry myself away from all things LAB, I didn't hear the news when Kodak decided this. I still can't figure out when- I find reports of other Kodak labs closing here and there, but not the big red, flashing CLOSED sign I am looking for.  

  Confused, I called the Kodak number off their Gallery site, thinking I was missing something and film could still be shipped to them.  The helpful Juan explained to me the travesty of not being able to process any longer.  Mr. Eastman must be rolling in his grave right now.   As I have emerged slowly back out into the photo world, there's this whole "Film is Dead" attitude, and it's rampant. 

   Film is NOT dead, it's just not as easy nor cheap as digital, but it IS better.  For me to learn that Eastman Kodak will no longer have a large, fully capable, central site lab anymore was crushing. Where is film going if Kodak doesn't want to play anymore?  To your Indys- so you better get out and help them before it's too late for them, too!   Then we'll all be playing with red light bulbs and trays in our bathtubs!

  I often wonder,  could I pull some part-time hours in a lab on the weekends or something?  Although, it calls to me, I don't know if I could.  I can push and pull, salvage, repair, do processing tricks to make your negs look better, but I don't think I could yap megapixles with a random customer. Digital is why I left the lab- ours was trying to really push out film.  They were converting all the machines to accept digital and pushed us hard to sell the first primitive digital cameras we had in stock.  We all felt like hypocrites, I couldn't explain a megapixle to any one then- just film grain!

  I am rambling, but I have let this Kodak issue sit like heartburn in my chest for days. I wasn't going to post anything about it until I found all the facts and articles about Kodak's lab shut down, but I have to speak.   If a large, and I mean billion dollar large, facility can close due to lack of work, so can our Indy's. And I'm sure a lot of them are already facing that.

   Break out your film cameras, load them up, and start shooting. Get all LOMO about it- use mom's old Canon point and shoot from 1986 with the four unused flashbulbs and expired film-  who cares? It's all for fun!  The funkier and older your camera is- the more interesting the results!  Be kind, support your local labs, with out them, sadly, we'll have nothing left.   Share the prints with your friends and family, enter them in contests, get involved with projects and assignments, join the local clubs, and I can't say this enough, support your local Indy Lab!


Remember to tip your waitress, thank you and good night.

Sporeous Neighborhood

Good Sunday Morning!

  So out this morning walking my dog, Short, I brought two cameras with me.  Not unusual or me, but because I KNEW there would be a crazy amount of mushrooms after all this rain we've had.

   We have noticed living in this new neighborhood since January that it is very mushroomy. Different kinds- many different kinds. I have a friend who is very knowledgeable of mushrooms so I get feed back as to what some of them are. Which ones to absolutely leave alone for they are deadly. 

   All of a sudden, I see nothing but mushrooms in our neighborhood, so it's what my local subjects are lately. I have to admit, they're fun to photograph! So, these are what I saw this morning!  If you know what they are- by all means- do tell!

Rainy days make me miss the beach...

It's a rainy Saturday morning, and after last night's random run, I think more are in order.  I love going to the beach with my girl friends Casey and Mary and their families. The kids are adorable!  We had such a good beach day on our vacation together!  It shows in the photos! 

  One of my favorite things to shoot are candids of children.  They can't make a horrible face!  These kids especially are just fun and funny and wild.  Always laughing and playing and having a good time, really great kids!  Being that Casey and Mary live close to each other in Florida, these kids have grown up together since birth, they are true best friends...

   So formal introductions, here is Rickey, Henry, Julie and Emily!

Julie

Julie-  always a ham!

Henry and Emily

Henry

Mary with Julie and Emily

Henry

Rick and Rickey

Julie and Henry

 Emily-  such a sweet pea!

Henry and Emily

Henry's big baby blues

Rickey and Julie

  

Random

I'm just going to post random photos tonight that I have. It's a boring, rainy Friday night and sifting through photos is fun!  Maybe I'll always make Fridays random... Who knows....

 Baby tomato leaves

Stargazer Lily



Sweet Peas

Random guy loving his old Volvo!

 Banana spider, Florida

Rickey and Henry playing.

Henry

Twins!

Calico Cow

 Hops!

My tiny dog, Short.

Shroom!

In the breeze...

Enjoy!

First Day of Autumn!

     First day of Autumn is a very special day to us in New England!  It's the start of gorgeous weather and sights! No where beats fall in New England, and I challenge you on that!

   Things here are already starting to turn yellow and there's these little BURSTS of color here and there. Can't you smell the dead leaves and feel the crisp breezes?  Can't you smell people's fires and feel the itch of your favorite sweater?  Fall is in the air, and it's invigorating!

   With this funny weather we've been having the past few days, fog is abundant! It rolls in off the River and masks it into this scary abyss. The fog and sea smoke can make our three bridges totally disappear, giving you kinda the creeps!  At night it looms softly, hovering low,  making all the street lamps and porch lights surrounded by wonderful, glowing halos.

   You can see what will be in focus over the next few months...   Autumn Splendor!

Contest!

My cousin Nicole, "Colie" to us,  asked me if she may enter one of my photos of her in a contest.  This entire branch of our family are equestrian enthusiasts. Four out of five sisters are involved with horses. They are fabulous subjects and loads of fun at the shows!  I have taken thousands of their horses and of their shows.

So this is the photo up on the block.  What do you think?  It's for the  Dover Saddlery Photo Contest!

Lubitel 166B

These were all taken with my Lubitel 166B.  Trusty little twin reflex camera. Simple, works like a charm.  I LOVE this camera. It's so much fun to play with and read about.  It's LOMO at it's best!

Analogue is awesome! I just bought a Yashicaflex last Friday- no idea how it is yet- still need to process the film!  I have like 7 rolls to be done. I'll get on that- I'm very excited to results!


Feed back always welcome!

Thanks....