christmas 2014 on film...

I continue to have the desire to keep film a part of my life. I have used instant film for the last three years, but I want to start using 35mm & 120mm film more often. My goal is to eventually use my Leica M6 camera to document all aspects of my life. I truly want to master this camera and a small selection of films.  Ilford Delta 3200 is one of those films.  It is very forgiving and super-flexible in all types of lighting and conditions.

 This year, I wanted to make sure and bring film back to document Christmas morning and the days after. I didn't use it as much as I would like, but after developing every roll I become more confident in using the camera and film. See the images above for a small selection of what I was able to capture...

being there...

So much can be going on when you are taking photos, but the beauty of the picture is when you can remember being there.  I love the simple candid photos that document the day...

in the moment...

Got my scans back from Indie Film Lab today. Scrolling through them, this one definitely stuck out.  It absolutely captures the essence of raising kids in America. You take the time to do the little things with your kids to enrich both of your lives. It only adds to this photo that baseball is absolutely a favorite pastime that extends through all generations. Nothing posed about this moment. All parties, including me behind the camera, are 100% in the moment and enjoying it thoroughly...

as a child sees it...

On the day before Christmas, Pyper was all excited about what was to come. As I photograph her, and see her expressions, I can't help but to think of the premise of seeing the world like a child sees it. I wish I would have approached more things in my life with the innocence of Pyper. Reflecting about this on the eve of the birth of the One that told us that "we must be just like children to see the kingdom of God". In 2014 and beyond, I want to see and make a difference in the world around me with the eyes of a child...

conversations, photos and coffee...

Got to spend a little dad/daughter time this afternoon with Sadi. Nothing like having some quality time for conversations, photos and Starbucks coffee...

making the most of it...

This photo has been sitting on my Leica camera memory card for a few weeks. Just noticed it today and downloaded it. It was like finding money in jacket that I haven't worn in a long time.

I don't get many opportunities to take photos of both of my beautiful girls together. When I do, I try and make the most of it. After seeing this image, it makes me smile a mile wide...

pyper and maci...

Stopped by Maci and Tyler's apartment after lunch to take a couple of photos of Pyper. I can't even begin to say how grown up she looks in this photo. I was so taken back when I first saw this photo on the computer. I guess you could say that Pyper is getting good at having her photo taken...

Afterwards, Maci and Pyper spent the afternoon with us at our house helping Sadi get ready for prom. They were about to leave and go home and Pyper wasn't very happy...

Sadi's Prom 2013...

Had very specific instructions this year for Prom pictures. No studio equipment and very few cameras. Took some photos with my Leica (see below), some photos with my Polaroid 600SE (see here) and some with my iPhone (see here)...

a lucky man...

Came home from the movie this evening and talked Sherri into taking a picture with me. As I have mentioned before, this is a difficult discussion at our house.  Sherri absolutely hates to have her picture taken.  I am becoming more persistent because, as the years go on, these photos have become more important to me.  As we get older, time seems to get away faster, and I want to make sure and have memories of us posted throughout this blog (and in frames around our house).  As I stare at this photo, I just think to myself "what a lucky man I am"!  

Can't wait to take the next one... :)

a hope we cannot explain...

When we were on our family vacation in California a few weeks ago, Sadi went down to the workout room every morning.  One of the mornings I noticed she was wearing this shirt and couldn't pass up the opportunity to get a picture.  Of course, she thought I was only taking a picture of her shirt.  I had specific orders not to get anything else in the picture.  Looking through the lens, I couldn't pass up getting her expression and overall demeanor/body language. What a deep, introspective shot...

So now on to the word "hope"...

hope - to have a feeling, chance, desire, expectation or wish to do something or to make something happen...

Without hope, our lives would be meaningless. We all have hopes that get us through the day (week, month or even year).  Hope is something that transcends all things.  Let me say it again...  Without hope, our lives would be meaningless.

I love this excert that photographer Robert Adams wrote and how he relates it to hope. "Of all the sacred places on the coast, none is more comforting than where rivers join the sea. By the river's disappearance we are reminded of life's passing, while by the ocean's beauty we accept it, in a hope we cannot explain."

We could all learn something from this.  Maybe by trying to focus a little less on the fleeting failures in our lives and focus a little more on the hope in our lives that eternally matter.

searching...

Sometimes my favorite photos are the un-posed photos where you just catch the moment. No pressure to catch that one specific look while they hold it for you. No "cheese" to get them to smile just right. No frustration when they will not do exactly as you want. Just a search for that moment when the open shutter meets a perfect memory...  

In this photo, Pyper was just strolling around in the back yard while I snapped a few pictures with my Leica M8.

I absolutely love the images that are rendered by the M8. The M-mount lenses just melt the background and make the focal point of the image pop out even more. Makes me realize that the only way that I will ever get rid of my M8 is when I can buy an M9.

the Land Rover...

Came home tonight and parked my Land Rover in the street for a minute.  When I was walking up the drive, I decided to go grab a camera and tripod to take a few pictures.  Remember, I will take pictures of anything.  My biggest problem is stopping at one...  I took one with the Leica M8, one with the Olympus EP2, one with the Polaroid 100 and one with the Polaroid 250.  Lots of pictures, different edits on the digital and different films on the analog...

two worlds...

Two worlds, just seconds and feet apart...  

Sitting across the table from Maci and Pyper yesterday.  Maci was reading and she looked up and smiled. Pyper had just pulled her bow out of her hair and threw it on the table and couldn't quite reach it.  I love the dynamics of family!  More than that, I love having a camera by my side to catch it all...

a rare occurrence...

I hardly ever get the chance to take pictures of Sherri and Terri together. Neither of them like their picture being taken and they always seem to have an excuse why I shouldn't take it right now.  Plus when I do take pictures, Terri has the ability to ALWAYS blink exactly when the shutter is pressed.  So my original intent of taking this photo with my SX-70 on Impossible film was not exactly a good idea.  I now have taken around five instant photos of Terri, including today's photo, and her eyes are closed (or nearly closed) in all of them.  Oh well, this is what digital cameras were made to overcome.  I "settled" with an photo from my Leica...

a visit to schaeffer's garment hotel...

Sometimes opportunities come along totally unexpected...  

Robert Schaeffer, the owner of Schaeffer's Garment Hotel, is the cousin of a co-worker of mine (John Hughes).  During one of my visits to LA, John and I stopped by so that he could say hi to his cousin.  I was absolutely amazed by the space that Robert had created.  He has vintage clothing, boots and belts.  He repairs jeans and fabricates/sells custom made denims.  On top of all of that (no pun intended) he has a custom hatter, Gunner Foxx, that operates out of the back of his shop.  After this visit I just couldn't quit talking with John about the shop.  I asked John to call Robert and ask if I could come back during my next visit and take some photos of the place.  A few weeks passed and I returned.  Robert was such a gracious host!  After I had taken a few instant and digital photos of the shop with my SX-70 and Leica, Robert introduced me to Gunner Fox.  They were both cordial enough to let me photograph Gunner in action.  One word:  AMAZING!  

If you're ever in LA around Sunset Blvd and N Gardner Street, make sure and stop by.  You will not be disappointed...

Hopefully I can get another opportunity some day to do this again.  I have thought about all of the things that I would do different.  So many details about the shop that I missed. 

That being said, below are my seven favorites from the Leica...

the piano...

some dogs have it good...

not so sure this is accurate...

about to start the fire...

watching it burn...

a unique way of putting out the fire...

mr. gunner foxx...

the (fish)erman...

Another picture from my latest Seattle trip.  Took this one at night with the M8.  The closest that I will probably get to a real Seattle fisherman...

15 days and counting...

til Sadi gets her driver's license...  After that, I am sure that I won't be in the passenger seat often to take these crazy pictures.  Took this one on Saturday while we were waiting on our drinks at Sonic.  Love the shallow depth of field, but most of all love any picture of my Sadi.

out on the town with Pyper...

Friday night out on the town with Pyper (at CiCis).  Took my Leica M8 along to document the occasion.  Pyper wasn't exactly feeling well, but we thought she would like the pizza.  Not for sure if she was telling me that she was full or tired of me taking her picture (in the second one)...

just a visit to the park...

Had a great time today getting to see Maci and Tyler take Pyper to the park.  This definitely brings back memories of Sherri and me taking Maci or Sadi to the park and playing.  We have lived in Greenville since before Maci was 1 year old.  We have a lot of memories of the parks in Greenville Texas.  I guess things such as this are what keep us here (besides the fact that I am too lazy to commute).  Right now our family and all of my fondest memories of Sherri and I growing old together are right here...

pyper the photographer...

Had a quick photo opportunity with Pyper tonight.  Set her up with an old camera of mine and let her try to snap a few photos while I took some of her with my Leica using a shoe-mounted flash.  Wanted it to be an under-exposed background with her being a little over-exposed to add the effect of an older photo with a bare flash bulb.  The setup, photo and editing took less than 10 minutes.  Love it when taking pictures is this fun...