My Holga: Green

The Other day I had to run some errands - at like 6:30 in the morning, because that is literally the only free time I have right now. My free time has become my sleep time, so if I want to do something fun or watch youtube videos until my eyes fall out it has to be after 11:00pm or before 8:00am.  True story. Anyways, I had to run an errand so I decided to take my Holga out with me.

I picked green as my inspiration (see my blush photos here) and ran wild with it. I tried not to take toooo many plant photos, but I found a pretty amazing rose garden and lilac field that I just couldnt help myself. 

Here's were it gets a little cloudy. I had been out for about an hour or so just driving and taking random pictures on the side of the road, holding up traffic, you know..the works...and my 24 exposures were up. I had trouble winding my film so I threw a sweatshirt over the camera to protect it from light and opened the back up, only to find that there was no film in there. Really? No film. I've been driving around for an hour taking imaginary pictures. 

I had already taken so much time to do this and I didnt want it to go to waste so I popped another roll in there and did it allllll over again. I didnt get the same pictures, mostly because I didnt remember where I had been, but I think I found some new gems around town. After that I took my film to FIVE different places to get it developed. The first one didnt have any cds, but failed to tell me this until after they had already pulled my film and cut it. So I drove back out to pick it up. The second location that I went to couldnt do it because it was already cut. The third and forth didnt develop off of film, only digital, and FINALLY the fifth place (which was about 45 minutes from home) did. So I waited there an hour to get my long awaited CD. Needless to say I left my house at 6:30 and didnt get home until after lunch time. This is literally how my entire week has been. 

Enjoy these freaking green pictures because they really kicked my butt. 

Lomokino v.02

Last weekend Craig and I took a few minutes out of a busy Saturday to grab a blanket and take Kennedy Buttons to the park. We let her run around (it was fenced in, no worries!) and tried to keep her from eating mouth fulls of grass. No luck on that. We laid around and read books, and danced.

It was a great day.

Check out my first Lomokino video here. I am never putting this camera down.

Lomokino v.01

I am so excited to be showing off one of my newest cameras - my Lomokino movie maker! This seriously could not have been a better purchase for me. If you've never heard of this odd little device the way that it works is that you put regular 35mm film into the camera but instead of capturing the photo by pushing a button on top you spin the crank on the side. Each time that it clicks it takes a picture making little tiny movies! oh gosh - its so exciting! Instead of creating 24 or 27 exposures it makes 147 little tiny frames. It still has all of the charm of my little Holga, but with so much more potential!

A few weeks ago we had some family in town and I really wanted to try out this little guy. I decided to bring it along with us to the record store, and I'm so glad that I did! I already learned a few things after my first use..... 1 Even though it is nice and sunny in doors, your film will NOT look sunny unless you are in direct sunlight. 2 The actual picture that it takes it much closer and off center than you think it will be. 3 This will not produce a very long video. This whole video below is one roll of film - I like to think of these clips as mini reminders of sweet days spent with special people :)

Trust me when I say that I know this is grainy and off center and crazy. But I am so in love with it and the potential of learning a new camera and all of its quirks. 

I've already shot and finished my second video and it is so sweet! Film is so underrated. I really can't wait to keep making these and sharing them with you.

I hope you enjoy! xx

Giveaway: HOLGA camera!

You guys!! I have been feeling so loved by YOU lately that I want to give a little love back to ya! Today I am hosting my very first giveaway, and I couldn't think of any thing better than to give you one of my very favorite things: a Holga!

Toy cameras hold a very special place in my heart. It's like Christmas morning every single time that I get a roll of film developed, because you really have no idea how any of the film is going to turn out. Before I bought my first toy camera I did a lot of research and looked at a lot of google images from developed film before I finally made the plunge. I know $50 isn't a ton of money, but for someone who knows basically nothing about photography it seemed like a bit of a leap. But man, it was so worth it.

And now, I want you to have one too! This giveaway is for (1) one Holga camera + 2 rolls of film.

Here's how to win: 
Follow this blog and leave a comment to tell me what adventure you plan on taking this little guy on!

The winner will be selected on Friday, March 29th and will be chosen at random. Good luck! I hope that whoever wins will be sure to share their photos with the rest of us ;)

My Holga: Blush

I had the most beautiful weekend! Saturday I hosted a lingerie shower for one of my best friends - afterwards all of the bridesmaids lingered and chatted until late into the night. It was just the best time getting to know some of these lovely ladies, and of course snuggling with my bride.

On Sunday I accidentally slept in too late, but I wasn't mad about it :) After running some errands and cleaning the house I threw on some baggy pants and floral shoes and took out the Holga. It was the most perfect 70 degree, roll your windows down, tshirt no jacket kind of day. I just drove and drove looking for pink items to photograph. It was such a fun challenge, and the perfect medicine to restart my system after a long week.

I basically listened to this song on repeat the whole time...just to give you the full experience

Fisheye: Weekend in the City

Okay guys, this is my very first attempt at using my new fisheye camera. 

I thought it was really fun! I like how the pictures turned out grainy and how the large buildings downtown look all bent around the lens. I'm not sure that I'll use it nearly as much as my Holga, but it's a lot of fun to try out new film and see how it turns out. 

(Side note: I have taken 2 recent rolls of film with my sweet Holga and neither one of them turned out a single picture! Needless to say trying something new was pretty refreshing.)

We stayed at a nice hotel in the city, had a fancy dinner and got all dolled up. All of the pictures that I took were mostly of the day after while we were walking around after brunch. 

 Have any of you tried using toy cameras? I really love all of the imperfections and how you never really know how the roll is going to turn out. I also like how the first or last frame always seems to get cut off...

(Craig putting air in our tires before driving into town)

Project 365 // Black & White

So last year I started a 365 Project....and it ended around February-ish. haha!

I would love to focus on my photography this year. Not as anything professional (im sooo far from that!) but just for fun and for documenting important events. I love black and white photos, but will usually pick a brightly colored one everytime. This year I'm hoping to focus more on the beauty of black and white. Some of my favorite film was the black and white ones that I used last year.

So thats is! Easy enough that I should be able to complete, right? 1 Black and White picture every day of 2013.

Are any of you taking on a challenge this year? I'd love to hear about it :)

My Holga: Horseback Riding

here are a few little clips from my vacation - it was so lovely!

but really...theres no place like home :) 

so dreamy. 

I've got a few more from the trip that I'll probably show you tomorrow. And another roll that isnt quite ready to be developed yet...maybe next week....

My Holga: in the city

Is it spring yet? Because it kiiinnndddaaa feels like it...

minus all the pretty flowers

My Holga

I've scheduled a fun girls day tomorrow in the city with lots of picture taking, blog planning and picnic eating. I hope you are all planning to have the best weekend ever!

xx