oh, daisy!

Ah, gerbera daisies! Some of my favorite flowers. I absolutely had to have gerbera daisies in some of the flower arrangements at my wedding, too. These aren't quite as colorful in the photo as they were in person - WERE. Yes, they've already drooped and lost many of their petals. It's possible that I know absolutely nothing about keeping potted flowers alive inside my home.

So this photo was taken a couple of weeks ago with Impossible Project PX70 first flush film. Although I enjoy using the film, I'm definitely excited about the next incarnation of the color film!

Reflecting.

Reflections at the Garden. SX-70 Model 2 camera, Impossible Project PX70 first flush film.

Amazingly, this PX70 photograph has been very popular on Flickr. Well, popular as far as my photostream goes! I am quite flattered that so many have enjoyed the beautiful reflections of these trees at the Chicago Botanic Garden. There is something so wonderful, so amazing about the reflections of light in water. It might be a minor obsession lately, trying to capture these reflections. I'm ok with that.

This is wonderful color for the PX70 film, although it has shifted a bit toward the green end of things. Also, I am painfully aware of the Newton's Rings all over the water surface of this photo. It's the first time I've noticed them, but now I can see them on other scans, too. Alas!

brief interjection. or interruption.

So, hey, guess what?

I've been shooting FILM again. You know - polaroids? Perhaps I was a bit overzealous within the last week or so, but I've shot several entire packs. Sadly, I haven't even left my house. But, I digress.

PZ600 - the new Impossible Project film for Spectra cameras.

Check out the tones on the new Impossible Project film! It's absolutely amazing, and if I see another Spectra camera on craigslist for a good price, I'm snapping it up. I hear these cameras crap out quickly, so I need to be ready. This photo was only taken a few days ago, so we'll see in a month how it's holding up.

In other related news: I am an Impossible Pioneer. In other words - I have spent lots of money on my film obsession, despite knowing the film is still in an experimental phase. I love experimenting. Don't you? Sadly, I have not recommended anyone to the Impossible Project as yet, so I won't be able to reach the next Impossible level (Land level!). You see what they're doing? Trying to get me to BUY MORE FILM and recommend that others get on the addiction wagon, too! Good plan.

Knowing that PZ film was in the mail last week, I had to pull out my Spectra System camera and see what she can do. or he. either way.

Double exposure with spectra image film.

Double exposures! Close-ups! Oh, I got a close-up lens for the Spectra System camera a while back, but hadn't managed to try it out (I wasn't feeling the Spectra love). So fun. Loving it.

Spectra image film, close-up lens, Spectra system camera

feeling overwhelmed

It's not that I don't often feel overwhelmed... I do. Sometimes I realize I'm reading too many blogs, following too many people (and I don't follow many, really) on twitter, looking at too many gorgeous photostreams on flickr - and I start hyperventilating thinking about all the things I could be doing that I'm not!  {along the lines of - why am i not sewing things to sell on etsy? why am i not practicing my photography so i take better exposed, better composed photos? why am i not exercising right this second? wait... when DID i last exercise? why am i not outside right now? when was the last time i went hiking? *is* there hiking around Chicago?}

Well, ok, in reality, although I do waste a lot of time, my husband is finishing up the classes he's teaching this week - lots of work - just got back from a conference, and my dad was in town all week for his own work conference. I haven't had much time to myself. Then there was that pile of computer components sitting in my living room (mentioned those a while back...) - my dad and I put it all together! In fact, I should be downloading drivers for the motherboard and video card right now. But I'm not.

The Impossible Project has released PX600 film, and I'm quite excited to try it. Of course, I don't have an SLR680. Have you seen what people have been paying for those things?! I'm not going to list my cameras (uh, today - I'll probably document them all in the near future, though). So what am I going to put that PX600 in?

Oh, wait - maybe I should throw some more photos in this post (now that I've bored y'all to death):



Do I have a problem? Why do I keep wanting to photograph fixtures? Oh, hey, there's this cool bathroom over at the park... but anyhow... Here's a sign that I've enjoyed for the last couple of years {but just photographed last week}:


(this one is 600 film in my dad's SX70, Alpha 1 Model 2 - he brought it for me to use! seems to have a problem with the gears sticking - the mirror got stuck after one shot)

The weekend was cold and rainy, so I didn't take any photos. Sad, I know. This week I'm hoping to get out to the Chicago Botanic Garden!! How many cameras should I take? Oh, and can you believe my mother asked why I couldn't just shoot digital? I'm feeling misunderstood.

First Flush...

I just finished my first pack of PX100 film from The ImPossible Project today. These are my three favorite shots:







I had quite a bit of difficulty shooting with this film outside, and even on my back porch. My indoor shots definitely came out with better tones than the outside photos. The top photo of my trowel and favorite brush (um, archaeologist here...) is washed out. I made a second attempt, but it was worse, despite trying to darken it and keep it warm while developing.

My favorite is the shower head shot. Yes, that water is on, and yes, I was standing IN the shower when I took it. I've been wanting to take that shot for days, but hadn't had the guts to do so until today. I think it was boredom that made me do it.

Go here to see the rest of the set! I've written notes on the flickr pages about my experience with each of the photos (what I remember; I wasn't being especially scientific about it). I did get frustrated a bit - especially with my last outside shot. But, I'm not ready to give up. I'm inexperienced with the film and with the SX-70. This is only my fourth film pack. Oh, and let me tell you - these are better than my first set of 600 film. I'm not even going to scan those! Might be a problem with my nd filter (a film pack filter).

I've also been experimenting with my Spectra System:



Honestly, I'm enjoying my cheap Spectra! It's definitely awkward to hold (especially while carrying a toddler), but I like what I've managed to get so far.

They Made the Impossible, Possible.

The Impossible Project has produced film for SX-70 and 600 film cameras! Amazing, amazing! So excited to try out the new PX Film, despite my minimal polaroid-shooting abilities. Film will be available for purchase THIS THURSDAY, March 25, 2010.

Later this year, color film for both SX-70 and 600 film cameras is expected, as well as film for Spectra cameras. Someone suggested to me that I might still be able to get an inexpensive Spectra. I guess I'm quite suggestible, and I got a bit overzealous and bid on a few. Well, I guess I won one of them, so I hope it works!

Here are my last few SX-70 photos taken this past Friday. It was such a lovely, warm day! Saturday, it snowed (on the first day of spring).