I ♥ 500

I recently acquired some 2007 expired Polaroid 500 film at a good price and was thrilled to find that it still produced some pretty good shots - even in a relatively basic camera such as the Joycam.

In my mind, the (relatively) wide aspect of the film makes it perfect for minimalist shots while lending itself to more conventional composition than the square-format 600 and 779 integral films.

Can't wait to shoot more of this film and might even take some with me to the Blues and Roots festival tomorrow!

Some film thoughts

When it comes to cross processed film for the Holga, it's hard to go past Kodak EPP, in particular EPT if you really want punchy blues. Originally I had only seen the shots off this roll as negatives so decided to get hard copies done at Mirage. While I was prepared for the images, I wasn't ready for the amazingly deep blues.

So, anyone got bulk quantities of EPT they want to sell?



This is a negative scan from one of the rolls of expired Velvia50 I shot at the South Perth fiesta. I've learned the hard way that with Velvia that you need to set the ISO a little lower than 50 or overexpose a little bit to make up the film's lack of detail in the dark areas.

Still, nice film and the rolls were a great example of what the Pentax67 is capable of.

One month of shooting one Polaroid a day!

Today is officially one month since the start of my task to shoot a different Polaroid each day.

Of course, in some instances circumstances have dictated that I've had to upload old shots.

Today, sadly, was one of those days after I spent the afternoon having my body wracked after some dodgy Vongole pasta (basically, pasta with clams, chilli, parsley and tomatoes - can you guess what the trouble ingredient might be?).

It was just gross, gross, gross and after four hours after getting home, I'm starting to feel okay now.

But none the less, today's milestone is a special one, so it demands a special shot, shot on special film.

Pulled out of my big shoebox of shots, this was taken a few weeks back where I shot about four packs in the space of an hour when an entire convoy of classic Australian vintage and muscle cars was lined up on the foreshore around the corner from our place.

One month down, 11 to go!

To check out the first month (and counting depending on when you see this post) just click the picture above or click here.

The end... of daylight saving

This latest daylight saving trial - which ends today - has been an interesting period for me.

Initially, I was staunchly opposed to it: Perth is bloody hot enough without the need for more daylight hours at the end of the day, but it's been a good summer with plenty of time spent at the beach and in the surf.

The trick is to stay away from "beautiful people" and crowded parts of the coastline and just enjoy nature in more laidback surrounds free of posers and young punks.

I've always felt if you want more daylight, why not do it in winter?

Also, the patriotic part of me has always hated the fact that we'd shift our clocks forward an hour just so we'd be "closer to the Eastern States": like most West Australians, I hate the thought that we're so "behind" our sophisticated east coast compatriots.

We all go to vote in the referendum some time in May (I really should know as I interviewed premier Colin Barnett for an opinion piece on the whole affair - did you know that for the same amount that it'll cost to hold this referendum, the State government could have built almost two new schools? Thanks Matt Birney and John d'Orazio!) and I'm pretty sure I'll be no-voting, but not too plussed which way it goes to be frank.

I feel sorry that the people who do want it will be affected by the, say, 60 per cent of people who are completely indifferent and will probably vote no just because we fear change, but that's the breaks.

Though to be honest with you, I wouldn't at all be surprised if a new bill pops up further down the line tweaking the daylight saving question and changing the period.... but that's just my guess. I'm no Robert Harvey!

In other photography related news: my first Polaroid book should be out soon'ish! I'll be spamming the usual channels but watch this space of my flickr for more details.

I'm waiting for the proof to come back and trying to organise some sort of launch, so maybe May'ish? Just in time for my 30th!

New members of the family

Most people will be familiar with this first camera.

While I have three Holgas, I found a Diana on eBay at a pretty good price and decided to give it a whirl.

As this is the F+ version, it also came with a book which will make for good reading no doubt.



This camera should come as more of a surprise to most - or at least it should because I was certainly caught off-guard when I saw it at an op shop this afternoon.

It looks like a chemist-special but the 400ISO film in it was expired in 2001, so should make for some interesting washed out effects.

According to the box, the film was made in Germany: maybe there's some really rare Agfa emulsion in there!

Day six... and a half

This is an alternate take on the day six shot of my "A year in the life of a Polaroid photographer" project on flickr.

It was a close decision between whether to upload this shot or the eventual day six shot for Friday the 13th but I eventually went with the other because of its "mistakes".

However, I like this for its 669-like colour shifts, plus because there's no shadow across the bottom from a neighbouring building.

oncassetteand45

Maybe because I'm a former DJ, this image from yyellowbird blew my mind.

You can buy it via print from here.

Tweet, tweet

Got Twitter?

Feel free to add me by clicking here.

If not, no worries - enjoy this scanned Polaroid goodness instead!

Holga-riffic!

Got some developed film back from Mirage in Subiaco and with the exception of some regular 35mm I put through my LC-A, everything came out fine including the two rolls of slide I got cross-processed.

This shot at South Cottesloe Beach is my pick of the lot.

Of course, I didn't take it as that's me and my lovely boardies in the shot.

I gave the Holga to Marie and "set the focus" and briefly explained the high-tech nature of the camera to her.

And then she produces this winner.

Typical. My girlfriend brimming with latent photography talent takes the best shot of the lot. I'll get her to start a blog for you all as soon as possible.

Homes, sweet homes

Michigan-based photographer Kevin Bauman has made the internet a little more interesting with his 100 Abandoned Houses portfolio of ramshackle (ex) residences.

The above is one of my faves and the square format of the shot just adds so much to the composition.

A photography collection for lovers of urban decay.

Look who's started a 365-day Polaroid challenge

Yup, you read right.

For no real reason other than I felt compelled to, I've decided to start a one-Polaroid-a-day mission for the next year.

If all goes according to plan, "A year in the life of a Polaroid photographer" will end after I submit my last image on Sunday March 7, 2010.

There may be some days where I won't be able to update shots if I am out of town and without access to a scanner, but rest assured I'll still be snapping away those days.

I have updated my feed on that links sidebar to the right ("PEOPLE I NICK IDEAS AND WEBSITES THAT ARE NOWHERE NEAR AS CRAP AS MINE") so that it indicates whenever I've uploaded an image to my 365 set rather than my stream in general.

Here's to the next 364 days of Polaroid photography...

Watch for it, watch for it...

I have caved into pressure and decided to add a Followers box to the blog (see: 'PEOPLE BORED AT WORK' section under the sidebar) blog. I won't mention any names - oh Hi CDR! - but let u pray ardent/reluctant fans join soon so I don't look like a Nigel No-mates.

In other news, I realise my email systems have been down but that's all working hunky dory now, so feel free to send mail away.

But please don't bother if you're peddling Viagra or have discovered vast sums of money in Nigeria that belong to me, I'm a very busy person don't you know!

1983. 1990.

Who doesn't like random images from the past?

These are a couple of slides I've picked up during my travels of other people's travels. Voyeuristic? Perhaps, but context-free snapshots from the past are just so much fun to look at...

They'll let anyone on the Internet these days

In a world wide web (over)populated by so many super-talented artists and designers, this writer and worker of words feels like the outsider - the Gaijin, if you will - wandering into foreign territory.

Wish this poor sod luck.