My Continuing Descent Into Hipsterdom

You still won't find me sporting a pair of skinny jeans (you're welcome), but my hipster cred continues to accumulate.  A couple of months ago I became the somewhat sheepish owner of a Holga 120N medium-format camera.  For those who don't know, the Holga is a "toy" camera - a cheaply-made, all plastic Chinese camera that shoots 120mm film.  The camera is prone to light leaks, accidental double-exposures and heavy vignetting, but is very popular with art photographers and people looking to get into medium format film photography on the cheap (and, of course, hipsters, although Polaroid still takes pride of place on that score).

I've shot about ten rolls of film with the camera so far and just recently got the first set of developed negatives back from the photo lab.  Below is a shot from the first roll that I put through the camera:

Ira in his usual afternoon napping spot (Holga 120N, Kodak Tri-X 400)

Okay, so yes, it's a pet shot - that's our oldest cat, Ira (named after NPR radio host Ira Glass, of This American Life; yes we are that big of geeks) - but I think it came our pretty great, especially considering it was the first time I used the camera.

I will be posting more shots from this camera soon.  I really could fall in love with medium format.  Those big, frick'n negatives are pretty damn sweet.

No Need To Dream . . .

Fresh-Fallen Snow, Christmas Morning 2010, Chicago (Canon 40D, 17-40mm f/4, color converted)

Merry Christmas From Chicago

The weather outside is indeed frightful, but it is cozy and warm inside . . . 

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas (Canon 40D, 17-40mm f/4)

It Would Be Much Easier To Get Out Of Bed . . .

If it was not literally freezing outside, and there was a Top Pot doughnut shop to stop off at before work.

Top Pot Doughnut Shop, another reason to miss Seattle

Film is slow . . .

. . . but I am slower.  I am just now, finally getting around to dealing with the analog images that I've been taking over the last few months.  I think that I really need to teach myself to develop my own color and black & white film rolls, at least the new 120mm stuff that I have been doing.  There is no really convenient place to get 120mm film developed - the few stores that develop on-site have store hours that simply don't work with my work schedule - and the delay on getting 120 rolls back from the shops that will send it out means that by the time the film gets back, much of the excitement of the moment that I clicked the shutter has dissipated.  (Plus, 120mm film processing is freaking expensive.)

Anyway, here are a few 35mm images from the Labor Day "destination shoot."  This is a concrete factory, I believe.  I had been thinking about photographing this place for awhile.  The lines of the elevators are nicely dramatic, and it sits right next to a bridge that provides a good vantage point from which to take images.

All of these are shot on cross-processed Provia 100f slide film, with my Canon Elan 7ne 35mm film camera.  I think the cross-processing really works well for these industrial shots.  My understanding is that the Provia generally gets the type of green color shift seen above.  Other slide films will give more true colors or different color casts.  I'm eager to do some further experimentation.

Some Days, I Really Miss Seattle . . .

Lake Union, from Freemont/Ballard

Pike Place Market (cliche, but iconic)

Seattle Center (Christmas, Seattle Style)

Snow Dog!!

First snow of the season.  Couple of inches so far and still snowing . . .


Rudder wasn't quite sure what to make of the snow, but he seemed to get into it as the walk went along.  Right now he is much more into laying on his dog bed in my office and being wrapped up in a blanket.  (Smart dog.)