FILM

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Hemingway is said to have laid beneath the night sky, pausing from his evening - as it were eventful or not - to reflect on his deeds, to let each one sink deep down into himself, to make the magic of night time more visceral, more real.

A few nights ago a small militia of photo takers set out on bike, trolling around the city as it slept. We jumped fences and laid beneath street lamps. We peddled past lakes and watched as fog rolled across it's unruffled surface. We stood still, finding our focus, timing our shutters, and absorbing the candescent rays of night-lights suspended above lonely dirt roads - that undoubtedly lead to some mysterious beyond.

It was an evening hemingway himself would have paused for.

{Yaschica a. 400 Provia 120 film. Medium format}

MUSIC

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When I grow up I want to be like Jade and Alexander.

FILM

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When we were little girls we would drape ourselves in grandmas silky scarves and build pillow forts between the couches. Because she was my big sister, by 4 years, Heather always was the leader in such important projects, and I, a fearless defender of her every breathing word. Her ideas exceeded the number of pillows available in our household, but after several hours and a multitude of compromises we'd have ourselves a fine looking structure, suitable for a story book princess.

To celebrate our labors properly we'd perform a ceremonious dance around the fabric fortress that must have looked something like butterflies taking flight. We spun in circles and fluttered our silky extensions half expecting to catch a gust of wind and take off in the summer sky like a pair of tethered kites. After exhausting ourselves we'd burrow inside the billowy mound and lay as flat and still as young children can. We'd stare up at the cracks where pillow and sunlight met and I remember as clear as day, my amazement with the yellow light as it crept through gaps painting geometrical light patterns across my tiny body. I'd spend hours tracing their flickering outlines with my pointer finger and we'd giggle to each other over how something invisible could cover us so beautifully, like a golden bandage.

{Canon ae-1. 400 35mm film}

FILM

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Last weekend I got to spend time with a Wes and cameras; both of which seem to be symbiotic. We spent the better half of saturday exploring the city and I found myself fixated on photographing him photographing things. It feels right to me, seeing him this way - camera in hand, focusing his fancy hasselblad, and capturing a moment in a way that is all his own.

I also picked up my first roll of film from the new canon ae-1 and was very pleased that the prints came out pretty smooth. I will make sure to post more in the next few days.

{Canon ae-1. 400 35mm film}

FILM

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Today it is rainy and grey out. Not the good rainy and grey though, but the bad gloomy kind that destroys outdoor plans and lurks over head far beyond it's welcomed invitation. Appropriatly so, Elliot Mmith is lulling an infinite loop of bitter kisses into my ears and all i can think of is crawling back into my cream colored sheets. I need a plan. I need a fresh dream. I need something to pick me up and send me off on a paper boat or magic carpet.

NEWS

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So, I have a website: http://www.colieparks.com/

What a wild revelation this is for me. It's almost impossible to wrap my head around.
Just one year ago i purchased my first medium format camera and the year before that, my first camera ever - an sx70 alpha Polaroid. I really had no clue what i was doing with either device, but I was motivated to learn one way or the other. Trial and error is an educational process I highly recommend - being both teacher and student is such an edifying form of instruction, despite how costly it can get with film. I guess I've always believed that there is no price limit on life changing experiences, which would explain my justifications for shooting over 900 polaroids in the span of one year. The truth is, if it's what you love then nothing should stand in your way. Not even paper money.

This whirl wind of an art form has truly been a great blessing on my life. It's captured my viability in more ways than one. It's introduced me to great individuals whose merited favor I hold deeply inside my chest. It's made me a student and a seeker, always growing with willful purpose. I am excited to see it on the computer screen, all laid out like a colorful quilt of the past 2 years of my life.

Please enjoy the site. It will serve as an online portfolio for a few artistic grants I am applying for in the near future.

FILM

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Run away with me
there.

{Yashica a. Kodak 400tx 120 film