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Oh not because happiness exists,

that too hasty profit snatched from approaching loss.

But because truly being here is so much; because everything here

apparently needs us, this fleeting world, which in some strange way

keeps calling to us. Us the most fleeting of all.

...Ah but what can we take along

into that realm? Not the art of looking,

which is learned so slowly, and nothing that happened here. Nothing.

The sufferings, then. And, above all, the heaviness,

and the long experience of love, just what is wholly

unsayable.

- Ranier Marie Rilke

{Canon ae-1. Kodak 400 35mm Film}

A few of my favorite things:

Boxes wrapped in brown packing paper

Pomegranate seeds

Louis Armstrong

Satin ribbons

The sound of an Sx 70 Polaroid

John Tenniel illustrations

Cinnamon sticks

Home videos

Hand holding

Night running

Merry Christmas.

{Polaroid Sx 70 Alpha. 600 Film}

CRAFT

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Every Christmas I make my parents a gift. The past few years, and since I began taking photos and working with film, their gift ends up manifesting into some kind of photo menagerie. This year, to mix it up a little, I decided to create a different kind of photo book for them. I found an old copy of Alice and Wonderland at the antique store, hollowed a space out of the pages for the photos to fit in and made a sleeve and card on the inside cover to write a sweet daughterly message on. To ensure the book would stay closed properly, i sewed a piece of ribbon with a button enclosure around the exterior of the cover. The photos I gave them are actually the best part of this entire thing. Last Christmas our entire family flew out to Winter Park, Colorado and spent the entire week nestled in a cabin skiing down mountains and exploring deserted woodlands. I printed out the photos from this trip, also including the polaroid portraits I shot of everyone, and tied them all together with some butcher rope. Around the rope I strung a small tea-stained tag which I labeled in my best penmanship.

{If you have 10 hours to kill and want to try your hand at cutting, sewing, gluing, printing and tea staining, I would highly recommend this project for you}

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On a recent trip to the antique store I found this amazing print with the inscription "Parks" at the bottom. I quickly added it to my stack of purchases. After I got home I sat down and looked at the image for a long while. I was astounded by all the incredible detail depicted, despite the persistence of time. I can't begin to imagine how it is possible to capture such quality images with the remedial technologies used back then. It blows my mind. What's even crazier to think about are the people featured here. Their mysterious lives imprinted in hues of silver and brown - revealing faces frozen like stone and fashions and customs so outdated it's scarcely possible to wrap my head around how they ever existed. It saddens me to think about how I will never know the story behind this photo, but I suppose that is the beauty of finds like this, you just have to create your own lives for them.

On this same trip I also came across an amazing old suitcase, tattered and torn up, and buckles barely able to open. The thing must have traveled to China and back centuries ago. I am in the process of crafting it up for a Christmas gift for my roommate. Also, I scored a 2 volume set of Alice and Wonderland published in 1946, which I cut apart and made into a photo album.

I can't stop making things.

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Last weekend I spent the night with my family in the woods, namely Anastasia Island. We huddled around the camp fire beneath a tarp that served as a makeshift barrier protecting us from the gusts of wind and rain that poured overhead. Despite the conditions, moral was high. Smores were constructed and consumed. Stories of the past were rehashed and received warmly. I felt 13 years old again, isolated in the night, unaware of any impending threats to my adult future, fully fulfilled, fully myself.

I did manage to squeeze in some explore time with my 35 mm. That is probably my favorite thing ever right now: throw on some shoes, grab a camera, and get walking. Of course, on the camping trip I was on bike and dodging rain clouds.

All in all it was a great escape and more importantly a much needed time of bonding.

{Yashica a. Ilford 400 120 film}

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I realize lately there's been an explosion of Wes images in my posts. We've had the luxury of spending a lot more time together and of course this involves photo taking. I always feel very fortunate to spend any little bit of time I can with him. No matter the circumstances, or location, or time constraint, I am simply enamored with the small adventures we make together. And of course, it's in my nature to share each thought and experience, especially the ones captured on film. So there you have it.

These photos are from my trip up to Georgia. I shot this entire roll not even realizing it was black and white. I was a little more than disappointed when I figured out all the colorful frames I anticipated were not going to exist. Shit happens when you don't pay attention. Now that a few days have passed I must admit that these prints have grown on me. There is a timeless quality to black and white photos, a feeling of immortality even in the most modern images. Maybe the most impactful artistic affects can be the most basic, the ones stripped down to their bones and simplified to the mere necessity of dark verses light.

{Yashica a. Ilford 400 120 film. Medium format}

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Today was just another series of events - some accomplished and some avoided -listed in chronological order and crossed off one by one.

I skipped lunch and lurked online instead, looking up cheap flights to anywhere out of here.

I found an insanely cheap flight out to portland in january and I think I'm going to book it. I need to go out there and see a man about a horse, visit dan, photograph the oregon shores, and dance with the time traveling dj's of monorail.

It's a whole other task list.

These photos are from a hike through sweet water creek in georgia a few sundays ago. It was a beautiful day in a beautiful forest with a beautiful person.

{Canon ae-1. 400 35mm film}

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{Canon ae-1. 400 35mm film}

you are always

so far away.

yashica a. ilford 400. medium format.

FILM

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I am embarking on new journeys... also known as flash.

Wes has been showing the ropes in this quasi technical process and I must admit, although visually it's a little too modern looking for my taste it's SO COOL to be able to shoot outside of the spectrum of natural day light. I can not get over how crisp these images are and the amount of detail my little old 1970s canon picked up with these enormous flashes. I wish these images felt a little more vintage... they seem a little too Wes and maybe harken the digital look I usually tend to avoid.

But this is what I love most about being creative; it's trying new things out, challenging yourself with different techniques and new technology, and working with others who don't mind sharing their craft.

I mean really, what is it all for anyways if you can't share it?

{Canon ae-1. 400 35mm film}

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A photograph is like a secret of a secret.

{Canon ae-1. 400 35mm film}

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Every life comes with a story
and possibly a great adventure.

{Canon ae-1. 400 35mm film}

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Fact:

In every room of my apartment there is a little handmade paper something... hanging a little somewhere special. I like crafting. So sue me.

{Canon ae-1. 400 35mm film}

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Faces.

I still love them and

I especially love this pair.

Stacey and David are two friends, both beautiful people, both in love, both inspiring souls to be around.

Stacey makes David smile and David makes music, photos, and videos. They are a true testament to what life can be like, when spent with the one you are meant to be with.

{Polaroid sx70 alpha. 779 film. Close up lens}

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I've been a little absent from posting this past week.

My apologies.

I escaped town for a mini adventure in Atlanta.

Not to worry though i have lots of film waiting to be shared from this journey, so please stay tuned for visual updates.

These photos are of me and were taken by Daniel Dorsa, a good friend and amazing photo taker. Please check out his stuff and also, please convince him to give me his Hasselblad.

That is all for now.