One major drawback to Polaroid photography, is the expense. I ran out of film quickly last time and had to wait longer than I would have liked, before ordering more. Then after ordering, it seems like it took forever for the film to actually make it to Mississippi. I really liked the look of the Black and White 2.0 film so that is all I am using right now. I am not done with color but I may wait until they upgrade the color film to 2.0, besides I am loving the Black and White.

Many of my photos were of family members, my daughters, my niece, my wife, however, you will be seeing my other photos, as I said in my last post I think my family would be extremely perturbed to find their pictures showing up on my blog.

This post will focus on the lessons I have learned since last time, and the lessons I learn while taking the pictures. Sadly, it takes a lot of pictures to get the feel of the camera, and each picture develops and costs.

My goal is to explain what I did different and how I tried to make the photo better. Writing it out helps me learn. I would also appreciate any feedback.

I have lots of hats

Really I have lots of hats

I noticed that when using Black and White film, white becomes really white and dark becomes black. I also noticed that the camera had a slide bar to indicate how close or far away from the target I am standing. For the first picture on the left, I was looking to shoot the books behind the hat rack however and the only thing I could see was my big Panama Hat. To get closer to my intended photo, I chose removed the Panama Hat and added one with a little bit more texture, I actually changed multiple hats. I also decided that I should back up and I slid the indicator that identifies when I am further from the target.

I really liked the way it turned out for the second shot, I saw the background I was looking for and even got a ghostly globe hanging out over the light. I am not sure if it was just the distance and change in hat that helped the picture, I will have to experiment with the slide bar indicating distance.

The Fireplace at the Koinonia Coffee House in Jackson, MS.

I took this picture after a meeting I was attending in Jackson, MS with a Catholic and ECLA Priest. I love this fireplace at the Koinonia Coffee House in West Jackson. I stopped before leaving to take this picture. I get very self-conscious when I use any camera but my phone, I feel a little exposed. Immediately some of the older patrons took note of my Polaroid, the Catholic Priest said, “That thing should be in a museum.” I chuckled. However, all the Millennials wanted to hear about the Impossible Project. I suppose over time I will be less self-conscious about public picture taking, but right now, my introversion comes out, sadly that makes me miss good opportunities.

I really needed to practice outside, and already feeling a little over exposed I just came home looking things to shoot, which brings me these pictures. After the washouts of the past I took some advice from various websites, and rigged a shield so that the picture would be covered immediately. It worked like a charm.

Gizmo and Torn Up Baseball

I was walking through my backyard looking for something special, and I found this really neat baseball, it had been run over with my lawn mower and should have probably been thrown away but, I thought it might be fun to try and pick up the texture of the ball with the camera. However, when I began to frame it Gizmo, our Shelty walked up and sniffed the ball.  I snapped the picture right away. I was pleasantly surprised to see the picture, I didn’t get the picture I wanted I got something better.

I love the shadow from the chairs and the white fur offset by the almost mocha shade of the brown. I wondered if the picture would come out better had I been in the shade so I tried to replicate it but Gizmo refused to cooperate.

Gizmo Refusing to Cooperate.

Gizmo must have known that the first picture was great and I just needed another nice picture, so he stood very still while I took this one.

I am really enjoying this hobby. I don’t know what to do with all the pictures, though. I am beginning to amass quite a pile. I notice that I look over them often while I listen to records. Actually I most often look over the pictures of my family. There is something special about analogue photography and analogue music together.

I hope you enjoy, and seriously, feedback please!!!