Roots and Trees

On a hike in Tennessee recently, we came across many overturned trees with roots sometimes as high as 15 feet – a wall of rocks, roots and earth overturned by the tragic death of some mighty tree. Every size of overturned tree roots was as spooky as the next though, and with the dense forest behind it, holding secrets and lies like only a forest can, I suspected that the tree had not died alone but among an ageless forest of peers who would one day suffer the same fate. The dead tree and roots however are an intricate part of the ecosystem, providing homes for countless insects and creatures. The cycle goes on, the forest keeps its secrets.

New Orleans, 2010. Beware of the Dog

We lived in New Orleans for about 4 months last Summer. It was hot, humid and awesome. Our neighbourhood wasn’t that interesting but when we walked around downtown or the east side of it. In the Marigny area of central New Orleans, there were great old Victorian houses that had stood the time and storms of the region. At one, was this great gate covered voodoo decor, a Hatian license plate and beware of the dog sign. Perhaps they wanted people to beware of more than their dog. Classic NOLA.

Taken with a holga on Kodak TMAX 400 film.

Holga with pro 800Z film , Scanned without the scanner film holder, works wonders!

Holga with pro 800Z film , Winter Storm Blossoms,

Holga with Rolei Retro film and my stand alone pentax flash. Me roommate, the subject of allot of my photos, found this great parking garage so when bored one night around 2 am, the first night of snow, we went and played around with my holga. My roomate is holding my Regula Sprinty, one of my favorite cameras It takes photos very much like my Lomo Smena 8 but sadly the shutter speed is jammed and I’m stuck shooting at 125th. I may get another one on ebay just because its so fun.

You can use any flash that doesnt use a pc sync cord with a holga, but beware that you attach it well, My last nice flash went flying off my camera onto some concrete because it just wouldnt clamp into place and well, I was a little tipsy. I havent yet droped a camera from my hands so I concider myself lucky still. My new flash is better anyways and I can use it with every camera I have one way or another. I got a little hotshoe adaptor with a pc sync cord so I can use it with my lomo smena but sadly my sync input is broken off , looks like im going to ebay for a new smena as well.

Lo-fi cameras offer amazing aesthetic for a photo. Lomos are notorious for high contrast and high color images and Polaroids are well known for a retro spontaneity no other camera can mimic. If your goal is a perfect photo with exact color and proportion, then don’t use these cameras but if you’re all about fun then by all means GO LO-FI!

Digital Lomo? Yes!

Check out these turtorials:

Fake Lomo for digital photography

Fake Cross processed photo

holga with flash and also the night flash look – (Psychic Heart)

lomo fisheye – (boboniaa)

*I bought my lomo and holga at www.ilovelomo.com

Fun holga option: If you use a Holga get some foam and tape, and lets load the camera with 35mm film! To start, completely tape up the red window on the back panel with electrical tape or duct tape (gaffers tape). Put the foam (or paper, or whatever) on either side of the roll of film (left side of camera) and tape the beginning of the film to the spool on the other side. Make sure its more or less in the center, so the film goes across the middle of the camera. Close the camera, forward three full turns and start shooting! Every time you take a photo, forward the film 3 turns of the knob or for double exposures or panorama, less. Now here’s the tricky part. To unload the film, either take the CLOSED camera to a film lab who will definitely have a changing bag, and have them unload and rewind it for you. Or do what I do, and go into a closet, put a towel at the bottom of the door, and do it yourself (and quickly). I’ve done this with lots of cameras, tons of times and never ruined a roll, but there IS light in your closet that you cant see, so be fast.

The results!

Broke down in Spokane Washington