shooting with film // palm springs, home, and tiny newborns

More 35mm film goodness that I shot last year, and finally got developed. All of these were shot with my dad's Canon A-1 that he graciously gave me a few years ago, which makes these photos even more precious to me.

The husband and I stayed at the Alcazar in Palm Springs last summer for a little "babymoon." I remember wanting to go before my twin bump got too large to really enjoy myself/walk around, and man, I was right on the cusp. We pretty much just hung out in the pool the whole time (which felt sooo good on my hugely pregnant body), and we even got some sweet professional massages by a company that will come straight to your room. This hotel was also a nice change of pace from the Ace Hotel that we stayed in during our last Palm Springs trip. Smaller, quieter, and we basically had the pool to ourselves. Not to mention our favorite breakfast spot, Cheeky's, was RIGHT NEXT DOOR. Yes please!

I CAN'T BELIEVE MY BABIES USED TO BE THIS SMALL. These photos feel like two blinks ago. Oh man. Back when all they did was sleep and eat all day. Easy street. Of course, at the time, it didn't feel easy at all. Sleep deprivation and post partum blues will do that to a new mother. But look at those tiny little faces. And Hazel's smile. I will cherish these photos forever.

I call that last one "Portrait of a Father of Newborn Twins." I wasn't the only one who was exhausted for four straight months. My husband is a rock star. Dadding like every dad should. He'll do it all - diaper changes, feedings, soothing, cleaning. And he'll STILL shoo me out the door so I can have some kid-free me time. He's a saint, and way too good for me.

Just random snaps from around my home. I was attempting to do some sort of one-photo-a-day project at the time, because it was the new year, and the babes were three months old, and I foolishly thought, "I can totally remember to do this every day!" Ha. Ha ha. But still. It was nice to get a few simple shots like these.

shooting with film // yosemite, julian & san diego

One of my favorite things about shooting with any of my non-digital cameras is picking up my developed prints from the print shop, opening the package, and seeing the first frame of the first roll. And remembering all over again where I was when I shot it, because it's been so long. That's something you just can't get from a digital camera, that rush of memories that floods your brain while you hold the actual print in your hands. It's so, so good.

Here's a few of my favorites from the first roll.

I was in Yosemite with these lovely ladies nearly two years ago, and I remember it like it was only last month. Golden light, hiking to a dried up lake, attempting to make scrambled eggs over open flame. I remember being covered in dust, and seeing lots of deer, and feeling very very small. In a good way.

Some friends and I took a day trip to Julian so shop, wine-taste, and eat apple pie. It was either late 2014 or early 2015. We made a pit stop at the Nickel Beer Company, which I'd never heard of before, but our friends knew about it (a bonus of having beer industry friends). I remember it felt small but rustic. And the beer was good. I've been to Julian a few times, and I love its charming, small-town feel. Visiting The Old Well was new for me though. A cute little vintage and record shop with its original well right in the middle of the store. I remember the drive back to San Diego as the sun was lowering in the sky, and how beautiful it looked, and how happy I felt in that moment.

Photo walks with photografriends is one of my favorite things to do around town. My friend Matt and I went to the suspension bridge in Bankers Hill and just walked around the neighborhood. I remember this was before I started the whole IVF process, and while we were on the bridge, I vented my frustrations about my fertility journey thus far. I felt so defeated. I had no idea that in just a few months, I would be pregnant. Life has a funny way of working out sometimes.

More film photos in my next post! :)

bits of california on 35mm

I shot these on a trip to Salvation Mountain and Palm Springs a few years ago. Expired film in my Minolta x-370. I don't shoot with film much lately, but I'm trying to remedy that. I've been shooting with my dad's Canon A-1 for a new photo project this year. It's supposed to be a daily photo thing, but these twin babes are keeping me busy to the point where I've been forgetting here and there. But even if I can do a couple photos a week, that's fine by me. I have so many rolls of new and expired film laying around the house, so I want to put them to good use this year :)

I'm a Project Imagination Finalist!

You guys! Such exciting news! Some of you may know about or have heard of Ron Howard's Project Imagination, which he started last year and was hugely successful. I remember regretting not submitting any photographs in time, so this year I made a point not to forget.

I submitted a bunch of images to several different themes that were still open, and I'm happy to announce that my image above, "Alien" was selected as a finalist in "The Unknown" theme! So what that means is that anyone with an email address can VOTE FOR ME RIGHT HERE once a day until October 1st. The top seven images with the most votes, along with Ron Howard's selection of three more photos (for each theme), will then be voted on by the panel of celebrity directors. You do have to register with the site to vote, but it's quick and painless, and you would be supporting a great project that blends photography and film to make a great story.

I usually cringe at the thought of badgering people to do the whole "vote for me!" thing, but I've never made it this far in any kind of photography-related competition, so what the heck right?

Also, if you're curious and want to watch Ron Howard's first Project Imagination film from last year, here it is.

So here's to the small chance that my image will be a part of an amazing film :) Even if my image isn't chosen at all, I'm still pretty excited to see what the final result will be.