New camera!

You may know that I'm teaching this summer.  To reward myself for being so productive I've been planning for months to buy myself my very first Digital SLR.  I love shooting film and this won't be the end of that habit, but it'll be nice to add some slightly better photos to the blog. 

And one can't underestimate the power of instant gratification, which one gets less of with film.  (In fact, the class I'm teaching is kind of the instant gratification version of beginning German, so it's an appropriate self-bribe.)

These are just a few samples from my first twenty-four hours with the new camera and I must say I'm pleased.  Obviously I don't know her yet and she doesn't know me yet, but we'll get there.   These represent the three most important food groups of my typical photo-taking: random texture and plant and food shots, dogs in motion, and silly bar and/or cafe photos.

Oh, and your food tip of the day: throw some golden raspberries on top of some yogurt and drizzle with local honey.  Then thank me.

Saturday Clip Show

Just a few photos today from another cross-processed roll. 

Fig. 1. Lilies of the Valley.

Fig. 2. Dress form.

Fig. 3. Bar Stool.

Green

I love those days in early spring when the nascent leaves compensate for their small size and fragility with an aggressive, almost toxic, saturated yellow-green. Against that green the white and pink of little blooms also take on a greenish hue, almost as if trying to fit in with the leaves that will, soon, replace them.
Of course, all of a sudden early spring seems to have passed us by! A few days in the steamy almost-South where summer seems to be in full swing and coming back here I see that the blossoming trees are done and the daffodils are all gone. But the weekend was frosty and some tulips are flopped over, swooning from frost. In short, it's a typical New England spring.
These shots are from my first-ever roll of cross-processed slide film (Fuji Velvia 50, if you were wondering). I'm pleased with the results, even if the green cast is much more pronounced than I really expected. It suits the spring. And Leavitt & Pierce's window.And my rather fetching orchid, which looks lovely in this light, I think.

*****

Also, not to make excuses, but it's been really busy around here, so I haven't been sharing anything with you all. Thanks to those of you that are still hanging around here. Keep the faith and we'll be back soon with more!

Clip Show: August and October

I've been trying to catch up with film processing and scanning - I had amassed a pile of a dozen or so undeveloped rolls and I'm working my way through. Last night I uncovered some very happy shots from August and October. The August roll almost fell victim to an accidental exposure situation (owing to a camera's dead battery) but luckily I salvaged the shots that were already exposed. They were of a lovely afternoon spent lounging on the summer roof, drinking fizzy cocktails and reminiscing about the past while debating the merits of a dozen potential futures. It was one of the more memorable afternoons of last summer, in fact, despite its uneventfulness.
The October photos came from an equally memorable day spent with my sister and my dear German Christine, brunching at the Town Diner and wandering around the Mt. Auburn Cemetery. It seems a little morbid, maybe, to find these cemetery shots as satisfying as I do, but there you go. I've always liked graveyards.

Tuesday clip show

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It was a takeout night tonight, so I haven't got any recipes to share. Instead, here are some photos. I've been spending a good deal of time developing and tweaking photos the last few days, which is always very satisfying. Most enjoyable was the opportunity to take some adorable baby photos (My friends' adorable little girl turned 1 on Sunday).

Regular programming should resume soon. Beginning of the semester is always rough, but this one has been murder.

Monday clip show: December roll

Yesterday I developed film for the first time in a LONG time. Here are some shots from a random December roll of film. Kodak TMax 100. Sprint chemistry. Lovely fine grain. I'm going to attempt to make this (developing and photo posting) a regular habit. No point in letting chemistry sit around and go bad. Also, it's a big part of the New Creativity. Fig. 1. Dan at Hi Rise Bakery in Harvard Square. This is the face he makes when he's confused why I'm taking a picture AGAIN.
Fig. 2. This is one of a row of stately houses across from the courthouse on 3rd Street, very near our house. It was Saturday morning and we were on our way to our breakfast haunt when the winter sun caught my eye.
Fig. 3. A lightbulb at Lord Hobo. Go there and try the Soylent Green.
Fig. 4. Hi Rise again. Lovely soft light and many-textured wood as far as the eye can see.

Clip Show: Old-school photos

My lovely husband bought me a scanner for Christmas. This means that I can finally dive into scanning my old negatives (a project I started back in Summer) at home! It also means that I can take, develop, and scan all my own black and white photos. It's awesome. This means that I've gotten to revisit some delicious old images and I thought I'd share some with you. The image above is one of my favorites ever - a photo of my old friend Anna tentatively dipping her feet in Paradise Pond. The water was very still that day. (Kodak TMY 400, on a Yashica Mat)
Here, the window at Leavitt & Pierce, one of my favorite sights as I walk from the T to the office every day. I love the juxtaposition of toys and the creepy stuffed, dead-looking bird. (Ilford HP5, on my Mamiya 645e)
Wiebke's birthday, 2004. Sparklers were a good idea. (Ilford XP2, Canon EOS300)

December, Day 14: Boston Holiday Clip Show

I hope you're all warm and happy today. It's an unseasonably warm day here and after a long morning catching up with a good friend and a longer afternoon grading essays, all I've got the capacity for is a few photos. Hope you enjoy.
Figure 1. Hi Rise Window.
Figure 2. Holiday lights in the rain, Harvard Square.
Figure 3. State House and holiday lights, Boston Common.
Figure 4. Balcony view, Memorial Church, Harvard Yard.
Figure 5. Ice Skating on the Frog Pond, Boston Common.
Figure 6. Shop Window, Charles Street.

December, Day 7: Non-seasonal Clip Show

One of the curious things about shooting film is the delay. The film always comes back a week later and, unless I've shot the whole roll in one go, which doesn't happen often anymore, the beginning is already dated. So, here are a few photos, late, but hopefully you'll enjoy them all the same.






1. Montague Book Mill
2. Trees
3. Footpath
4. Thanksgiving: corn souffle
5. Thanksgiving: pecan pie
6. Chinatown by night
7. My kitchen lantern

More film shots here, if you're bored.

A dozen

Back in October, Dan and I took Lucy on a little road trip out to Northampton (as you know) and, for once, we got to Smith in time to see the last of the golden Valley Light flowing away over the hill. If you've been there in the late afternoon, you know the light I'm talking about - it's as bright and focused as a spotlight, but honey colored and strangely soft at the same time. It's perfect light, flattering to every face, intensifying every color, and warm even on the coldest days.

Another October day found us driving north with my family in search of the Maine coast. You've already seen a few images from this startlingly blue day (and to think it rained for fourteen hours the day before). More bright sun and clear skies made for more intense colors and sharp lines.

And then, on November first, the day after the clocks fell back, we went to the beach with our good friends Seth and Christine. We were there for the waning of the light, the first truly early evening of Fall. More blue, but tempered this time, less flamboyant, as if it knew the cold was coming.

This is just my favorite dozen images from those happy days. There are many more here. I'm embracing color film again after a long break and am oh-so-pleased with the results. 120 film was shot with my trusty brick of a Mamiya and 35mm was shot with my buddy the Canon EOS300.











1. Impression of the Smith College Boathouse. (120 Fuji Reala 100)
2. Chapin House and the Green House, Smith College. (120 Fuji Reala 100)
3. Crabapples (Liz tells me) at Smith. (120 Fuji Reala 100)
4. Boathouse reflection, Smith College. (120 Fuji Reala 100)
5. Whately Diner, interior. (120 Fuji Reala 100)
6. Sandy Lucy, Singing Beach (35mm Kodak Ektar 100)
7. Singing Beach, November, Christine in the water (35mm Kodak Ektar 100)
8. Lucy and tide patterns, Singing Beach (35mm Kodak Ektar 100)
9. Cape Neddick Lobster Pound (35mm Kodak Ektar 100)
10. Rocks at Nubble Light (35mm Kodak Ektar 100)
11. Nubble Light (35mm Kodak Ektar 100)
12. Beachy reflections, Singing Beach (35mm Kodak Ektar 100)