florence in film

I wish I used film more. Rhianne is a friend I really admire because she's so dedicated to film that she'll pack multiple film cameras with her for one trip-- just so she has each camera on hand when the moment calls for it.

This batch of film wasn't supposed to turn out. I had just crossed the Ponte Vecchio and somehow, for no reason whatsoever, I dropped my precious little yellow holga onto the cobblestone street. Its back popped open, exposing my film to the midday sun and I thought, "surely this whole roll of film is ruined." (Actually, I thought a whole string of expletives but I'll keep those to myself).

And then these turned up! What a miracle. This is what I love the most about film. You can't check your photos immediately after taking them-- and in my case, it takes me so long to develop a roll that I completely forget what I'd originally shot. And when something turns up-- it's the best feeling.

Every camera snap is a flutter of hope. A wish and a prayer that what you see will be captured the way you want it, in one of the most beautiful mediums on the planet.

PS - My shameless loves are over at Molly's today! (They're embarrassing but I embrace them).

goodbye, summer

This title hardly seems fair considering the Bay Area has had some of its warmest weather all summer this week (yes, at the end of September). These holgas accumulated before I left for Europe and were left forgotten until this very evening.

Funny Face at the Stanford Theatre, an almost indiscernible double-exposure of my beloved Stevenson Coffee House, San Francisco, Highway 1 and Santa Cruz with David.

They're little things, but they mean a lot.

______________________

A little week-end summary:

I hereby declare next week, October 3rd-7th, Danish Food Week on the blog. (Or else when am I ever going to finish these travel posts?)

After seven years of waiting, I saw one of my beloved bands live for the first time.

Did I tell you I started a new internship? With a website dedicated to California food experiences? Here's my first write-up for Epicuring. (It includes an amazing Chartreuse cocktail)!

AT&T surprised us with a $36 "activation fee" when we got new internet for our house. When I called them, they credited the amount back to us without any hassle. No link here, just a little story of kindness. Did something nice happen to you this week?

And beyond all these wonderful little things, one of my highlights of this week was meeting Courtney Marie Andrews (interview coming soon!).

I can't get this song out of my head (in the good way). Proceed with caution (but do proceed, it's so worth it).

my mind all over the place

These are more of my photos from the Photoswap that Anna developed for me. I know that they're a random assortment, but they sort of represent how my mind has been all over the place lately. This week has been so busy that I feel like I hardly have new things to write about (I mean, I'm sure no one wants posts about my logic problem sets and never ending pile of reading...). But, hallelujah it is the weekend! I mean, it's technically Friday morning. And I still have class in the morning and work afterward... but I'm still calling it the weekend. I've got lots of fun things planned with wonderful friends and I can't wait to come back and share how it all goes.

Happy Weekend!

lucky blog love

A few days ago I found out that I won the Eva Juliet giveaway at A Diary of Lovely. I love this print so much that I contacted Eva and asked (and paid) to have a larger size sent to me. Not to turn my blog into an advertisement or anything, but Eva has some seriously gorgeous prints in her shop- especially for all of you francophiles! (I even consider myself more of an italophile and still loved everything). I'm so excited for my print to come in the mail!

Also, I submitted my favorite holga to Barbara for her analog photography site and she just posted it yesterday. If you are an analog photography lover, I encourage you visit her site (and even submit your own photos!)

Happy Wednesday!

some things for the weekend

Anna at Much Love developed my holga film from the photoswap and this is my favorite photo of the batch! I suppose this kinda makes me a creep, but I love taking pictures of older couples together. When I'm older I might not have money or the life I expected at all, but having someone to share everything with would make it all okay. Maybe it's why I love Up so much.

Speaking of holgas, one of my very dear friends, (another) Anna wrote a great feature article at The Bohemian about the appeal of toy cameras and film to our generation. Why are blurriness, double exposures, and essentially "accidents" so loved in our digital age? I think she does a great job of explaining it.

Happy rest of the weekend!

holgas at the park

Photos from a walk at San Pedro Valley Park and swings from a San Francisco park. I'm not sure what else to say, except that I'm really happy that I got my Holga! I hope you're all enjoying your last day of August- I'm off to the city for lunch with a friend and then to pick up my bike from the shop!

the prettiest house in the neighborhood

whenever i pass this house i daydream a little. i would have never thought to put those two colors together but they work so beautifully. now, if only i could get a peek inside.

holgas at the pier

ever since i lost my fisheye camera on the train to brussels, i've wanted another lomography camera to replace it. luckily, lomography came out with the holga 135BC- meaning i can take holga photos without the inconvenience of 120 film. so, here are some from my first batch of pictures when my friend luke and i took a little visit to the pacifica pier one afternoon. it was windy and too cold to not have a jacket, but lovely to see how fishermen spend their days.