Diana F+

Well there here!!! Photos from my beloved Diana F+!
This roll was my first and I am still getting used to how completely manual this camera is so many of the images didn't turn out the way I planned. Needless to say I am very happy with my good results! There were definitely some fortunate accidents.

Bottled Elegance

This exposure lasted 6 minutes! I removed the lens from my Diana in order to use the pin hole setting.

Neglected Fountain

I am pleased with the Dianas beautiful color spectrum.

Enchanted Doorknob

Repunzel's Tower

Self Portrait

Self Portrait

Sweet Success

Self Portrait Through a Pin Hole

Today I accomplished the surprisingly challenging task of making a decent pin hole exposure on my very own homemade pin hole camera! Here it is, a picture of me in my back yard.

Time Travel
Taken with Ansco Shur Flash on 120 film 

Little did I know it when I woke up this morning. Nor when I ate breakfast and drank coffee. Not even when I was sitting in church did I know it. But today, my friend, marks a milestone in my life. Today is the day that I purchased my very own brand new Diana F+ Qing Hua. 

This whole ordeal began to rear its head lasts week. Yes, I have been craving a lomography camera for a while. Yes, ever since I allowed myself to explore lomography.com this want intensified  greatly. I used to believe that the Holga 135bc was for me, with its marvelous vignetting, vivid colors both on the camera itself and on film, and lest we not forget its marvelous reputation. In my mind owning a Holga instantly brings you a type of intelligence, and respect. Once I began a true investigation of this matter giving all cameras equal opportunity I discovered that the DianaF+ is the queen, no let us say empress of lomography cameras. Naturally I HAD to have one.

So today a wind of determination was thrust upon me, and I discovered that in Berkeley Ca. there is a photoshop with an extensive supply. In my car I went, almost mad with the prospect of having this new toy within my hands, and at my house within this day. 

I drove somewhere around two hours, of course I stopped for lunch at Guini's Deli. Toscano salami, smoked swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, sprouts, mayo, mustard, and "Guini Juice" all snuggly within a sour dough roll, transported into my mouth. Where upon meeting my tongue everyone had a lovely chat with my taste buds. Well after about ten delicious minutes, I headed back to my car, where I overhead my taste buds having a nice long tete-a-tete with some Halvah. Behavior to be expected by those scurvy brats.

On the road I went, on my noble quest. I made a wrong turn and almost had to pay a toll to go over a bridge that I didn't want to be on. So typical. Luckily I avoided the bridge and eventually found a photographers version of The Cave of Wonders. Looking Glass Photographic Arts, within these walls lyes a myriad of not so typical cameras that are simply mouth watering. I took a quick browse before I commenced to ask about my new prized possession. I knew not whether I was sure to purchase the El Toro model, online it looked pretty spiffy, but there was the competition of the Qing Hua model. I made sure to take a good look at both. The Qing Hua took my heart. It is absolutely exquisite. The top and the flash, have a design that you would find on English China in a beautiful cobalt blue. This camera can do anything. Pin hole, instant, regular, regular with sprockets, colorflash, normal flash, you name it. No it doesn't produce crisp life-like photos using 7000 pixels. Yes, it is unpredictable. Absolutely, it is amazing!

Struggle

Here is something I wrote this July when I ways working at Camp Round Meadow.

Man Vs. Nature
Taken with my Yashica TL  Electro on highway 38

Wind hurling in and out of my lungs.
Sweat pouring out of my cells.
I can feel my heart beat as if it was pounding an ancient African rhythm.
Legs moving up and down, back and forth, propelling the feet which are attached to them merely by the means of some tired ankles.
Soles pounding the dust.
Eyes see a haze of brown, and green.
I can feel the thin air leaving me less than satisfied.
Gasping for breath, and energy, I press on.
Relief! I steady strong flow of endorphins rushes into my veins, supplying all of my inner being.
Friendly smiles from passer-byes bring me encouragement.
Up the mountain I tread.
Suddenly, like a beacon of light in a thrashing storm I see a small meadow of sorts, filled with purple, yellow and orange.
I have reached the worlds most beautiful flower bed.
The refreshing calm that these flowers bring me is unique to this day. It may never have the same effect for me.
"Do not worry about tomorrow."
Live everyday for itself, and enjoy all of the beautiful things God has created.

Well, I have to say I am less than enthused to write today. For one it was scorching hot! And two this heat just resulted in me feeling sluggish, so I really didn't do much this afternoon. I did spend I lot of time reading The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald which I must say is completely, and utterly fascinating. I do have to admit that while I was lounging by the pool, in my swimsuit, on a comfy white recliner perched near the edge of the hillside, reading The Great Gatsby, I did relate myself to the story in the form of feeling a bit decadent.
On the photography front, a couple of boxes did manage to become painted a lovely shade of black. I have resolved to bring more than one pin hole camera to class, just in case...
So for today I will bid you adieu.