Trip to Hollywood!

Hello.

I had the recent fortunate opportunity to travel to Los Angeles for work :) I was super excited about the chance to visit California again. I had been only once before, with my mother and grandmother, when I was about 14. We did the whole experience then - Disneyland, Universal Studios, Rodeo Drive.... it was fun :)

However, timing was odd in that my boss asked me to fly out THE VERY DAY after wisdom teeth removal surgery. *note: It absolutely was not mandatory and I didn't have go if I didn't want to.

But I'm a really tough girl ;) and honestly, I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to visit California again!! So I went for it - day after mouth surgery and all. To tell you the truth, it was not bad at all.

SO! Here are some things I got to see and do:

First off, a view from the flight out! I love clouds and could photograph them forever.

Gorgeous palm trees everywhere! Super tall too.

Getting to hang with my friend and colleague while she showed me some sights!

We visited the Red Carpet where the stars walk to see the Oscars!

Some amazing views!

We hit up Hollywood Boulevard and saw some interesting spectacles ;)

And of course, the Stars ;) If I posted all of the pictures I took of stars, we'd be here all day but here are a few.

Chris Pratt........xoxo

Also did a little souvenir shopping for my family :) 

I got my boys some toy Oscar statues! Bought some Star Wars promotional prints for my husband for his collection.

I wasn't going to buy myself anything, but then came across an amazing antique store. I picked up this beautiful ring.

I generally do not wear jewelry other than my wedding ring, nose stud and ear plugs. But this pretty thing caught my eye and I had to have it!

Two major "must see" sights I wanted was the Hollywood sign (of course)

And the actual building where they filmed the famous balcony scene at the end of Pretty Woman.

It's facade has changed a bit from the movie after 27 years ;)

My last day in town included a lovely brunch with all the mimosa's I wanted :)

Then it was time to go home. My flight was delayed which was a bummer, but upside: I got a cool night shot of the city from the window.

I sure hope to go back again one day :)

Enjoy.

xoxo

Ginger

Vintage Film Photography - SX 70 Poleriod Land Camera

Hello.

I hope you all are doing well this Monday :) And since I have to wait on Support Your Fellow Crafter for a little bit, I thought I'd share some recent photography experiences I had the pleasure of having :)

I had the privilege to accompany both children on their spring field trip this year and decided it was time to bust out the vintage film photography cameras :) My oldest child was visiting Lake Ray Roberts State Park, just north of Sanger Texas for a day of hiking, pond life exploration, fishing and wild animal education! It was so much fun! Not just for my kid, but for me!

My second child has a trip to our very own, Dallas Arboretum. Truly a beautiful and amazing place with the most gorgeous flowers and plants I have ever seen! They have a very involved children's garden :)

I decided to take my SX-70 Polaroid Land camera on both and managed to score some amazing shots.

Note: even though the film may be brand new, photographs from a vintage camera ALWAYS have that beautiful old times feel and the patinas are to die for!

Check out some of my shots from our hiking trip. All black and white sx70 instant film from 1960s vintage Poleriod land camera:

So incredibly mysterious looking and the black and white sets the tone for the subject matter here - definitely!

Bones always tend to create interesting and captivating photographs. The rawness and texture of the subject matter lends for very moving photographs.

Even with a fault in the film on this last one, the feeling remains and the subject matter is translated into a lonely and dreary feeling.

I only managed to get a few great Poleriod photographs at the Arboretum due to the weather being overcast :( But I did have a few that I was really proud of!

This one by far was my most impressive exposure. These flowers are so delicate looking and the patina provided by the camera aged this photograph by years! Also the focus of this particular camera is astounding :)

Though this last one is out of focus (due to my sons jumping on my back) I adored how it came out! Life is almost never in focus - you enter each day blind and you never know what is just over the bridge ;)

I was hoping to have some shots from my vintage Minolta 35 mm, but alas...the battery died :(

Enjoy the gift of photography!

Comment below with your beautiful pictures! I would very much love to see them.

xoxo

Ginger

I will linking up to these awesome parties!

The Joy of Mobile Photography

Hello.

I am a great fan of all photography: digital, film, vintage photography but mobile photography is one of my favorites!

Mobile photography is extremely convenient, user friendly and accessible to all with a smart phone.

"Excelsior Hotel"
iPhone 6 Plus 

Mobile photography is an option for all photo ops; including family sessions, nature photography, digital art, concept photography and much more.

"Samuel Glenn"
iPhone 6 Plus

In addition to accessibility and convenience, there are several amazing editing tools available on the mobile device. 

Nature photography and concept photography are my favorite genre's.

"Holds the World Like a Baby"
iPhone 6 Plus

I am really encouraged to see mobile photography becoming more accepted as an art form. Several online groups commit to the support of mobile photography. 

"My Love"
iPhone 6 Plus

Black and white, in my opinion, strips a photo down to its bare soul.

"Pleasure Pier"
iPhone 6 Plus

Enjoy.

xoxo

Ging