November

Last month seemed to go in a flash as does time in general of late. Thankfully the subconscious mind records whatever we see and stores it away in memories. Since it's impossible to recall everything we see, photography is a means of keeping the things I want to remember later, especially if it's something beautiful. Here are some of my favourites for the month of November.

Escaping

It would be great to have more days like this one, perfect weather, gorgeous location and daylight savings. I'm already planning my next trip to this wonderful place with lots more film and a picnic lunch (and better footwear conducive to climbing beach cliffs). Can't wait! I took these shots with my SLR 680 camera and some of my last reserves of expired 600 film.

Beams of light

When I'm at work, I'm constantly with people and being a bit of an introverted person, I find this quite draining. I try to spend my spare time in nature because there is something cathartic about its sounds and smells. The best thing though are the views that are always changing and no matter where I go, I can usually find something different to see. This shot was taken with my SLR 680 camera and the new (and very beautiful) PX 680 colour protection film.

You are here

Back at work, using the analytical side of the brain again but wishing instead that I could spend my days here or roaming the countryside. Things go in cycles and it's good doing a bit of everything. There is nothing better though, than going somewhere beautiful and just sit quietly to absorb nature.

Model, mentor, muse

My sweet friend Esther came to stay with me this week so I could mentor her with her Polaroid photography. She has picked up the basics very quickly and took some great shots - I'm really looking forward to seeing what she comes up with in the future. It was also a wonderful opportunity for me to go back and revisit some basics and to get outside again and do some snapping. Esther also made a very patient and willing model as well and even inspired me to get up early and capture some of the amazing light our coastline has to offer. I took this shot with Esther's camera using Impossible film. 

Morning Rituals

I'm not a morning person but usually once I'm up, I'm glad. Now that I'm on holidays all of the morning rituals go out the window. It's 11am - and I'm going to do what my cats do about now after eating and paw cleaning...which is to have a morning nap...

Hello Spring

I'm looking forward to some well earned time off work soon with lots of snapping planned these spring holidays. There has been so much golden morning and afternoon light but I always seem to be on my way somewhere or sans camera. Here's a shot I took last year on a warm rainy afternoon with my SLR 680 and 600 film.

Exhibition Opening Night

September 6th was such a big day that it almost couldn't contain everything that happened. A dear friend of mine became a grandmother for the first time (welcome to the world Sophie Grace!) it was mine & my beautiful Marcelo's 12th wedding anniversary, my father-in-law had a major operation (get well soon Max) and it was opening night of my first Polaroid (joint) exhibition at Terrarium Gallery.

I was overwhelmed by all of the love and support from my friends and family who visited the gallery on the night, and the messages I received from friends who couldn't be there. Thank you everyone! I also wanted to thank Mia & Adam from Terrarium who made everything look so wonderful and seamless. 

Photos by Carolina

Upcoming Exhibition

I'm going to be part of an upcoming analogue exhibition at a wonderful local gallery called Terrarium. I'll have eleven of my Polaroids on display - both integral and peel apart and nearly all of the shots were taken in or around my home town of Wollongong. If you live in the area and want to come and have a look, there are lots of other great creative spaces around Terrarium as well that are worth seeing. The exhibition opening night is Thursday 6th of September from 6pm - 8pm and it runs until the 22nd of September.

I'm also involved in another (secret) project at the moment which is very exciting and I can't wait for it to see the light of day...more news on that later.

Trip to Bendigo

I was lucky enough to have a little getaway for a few days with my husband (a road trip of sorts) to Bendigo in Victoria to see the Grace Kelly Style Icon exhibition. Actually that was in June in the depths of winter. The exhibition was magical - I love Grace Kelly and it was great to see some of the clothes and accessories she wore during her life, including the iconic "Kelly" bag and dresses she wore in her movies. She had a great attitude to fashion, was quite minimalist with her wardrobe and still managed to look stylish everywhere she went.

I also took some Polaroids, in fact I challenged myself by only taking one box of 600 film with me. So I had a small margin of error for crap photos....It really made me stop and think about what I was doing, which was quite an experience..

My handsome boy

My sweet Napoleon has been very cuddly this winter and there is something about this weather that makes you want to curl up on the lounge with your cat (and camera) and watch the world go by. This was taken with some of my last lots of 600 film from 2009. 

The Impossible

I distinctly remember my reaction the day I heard Polaroid film was ending production - grief. I didn't know what to do for a few days and was online reading as much as possible to confirm that it wasn't some kind of cruel hoax floating around. About a week later, I turned to peel apart film and was smitten with all of it's variety, gorgeous colour shifts and found a new way to foster my addiction (and was also on a steep learning curve as well!). I bought one pack of the new Impossible film when it came out - a box of PX100 FF and it was experimental at best...I just stopped using integral for awhile. I recently purchased a pack of PX680 Color Shade and was really pleased with the results. Now I'm looking forward to trying some more PX films in both colour and black and white. I'm incredibly thankful that all of the Impossible team have been so dedicated and passionate about developing this amazing film that so many of us thought was lost...

Colorpack 3

Haven't posted for awhile but I do have some new Impossible shots to put up soon. I recently took out my dinky Polaroid Colorpack 3 camera to see if it was still ok. It does still work after making sure the batteries were new and twiddling with the (broken) dials a bit. This cheap ebay find is pretty much all plastic and has a scratched up foggy lens but I've managed to get some reasonable shots out of it. Here is one I took at the lake a few weeks back.

amaZINE Sunday 24th June in Wollongong

Met some great people, shared stories and sold some postcards. Was a great afternoon and worthwhile getting out into the local creative community. My husband Marcelo was selling his wonderful comics and prints as well. Many thanks to Emma-Lee from Milk Thieves in Wollongong for providing us with a great space and to all of our supportive friends and family for being there to see us. Contact me via email or Facebook if you are interested in buying my postcards. 

amaZINE Fair - Wollongong - Sunday 24th June

I'll be a stallholder at the AmaZINE Fair - details below. I'll be selling my Polaroid postcards - so come and say hello and check out all of the talented artists, crafters, writers etc that Wollongong has on offer.

Afternoon light chasing

I've been observing colour changes in the sky and trying to capture that magical hour of light before the sun goes down. I watch where on the horizon the sun rises and where it sets, which is a shorter angle in winter time. These two shots are from the same pack as the ones taken in the fog, and yet they are so different. These were taken with my SX-70 camera with film of the same name, expired in 2005 (it was a great vintage). It's wonderful to stand and catch the last rays of the sun on these clear winter days.

Winter days are here

I'm not really a fan of colder weather, but I do love the change of seasons - falling leaves, golden afternoon light and when winter does set in - the fog. The fog in the photos below was so thick that we could barely see in front of us. I was lucky enough to have one box left of expired SX-70 film (that worked!)so a trip up the mountains was in order.

MCA Zine Fair Fun!!

We had a great day at the MCA Zine Fair on May 20th. My lovely husband Marcelo and I shared a table (for the first time). We had lots of visitors to our table and sold several prints and postcards. Was also lucky enough to be seated next to Anthea who is the maker of the beautiful Spoonful Zine.


We are looking forward to going the amaZINE Sunday in Wollongong.

MCA Zine Fair

Tomorrow I'll be at the MCA Zine Fair in Sydney selling some of my Polaroid postcards. Looking forward to a great day!

See more of my shots at Polanoid. Click on the Polanoid People link (show all members)and my type in my name which is rachaelb.
Enjoy!

Afternoon Walk

I recently got a pack of Artistic Time Zero film that I thought I should save for a special occasion but then I thought life itself should always be a special occasion so I decided to shoot it. It was taken in the late afternoon with my SX-70 camera.

Change of Season

Morning and afternoon light in autumn is so beautiful...I just wish it would last a little longer. The same goes for my last pack of 600 integral polaroid film. I'd been saving this since it expired in 2009.

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