Lenses

One of the reasons that I love my film camera is actually the lens, it just is so much better at making things look how I'm seeing them. In addition to this the look of film is just unbeatable, I can never get my digital photos, even with editing, to look exactly how I want them to look. Because of this I've decided to by an adapter so I can at least use the lens I love on a camera that doesn't cost me money to see the pictures. Sorry film, I just don't have money right now (hence the growing collection of film to be developed sitting on the counter). I think showing people how I see things is important and I want to be able to do it as well as I can... maybe this will help. (oh the top photo is digital, the bottom photo is film)

Spring

First off, some nerdy camera stuff, if you don't want to hear about it I suggest you go to the next paragraph... Anyone notice how much less noise these have than other pictures I've taken recently? I do... mostly because I know why that is. I realized tonight that my camera was set on the highest iso possible... oops! This just shows that I should really pay attention to ALL the settings when I take a photo. Anyway, that's that.

Ok, not nerdy camera stuff: I know that this year is El Nino, I can even explain what causes it (thanks to a not-so-great class presentation earlier this week), but I just can't stand that spring is here. I feel like winter never happened. I think it's mostly because I wanted tons and tons of snow this year for winter and I never really got it. It's too bad I haven't been on the east coast lately, I would have been ecstatic with all that snow. Nonetheless, I still like flowers and if I get to see flowers more this year than usual, I guess that's ok. I picked these ones tonight on the way back from the pool.

Lavender

I think I forgot to mention a major part of my weekend yesterday... not that anyone cares... but, I cleaned the entirety of my parents house on Sunday. Yep, that really has nothing at all to do with what I was really going to talk about... oh random tangents, my mind could take me on so many strange and wonderful adventures (and it seems that it often times does).

Anyway, back to Lavender. The plant, not the color. I mean I have nothing against shades of lavender or purple, I just am not crazy about them anymore after spending a few years with a room entirely covered in those shades. Anyway I think that lavender may be one of my favorite plants. Ever. It is so simple and pretty and smells so nice and attracts so many happy little bumbly grumbly bees (I do not know why I call them that, but I always have). Yesterday while I was watering the veggies I decided to cut myself a few stalks now that the lavender is actually in bloom. I cut a few just before it bloomed and they dried over the edges of my jar (hence their weird shapes up above), but now I have pretty blooming lavender sitting on my bookcase in a jar and it just makes me happy to look at it.

I also am happier with these photos of the lavender than I have been with anything else I have shot lately. It just tells me I need to relax and take my time but still follow my impulses when I am taking pictures.

Wow, I am a really rambly person. I'm sorry if I'm boring you.

The Weekend

My weekend was filled with family, cars, allergies, and happiness. I'm not sure if I feel like elaborating right now, but I think I will, just because I'm not going to be able to sleep for a little while and need something to occupy my time (oh, the joys of insomnia!). Anyway, this weekend was my great-grandparents's 70th wedding anniversary! Now that is something to aspire to! Anyway, this means I headed over to the valley (I'm sure most people have no idea what I'm talking about when I say that), for their party. While I was there I also visited my grandparents who own the adorable car that I will say more about at a later time in the first picture. I spent my favorite time of summer days, twilight, in their beautiful garden and snapped a few pictures between my sneezes and sniffles. Today, after driving home, I went to see that certain someone, who I need to come up with some kind of short, easy nickname for on here. Anyway, we spent most of the day together just getting to know each other better, I think that is the best part of any relationship, just sitting and talking with someone for hours without having to worry about anything and learning things you wouldn't otherwise learn. He also lent me a copy of Alice in Wonderland which I have been meaning to read since I was about nine, so I will now, finally, be able to take that off my list! I hope that everyone else in the world had as good of a weekend as I did (I already know of a few people that didn't, but I'm hoping they are the only ones).

Gardenscape

Yesterday my mom and I spent the day working in her garden. It was wonderful, I love the feeling of planting a new life and new color in the dirt. We also went to the nursery we have gone to ever since I can remember, Shiling's Solar City Gardens. It's a little out of the way but they have a really wonderful variety and good quality in their plants. Working in the garden, going to the nursery, and the heat made it feel like it really is summer.

Summer Wanderings

I hadn't realized I haven't blogged in so long! I meant to earlier this week but got distracted, I guess, and the last couple of days have been crazy with finals, but they are finally over with! I am so happy to begin my summer, and I feel like I did on Monday when I went for a hike along the Wildwood Trail through Washington Park. It was beautiful and not too hot, thankfully. I shot mostly film and have yet to get it developed, but these are some shots from the end of my trek.

I hope everyone has a wonderful summer!

Old

As the end of my school term comes closer and closer... I feel like it is creeping up on me and then is suddenly going to jump out of a bush and frighten me... I am looking forward, more and more, to going back to Bend for the summer. It's nice to be somewhere that you know intimately, but that still surprises you sometimes. I just want to be somewhere where I have hideouts for when I am upset or want some time alone and places where I can meet with old friends.

I also can't wait to visit all my favorite photo places and start shooting. Though it may be a cold summer... it snowed there yesterday, but i still can't wait to get back to home and leave work at work.