film | a life developing

No Sleep Till Brooklyn

I have been busy scanning my rolls of film from our trip to New York. When I started to scan my roll from our trip to Brooklyn, I was reminded once again how much I love Ilford HP2. It is definitely my favorite black and white film. It is so flexible, you can shoot two or three stops under or over and it will still deliver beautiful results. I put this roll in at 2 in the afternoon and the last shot was taken around 8:45pm after the sun had set.

Hasselblad 500CM | 80mm Carl Zeiss Planar | Ilford HP2

While I have visited New York several times in my life, I have never crossed the bridge to Brooklyn. Luckily for us, we have a wonderful friend there who wanted to meet with us and show us around. I fell in love instantly! What a beautiful city. The views of New York’s skyline can’t be beaten!

Hasselblad 500CM | 80mm Carl Zeiss Planar | Ilford HP2

I am not a fan of the tripod (something my husband would love to rectify this year) so this last shot of the New York skyline was handheld. And while my Hasselblad is much easier to hold steady than my Mamiya 645, I was still impressed with the results. I thought for sure the last shot would have been rubbish but I was pleasantly surprised.

Hasselblad 500CM | 80mm Carl Zeiss Planar | Ilford HP2

I had so much fun exploring Brooklyn, and for me, exploring is always a little better with a camera in hand.

For more from some of my photographer friends and what they have been up to this month, hop on over to Alison and Vanessa’s blogs.

New York in Polaroids

Posted on May 12 by Staci Lee

My darling husband had a business trip to New York, so I decided to stowaway with him. While he was at meetings, I adventured around New York and met with some friends I have only known online. I took my Polaroid OneStep 2 along with me. I had so much fun capturing this beautiful city with this fun little camera.

I had time to wander the city alone and I also was able to hug the necks of a few of my friends I met years ago on Flickr. One friend, Amy Drucker, took me to The High Line. It is a walking park that was built on an old, raised train track. It was a wonderful afternoon.

the hours

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Staci Lee

I had the honor of doing the project, The Hours, again this year. It was a collective project in which a group of photographers, who met on Flickr, each posted a single image every month, taken during a particular hour of the day. We started in January with 7am and then moved through the day by an hour each month: to 8am in February and so forth.

These are my 2015 submissions.

7am

8am

9am

10am

11am

12pm

2pm

3pm

4pm

5pm

6pm

It was fascinating to watch the day unfold from people from all over the world. While I will miss this project, I am looking forward to the projects that 2016 will bring.

5 on 5: July

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Staci Lee

I added a new film camera, a Canon AE-1, to my collection in July. I have forgotten how often I have shot with it already. It is a great little camera. Light and easy to take with me. Here are my favorite five from July.

Anytime I capture this handsome man it becomes a favorite.

I have a thing for this particular view. It feels hopeful while still at the bottom and in the darkness of it all.

Me. Finally, at 43, I am really starting to be a favorite of mine.

And when light touches just enough to give me hope of a new day… well, I always love that.

And these are three of my favorite things all in one- photography, Guinness, and my man.

Enjoy Vanessa’s favorite five on Focus on Photography, then click on through the blog roll.

10 on 10: July

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Staci Lee

I bought a new film camera. I know, I know… I need a new camera like I need a hole in the head. I bought a Canon AE-1 with a 50mm lens. I wanted a small film camera that would be easier to carry around town. I got my first test roll back and I am pleasantly surprised. When shooting with a new film camera I always have a learning curve when it come to exposure. Learning to see through the eyes of a new light meter can be a challenge.

As most of my friends know, I name all my film cameras. I have decided on Lewis. My husband also got a Canon AE-1 and we named him BIlly-Ray. Trading Places is one of our favorite movies. We quote it often.

Journey on through the blogroll by visiting Suzanne Puttman’s blog Click by Suzanne.

Ilford XP2

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Staci Lee

I shot a roll of Ilford XP2 for a blog post over at the Viewfinders. I am in love with this film! I plan on shooting much more of it. I don’t shoot black and white very often. The film shop I take my film to be developed takes 24 hours for color and a week for black and white. While I realize the humor in me saying I am not patient for the film to be developed, sometimes I can’t stand waiting the whole week. However, the Ilford XP-2 is developed in C4 1 type processing, which means it is developed with the color film. This means I can get black and white film in 24 hours without waiting the week.

I love all the grays this film produces. It has a great contrast in low light without much grain.

Do you have a favorite film? Please share it with me. I would like to discover some more new films to shoot.

10 on 10: April

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Staci Lee

For our 21st anniversary, my husband and I went to La Jolla, CA for the weekend. It was lovely to get away to such a beautiful city and do nothing. Well, except shoot film. Both my husband and I love to shoot film and took seven different cameras between us! One camera I love on vacation is my Land Camera 420. My 10 on 10 this month is photos from this lovely polaroid camera.

I am doing this project with some wonderful photographers. Please visit Anna’s site for her 10 on 10 then continue on through the blog roll.