film | a life developing

the Rolleicord V

Posted on September 12 by Staci Lee

I am enjoying getting to know my new Rolleicord V. I love how light it is and that it comes equipped with its own little case. I have noticed that is exceptional at capturing light and will be metering more on the underexposed side. I took it out to the Huntington Library and Gardens and shot a roll of Kodak Portra 400 and Ilford XP2 400.

Nature never hurries. Atom by atom, little by little, she achieves her work.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.

Rachel Carson

Everything in nature invites us constantly to be what we are.

Gretel Ehrlich

I have a friend that is an amazing photographer and is also posting 12 images today. Really, go check out Alison’s blog. You can thank me later.

first roll

Posted on August 23 by Staci Lee

My sweet husband gave me a Rolleicord V for my birthday. I took my youngest daughter out to shoot a test roll. In honor of her coming out this year, I pairing the images with some of my favorite LGBTQ poets.

Rolleicord V | Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1:3.5 75mm | Fuji Pro 400

Rolleicord V | Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1:3.5 75mm | Fuji Pro 400

“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”
– Oscar Wilde

Rolleicord V | Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1:3.5 75mm | Fuji Pro 400

Rolleicord V | Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1:3.5 75mm | Fuji Pro 400

The Journey
Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice–
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do–
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Rolleicord V | Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1:3.5 75mm | Fuji Pro 400

Rolleicord V | Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1:3.5 75mm | Fuji Pro 400

“Please remember, especially in these times of group-think and the right-on chorus, that no person is your friend (or kin) who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow and be perceived as fully blossomed as you were intended.” ~Alice Walker

Rolleicord V | Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1:3.5 75mm | Fuji Pro 400

Rolleicord V | Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1:3.5 75mm | Fuji Pro 400

To all those still living with the secret of who you really are, I pray you will find a safe place where you can be fully you. We need all of your true, queer, and beautiful self.

No Sleep Till Brooklyn

Posted on June 12 by Staci Lee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7am

8am

8am

9am

9am

10am

11am

12pm

2pm

2pm

3pm

4pm

5pm

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.