S P E C T R A GIVEAWAY!

I love the Spectra camera. I feel like it's the underdog in the Polaroid family of cameras. The SX70 and the Rainbow Box SX70 cameras are the darlings of the family and then there's the odd ball, the Spectra. Well it's time for the Spectra to shine! This camera is awesome! 

The Spectra has a lot of neat features. Two of my favorites are the self timer and the ability to turn the flash on or off. The self timer is great for group shots or self portraits but it's also a way to trick the camera into letting you take double exposures!! 

That's right, in camera double exposures! There are actually two different ways to go about it. The Impossible Project made a great video showing you how to use the self timer to make a double exposure, here's a link. The other way is to compose your shot, press down on the shutter button and do not release it. While you're still holding the shutter button down, close your camera and open it back up. It doesn't automatically eject your film so you can go ahead and compose your second exposure, this time pressing down the shutter button and then releasing it as you would when taking a normal photo. Your film will eject and magically before your eyes you will have a double exposed instant image! HOW COOL IS THAT?!

I also like that you have the option to add a camera strap. There are a few really fun accessories out there for Spectra cameras as well: a remote control, filter sets, and this awesome close up stand. 

So, you might be wondering why I'm bragging on the Spectra, right? It's because the rad folks at The Impossible Project gave me the Spectra pictured above AND some film to giveaway! Who wants her?! You have a few ways of entering: reblog on Tumblr or Tweet a link to the post with the hashtag #xospectra ! There's even a link below this post that will allow you to Tweet directly from Tumblr! I'm picking a winner on March 1st so get to it! 

XO

TUMBLN'

I've been cross posting the same content here and on my Tumblr for a little while but I've decided to just move the ole' blog over to Tumblr entirely. I've also been updating my Tumblr with more film photography quite frequently, so won't you please join me over there?

My Tumblr address is: xoazuree.tumblr.com 

XO

BAGGU

My Duck bag and Pouch M wallet. How pretty are these colors on The Impossible Project's new PX680 Film?

Have you guys seen these Baggu bags? I am such a total sucker for purses and wallets and I have fallen in love with this company. For starters, the bags are eco-friendly and responsibly made! Secondly, look how freaking cute they are! Thirdly, it's really fun saying Baggu. Baaaggguuu!

My wonderful Mother, who no doubt has the best taste, bought me the "Leather Pouch M" for Christmas which I use as a wallet / clutch. It's the perfect size for a night out with the girls. It fits my cards, cash, change, lipstick, and my phone!

Baggu recently opened a retail location in New York and Christopher and I stopped in for a visit while we were there last month. The store is beautiful- serene, simple, and calming. I loved it! There was no way I was leaving empty handed so the cute girl working there helped me pick a red "Duck" bag. I love totes and this one is so versatile - it has an adjustable strap so you can wear it cross body or over your shoulder. It also has two handles. I've been carrying all my cameras in my duck tote for shoots! It's the perfect size! I want one in every color. No, really!

I also picked up one of their more traditional Big"Baggu" bags. These are fold up bags you can keep in your purse and use in lieu of paper or plastic while you're out shopping. I went for the Alpaca print and love it! Let me tell you, they weren't kidding when they said big! I could probably fit into this bag. It was perfect for hauling my odd sized camera extras like my light reflector and rolled up paper I sometimes take with me on shoots.

As a lover of purses and totes, I couldn't help but share my new fave!

XO

FACES OF C O M M U N I T Y

Faces of Community is a project I worked on about this time last year. It was a project I was working on both to practice portraiture with instant film, but also to document the diverse people that make up a little community in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago.

The people pictured live together in a building in Chicago. The Chelsea Hotel is a 10 story building that originally served as a hotel. It has since taken many shapes and forms and is currently the home of roughly 400 people who chose to live and work together to provide community outreaches in their neighborhood. Everyone who lives in the community has a job but they do not bring home a paycheck. In return all their needs are provided for by the community. Room and board, meals, all the life necessities and even some extras. The community makes money through a roofing and supply company that is largely staffed by community members. This allows for other members to work at the outreaches in Uptown, a variety of shelters, and other community oriented projects.

What a strange and wonderful way to live. Sharing burdens, joys, and all of lifes tender moments with people that become an extended family to you because you live in such a different way, and in such close quarters. It's not for everyone but I found such an interest in the people that it is for.

The community is comprised of a variety of people from all walks of life. People from every side of the spectrum and I wanted to show that in a straight forward way. A quick portrait seemed very fitting for this. Each person that sat for me had their photograph taken just once. I chose to use The Impossible Project's PX 100 Silvershade film (in beta). I thought the film was beautiful and timeless. I chose instant film because of the quirks that I associate with it. Like all of us, it's not perfect but the imperfections are part of the beauty and the allure of each photograph and each person. I thought that was fitting.

You can see more photos of this project on my website - xoazuree.com . Just go to Polaroids>Faces of Community.

XO

POLAROID SX-70 PATCHES

I think most would agree that the design of the Polaroid SX-70 cameras is beautiful, timeless, and genius. Big ups to you Edwin Land & Eames! The SX-70's are my favorite instant film cameras to shoot, hands down.

I love them and so Christopher and I made a few patches with this beautifully designed SX-70 Alpha camera on them so you can adorn your favorite jacket, back pack, cat, or bulletin board with this awesome little patch!

The patches are 2 inches round and come in really cute Polaroid frame made by hand by yours truly! Here's an Instagram snapshot of the patch in the frame packaging. 

If you'd like to get your hands on one of these cuties, you can do so right here: xoazuree.bigcartel.com . 

A big thank you to everyone who has bought one already! I can't wait to see what you guys put your patches on! Also, stay tuned- there are a few different camera designed patches coming!

XO

WORDS TO SHOOT BY // WHITE

Words to Shoot By is back! The theme for this post was "White". I wasn't sure what kind of film I had in my camera until after I took these. I believe it is Impossible Project's PX70 COOL film. My favorite one is the middle one, my dear old friend Casey and Seymour!

Can't wait to get back in the swing of shooting in threes for Words to Shoot By in 2013!

XO

LET'S START DOING!

The internet is such an inspiring and overwhelming place. I love it, none the less.

As I was perusing Pinterest and some of my favorite blogs (and thinking about how much time I spend online) I was reminded of a few things I'd like to accomplish sometime. Maybe this year, if I can just pull myself away from the computer and my phone!

- Make a music video. I'd really like to make a very short film one day, but making a music video seems like a good start. This will be challenging for me as I'm not great at coming up with conceptual shoots and I have no knowledge about making videos or movies or editing, soooo we'll see how this goes. 

- Read more! I started reading a book about this time last year that I never finished. One of my life goals is to read through the classics so I've gotta get going!

- Take time to just sit and think. Does that sound ridiculous? I am definitely a very "plugged in" person. If it's not reading blogs it's Twitter. If it's not Twitter it's Instagram. If it's not Instagram it's Pinterest. If it's not Pinterest then it's Facebook. My newest addiction is Vine! Have you guys checked this out yet? It's like Instagram but instead of pictures, 6 seconds of video! My user name is xoazuree on there, what's yours?!

- Scan in all my negatives. I started taking pictures about 14 years ago and most of my picture taking has been on film. I want to see all those images again and do something with them but you can probably understand what a huge undertaking this is! Last year I told myself I should scan one roll of film a day and I'd be done in no time. That was a short lived project, but I should start it up again! 

- Be happy with what I have. I have an affinity for cameras, purses and shoes. I have plenty of all those things and I need to be satisfied with what I have instead of always seeking out new material things. 

- Collaborate with Christopher. As a challenge to both Christopher and I to keep creating I proposed to him he should write a song a week that I make a picture for. He turned that idea around on me and said he'd write a song about a picture I took. Either way, I think this could be a really fun and inspiring project for us both! 

- Produce a series of photos. I have always taken a "photo journalistic" approach with my photography. Taking pictures of things and people as they are and not posing or manipulating them. I think it'd be a fun challenge to come up with a concept and realize it with pictures. Tell a story with a small series of images. Perhaps it'd be easy to start with a lookbook?

- Try Yoga. From everything I see and hear about Yoga, I need it in my life. A time to disconnect. Something positive to do for myself. It looks like it can be so relaxing! 

I find that I accomplish more when I make lists and set due dates for myself. I also do better if I tell others about my aspirations so I figured putting this out into the old internet might help motivate me to actually DO these things! 

What are somethings you'd like to accomplish? 

XO