F L A S H

Hot hell was I excited when I heard that The Impossible Project was going to carry a reusable flash bar! Although most of my photography is done using available, natural light, there is always an occasion when a little bit of flash comes in handy.

This one is great! It's tiny and light so you can easily throw it in your bag without it weighing you down. The flash is energized by two tiny AAA batteries which are thankfully, easily found. The green light comes on letting you know you put the batteries in the correct way. Once the blue light comes on you're ready to go! So easy. It has three settings- Off, half flash, and full flash. I was shooting some PX100 film in my folding SX-70 camera so I used the full flash setting and got great results.

The first picture I shot of Christopher came out rather dark. I was shooting indoors with the light wheel in the middle. Turning the light wheel all the way light worked wonderfully for the next few shots! The instructions suggest that if you're shooting PX680 or PX600 to use the half flash function.

I can't wait for that new PX70 film to come out so I can take my new flash for a further spin. It's been sunny out the past few days here in Chicago which means it's time to bust out the color films!

A great big thank you to The Impossible Project for always being amazingly generous!! What are you dummies waiting for, get your hands on one while you can.

XO!

COFFEE

I've found that sometimes just when you're settling into life, something comes along to spice things up. I think the World gets a kick out of keeping us on our toes. You settle into a routine, your days become rather predictable, the world looses some of it's magic and enchantment. For me, I look back on old contact sheets and journals and think "I was so inspired! Everything seemed so new! Every strangers face had a story and I wanted to hear about it. Little kids dancing caught my eye. Seeing two people ride the train obviously on their first date tickled my heart". Now I usually walk head down, headphones on, rushing to and from work, paying little attention to anything but the task at hand- commuting. Avoiding eye contact with strangers. Getting home and cooking. Reading blogs and looking at Flickr. Spending time with my family and bunnies. Tackling my to-do list which is getting increasingly long.

Then one day while you're riding the train to work, it jerks a little...squeezing the cup of coffee you're holding in between your knees while you dig around your bag for your headphones into the air. A coffee geyser forms, exploding all over your favorite brown skinny cords. Dripping into your new pink ballet flats. Just like that. Hot. Coffee. Cream and sugar. A L L  O V E R you. On the train. The girl decked out in North Face sitting across from you looks away. The people down the train glance over and get back to their Reader. You're left feeling humiliated. Scorched. Alone. Helpless. Then the old man with the ragged old suitcase stuffed with garbage bags, old newspapers and a random pole digs around and hands you a rag to clean with. He smiles. He says, "It's okay, are you hurt too much?" He digs around in his bag of bags and finds one just the right size for the cup with dripping coffee in your hand and the rag he gave you to clean up with and says "Here put that in here and try to clean your hands, your day can only get better from here, right?". 

The man with nothing gave me what little he had and that was incredibly humbling. His simple act really put my epicly embarrassing coffee spillage into perspective. And he was right, my day only got better from there. I'm so glad something happened, that a stranger showed me such selfless kindness, to snap me out of out of my routine and to force me to see how beautiful life is. 

In case you're looking for a little inspiration take a peek at this video a photographer I really like made. Read the story behind it seeing the (internet) light of day here. The things that made my heart leap were the twirls of hair, the time passing, the literal interpretations of footsteps, the windows (there's a life behind each one. Isn't that crazy? I think that each time I see a window. Someone dwells in that frame!) and of course the fact that it was made entirely of film (I think)!

What's been inspiring you lately?

xo, 

azuree

FEBRUARY // GONE

All of these images were shot on The Impossible Projects PX 70 test film (which I am in love with, of course)

March already?! Unbelievable! Wasn't it New Years....yesterday?!

February has been a great month! A little recap:

- I got back from my short trip to visit Mel in San Francisco! I fell in love with that city!
- Christopher and I decided to move closer to Logan Square. We are tripling our space and will have a home music studio (for him) and darkroom (for me, duh!) in the basement of our new place! Very exciting stuff! We don't move for a month or two but we're really excited about our new home!
- I got a job at a really cute camera store in Oak Park called The Vintage Photo shop.
- The world lost Whitney Houston :(
- I can FINALLY put my hair in a top bun without using five million bobby pins (a personal feat)
- An Olympus XA made it's way into my life and I couldn't be more excited.
- Fell in love with The Impossible Project's newest PX 70 film. Can't wait to get my hands on some more!
- I finished up a portrait project I shot entirely on The Impossible Project's PX 100. I'm very excited to work on a dedicated website for those images this month.
- I fell into a pit of desires over these shoes
- Christopher and I had a really cute low key Valentines Day....without even trying!
- Linn and I got inspired at The Art Institute, one of my favorite museums in the city
- I made some hearts for my blog! Take a peek outside of your Google Reader and let me know what you think!

I'm still adjusting to my new schedule, balancing work, time with my family, and the internets! I have no idea how people can blog consistently and work full time jobs as well.

I'm really looking forward to March and Spring in general.

XO
azuree

GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE

Remember just a month ago when I resolved to be happy with what I have? That didn't last long. Shortly after writing that post I went ahead and bought myself an Olympus XA! I've been wanting a Lomo LCA for years, I even made getting one one of the 30 things to do before I turn 30 last year. A few friends online told me that this little cutie has the same feel as the LCA but can be found for significantly less. I scored mine for $35 with the flash and am so happy it's actually working! I hope to run a roll through it on my way to and from work this week. Also, note the super cute little wrist holder thingie I got at the San Francisco Lomography store on my trip last month! I want one for each of my cameras!

My wants do not stop at cameras. Here are a few things that have captured my heart lately:

- These cute shoes. And these. And these too!
- I am obsessed with these Impossible Project storage boxes.
- I love the concept behind this Gap style website/magazine thing. I also want a pair of red pants so badly!
- Cheerwine!!!! 

Well, Cheerwine always has my heart but, ya know.

XO
azuree

THE TIMES, THEY ARE A CHANGIN'

Don't you love that Bobby D record? I do! Lots of changes in our lives! 

Firstly, I got a job at A&A Studios / The Vintage Camera Shop. A very cute entirely analog camera store in the Arts District of Oak Park! I am so happy to be geeking out over cameras and films on the clock. Christopher and I have been working for a music festival from home for the past few years so it's been an adjustment commuting to and from work, which is why I haven't been blogging much lately. It's been so nice to stop by Dunkin Donuts (do not judge me) every morning for a cup of coffee and listen to music on my way to work. Speaking of which, I need new tunes, any recommendations?!

Secondly, Christopher and I are moving soon! We are staying in Chicago but moving a little West. Right now we live right by Lake Michigan which is really cozy but we are pretty sure we've found a place, with space for a music studio for him and plenty of room for my photo stuff and there is the possibility of a DARK ROOM too! We are both so excited. We're sad to be moving a little West and not living within such close proximity to family and friends but we are very excited about the prospect of living in a two bedroom apartment as opposed to the studio we've been living in for the past four years. I can't wait to move in and start "nesting"! 

Thirdly, can you believe February is almost over? Good grief?! Where has the month gone?! Chicago is experiencing a mild Winter which makes me feel nervous. I can hardly enjoy the sunshine and warmer days because I keep waiting to be knocked down by an avalanche of snow any day now. 

I feel like I'm finally adjusting to my new schedule so hopefully I'll be in this little box, in this little corner of the internet more! PS. How do you working people come home at night and have the energy to cook dinner?! I already loathe cooking but the idea of doing it when I'm starving and tired seems even more wretched than cooking under better circumstances! 

XO

azuree

LITTLE PAPER CAMERAS

The Impossible Project's amazing new PX70 Test film!

And the winner of The Impossible Project's Polaroid Paper Camera Kit is....Nicole! Nicole shoot me an email at me [at] azureewiitala [dot] com to claim your prize! 

I took a picture of the SX70 paper camera with The Impossible Projects new PX70 test film! It's the only shot I've taken so far but from what I've seen on Flickr this is the stuff of dreams! Take a look for yourself! I can't wait to have time this weekend to shoot more!

I can't believe Valentines Day is just around the corner! I don't like buying into commercial holidays but I do LOVE hearts so of course I fall for Valentines day every year! If you have a sweet heart you want to send a little card to, take a peek at my Polaroid Heart Cards! Each heart started off as a real deal Polaroid, scanned in and lovingly reproduced into a card! I think they're so cute they're worth framing. You can buy them individually or you can get a four pack of your choice of cards (feel free to mix and match, just message me which cards you'd like when you check out). Each card comes with a kraft envelope and with a pack of pretty heart confetti to throw in the envelope! Use the code "xohearts" for 20% off your entire order. I ship out orders daily but the 14th is creeping up on us so get your order in!

I'm going to spend my weekend scanning in film from San Francisco! What are your weekend plans?

XO

WORDS TO SHOOT BY // VACANT

Blog! I've missed you! As you may already know I went on a small jaunt to San Francisco to hang out with one of my best friends and partner in crime over at Ours Et Lapin, Mel! We drank delicious coffees, walked streets that Instagram filters are named after, went inside a camera obscura, saw the Pacific Ocean, rode trolleys...oh man it was so fun. Pictures and tales to come.

For now my first contribution to Words To Shoot By for 2012! The word was Vacant. Go on over to the WTSB and see the other awesome contributions by some of my favorite photographers!

My last pack of TZ Artistic

Tomorrow I'll announce a winner for The Impossible Project's Polaroid Paper Camera Kit so if you haven't had a chance to leave a comment do it. These little paper cameras are so neat!

XO