Instant Paris

I'm so lucky to have seen a lot of beautiful places, but Paris will always hold a special place in my heart, because it's the first place me and Richard ever went together. He took my for Valentines day a long time ago back in 2007, it was pure romance for three days and I don't think I've ever been as excited about going anywhere. I remember walking around with him holding hands in the cold and just thinking how amazing it all was.

I've been back there three times and it still strikes me how beautiful it always is, everything about it is just wonderful. Even the cakes are beautiful! I don't think it's ever looked at beautiful (to me) than it did on my little polaroids, they seem to really capture the colours and vibe of the city, and also of how me and Cookie were just bundles of excitement the whole time.

In an Instant

Today I'm thinking about Instant photography. I was very sad to see the back of polaroids, so sad infact that before Christmas (even though I have nooooo money) I bought a Fuji Instant camera for a tidy £20 off Amazon.

What I didn't anticipate is that this camera would be the size of a small car, and also louder than a small aircraft! I tested it out in the snow (see past blog 'Let it Snow') and I must say it does take a mean picture. I like the way you can have portrait and landscape photos, and the wide format of the photo's is pretty cool. Also it has the advantage of being quite a bit cheaper than polaroid film ever was, I found a two pack (20 photos) on Amazon for about £13, unfortunatly shipping costs put the price up a bit but still better value than when I used to buy my polaroids.

I love taking a photo on an instant camera, theres nothing more satifsying than watching the colours blossom and spread to the tips of the image in your very hands. I know technology is far more advanced and 'exciting' these days, but to me this is a real treasure of photography.

I'll admit polaroid still probably reigns supreme over Fuji. I heard Urban Outfitters are going in with someone else to start making polaroids again, but this just means we can look forward to paying through the nose for the film. I can't be doing with Urban Outfitters take on old fashioned photography (although I will admit this is where I first came across lomography cameras, but went on to buy a Holga as opposed to their extremly overpriced Dianas etc). They pretty much take the SOUL out of anything and charge you a bazillion pounds for something which in reality is worth half what they're asking. Anyway I'm straying from the subject! Here are some photos I took on the Fuji (just to try it out) and some old polaroids. More to come...











an idea of what you're looking at; The first picture is merely to illustrate how big this camera actually is. This is me, showing you that the camera is literally the size of my head. That thing is heavy honestly. I was hoping to take this camera on a couple of little trips I've got in the pipeline but I think it will take up my entire baggage allowence!
The next photo is my beaut fella. He is gorgeous, and I love taking photographs of him. The third and fourth photo is of my Mums old record collection from when she was young. It has the cutest sticker inside, and I love to think of her choosing a record to listen to, probably with my biggest brother listening along with her safe in her belly! Next we've got a couple of photos of this amazing retro greasy spoon in southport, I love its neon 'OPEN' teapot sign and the Betty Boop mode. Next some wedding confetti I noticed today again in Southport, I really like this photo although it looks a little unclear after scanning it in. Finally that's a photo of me so, Hello!

January, Early Song

My beautiful boyfriend took me on an amazing trip over Christmas and New Year. We started off in Hong Kong and whilst over there I learnt that in their culture, birds are considered to be a good luck charm, they believe them to bring good fortune to their lives. We moved on to Thailand and here also everybody seems to have a bird.

At the Yuen Po street bird market on a Friday morning in Hong Kong there are hundreds of birds for sale. All are housed in beautiful hand made bamboo cages.
The louder a bird sings the better, with prices being decided on how well the bird can hold a tune!

The sound walking round was so beautiful, and so loud it was almost deafening, it was as if the birds knew their worth depended on their song.

I've decided I want a little songbird when Richard and I move in together, so he can sing at us all day and I'll always remember walking through the market that day. Also one of the pictures shows me holing a cage containing some birds that I set free to a Buddah in Bangkok. To offer them as a gift to Buddah is supposed to bring you luck and happiness for the rest of your life. Richard laughed at me but when I let them go my heart did soar.

I have been inspired by this aspect of their culture, and I want to bring it in to my project somehow. I'm going to attempt some sketches over the weekend and maybe get them posted.

Let it Snow

I'm about a month late but hey I've been exploring in far off Sunny lands (more on that soon) still here's some photo's I took of the Snow, it's very pretty and my little dog loves it but I hate snow!

Should Old Acquaintance be forgot

I've had a revelation.
I've spent so long thinking about the future, and what might happen, what I might be, where I might be, who'll be there with me, that I've been blind to today.
I spent every day thinking of tomorow, and that's no good.
I've spent so much time trying to plan how I'll get to be 90 years old, when the truth is I probably won't and neither will you, and we probably won't be 90 and tottering off to feed the ducks and then retiring to our arm chairs to sit and hold hands and muse about when we were young. I wish we could, but the thing is I love you, I love you today and I'll love you tomorow and if I get to 90 I'll still love you then, but I don't need to worry about it.
Cause it won't do me no good.
As long as I've got you today I am happy.