film stories

Today was a rough day for me physically and emotionally. This is relevant to the story only because I was really, really down and needed a bit of a pick-me-up. So I was driving to get my brother when I got a phone call from Richard Photo Lab. They had a hard time reading my handwriting on the order form and wanted to get billing sorted out so they could get my prints out in today's FedEx pickup. Hello, pick-me-up! Also, hello amazing customer service.

These photos span over a year. I don't even remember what some of them are from anymore. I've been carrying around Ida in my bag forever. Where I can, I'll link back to the digital/original posts with the rest of the photos.




This one is from Layla's wedding.




These were taken as part of my whirlwind Salt Lake City adventure.

And this... this is my heart and soul. This is the only shot that I could not wait to see. I did not think that this would come out because it was dark in the Venue and I was trying to shoot ISO 200 film on a 1950s camera. I'm a little crazy sometimes but it's so worth it to say that I photographed Jack's Mannequin's soundcheck on a camera that has also photographed the Beatles.





These are from our Valentine's Day Up photo shoot.





There were shot on my Holga. The broken one that the back fell off of when I was taking the top left shot of the sun rise while I was on the plane to Salt Lake. I'm only slightly upset about that. The rest of the photos are closer to home.




The best part about these scans? They're instant gratification for now while the prints are on their way.

"...and all the lines we cast will bring us home"

I was sad to leave Salt Lake City. I could have spent a week there and *still* felt like I needed more time to photograph everything. Heck, I needed more time just to breathe in the tranquility and the autumn-ness. But as it is, you're getting 4 blog posts from 2 days. I was so in my element.

I spent most of the flight home alternating between reading and taking pictures out the window. I think I'll always be amazed by the way everything looks from way up high and how different things are once I'm out of Florida/away from the ocean.








My connecting flight from Denver was delayed because of snow. But there was no snow by the window I was sitting at.

My last look at Denver. I could get used to views like this.


I knew before I even left which song would describe my trip. Obviously it's a Jack's Mannequin song. It conveys my wanderlust and my sense of home being where the people I love are perfectly.

"And we're still coming home, A thread through the unknown. All the lines we cast into forever got tangled like some wreckage in the road. A road we walked alone. But all the time that's passed held us together and all the lines we cast will bring us home." -Jack's Mannequin, "Casting Lines"

my whirlwind tour of Salt Lake City

In hindsight, I may have been a tad insane to try to do this in 36 hours. We last left off with my first view of the mountains from the airport. From there, Aunt Terri picked me up and we went to the office for about an hour and then we were on our way to meet Andrew.

Of course, we had to park next to the photo collective.


The meet-and-greet with Andrew McMahon was phenomenal. If this was all I got out of the trip, I would be able to call it a success.

But there was more adventure to be had.

In between the meet-and-greet and the show, we went home to drop off my stuff and to let me see some more breathtaking views.


I also got to have the deliciousness that is Cafe Rio. (What can I say? She knows my taste in food.)

On our way to the show, we went a slightly longer way so I could see Temple Square lit up at night. It was beautiful. I *almost* (but not quite) wanted to skip the show to take more photos.


The next morning, I woke up bright and early. When I was planning the trip, I asked if there would be snow and Aunt Terri said if I got up early, we could drive up into the mountains for a little snow. I don't think I slept at all in anticipation.
We drove up through Big Cottonwood Canyon and all you could hear from the passenger seat was the *beep* of my autofocus, the click of the shutter, and me making excited sounds.



As we got closer to the top, I could see other mountains in the distance and it was wonderful.


But the best part had to be seeing snow on the ground as we drove by. The higher we got, the more visible the snow was. There wasn't a lot but it was enough for what I wanted.

As soon as we pulled into the parking lot of the ski lodge, I was out of the car and had my gloves on. If you look carefully, you can see a perfect snowflake on my glove.

Once I had the calm, peaceful, powdery shot, I decided to throw some up in the air and make it snow on myself.

We posed in front of the mountains and then we had to turn around and drive back down.



On the way down, we were talking about how the last time she was up that way, Aunt Terri saw a moose.

Then, I saw movement off in the grass on the other side of the road. So we pulled over and I sprinted across the road to photograph the moose. I didn't even change to my telephoto; I just ran.


Apparently we had a good idea because someone else pulled over to photograph the moose.

The rest of the ride back down was calm and pretty.





In honor of the moose and/or because we were always planning it, we went to the Red Moose for breakfast burritos and coffee.



Then all too soon, it was time to go back to the airport to fly home.