Playing with Polaroids

Last week we also got to have a go with different polaroid cameras. I have been dying to try an SX70 and now it is top of my Christmas wish list. I have a polaroid 600 which is an instant camera with a built in flash, this means that my shots come out rather flat and I can't focus or choose my depth of field. The SX70 allows you to focus and has no built in flash and takes those lovely dreamy photographs you see everywhere lately. This was taken using the new PX680 film that doesn't need shielding. It is also very pretty, folds up nicely and has a lovely leather case.

Lensbaby

Whilst we were at Oasis with the Shutter sisters we got to play with various toys like the lensbaby.  I'm glad I got to try one out before I bought it as I have always wanted one but have now decided against it. They are great but to change the aperture you have to use a fiddely magnet and also I think I would get bored of it after a while but it was fun to play with. I took these shots of the pool whilst everyone was trying out their waterproof iphone cases (they don't make one for a blackberry yet so I couldn't play with that one!). I love the effect the lensbaby has on the water. What about you? do you have a lensbaby?

Palm Springs

Wow what a week it has been here at the Shutter Sisters Oasis, here are just a few pictures from the past few days. I am in love with Palm Springs, the hotel was amazing, 70's retro with so many quirky things to look at.

There were also a lot of shutter sister ladies wandering around in Tutus all week too...

A change of scene

As you read this I will be on a plane heading for Los Angeles and then to Palm Springs for Shutter Sisters Oasis, I am so nervous and excited! I think there are about seventy women going, I think only two of us will be English and I have never met any of them in person, only online! I am going to be way out of my comfort zone as I will be replacing my usually daily walk with the dogs in the park above with desert and heat and apparently a lot of tutus! How about you? will you step out of your comfort zone this week?

A bit of cat love

My cat Ling Ling was feeling left out so I photographed her paws

Polaroids

I have been taking polaroids on and off for a couple of years now but I have found the film frustrating as the results have been so haphazard but I decided to go on a polaroid workshop after reading about it on Shutter sisters. Yesterday I headed back to Brick Lane with my polaroid 600 and spent a lovely few hours learning about the history of polaroid and the films with Cyrus. We then headed out around the streets of Shoreditch to practice using the new PX680 film. It seems that the impossible project has a lot of these workshops and if you are in London there is another one in November, it is a great way to spend a saturday morning too.

A sense of place

Last Saturday I took the tube to Hampstead and spent a wonderful day in the company of some lovely ladies who were all taking part in Kat Sloma's fantastic workshop - a sense of place. We spent the morning chatting about various photographic techniques and styles and in the afternoon we all headed off to Brick Lane for a photowalk.
I love this part of London with a camera, there is so much going on and you could be anywhere in the world.

Kat has some great online courses on her website, do check them out and if anyone lives in the UK and wants to go on a photowalk in London do let me know, they are such fun.

U is for.....

We are up to the letter U over on flickr at film26. I found lots of inspiration for this letter starting with my local underground station. It was a typical cold and wet London day when I took this shot.

Of course I had to photograph my utensils

Finally Hetty got in the picture, I think I have mentioned before how she hates the camera and disappears whenever one appears, this time she hid under the table which fitted well with the letter!

Have I tempted anyone to get a film camera yet?

Autumn

I don't know about you but here it seems to be getting darker and winter is just around the corner. At this time of year I always want to stay in bed longer and surround myself with comfort, how about you?

Early morning in Richmond Park

Yesterday morning I took the dogs for a walk just after sunrise, the sky changed colour so many times in the space of an hour. I love Richmond, I love the deer who like to eye the dogs up, sometimes a little too closely for my liking! It is so great to have this wonderful open space on my doorstep in a very crowded London.