A little ego boost never hurts...

The New York Times' photography blog put a call out for it's readers to send in their Polaroids. One of mine was accepted! And it's Friday. Hallelujah. 

Mono Lake

I blame my parents for everything.

There, I said it! 

Since I was born, my parents have instilled in me a true sense and love for adventure. And I absolutely love it. Even before I could walk, they would lug me around on their grand adventures throughout the American Southwest. Some of my best childhood memories have been from old ghost towns, tromping around in the backcountry, backpacking, hiking, exploring the Grand Canyon, camping in Utah, and the like. 

Now I am a photographer. I have had, for sometime, a strong desire to go back to all of these wonderful and beautiful places that I once explored as a child with my cameras and capture what I see and what remember. This past weekend, I made me first trip back to Mono Lake, just outside Lee Vining, with all of my cameras and film. It was a wonderful experience. Here are a few of my favorite images: 

As always, keep an eye on my Flickr for more updates & uploads. 

Art for Sale & Art for a Cause.

For the past year and half, I have had my life changed by working across the border with the people of Rojo Gomez, Mexico. 

My church has been able to partner with Baja Christian Ministry to help build houses, provide medical care and support, and establish and cultivate relationships with the local people there. 

I love serving the people of Mexico and I love capturing images from the work we do and the people we work with.  

But I also wanted to use my art to help benefit the people of Rojo Gomez. I've been working on a new project: 10 art blocks dedicated to Rojo Gomez. They will be for sale and all the proceeds will go straight to their community. We're trying to raise money to get more help and support down there that the people of Mexico most desperately need. 

So, take a look! If you like what you see, they will be on display this Sunday at ROCKHARBOR church in Costa Mesa, CA. If you're interested in purchasing one, please shoot me an email. I'd love to hear from you. 

5x7, mixed media, with a 4x6 print, Canon AE-1. 

Shot in Rojo Gomez, Mexico. 

Ready to go and hang-able. 

6x6, mixed media, Polaroid from a Land Camera 440, expired ID-UV film. 

Shot at Salvation Mountain, CA. 

Ready to go and hang-able. 

8x8, mixed media, with a 5x7 print, Holga 135 BC. 

Shot at the Salton Sea, CA. 

Ready to go and hang-able. 

5x7, mixed media, with a 4x6 print, Canon AE-1.

Shot in Rojo Gomez, Mexico. 

Ready to go and hang-able. 

6x6, mixed media, Spectra Polaroid. 

Shot in Rojo Gomez, Mexico. 

Ready to go and hang-able. 

5x7, mixed media, with a 4x6 print, Canon AE-1. 

Shot in Rojo Gomez, Mexico. 

Ready to go and hang-able. 

5x7, mixed media, with a 4x6 print, Holga 135 BC.

Shot in Rojo Gomez, Mexico. 

Ready to go and hang-able.

6x6, mixed media, Polaroid from a Land Camera 440, expired ID-UV film. 

Shot in Rojo Gomez, Mexico. 

Ready to go and hang-able. 

6x6, mixed media, Spectra Polaroid.

Ready to go and hang-able. 

Adventures with Expired ID-UV...

Mmm... Polaroid ID-UV film. 

Just the thought of that gorgeous film makes me incredibly happy and giddy inside. What's ID-UV film you ask? Well, it's very similar to Polaroid type 669 film. But ID-UV film has a special security 'tracer' that's printed across the surface of the film that's only visible under special UV light. The security feature was ideal for making ID prints and passport pictures. Production of ID-UV film stopped when Polaroid ended it's instant film line of products. So, even though there is relatively 'fresh' film out there in the market, there is also a great deal of expired stock. And expired ID-UV film is a real treasure to shoot with for the Polaroid photographer. Here's some of my favorite Polaroids I've shot with expired ID-UV: 

These particular images were developed from film expired from 2001-2003. As you can see, the colors are just amazing. I love shooting ID-UV because the colors are so unique and unusual. Even though expired ID-UV results are always a surprise, the colors do tend to lean on the blue/cool side. 

Here are some more of my better expired ID-UV Polaroids. 

And here is a group on Flickr devoted to this fine film. 

There & Back Again.

Without a doubt, one of my all time favorite places to explore and shoot is the Salton Sea in Southern California.
The Salton Sea is California's biggest lake. The lake's salinity is increasing by about 1 percent annually and it contains more salt than the Pacific Ocean. Once part of a vast inland sea that covered a large area of Southern California, the Salton Sea was the site of a major salt mining operation. Back in 1905, heavy rainfall and snowmelt caused the Colorado River to swell and breach an Imperial Valley damn. It took almost two years to control the flooding into the formerly dry Salton Sea area, also known as the Salton Sink. The sudden influx of water and the lack of any drainage from the area resulted in the formation of the Salton Sea that exists today.

The Salton Sea area was once a popular destination for Southern Californians with it's relative proximity to Palm Springs and Los Angeles. However, most of the buildings and structures have currently been forsaken and abandoned. Old houses and trailers rot close to the Sea, being eaten away by the water's high salinity. Altogether, the Salton Sea is unlike any other place I have ever been to before. Placed deep in the desert, this vast body of water highlights the surprisingly contrast between life and death. The resulting images and scenes are surreal and somewhat erie, quite the photographers dream. 

Originally uploaded by Stephanie.....

To check out some of the photographs I've been able to capture from this strange place, please check this out.