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. 

Two posts in one day!?!

Joy.
Originally uploaded by Stephanie.....

Yikes, I know, it's true.
So, as some of you may have heard...this past Christmas I got a delightful little present from Santa, a Great Wall DF-3 camera.
Why am I now just posting about it? Well, it has taken me these last few months to figure it out.
What's a Great Wall camera you ask? My photographer friend Sean as done his homework on it: Great Wall, the camera, not the wall

I'm happy to say that this camera was worth the money that Santa spent on it. I'm looking forward to experimenting with it some more and learning all it can really do... 

Holy Moley Batman!

Originally uploaded by Stephanie.....

Oh, hello there blog.
It's nice to see you again. Sorry it's been so long since I've written. School, work, and life have been suffocating me slowly... but do not fear, ever so faithful blog... I have not forgotten you.
And as such, I promise you this...I'll update you every week with unique and tantalizing news on my alternative photography obsessions

The New Addition.

Boys and girls. Meet the new member of my family. A delightful Polaroid 150 Land Camera straight from the late 1950's. She's a beast alright, weighing in at around ten pounds. But, she's also quite beautiful. The 150 was given to me as a gift (!) Along with, get this, four rolls of 47 Polaroid film from 1992. If you're not too familiar with roll film...it's basically impossible to find, anywhere, and if you're lucky enough to stumble upon some, you're gonna have to pay a pretty penny. 

After trying to figure her out...for about an hour...I was able to snap my first image. There is no Photoshop here, that's how it looks, pulled straight OUT from inside the camera.

Roll film is rather tricky and very different from pack film. The image actually develops inside the camera and you open up the back and peel it out. It's pretty amazing. I am absolutely in love with this camera. What a wonderful gift. 

I'm taking it with me on my next adventure to Joshua Tree. Tune in soon for some new images! 

Santa Monica.

My most recent shooting adventure took me to Santa Monica where I met up with fellow photographer Ben Hunter.  It was a good day. Even though I was having some major issues with my Polaroid Big Swinger 3000. I was able to snap a few good images until I dropped it...

Then...I dropped it. And this creepy thing resulted:

Oh well. I'm gonna try and fix it up and get back to working order soon.