Hearth and Home // Progress

This time of year is all about planning and preparation - beginning to put down the groundwork, ready for the sowing of seeds. I am already looking forwards to the fruits I hope to grow this year, metaphorically as well as actually.

Each picture I take; each new experiment with my camera, tripod or editing software is another small step towards my goals. 

I am thoroughly enjoying immersing myself in a new project and putting intention into each and every shot.

If you look back at my very first post here at Hearthwitch Cottage, almost two whole years ago (how did that happen?!) which spoke of wishes and how they come true, you will see that I hold a firm belief in the power of considered intention behind action - that is real magic. 

Do pop on over to my other blog, Through Amy's Eyes, to see my progress with the 2012 366 photo challenge. 

Brightest blessings.

New...

One of my goals for the New Year is to develop as a photographer. With that in mind, I invite you to take a peek at my new blog, Through Amy's Eyes, which will chart the progress of my 2012 photography project. 

I'd love for you to join me on this exciting new journey!

Hearth and Home // Links to the past

Several months ago I found an old 'Lubitel' camera that was my dad's. He had it when he was in his late teens and early 20s - back in the 1970s. 

It looks beautiful - the twin-lens reflex instantly highlights its vintage appeal and we loved experimenting with different shots, using it as a prop this summer.

I love this picture of B, reflecting through the 'viewfinder'!

More exciting than that, however, are the results we got from testing a film...

As it is a medium format camera, we put some of our 120mm black and white film in and hoped for the best. The images we got back are quite eerie. They look exactly like they're from another time - softly focussed and grainy. Aside from the fact that, in some of the shots I'm carrying a digital camera over my shoulder, you wouldn't be able to tell these weren't taken back in the 1970s. 

A day off...

... is on its way on Friday. What bliss. I will be spending my luxury day doing this...

Editing wedding photographs, that is.

Not getting married!

Analogue Love

For Christmas my wonderful beau B, who knows me very well, bought me a new toy.

An analogue camera.

To be precise, a Diana F+ by Lomography.

The Lomography philosophy can be most easily defined by their 10 Golden Rules:

1. Take your camera everywhere you go

2. Use it any time – day and night

3. Lomography is not an interference in your life, but part of it

4.Try the shot from the hip

5. Approach the objects of your Lomographic desire as close as possible

6. Don't think (William Firebrace)

7. Be fast

8.You don't have to know beforehand what you captured on film

9. Afterwards either

10. Don't worry about any rules

I absolutely love this ethos - it takes photography back to its roots and forces you to, once again, experience the wonderful mystery of developing a film and having no clue how your shots will emerge.

While there is now a permanent place in my life for digital photography, I also want to make space for analogue. Having seen my first 'test' reels of film, I think its going to have to be quite a big space!

So happy with how these came out.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness: n. The practice of paying full attention or giving full awareness to the present moment.

In Buddhism, mindfulness is one of the seven factors of enlightenment. 

In modern psychology, this spiritual practice has been incorporated into cognitive-behavioural therapies, often using techniques such as meditation, breathing and yoga, to enable individuals to become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, in order to better manage them. 

Having spent some time practising yoga, meditation and breathing techniques, I have never really found they have enabled me to wholly hinder my mind from wandering away from the present. What does seem to work is having a camera in my hand.

Whilst wandering, with my camera, I am aware of so much more - I give the world around me my full attention (the people who I am with, less so!) and I lose myself in the moment, connecting with what I am viewing. 

Thoughts of what is for dinner / whether I have left the oven on / who I have to telephone that evening disappear; my mind slows and focusses on exactly what I am doing in that instant. Deliberately, I find myself trying to view things from different perspectives and capture as much as I can of the world around me. It is wonderful.

What enables you to achieve mindfulness?

New York

Just a few pictures of my recent broom-ride away...

A wonderful holiday was had - rejuvenating and restful.

It is good to be home though. 

Three Word Thursday

Stunning shot by Dario Gianelli

New York booked!

An Invitation...

...to you all to take a look at this wonderful wildlife documentary, about Bottlenose Dolphins resident off the coast of the British Isles, in Cardigan Bay.

Bay of the Bottlenose Dolphin from Katherine Dixon on Vimeo.

This film has been made by my lovely friend Kat, who I haven't seen in about a year (boo hoo!) because she has been working so hard. The result is this stunning footage, which has been captured as the final project for her MSc in Biological Photography and Imaging.

I'm so proud of her, as well as my friend Ryan, who has composed the beautiful score which accompanies the film. What I love most about the documentary is that it reminds the viewer of the complexity of the natural environments all around them, which we often take for granted, as well as offering the opportunity to witness some of our country's most magical creatures thriving. Let us hope it stays that way.

If you want to see more of Kat's outstanding wildlife photography, she can be found here, or keep up-to-date with her escapades as she roams around the country with her camera, by reading her blog.