I decided to take my 35mm Holga out for a test run yesterday. This is Clemente. He’s already a fabulous hair stylist. He’s studying to be a yoga instructor. There’s more images from the Mamiya coming soon.

Meet Jody. I did, and I immediately felt at home.

In her own words?
‘Writer, blogger. Optimist. Cancer Advocate. Working for a better world, one word at a time.”

BITS

I promised myself I would start blogging everyday. Not such an easy task for a film photographer, but I have made it my goal to do it. I tend to get behind. You should see my office. It’s covered with negatives, negative boxes, negative binders and post it notes everywhere. No, I’m not going to make Martha Stewart’s Guide to Gorgeous Offices of Photographers any time soon. But I’m happy. Happy in my room full of negatives, happy to hear the hum of a scanner in the background, and happy to hear the woosh of the can of air as I shoo the cats out (cat hair does nasty things to scanning negatives.)

I’ve been spending some time going through negatives I haven’t even gotten around to scanning. It’s amazing how I can look at a negative on a light table and know exactly what I’m looking at. But that doesn’t do any good for the rest of you huh?
It was just this morning I found this magical image:

I love the Texas sunset. I love how it peeks it’s way through the slats of the fence of my backyard.

Most of all I love my Holga and what it does to how I see my images. I love my Holga so much I’m going to be offering a workshop on Holga shooting. Did I mention you get a Holga and 5 rolls of film? Interested? Although the workshops site is still under construction, I’m offering pre-registration on the first workshop. It’s all about the Holga. Wanna know more? Use the contact form. The class is going to be limited to 15 people. It’s going to be March 28th. That’s right after WPPI, but just in time to keep that charge going. It’s not limited to pros either. Although we are going to talk about how to get the Holga into your sessions. We are also going to talk about lighting, metering, scanning, and film! And of course we are going to be shooting up a storm. The fee is $300 and that includes your very own Holga and 5 rolls of film. So use the contact for or email me at info@tracytesmerworkshops.com and find out how you can pre-register.

AND MORE BITS

I’m doing a casting call! If you look over there——> [right hand side under NEWS AND UPDATES on the home page]
there is a wonderful new spot for announcements so be on the lookout!! I’m working on a new project called “Hell NO” and I need faces. I need faces age 16-100. Lots of faces, lots of gorgeous, beautiful, ordinary everyday people faces. Wanna be one of them? Email me.

Today is Valentine’s Day. I often refer to it as Heart Day. In all it’s commercialized glory with candy heart boxes, bouquets of roses in every color, and cute fuzzy teddy bears, I prefer to think of today in a very different way. It is a day for lovers AND friends. It is not just a day for sweethearts. It is a day to spend with those closest to you, the ones that put a piece of sunshine in your life. The one’s who give the biggest hugs, the heartiest handshakes, the loudest greetings…all of these people are part of the circle that you love. The part of the circle that probably doesn’t get told “I love you” everyday–they know the sentiment is there, but it’s not often said. These are the people that you adore. These are the people who have your back all the time. You really do love these people. You just don’t say it. Or maybe there is someone in your life that needs a bit of love, and not the kind that comes wrapped up in cellophane either. That person doesn’t understand that “I love you” isn’t reserved for those “in love.” They need to hear it spoken.

*music is Valentine’s Day by Andrew Karnavas, he’s pretty awesome, check him out HERE

As you can tell my blog has been going a little nuts lately. In the process of recreating it for 2010 and beyond ie redesigning and upgrading, I managed to wipe out all of 2009. I know the posts in there somewhere, but they are hiding. I took a deep breath and said “this is okay, it’s like a clean slate.”

This particular set of photos was taken in Brookshire, Texas. I had never been to Brookshire. At the time I went I never knew that something so quaint and beautiful existed right in my utterly suburban backyard. But it does. And although a quick trip (complete with good Texas bar-b-que) I turned out some gorgeous black and whites from my Mamiya C330. I love square format.

The day trip there reminded me of a few things as I went back looking through the images to re-post. It reminded of how much we seem to be disconnected these days. As January comes and goes, I’m finding so many of my friends who I saw practically everyday are starting to not drop by so much, not call so much, and some of them have done a complete disappearing act! Everyone is too busy. Busy doing what, I ask? We are too busy being busy, that’s what. Too busy planning for being busy. Too busy complaining about being to busy. Busy, meaning not having time to slow down and experience life, is just an excuse. Then it becomes a state of mind. No one is every “too busy.” I have the perfect solution.

Turn off the TV.
Turn off the computer.
Turn off the email, facebook, voicemail, twitter alerts on your phone.
Turn off instant messenger.
Now once you’ve done all of that, go in the kitchen.
Find something to make sandwiches. Even peanut butter.
Grab whatever fruit is handy and two bottles of water.
Now pick up the phone.
Call a friend, any friend.
Do not take no for an answer.
Pick them up.
Drive to a quaint little main street, sit on a bench, each the simple lunch.

and most important?
Watch the cars and clouds go by together.