I have recently became engaged with 'Lamography' photography and treated myself to the fine 'Diana Mini F+ (en rose edition)'. My my, what wonderful things, this, little toy camera can dooo.
It uses 35mm films, both colour and black and white. The the truly special thing about it is that it takes you back to the day, in particular for me, my highschool years. No more perfectly manicured and crafted 'DP' pics, GONE are the requests to delete so quickly and no second chances. Just point and shoot and once the film has finished, you take a trip down to your local camera joint and get them developed.
A big HELLO to eagerly awaiting, spontaneity and surprises. It's a lucky dip really - you have no idea what you'll get and how it will turn out. Yes, a majority of them will be average, simple shots that you may or may not have kept if you had a digital cam, but then you will find that one gem that makes it all worthwhile.
I find nowadays we are so use to discarding something that may not appeal straight away, or we will try the same pose tweaking it to make it seemingly 'perfect'. This little baby allows you to take every picture for what it is, a moment in your time. A each moment really should be treasured.
Obviously, with any good thing, practice makes perfect.. Here are a few shots that come about with the 'Diana Mini'.
I can't wait to go to India, as I grow older I feel more and more connected and accepting of my culture and hertitage. There is truly no place like it!
A trip is on the cards in January 2012.
'Rajasthani Princess'
A pull comes over me when I see the wonderful things that come out of India.
Its a ritual for me that every sunday (well generally after a huge saturday night) that the following day is a complete write of and deemed 'grubby sunday'.
Now as terrible as this sounds a 'grubby sunday' is characterized by the following:
- Hanging in yah jammies the whole day (possible lack of showering). If a shower takes place then getting back into your jammies, therefore equalling you to being 'grubby' again.
- Staying in bed for majority of the day, poping up only for the essentials i.e toilet breaks, snacking and thats about it.
- Sleeping or watching DVDs.
- Eating 'grubby' foods, as in pizza, burgers, butter chicken and pies. Things with very little nutritional value. Well anything to help make the hangover pains subside.
This was me for three quarters of the day yesterday.
Saturday, for me was a messy league/pub/beer infused day doubled with lack of lunch = drunkard Sammie. Therefore Sunday was in bed doing the complete above ^
But.... Here's how my 'grubby sunday' turned into a 'funday sunday'.. At 3.30 I decided to get up and at least shower as I had THE worst headache ever. I left my room and saw my flatmate Anthony who invited me to a film festival and to see Mark Ronson do a DJ set in Surrey Hills. I HAD TO GO!
I needed to snap out of my lethargic, I'm so death right now and fuck the world and everyone who's in it attitude and had to perk up!
Sooo.. I went across the road to get the most delish banana smoothie at my local gelato shop! Best thing ever and it did the trick. When I came home the flatties were vacuuming their rooms and because our house vacuum broke I was in line to give my room a quick do-over. Instantly, the house and my room were 100 times more cleaner and in turn changed my mood. I was ready for the afternoon!
I met Anthony's 'potential' girlfriend, who was a straight delight and soo cute. Her sister also came with us and with that we hopped in a cab and headed to Prince Albert Park where we met Nick and his girl Rachel. We had a quick nosey and decided to head to Fatima's for dinner. This was great news to me as I still have not tried it and I have heard great things about this Lebanese food joint. I ordered the eggplant and potato and it was very tasty, drank some more wine (meh, decided I may as well - they say the best way to rid a hangover is to have another drink!!)
9.00pm = MARK RONSON... and it was grand and crazy fun, spesh because it was FREEEEE!
He dropped my favey jam (video) and paid homage to Nate Dogg by spinning Ooo wee. He also did Simon Says which went off as well as some Jigga man and Aretha Franklins R.E.S.P.E.C.T... and we partied until he finished his set. Good times.
&&&.. That was just a little slice of my life tale explaining how my 'grub sundy' turned out to be pretty damn productive! FUNDAY
On my Euro adventures in 2010, I spent close to three weeks in the magnificent Spain. Here, I instantly began to fall in LOVE with the people, culture, lifestyle, food, language and last but not least their dance, in particular, Flamenco dancing.
I became more and more immersed in what this country had to offer as I gallivanted through Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and San Sebastian with my four compadres.
One night in Valencia, we were recommended by our tour guide to attend a Flamenco club near the city. We reached this small dive and entered, inside it was dark and moody... But tastefully set out. We grabbed a cerveza and rushed to get a seat to watch the show. Little did I know that for the full hour I would be totally mesmerized and transfixed by the wonderful stage of Flamenco dancers with their racy costumes and sexy allure.
Hailed from Southern Spain, Flamenco origins exist in three forms: Cante, the song, Baile, the dance, and Guitarra, the guitar playing.
The main female dancer was a Salma Hayek look-alike and most aesthetically stunning to look at. The main male lead (looks to be pushing 15?!) was incredibly talented, and danced what looked like well beyond his years. The singing was predominantly done by the three older men hugging the backdrop. Their voices were touching, and along with the intricate movements of the dancers; left the viewer with tingles down their spines. The passion that oozed from them was amazing.. Needless to say I walked out of there wanting to be a gypsy Spanish gal.. Flamenco'ing my way back home to the backpackers. Choice.
Ahhhh, these are photos of various delectable treats that I luckily came across whilst travelling abroad. I was blessed enough to go to America and Europe for close to four months. These are only SOME of the goodies that were delish and amazing for my eyes and soul, but destroying to my health and hips.
...As you can tell I have a MAJOR sweet tooth.. Anything chocolate/tarty/cakey/ice-creamy.. I am all over it. Sugar coma anyone?!
No, but seriously.. Some of the most memorable parts of my trip was the devine foods. This does not even reflect 1/100th make that 1/1000th of the wonderful things we tried. The paella was tops in my books I must say.. & all the flans and tarts made my heart happy. But a personal favey was the Churros dipped in chocolate in the weee morning hours after a clubbing sess.. Claimed by the Spainards, to rid you of any suspecting hangover. Kinda like the way us Kiwis will have a Big Mac combo or my favourite a McChicken and an Apple Pie before bedtime, and wallah (MOST of the time).. you are good as gold in the morning.
This was the first song I heard whilst moving into my flat back in November. Anthony, my fellow Enmore dweller had this on full blast as I was getting my room set up and putting my bed together. As the weekend went on, Impossible Soul was on heavy rotation - I needed to know who this was.
Sufjan Stevens, a Brooklyn based Christian folk musician was my new favey artist and this song a 25min mellow indie pop soul concoction still, to this day will get played as soon as I get home. The beginning sucks you in with the repetitive beat, then enters the sweet sounds of soofie. As he pines and croons for his impossible love 'Seems I got it wrong, I was chasing after something that was gone' if you fast-forward 20mins you reach the 'getting together' part. The tempo increases and the mood changes to an electro feeling as finally he gets what he wanted, his girl. I just cant get enough.
