Lauren Eldekvist

It runs in the family..

2012-01-19T10:37:00.002Z

Having just blogged about my sister and her creative endeavors I now find myself blogging about a second creative family member, my cousin has been staying with us this week for a much needed catch-up and we braved the cold and the drizzle yesterday to take some portraits.

Kayleigh blogs about fashion, books, music, crafts and miscellaneous pretty things and has been documenting outfits she's worn so this was a dual purpose shoot, photos for her to put up on her blog and practice for me at being speedy about setting up a light on location. This gorgeous wall is literally just around the corner from my house and I'll definitely try make use of it again.

Due to it being incredibly overcast the ambient light was very flat and created the fill so I used the strobe as a key and underexposed the ambient by between a half and full stop (I think? I forget now). Key was one umbrella-ed strobe camera left at about 8/1 power with an exposure of 100ISO f/2.8 and between 200/1 and 125/1, or something very close to all that. I got the exposure very quickly and changed things on the fly which means I have got a better grasp on the basics than I thought! I feel like this has been a good exercise in building confidence, on to more creative options next!

Textile design by Mia Eldekvist

2012-01-11T16:34:00.002Z

My very talented sister is half way through her degree and had some leggings she needed photos of so, we brought out the lighting kit and jumped around in front of the only available, plain wall in the house for a bit!

For a spontaneous and unplanned shoot I'm pretty pleased with the results, hopefully next time we can plan a little more and get even better shots!

To-do lists and learning curves

2012-01-10T19:08:00.001Z

My to-do list is very long at the moment. Lots of little things I've been putting off for one reason or another. One thing, I wasn't really putting off but kept forgetting to start, was editing the footage I took over Christmas. Finally did it today.

It's really short, it only exists because I wanted to play with the 85mm f/1.8 and because I needed to start learning the basics of Adobe Premiere. Mission accomplished!

So apparently it's all about video at the moment. This is not at all a bad thing! I'm enjoying it rather a lot but I have much to learn about editing. I managed to avoid it for such a long time too! This one has had no colour corrections or anything, when I say 'learning the basics' I mean TOTAL basics. Saving the rest for another time and perhaps a more exciting project.

Also, I need to sort out some shoots so that I don't keep taking photos of my cat.

Tasha McCoy 'Never Land'

2012-01-02T23:20:00.000Z

Some may recall I mentioned that I was going to be helping out on a music video shoot and now I can share with you the result of that! I spent a day with Tasha McCoy and Sidney Diongzon in Bath where we were blessed with some fantastic light and Bath is beautiful anyway so every direction we looked seemed perfect. I was there as a second camera and Sid (director/editor/general creator of the whole thing) has worked his magic on the footage we got and put it to Tasha's beautiful song...

So seeing that for the first time certainly brightened my day! I've been pretty quiet the past month or so, working lots so not much time to be doing my own thing. That will hopefully start to change now that I have more time and also this beauty...

Such a nice lens, can't wait to use it properly. I have a few ideas and mini projects floating about half-finished so I'm going to focus on completing some of them and getting them up here over the next few weeks.

I have a good feeling about 2012.

Bessa!

2011-12-03T19:40:00.001Z

Mixed results from the first roll. I got a lot of partial-double exposures but that may well have been my own fault. Have to see how things go with roll No.2! Still, very nice to see how the lens performs and it's a joy to use, need to shoot more to learn the way the light meter works.

undeveloped film = time capsule

2011-11-06T22:37:00.000Z

Apparently I chucked four rolls of finished film into my box of unused film, I picked one up thinking I had some portra left and then found the others in there as well! They're of the flat in Bristol and, judging from the carnival and the weather in them, it must have been about a year ago I shot them.

It has been really lovely to find all these. I think the majority, if not all of them, were shot with the Olympus Trip. I was very aware of winter last year, partially because I was out in it a lot, cycling, walking, waiting for buses and trains. I have a feeling I will be less-so this year, it has (so far) not been as cold and because I haven't been cycling nearly as much.

I haven't blogged in a little while as I've been working a lot and haven't done any more interesting shoots, there are a few in the early planning stages which should happen in the next few weeks and I also have a new friend. She comes in the form of a Voigtländer Bessa R with a 35mm f/2.5 and she's beautiful. One roll of film in there at the moment but it's taking a while to get through it with no real objectives and not very much time (or light at this time of year!).

So I have proven, once again, that I have no self-control when it comes to spending money on cameras. I have wanted a pretty little rangefinder (with a meter, my Zorki 4K is also very pretty but not so practical on that front) for years so I managed to justify it. With any luck I'll finish a roll and get it developed fairly quickly so I can get an idea of what the lens is like! I have a Jupiter 8 50mm f/2 and a collapsable 50mm f/3.5 which I would also like to test and see what kind of results they produce. Lots of fun ahead. And I still need some models to keep learning with my EOS kit and lighting! So much to do....

GOALS!!

2011-10-05T16:42:00.000+01:00

This is going to be a personal post and may be, for some, boring because of this fact. You have been warned.

I used to post 'To Do' style lists on this blog but for bigger life ambitions (for example, 'learn to drive' was on a number of them and I passed my test last January!). I haven't done this in a while but I have still been managing to achieve some things that would have been on these lists had I made them.

So this is another list but it is of things I have actually done or am in the process of doing...

Start cycling again - I was ill on and off for a lot of the summer but I cycled to work again for the first time last weekend and hope to cycle again this weekend (though it's looking like I'll have to break out the waterproofs).
Start Yoga - This has been going well, I have done a little each day that I've not been cycling and did a whole sequence from the book I'm following this morning which is the most yet. I haven't stopped aching since I started but I'm taking that to mean it's working.
Apply for TEFL/CELTA course - Just waiting to hear about when my interview will be and, if all is well, I will start the end of next February, giving me a little time to save up most or all of the fees.
Stop washing hair - This may seem like an odd one. I always used to wash my hair with shampoo every morning and I really don't think it was good for it. Since coming off the Roaccutane (which had stripped my hair of all it's oils so it never got greasy) I've made a point of washing it with just water and, very occasionally, a tiny bit of shampoo. It seems way happier so far so I'll see how it goes.
Learn more about lighting - I have started and I plan to learn much, much more about this. It's proving difficult to find people to model for me so far but I just got accepted onto ModelMayhem (#887031) and using myself as a model has meant I now get everything set up fairly quickly.
Pay off student overdraft - This was a particularly exciting achievement! Less debt means a big financial step closer to traveling!

So that's what I've been up. Almost everything I've listed there is more of a lifestyle change than a goal as such, or (like with the CELTA course) the first step to achieving a bigger goal but I still have enough things I want to start or do in the near future to create a 'To Do' list so here goes...

Start PMA/Cycling/Body awareness journal - I have the perfect little book to write in and I kept putting it off because I hadn't re-started cycling but now I have no excuse!
Try fit in the occasional swim - Between cycling, walking around all day at work and Yoga I don't need the exercise but I really enjoy it and I used to be quite a strong swimmer so this would be nice to do.
Start putting money away for travels! - This is exciting, I put some aside for the first time when I got paid the other day. It'll only be little bits for now as I'm still paying off the 60D, lenses, etc but it's going to grow.
SHOOT MORE! - Be it helping out with video work, assisting on a wedding, live gigs, performance art, portraits or fashion, I just want to shoot more!
Sell/throw out/recycle/or otherwise get rid of unnecessary possessions - This is an ongoing process. I have started though there are a number of large items that are proving difficult to sell so far but are worth enough to warrant trying (namely my longboard, old guitar and rat cage and accessories). I already feel much better but I know if I can continue to minimise I'll feel better still.

It's on the internet now, there's no pretending I didn't intend to do these things.

Finding motivation as the weather gets colder and darker is going to be difficult but I managed it last winter so I can do it again. There are lots of things to love about autumn and winter. The trees around my house look gorgeous at the moment.

I'm going to stop there and leave you with this (well done if you read it all!)...

Unfortunately I don't know who made it.

It's something I think we all need to ask ourselves now and then. Along with...

Don't like something? Change it. Can't change it? Change how you think about it.

Olympus Trip 35

2011-10-04T13:24:00.000+01:00

These are some old shots I put together and posted to some friends. There's a nearly-finished roll in my Oly Trip right now. It's always so exciting waiting to see what comes back.

Today was a good day.

2011-09-29T00:11:00.000+01:00

I met some absolutely lovely people and got to play with cameras outside in the GORGEOUS sunshine all afternoon.

This is the lovely Tasha McCoy and you get an idea of how fantastic the weather was for this shoot today. It was great to work with someone as enthusiastic as Sidney and it was nice to feel like I'm getting more to grips with video on an SLR as well. I've watched his other videos online and I can't wait to see what he does with the footage, it's going to fantastic.

We shot some 'behind-the-scenes' type stuff as well which he says's he'll blog about and I'll be sure to link to it when he does (though I'm not looking forward to seeing my face on that part, I belong BEHIND the camera!).

The vaguely interesting things....

2011-09-27T22:56:00.000+01:00

...that happen when you take your camera everywhere. I'm trying to do this more. Hoping it will help me be a bit quicker on reaction times. I regularly see photographs and 'take' them in my mind when I should make more of an effort to carry a camera and USE it.

The Outlet Village in Swindon isn't exactly exciting when you've seen it a hundred times but I decided to make use of an opportunity to get out of the house and challenge myself to FIND something interesting while we were out.

Tomorrow will be more interesting. I'm assisting Sidney Diongzon on a music video shoot which I'm very much looking forward to. I'm betting I will learn rather a lot since I've only really attempted video a handful of times.

More light....

2011-09-22T21:49:00.002+01:00

So I visited my friend who very kindly offered to model for me so I can continue learning and getting to grips with lighting. There wasn't much structure to shooting, no planning at all in fact, and the whole thing ended sooner than I would have liked thanks to a gust of wind and the breaking of my £5 hot shoe/pc sync adaptor...

Alas, I cannot afford some nice radio flash triggers like Pocket Wizards, that would be nice but isn't at the top of my priorities at the moment. Greg actually studies engineering and was able to fix this in a matter of minutes, just needs sticking back together and it'll be ready to go again.

So this was all just messing around and 'what happens if I move the flash here?' and 'if I turn the power up and the aperture down?' etc. etc. I'm learning, it's still a little frustrating as not much is very intuitive yet but that will come with time. Just going to have to practice and bully as many friends as I can into helping out.

This was a lovely location and we were going to carry on to find more but just after this the flash took its tumble. Next time I'm going to bring something to weigh the stand down with, missed out on more shooting time because of that!

More practicing...

2011-09-20T15:33:00.004+01:00

I've been reading through lots of articles on Strobist trying to get my head around balancing flash and ambient light and I think I'm actually understanding it! I am still lacking models which makes the whole process take a little longer (setting up tripod, cable release, etc. etc. the 60D's screen is an absolute blessing for this stuff.) but I am hopefully going to do some portraits of a friend this week so that will be good. Give me a chance to play around with shooting angles way more easily.

Window on the right, umbrella-ed strobe directly on left (my room is small and has a sloping ceiling so I imagine there was a fair bit bouncing off of that to account for the softness and wrap) at 16/1 zoomed out to 24mm. I think my exposure was ISO100 and a 50th at f/2.8? Something like that.

Can't wait to have a proper shoot and really get to grips with all this. Practice, practice, practice.

action, camera, LIGHT

2011-09-16T16:13:00.000+01:00

So, some fun new toys arrived over the past two days...

Manfrotto 5001B Nano Stand, Lastolite 80cm 2in1 umbrella and tilthead adaptor with a coldshoe, a 5m sync lead and a hotshoe/PC sync adaptor for the little Jessops flash I got back when I got the 60D.

I have lots of learning to do with this. I can sort of visualise what I want but getting the light to do what I'm imagining takes a bit of time. I need some ~~victims~~ models so I don't have to keep putting myself infront of the camera! Did that every day for a year and I have to say I'm in want of a break from it now.

In the mean time....

London Times

2011-09-15T18:42:00.003+01:00

I like...

2011-09-05T22:22:00.000+01:00

Early nights and late mornings

Late nights and early mornings

Bike rides in the sun and the rain and the snow

Bike rides in the early morning

Bike rides late at night

Sleeping with no clothes on

Reading a book that makes you forget where you are

Sleeping bundled up in joggers and a hoodie

Taking photos of trees and leaves

Taking photos of myself at my most vulnerable

Taking photos of myself at my strongest

Repetition

Doing something for the first time in my life

Planning things

Spontaneity

Lists.

Building things.

2011-09-04T16:53:00.001+01:00

My dad and our next door neighbour have been building a shed between the two houses. 'Shed' doesn't really do it justice. When I think of a shed I think of a flimsy wooden structure rotting away at the bottom of a garden. This thing has a proper roof and joists and everything. It's serious business.

My cat has been enjoying hunting on/crawling through/hiding in the tarp that was covering the shed before they started putting the roof on.

My dad suspected there was a mouse in the garage. This has been confirmed by Dylan who spent most of the morning sat by the fridge waiting for it to come out.

I hope this weather holds out for a while longer. I am finally off the medication that I was reacting so badly to and have a couple of weeks to build up my strength again before I start getting more work! I need to get back on my bike ASAP. I miss it and I don't want to miss the gorgeous changes the trees around the cycle path go through in Autumn.

Weston Super Mare

2011-08-26T15:38:00.000+01:00

London times

2011-08-12T12:46:00.001+01:00

A visit to London, one to Winchester and one to Bristol (with a second planned for next week). I have not taken many photos of late. I'm still fighting off the last of the infection which refuses to completely go away. However, I'm hoping to get back on my bike tomorrow and Sunday. Should also be doing some cycling on Tuesday and Wednesday. If all goes well I will have some more pictures of my favourite place; the cycle path.

Also, I have started a new 365 project.

Natasha and Richard

2011-07-07T15:40:00.000+01:00

Despite recurring illness, in the form of a very nasty sinus infection, I have actually managed to do something I didn't think would happen any time soon and I have shot my first wedding!

It took me a while to get into the swing of things, I'm a little rusty when it comes to reportage-style shooting, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The whole day was a lovely, intimate affair with just the nearest and dearest making it nice and low pressure for me.

I shot about 500 frames in total and got just under 200 I felt worth tidying up and these are the best from that lot. Pretty low hit rate compared to what I’m used to but it is very different to anything I’ve done in the past.

Very glad I took two camera bodies with me, changing lenses would have been such a pain! Tele on one and wide on the other, I never got the 50mm 1.8 out in the end but that was in the bag too. There were several moments I would have missed if I hadn't been able to just grab the other camera. Can really appreciate what a team the 24-70mm 2.8 and the 70-200mm 2.8 are now, that wider aperture would have been appreciated when we were indoors as well. Had a few issues with noise levels with the indoor shots as it was rather dark.

Generally feeling quite good about how I did on wedding No.1 (hopefully of many), ready to keep going and learning that's for sure!

Glass

2011-06-29T15:00:00.000+01:00

Getting used to the new lens. First 3 shots are the 17-40mm f/4 (the one of me taken by Bekah) the rest were taken with the 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS.

It has been too long...

2011-06-25T22:19:00.000+01:00

Thanks to complications with my tax last year and the year before, which I have only just sorted, I am now the very happy owner of the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L! Also soon to be winging its way to me (it should get here on tuesday) is the Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM!

Wide angle in my life again!!

I've gone from massively out-dated, entry level digital kit to brand new, semi-pro and generally far superior kit in a matter of months. Totally crazy. I thought I would be saving and saving and waiting and waiting, but no. This is the second time being taxed too much has actually worked in my favour and I've been hopping about with excitement since I found out.

I have no new pictures for you right now. I've been horribly ill all week and basically haven't left my bed. I'm on antibiotics and they are working their magic so I'm hopefully going to be up and about tomorrow (I have to be, family trip to London). On top of that I am shooting a wedding on Thursday. It's my first one, a friend of my mums and a very small chilled out affair. I'm really looking forward to it!

I've fallen way behind with my 365 posts, which is a shame as I'm so close to the end now. I will catch up when I'm well again. I have been taking photos and I don't THINK I've missed any days (though you will be seeing more from my camera phone, oh dear). I'm looking forward to finishing and starting something new now.

Apologies for all the words. I promise I'll post more pictures next time!

Cooking

2011-06-09T17:43:00.001+01:00

I photograph Naddy a lot. She's like some little muse or something.

Dylan

2011-05-30T22:40:00.000+01:00

The music I'm listening to mostly...

2011-05-16T11:17:00.000+01:00

...at the moment:

Amanda Palmer
The Dresden Dolls
An Horse
Metric
Tegan & Sara

Nadia & Isobel

2011-05-13T20:12:00.002+01:00

Gorgeous Weather

2011-05-10T20:53:00.000+01:00

The rain that was definitely coming and it did eventually get here (not with as much thunder as I would have liked). I went for a walk in the sun today and listened to all of An Horse's 'Walls'. It's been a good, although not particularly productive, day.

Hook

2011-05-04T17:59:00.000+01:00

Tiny village halls are the funniest places.

One Tiny Thing

2011-04-29T13:05:00.001+01:00

One Tiny Thing from Lauren Eldekvist on Vimeo.

On the 26th of April Amanda Palmer, Damian Kulash, Neil Gaiman and Ben folds went into a studio to write an 8 track album in 8 hours and 'One Tiny Thing' is one of the resulting songs. Anyone following me on Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook will know how excited I got about this project. I think sometimes you can learn more by doing a project like this than you can from spending months of thinking and planning. There's nothing like being thrown in at the deep end to force you into action.

Someone on twitter suggested they make 6 music videos in 12 days (like they did the 6 songs in 12 hours) and the chalenge was then passed on to anyone listening to make a video as quickly as possible.

I thought, as much as I wanted to, that I wouldn't be able to do it because I'm basically in a bubble here. None of my creative friends live close enough or are available enough to drop everything and make a video.

I went to bed thinking about if there was some way of doing it alone. I figured 'One Tiny Thing' was the best choice as it was vague enough to do pretty much anything visually and make it work. Then I started thinking about the cycle path and the bluebells. At 1:30am I turned the lights back on and got out of bed. I'd loosely storyboarded the first minute or so by 2am and then went to sleep.

Almost exactly 24 hours later the finished video was rendering.

It's worth noting that I have not done any video work in a LONG time and never shot anything like this by myself before. Nor have I ever done much editing (truth be told I never enjoyed editing, shooting is fun but editing always drove me crazy and I avoided it). This is the first substantial thing I have ever shot on a DSLR, I used my 60D and a 50mm f/1.8 and got the hang of it very quickly. If you've never shot video on one before I recommend it, much easier than I would have predicted.

There may be a lot of oddly timed cuts going on as my poor old laptop couldn't play back what I had done properly so I couldn't really see what was happening most of the time, a lot of it was guess work; 'well that shot was 1.5s so I'll make this one 3s'. That combined with my lack of editing skills and patience makes for a pretty rough edit. BUT I DON'T EVEN CARE!

I'm really glad I did it. It felt really good to finish something and try new things and generally be creative and run about in a beautiful setting with my sister. We shot everything in, I think, under 2 hours (we couldn't work out what time we left home/got there/started shooting) and I edited it in probably about an hour (after about 5 hours of my laptop just REFUSING to cooperate).

Hear and buy the album HERE (do it!).
Amanda Palmer's blog HERE with photos taking during writing/recording, videos of the talk they gave the next morning and the first and only performance of some of the songs they wrote as well as some solo material.

Nadia

2011-04-26T01:41:00.000+01:00

FINALLY

2011-04-24T20:40:00.000+01:00

I finally, finally upgraded from the 350D. I now have a 60D and a little flash to play with too and I couldn't be happier about it!

I've gotten lazy with some things because of not trying properly with the 350D so I need to make sure I carry the 60D with me as much as possible to get used to it and get rid of bad habits. I have accidental damage insurance for it so I have no excuse.

It will go with me tomorrow morning when I cycle to work. Hopefully I'll be bothered to stop on the way home as well as the Bluebells have flowered.

All of these shots are directly out of the camera, I haven't done anything to them at all. I need to get shooting and brush up on my photoshop-ing.

Feeding my brain and my heart and my soul.

2011-04-21T23:20:00.001+01:00

There are two people whose blogs I follow and check daily to see if they have posted anything new. Today they both posted entries both of which I have found inspiring and moving so I'm going to share my favourite parts.

I also have a pet peeve against the stigma associated with looking in the mirror. A lot of my more academic friends detest looking at their own image and stress that they might not even own a mirror. I personally think it's missing out on a very intense and extreme part of the self that doesn't have to involve vanity at all. The physical appearance gets a bad rap because it's often associated with short-sighted hubris, a Dorian-Gray-ishness. And I above all understand that looking at one's own image necessarily entails a sort of vulnerability with which not everyone can be easily comfortable. I don't want to ramble about this any more here, but I think it's important to value our own appearance, not for its beauty (though I don't think it's wrong to place a well-adjusted value on anything that's in your capacity to change, for the most part, and within limits), but because it's one more layer of the self.
- Traci Matlock

we go to the darkest places to feel things to the marrow, and think about them in a space made for thinking, feel in a space made for feeling.
where it’s safe.
- Amanda Palmer

AFP

2011-04-04T19:26:00.004+01:00

I can't remember how it happened but I started following Amanda Palmer on Twitter a few months or so ago without having ever listened to any of her music (at least not knowingly, turns out I did know some of it), I simply found her tweets funny and inspiring. I then went looking for her music and liked what I heard, Map of Tasmania going viral on Tumblr was a lot of fun, the video for it was fantastic as well. Today she linked to her blog and I read the latest post. And then another... and another... and I'm still scrolling but I had to stop for a moment to share THIS:

"In My Mind" Music Video from Amanda Palmer on Vimeo.

Watch it in HD and just LOOK at it. I LOVE it. Such a beautiful video and a fantastic song (which I strongly relate to). Not only do I implore you to watch it but also read the blog that describes it's genesis which in itself is inspiring and wonderful.

I love the kind of spontaneous creativity that led to this gorgeous video. I have always loved film making but never really pursued it since college, this has got me really excited about the possibilities again.

In my mind

In a future five years from now

I'm a hundred and twenty pounds

And I never get hungover

Because I

Will be the picture of discipline

Never minding what state I'm in

And I will be someone I admire

And it's funny how I imagined

That I would be that person now

But it does not seem to have happened

Maybe I've just forgotten how

To see

That I'm not exactly the person that I thought I'd be

And in my mind

In the far-away here-and-now

I've become in-control somehow

And I never lose my wallet

Because I

Will be the picture of discipline

Never fucking-up anything

And I'll be a good defensive driver

And it's funny how I imagined

That I would be that person now

But it does not seem to have happened

Maybe I've just forgotten how

To see

That I'll never be the person that I thought I'd be

And in my mind

When I'm old I am beautiful,

Planting tulips and vegetables

Which I will mindfully watch over

Not like me now

I'm so busy with everything

That I don't look at anything

But I'm sure I'll look when I am older

And it's funny how I imagined

That I could be that person now

That that's not what I want

But that's what I wanted

That I'd be giving up somehow

How strange to see

That I don't want to be the person that I want to be

And in my mind

I imagine so many things

Things that aren't really happening

And when they put me in the ground

I'll start pounding the lid,

Saying, "I haven't finished yet,

I still have a tattoo to get,

That says, 'I'm living in the moment'"

And it's funny how I imagined

That I could win this win-less fight

Maybe it isn't all that funny

That I've been fighting all my life

But maybe I have to think it's funny

If I want to live before I die

And maybe it's funniest of all

To think I'll die before I actually

See

That I am exactly the person that I want to be.

Fuck yes.

I am exactly the person that I want to be.

"Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt." - Shakespeare

2011-03-28T12:52:00.000+01:00

Jonsi - Around us

2011-03-28T12:47:00.000+01:00

I see the walls, then see them fall
You break through them all
I see you crawl, now you stand tall
Grow and grow till tall

In storm we scream against the stream, our eyes watering
Jump into lakes, the surface breaks
We swim underwater, and our mouths - In tune

We all want to grow with the seeds we will sow
We all want to go with the trees we will grow
We all want to know when we're all meant to go
To a place you and I...

I see forest, a treasure chest full of labyrinth
I see a door, holes in the floor
We'll break seeds, we'll grow

There's songs, songs you bring to us
You pin both the wings on us
I hear, I see you sing for us
You go tie a string around us

There's songs, songs you bring to us
You pin both the wings on us
I hear, I see you sing for us
You go tie a string around us

We all want to grow with the seeds we will sow
We all want to go with the trees
We all want to know when we're all meant to go
To a place you and I...

We all want to grow with the seeds we will sow
We all want to go with the trees we will grow
We all want to know when we're all meant to go
To a place you and I...

I see you grow : I see you grow : Grow taller

Did I ever mention

2011-02-25T21:17:00.000Z

how much I LOVE the cycle path to the train station?

the start of 2011

2011-02-03T21:08:00.002Z

I feel like lots has happened recently, but only VERY recently. On the 31st of January I FINALLY passed my driving test!! It's taken me a long time to get here, for a whole host of reasons, and it means a huge amount to me to have achieved this. I found out I have an interview for what is I guess the next step up from the job I'm doing now, which is also very exciting, if a bit scary. On top of that I've had a lot of good feedback from my current job and the temp/trial I did over the Christmas period.

I didn't have any 'new years' resolutions per se, but I did have a number of things I wanted to sort out/achieve/start doing ASAP. One of those being my drivers licence and another being; to start reading more again.

So far I have read:

'The Adventures Huckleberry Finn' by Mark Twain
'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen
'The Liar' by Stephen Fry

and I am about half way through 'Norwegian Wood' by Haruki Murakami.

I think that's pretty good going! Once I get back into it I read pretty fast but getting through Huck Finn was difficult, I enjoyed it a lot but it maybe wasn't the easiest of books to start with. Perhaps should have gone for something I already knew?

Anyway, PHOTOS! Still managing to keep going with the 365 project, I'm starting to think about what I'm going to do with the images once I'm done. I've just passed the 200 mark so over half way now! Crazy to think it's been that long already. I think I've said this before but doing a photo every day really highlights the passing time.

It's also making sure I have a camera with me all the time so I am taking more photos generally (that being the main reason for starting the project in the first place)....

The weather is starting to change, or it feels like it is. I notice that spring-like smell in the air now and then. I'm going to make sure I start cycling more again! I got very bad when everything froze over, I fell off once and decided I'd best stop 'till it warmed up a bit. Which is did... several weeks ago. Still not cycling to the train station. This weekend, this weekend I will.

2010-12-17T21:16:00.000Z

It is actually Tuesday the 14th as I type this. I still have no internet access while I’m in Bristol but I think it’s alright really. I do have the tendency to spend hours at a time sat at my desk, though being unable to send e-mails from here is very annoying.

The weather has been fantastic for the past few weeks. It’s done what I always hope it will in winter; just gone right from glorious summer to dry, crispy and colourful autumn to snowy winter with very little rain or wind. The sky has been so, so clear and blue on some days.

It’s been so beautiful I’ve been feeling very inspired by it all and have become a little obsessed with the trees. The branches look so amazing either frozen or totally bare. I’ve been taking pictures of so many of them. Foliage in general really.

I’ve been so busy. There’s work and I’ve been to a couple of gigs (Boy & bear and Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit, both fantastic) and all the traveling between my parents house, Bath and Bristol (which is starting to grate a little it has to be said).

On occasion I stop for a second and realise how dramatically different everything in my life is now to a year ago. A whole year can either seem like a very long time or not very long at all. It feels like both.

I’m on the verge of FINALY investing in a decent lens for my DSLR. It’s quite scary, like really dedicating myself to ensuring I carry on. Even though I know I will anyway, it’s like a contract with myself or something.

The 365 project continues! There have been some hiccups and a couple of missed days (I took photos the next day for these so there IS a photo, just not taken on the right day) but generally I think I’m doing pretty well. I thought I’d get more people asking WHY I am doing it but that’s not really happened, interestingly. I mean, it is sort of odd I guess. Especially to anyone not too familiar with the idea self-portraits generally.

I have been ignoring this blog terribly.

2010-11-07T22:03:00.000Z

I've been so busy so I'll bullet point it for anyone who cares...

New job in Bristol three days a week
Spending other 4 days (usually) at parents
cycling lots still
spending a LOT of time on busses and trains
365 is still going on, over 100 days now

Summer is just clinging on.

2010-09-21T19:28:00.000+01:00

Wolfgang Tillmans - The Serpentine

2010-09-14T11:55:00.000+01:00

I finally got out of this tiny town last Friday and went into London. The primary reason was to go see a friends' MA graduate show but as I was paying the train fare I figured I should make the most of it.

I went to The Photographers Gallery and saw the Sally Mann show which I'd heard lots about, I didn't think I'd manage to get down and see it before it finished and I'm really glad I did because it was wonderful. I wish I could have stayed to watch the whole film they were screening, seeing her shooting and talk about her process was really interesting.

I also went to the Serpentine which is what really made my day. I've loved Wolfgang Tillmans work for years and getting to see that show was so good.

(Images from tillmans.co.uk)

He manages cover such a wide range of subjects and with so many approaches and then put it all in the same space yet it makes perfect sense to me. It all works so well together and I guess that's sort of what I'd like to try and achieve. In my formal art training the emphasis has always been so much on cohesion that I always took the 'safe' route to a final piece, relating images in very obvious ways or just outright repeating them (I did this for 'Embodiment', though I find repetition is very interesting in itself).

I also love his embracing of techniques perhaps considered on the edge of photography, such as photocopying and 'mistakes' in the darkroom (I do so love darkroom mistakes).

There were a few pieces in particular that really interested me. Some shots of the 2004 Venus Transit which I adored and there was some writing and newspaper clippings in the next room about how he felt about it which got me all excited about space and the enormity of it all. I wish I had known about it then because I would have loved to witness it myself (the next one is in 2012 for those who are well located to see it). Space, or my feelings about it, is something I'm wanting to interoperate into some images some how but I'm still working out how I'm going to go about doing that.

I went back to the piece on the left several times. This is something you really need to see in the flesh to appreciate. I felt like I should be able to dive right into it and swim.

There are some things that are just MEANT to be that big. Working out what sizes everything should be is a process I have always found very difficult. Getting it wrong can make things so uncomfortable to look at some how. I really admire Tillmans' editing and presentation because I struggle with that part of resolving my own work, but then I don't know how hard he finds it and he's been doing this a while now so I imagine that does help!

I think this approach appeals to me because I can get bored rather quickly and the diversity in this show meant I could have stayed a lot longer than I did (and I didn't rush myself) quite happily.

Thinking back on it now I'd love to be able to go back and see it all again. It had been so long since I last went to a gallery (if we exclude a brief visit to Spike Island last week) and it's really nice to feel so inspired again. It's got me back to thinking about putting together some work to show and creating new work, getting on with things.

I feel alive again!

The start of something?

2010-09-13T17:53:00.000+01:00

This could well be the start of something I've been thinking about for a few months now. I didn't really know were to start. I managed to find approaches I knew wouldn't work but this is the first one that I think may grow into what I'm imagining.

Music.

2010-09-13T12:23:00.000+01:00

Since Green Man my iPod has mostly been playing...

Johnny Flynn
Laura Marling
Metronomy
Jonsi
Mumford & Sons

With Jonsi as the exception, I feel I need to update it or risk over-playing the lot.

Lotsa pictures for your hungry eyes.

2010-09-02T20:09:00.002+01:00

, originally uploaded by Lauren Eldekvist.

Mmmmm, free colour developing with CD of scans and prints.

I got 3 of 4 rolls of film back (the 4th is B&W and I don't know what's on it) so you can see some of Green Man festival 2010 in yummy 35mm goodness.

There are rather a lot of images so I'm just going to say this: if you want to see them head over to Flickr and/or DeviantART as that's where they are.

Isobel

2010-09-01T13:11:00.000+01:00

Long time no post.

2010-08-17T21:51:00.000+01:00

My bike now has mud guards.

I've started packing for green man and I've had a pre-festival hair cut which is always nice.

The past twelve days have been hard work and the next six are going to be hard too but for much more enjoyable reasons. Green Man, friends, music, with any luck some sunshine. Can't wait.

Today has been fairly busy though it wasn't supposed to be.

We were only supposed to be popping in to Bath to grab a few things from the shops but ended up doing the tourist thing with my Gran. Rather enjoyed it really, never done the tour buses before.

More packing tomorrow and hopefully a good nights sleep before chaos ensues..

Busy busy busy.

2010-08-05T21:03:00.000+01:00

I've been neglecting this blog a little, I'm sorry. I have been posting on my tumblr and on my 365 tumblr as well. Things are all happening all at once (as is often the case when you've been waiting and waiting for things to happen).

There was some meeting up and hanging out in Reading with blue toes and blue socks and blue benches.

My cycle route to work continues to be totally beautiful.

I have cleaned my bike and adjusted the front break for the thousandth time, it seems better now. I got rained on shortly after taking the last photo. It was really windy so I knew it was coming but there was no way I was going to make it home before it started.

And today there was much productivity in the form of job hunting. We now wait and see what comes of our efforts.

I fear there will be even more neglect in the following weeks. I have (rather stupidly) managed to land myself with 11 days of work in a row, good for the money, bad for my energy and sanity. This will be followed by a short break and then Green Man Festival! I have been looking forward to it for months and can't wait. I'm taking Oly Trip with lots of film and probably the little happy snap fuji as well for it's flash and general ease of snapping.

With any luck there will be much photographic goodness from that, I'll still be shooting for the 365 project but I don't know if I'll get to actually post them on the day or not. We'll have to see how that goes...

Fixing things.

2010-07-29T21:06:00.000+01:00

Me and the bike that is my current little project.

Serious attempt No. 2 at freeing the stuck seat post.

I love this picture. So like him (and me) to pull silly/happy faces like this.

We've filled the seat tube with ammonia and it's standing to soak for I don't know how long. With any luck this will release enough of the rust to allow us to get the bloody thing out of the frame.

The bottom bracket was in a right state but it's been cleaned up and with some grease it should work again, though probably not particularly well with it being so cheap and rusted.

Sunny Days.

2010-07-28T16:47:00.000+01:00

I'm going to make sure I take my camera out with me again tomorrow. Should have gone for a bike ride today but laziness set in. Still might go out for a bit this evening anyway.

The mountain bike I really want to fix up is being incredibly stubborn. The seat post appears to be aluminium and the frame is steel. Science lesson for today: steel and aluminium can rust and bond together. So far no amount of WD40, brute force or encouragement from a blow torch has separated them.

If I can't get the seat post out I may just have to cut it to size (it's way too tall for me right now) and deal with it, but getting that right will be a head ache. If I cut it too short I will be infuriated.

It's been a good week.

2010-07-24T21:11:00.002+01:00

It started badly with missing a training day because I was ill but I was well enough to go to the next.

There were a number of very nice people and very nice cameras. Spending a day in Leeds was enough to bring my accent back, very amusing and it's it still sticking around.

I've been very good about not eyeing up newer DSLRs but that day did make it quite obvious that I could really use an upgrade. Of course, in an ideal world I'd be able to shoot lots of film and print everything myself. In reality it's a lot easier for me to shoot digital.

A 3 and a 1/2 hour train ride was made much less boring thanks to a whole season of Desperate Housewives...

The youngest sister had a birthday recently and to celebrate a group of us went to Thorpe Park. I seriously impressed myself by going on a number of the bigger roller coasters. I screamed. A lot.

Obviously no photos from actually ON the rides though that would be a lot of fun to try (can you imagine? I couldn't even open my eyes for most of them!).

I'm very tired.

2010-07-22T23:23:00.000+01:00

And it's late. I have many photos to sort through and I imagine many more will be taken tomorrow. I don't know when I'm going to get a chance to sort out posting them but hopefully it will be soon.

I got to play with a 5D MkII and a 1D MkIV with some very nice lenses. Nothing particularly exciting to shoot subject wise but it was a lot of fun all the same.

I'm actually getting used to all the trains and taxis and hotels. Adds a bit of excitement and something out of the ordinary to my week.

365

2010-07-18T19:25:00.000+01:00

I'm jumping on the 365 band wagon. I've seen a lot of people trying out these for some time and have often thought about trying it but never actually got around to starting. So, kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing, I just DID.

As I have mentioned at the top of the blog, they're not necessarily going to all be super, duper pieces of creative brilliance, far from it I imagine. I'm just going to see if I can actually do this for a whole year. Now seems like as good a time as any to start, perhaps even the best time.

Two days down. We'll see how consistent I can be with this.

Fun Theory

2010-07-15T11:01:00.004+01:00

I like these people. They have very good ideas.

Still on the bike theme...

2010-07-13T20:28:00.000+01:00

How cool are these?!

SO much more appealing than the sensible grey ones with rain covers and detachable shoulder straps. Oh dear.

Lower Shaw Farm

2010-07-07T16:29:00.000+01:00

Always worth a visit.

Moorhen in HD

2010-07-05T15:46:00.000+01:00

I just scanned my cat.

2010-07-02T12:22:00.001+01:00

I have a pretty old scanner/printer thing that's soldiering on but really isn't so great any more. I don't think the printer part even works now. I've been meaning to do some playing about with scanning stuff because you can get some really interesting/fun results. I remembered my meaning to do this, Isobel was sat on the floor next to me and so this happened.*

I love how some of her pads are pink.

*No animals were harmed in the making of these images, only mildly irritated. In fact, I think she quite likes sitting on the scanner because it's warm.

tree climbing and nettle stings

2010-06-29T21:19:00.000+01:00

It has been years since I last climbed a tree. I couldn't even tell you when or where I last did. Which is a shame because the feeling when you manage to hook your leg over the only reachable branch and scrabble upright with moss falling in your eyes, that feeling is rather satisfying. Even at 22.

The only reason I ever realised this tree was climbable was because I went exploring today. My main motive was to get some photos of where one half of it had fallen across the cycle path. A pretty sizeable branch has split from the rest of the tree and brought down a lot of other bits of trees down with it blocking the whole path (which is impressive as the path is about two cars wide).

I've seen so many tiny rabbits about the path over the past few weeks. Totally adorable and way too fast for me to get a picture of.

"I only reported one about a half mile that way the other day. A Half mile past the foot bridge. Fell down over the path there too."

"Very dangerous if someone were to try and move it and didn't know what they were doing."

"I used to work for the Forestry Commission. I could sort that out."

"It jus' takes one windy night. You see the way they grow like that, they're weak there see. Jus' takes some wind and they split."

The canal

2010-06-29T18:47:00.000+01:00

It's upsetting that the youth of this town seem to think it's perfectly acceptable to dump all their empty bottles in the canal. They did look sort of funny though, with all their little bottle necks sitting just above the water like that.

Isobel has claimed this chair for herself. Perfect location for spotting when people arrive home or go into the kitchen.

Productive in all the wrong, yet best ways.

2010-06-29T14:23:00.000+01:00

Today has been very fruitful thus far. I took all six rolls of exposed film from the fridge to be developed, went for a short bike ride with my camera and have found lots of nice things on various blogs.

For one particularly uplifting video go check my Tumblr.

I also came across this which is of particular interest to me as it is very much connected to my interests and the research I did for my BA dissertation. Fascinating stuff really.

I have lots of photos from my bike ride to sort through and I've forgotten what's on the 6 rolls of film I'm getting back tomorrow morning so expect some pictures on here/flickr/dA/Tumblr in the very near future....

I don't care for perfect photos lately.

2010-06-26T21:23:00.000+01:00

Let there be noise, blown highlights, underexposed, overexposed, missed focus. I could make images 'properly' if I wanted to, but that's not as much fun right now.

Procrastinating.

2010-06-24T20:55:00.000+01:00

That is what this blog post is. I should be reading an awful lot of paper work which is about how to do the paperwork that is a part of my new job. Wonderful. I HATE paperwork. Thankfully there isn't an unmanageable amount to be done.

Ahhh, Bath Spa train station. I will be seeing so much more of you from now onwards. It remains to be seen how much cycling will be possible and how many buses will be needed. This was taken on my way up to the midlands for training.

I think this is Birmingham New Street... I may well be wrong about that though. I did pass many, many stations.

Staying in a hotel alone for two nights was a little odd, not in a particularly enjoyable way either.

I had a pretty awful evening when a massive nail destroyed my inner tube two miles down a very long, very remote cycle path. This was the day after I actually got my brakes working again. I bought a new tube AND a spare this time.

I don't know why I always want to take pictures of my hands when I've fixed my bike. It's very satisfying making something work again and getting a bit mucky in the process.

This is the chaos I returned to after two days away. I don't remember it looking this bad when I left.

Bear, wisely staying out of the way while I tidied and cleaned the rat cage.

I wish I had something more exciting to post, visually. I've been taking photos, as you can see, which is something but not really anything worth while.

I think I need to put an end to this procrastinating now or I'm going to be clueless as to what to do on Saturday.

So, things are happening.

2010-06-18T20:22:00.002+01:00

All at once. I got a new job which I start very soon that should get me a big step closer to actually moving to Bristol.

This would, of course, happen at the same time my current manager goes on holiday so there are more hours available with the job I already had. So mostly all I will be doing for the next few weeks is working a lot.

This is a good thing really as more work means more money. Which, in turn, means I can maybe get some of the ever multiplying rolls of exposed film developed as well as start to a) crawl out of my overdraft and b) save up money to move.

I've not got many photos of all the things I have been up to lately. I've had cameras with me but batteries have been dead, film has been put in the fridge and memory cards have been left in drawers instead of being put back into cameras.

I can't even remember what I shot on the film and there's something like 6 or 7 rolls waiting to be developed now as well as the roll of B&W that's in the camera at the moment (I current have no way of developing it). I got a new cable release for my DSLR but it's very very short. Not so useful for the self-portraits though I do intend to shoot some at somepointifIhavethetimemaybe...

For now I will leave you with this (obviously not one of my photos)....

...and advise you to visit this site because it's just amazing.

It's all over the internet now...

2010-06-15T23:27:00.002+01:00

...but I will blog about it as well as it is yet another triumph in music video creation.

Hats off to the okGO boys!

5. What is light?

2010-06-12T00:32:00.000+01:00

Light is what makes or breaks my photos. I like it. Lots of it. And little tiny slivers of it. And all of it at once. Just so long as I’m smart enough to keep my camera back shut until actually rewinding, Or maybe not sometimes.

HERE.

Trains, trains and yes... more trains.

2010-06-11T18:45:00.000+01:00

Some of the many tickets used over the past week and a half. I've met so many new people and walked many, many miles that my head is spinning a little and my legs aching rather a lot. Quite exhausting but it's been a lot of fun. Unfortunately my little point and shoot told me a terrible lie before I left home, I checked it's battery levels and it claimed to have over half a battery's worth of power left. Once I was a long way from a charger it changed it's mind and started turning itself off so what follows are a few of the 8 pictured I managed to snap.

It was my 22nd birthday on the 8th. I had nothing planned as my friends are scattered all over the place at the moment and we're all struggling with money but I did go out for a meal with these two lovely people who got me some really cute little presents that I really love. We had a really good giggle much to the annoyance of the couple seated next to us.

The Truman Brewery is once again full of more art than you can take in in one day including this years photography graduates from Farnham. I helped set up with them and have to say, theirs has been a MUCH better organised and funded show than the one I was part of last year, much less hectic. Lots of very impressive work as well.

In one of the many periods of wandering and waiting we had an excellent vegi burger on the Routemaster. You can't really tell from this picture that it's actually a double decker bus.

Bekah and her work. I'm ashamed to say it's the only picture I got of her with it and it's blurry! I was in a rush to get it before the camera gave up completely and on the LCD it looked sharp. Whoops.

In other news, I have a job interview next week that's getting me rather nervous/excited. If I get it things will be taking a big and positive step in the direction I want. About time really.

The film waiting to be processed is piling up in the fridge but it's going to have to wait till I next get paid I think. Annoying, but should be worth it.

A few days away

2010-06-05T20:37:00.006+01:00

, originally uploaded by LaurenEldekvist.

It's good to get away. It's given me motivation and hope. Two things I was running very low on.

, originally uploaded by LaurenEldekvist.

I finished the book I took with me and I borrowed this one:

I recommend it, very amusing.

2010-05-31T18:16:00.000+01:00

Took my little point&shoot with me today. Took more photos with the Trip but they will have to wait until I get them developed.

On the left: where I came from. In the middle: some of the many plants around me. On the right: where I was going.

For most of the time I was out the sky threatened to rain on me but it didn't, much to my relief.

Still shooting.

2010-05-30T23:46:00.000+01:00

I'm no musician but I do own some guitars that have been keeping me entertained lately (the ones that work, that is). My dad mistook one of these marks for a burn or scar a few days ago. It was rather purple.

I have 2 rolls of film waiting to be developed and another in little Oly Trip half finished. I think I'm rapidly reaching a point where I need some feedback or I'm going to start circling rather than progressing. Easy enough to say but finding someone to give it is another matter.

The only thing I know I want/need to try soon is photographing other people. Again, easy enough to suggest, entirely more complex to find someone. Something about photographing others worries me. All my previous attempts (outside of a very controlled studio shoot) have been... difficult. There is a better word to describe the feeling but I can't think of it. The results have never been quite right. Which makes me wonder, have I not found the right person/people to shoot? Or perhaps I don't approach it properly? Interesting to think about whatever the reasons...

2010-05-28T22:12:00.000+01:00

This is the route I used to cycle at least once a week but that was a few years ago. A couple of the paths have been changed or have gone altogether.

I surprised myself with how much I remembered of it today.

The red line is the one recommended by the site that I found the maps on, the yellow lines are a more detailed route through town (far left) and the route my dad takes.

Me and Naddy went out but didn't make it all the way, it would appear she has mild asthma like me and our mum. We still did a little over 9 miles all told. All the way there and back would be just under 20.

The next time I have a day off with good weather I'm going to cycle the whole thing with my camera in tow. I took some photos today but was spending more time concentrating on where we were going that taking pictures. The countryside around here really is beautiful and the weather was fantastic today too.

It is my hope that when Bekah comes to stay we can take a picnic with us and chill out with the stones in the sunshine.

2010-05-28T21:55:00.002+01:00

2010-05-27T20:15:00.000+01:00

I tried to restring an old guitar today but the tuning peg gave up. The one below is starting to ease it's way out as well. I'm going to try get some new ones from eBay and fix it.

Apparently today was not my day with instruments, when restringing my other guitar I then snapped one. Joy.

Bicycle Portraits

2010-05-24T20:48:00.000+01:00

Lots more pictures and interviews with the cyclists over at the website.

2010-05-24T20:31:00.001+01:00

, originally uploaded by LaurenEldekvist.

Padded cycling gloves make for more comfortable riding.

They also make for comical tan lines.

Naddy is now 16

2010-05-23T21:20:00.000+01:00

Good music and sunshine.

2010-05-22T15:26:00.000+01:00

It took me a little longer to appreciate Laura Marlings new album, the last one just clicked into place, but now I am loving it.

'You never did learn to let the little things go.
You never did learn to let me be.
You never did learn to let little people grow.
You never did learn how to see.'

9 pictures at 9pm

2010-05-20T21:00:00.000+01:00

Nice to wake up and find this morning.

2010-05-19T10:40:00.002+01:00

Chladni Singing from meara o'reilly on Vimeo.

Researching happens when I don't mean it to.

2010-05-18T13:01:00.000+01:00

I have an alarming number of tabs open in my browser right now covering all manner of subjects.

This one I feel like sharing.

This is the work of Peter Funch, one of 29 photographs in his series 'Babel Tales'. You need to head over there and have a look at them all really.

I generally group this sort of work with 'street' photography but I've seen enough about the genre and it's followers to know that many would probably scoff at that assessment.

Whatever it is, I like it.

Note to self:

2010-05-17T23:52:00.000+01:00

Do not cycle 7.5 miles and then have a glass of wine when you get home. It WILL go directly to your head and you may then be asked to chop salad.

Another good list.

2010-05-17T11:20:00.000+01:00

The 30 Most Satisfying Simple Pleasures Life Has to Offer

I do love lists.

Driving.

2010-05-16T23:08:00.000+01:00

My dad driving his car, my mum driving hers.

I have my second first driving lesson on Tuesday. I hope I remember what I learnt before.

One of many.

2010-05-14T19:18:00.002+01:00

, originally uploaded by LaurenEldekvist.

Rather than repeat myself, I'll just say that there are many more photos from this beautiful place on my flickr.

I'm definitely going back with more film. And hopefully a friend or two.

I like finding things like this...

2010-05-13T21:17:00.001+01:00

25 Things you should know about Other People
Sovereign Syre

There are so many things on this list I want to tell you. You'd say you knew them already and speak to me like I were stupid for even bringing the subjects up.

I do not assume, I know.

I wonder how I would cope if I didn't live with any creative people?

2010-05-13T20:15:00.000+01:00

Something I need to think of more often...

2010-05-11T20:30:00.002+01:00

Lately it feels like there’s an incredibly optimistic person trapped inside me trying to get out.

2010-05-10T19:33:00.000+01:00

When I’m on my bike and the sun is shining she’s laughing so loud, shrieking with the joy of it all. All that shows on the outside is a slight smile that could be mistaken for a grimace.

Sometimes, when a particularly good song starts to play, she escapes for a few minutes, singing with as much energy as she can muster out of my tired and indifferent body.

trip 35 test rolls are back...

2010-05-07T19:07:00.000+01:00

When I put two rolls of film that hasn't been stored properly and expired 12 years ago through a camera I've never use before and then took them to the local drug store to be processed, I didn't expect much to come back. I was very pleasantly surprised...

Olympus Trip 35

2010-05-06T16:24:00.000+01:00

Here is little Oly Trip looking ever so shiny.

I've run two rolls of this through in my impatience to try it out. Get the prints back tomorrow. The last time I used this film it was CRAZY grainy so it'll be interesting to see if there actually anything worth looking at!

My dad has a fairly basic but reasonable quality 35mm neg scanner so if there's anything I like from the two rolls I took in today I'll try scan them for your viewing pleasure.

Here's what's left of my expired 120 film. I think all of this was given to me for free which is always nice.

And this is my bizarre collection of random and expired 35mm film. Some random bulk rolled Agfa APX 400 more of the very very expired Kodak Gold and a couple of odd rolls of Ilford too I believe.

Safely stored in the fridge, the only film I own that hasn't expired! This arrived today, I'm going to save it till I've seen if the meter is working then I'm going to load up Oly and take him with me on my bike rides.

I stand up for two seconds and she steals my seat, every time.

Sun Boxes

2010-05-03T18:46:00.001+01:00

CLICK

A good quote for tired hearts.

2010-05-01T21:29:00.000+01:00

I first read it in an interview with David Bailey I believe though I couldn't find it.

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race”

- Calvin Coolidge

'I wrote this for you'

2010-04-30T20:37:00.003+01:00

I'm sorry. But you could never tell the difference between the mood you were in, and me.

From HERE.

My bike is fixed.

2010-04-30T12:01:00.003+01:00

, originally uploaded by LaurenEldekvist.

This is good news for getting to work tomorrow.

, originally uploaded by LaurenEldekvist.

Neither of these actions helped with my problems.

2010-04-29T19:42:00.001+01:00

This was taken while waiting to see a doctor about my knee. Four others told me I'd pulled a ligament. This doctor told me my ligaments are perfect and the pain is caused by my cartilage.

After a run in the rain and a kick in the teeth.

'A want is a lack but also desire'

2010-04-28T23:57:00.000+01:00

'A need can be nothing but should be held higher'

Sometime next week I shall have this pretty little thing and I shall SHOOT with it.

Boxes of reminders.

2010-04-22T21:26:00.002+01:00

The things from you, about you, for you

were already contained.

Now they're in the box with all the others.

I'm still not sure I want to hold onto it all.

Some things in common.

2010-04-22T14:20:00.000+01:00

This is my little sister and her book collection. We're quite similar, me and her. We both would love to have our own library one day. With a spiral staircase and a large old clock.

She got a new bookcase as she was in dire need of more space. The books are now alphabetised on the new shelves.

polaroidlift03

2010-04-20T12:37:00.009+01:00

polaroidlift03, originally uploaded by LaurenEldekvist.

polaroidlift04

2010-04-20T12:37:00.007+01:00

polaroidlift04, originally uploaded by LaurenEldekvist.

polaroidlift02

2010-04-20T12:37:00.005+01:00

polaroidlift02, originally uploaded by LaurenEldekvist.

polaroidlift01

2010-04-20T12:37:00.003+01:00

polaroidlift01, originally uploaded by LaurenEldekvist.