I made photographs of some items which I’d acquired in the past month, and it reminded me of the good ole “Amanda Loves” Project. If those photos had been posted on that blog, the posts would looks a little something like this:

• I love my “new-to-me” Polaroid Sun 660 camera!

When I began using my Polaroid SX-70 camera again (thanks to the brilliant work being done by the Impossible Project), I also began to wish I had a camera that took TIP’s 600-series films. What I really want is a Polaroid 680, because it’s so much like my beloved SX-70. What I can afford at the moment is a Sun 660. I wanted Sonar auto focus, because the SX-70 and 680 and Spectra series cameras have that, and the Sun 660 met that requirement. I wanted the ability to stop the built-in flash from firing. The Sun 660 had that covered.

I bought this camera from eBay, from a seller in Canada. I consider myself a pretty patient person. Except, that is, when I’m waiting on a package to arrive in the mail. I didn’t know what to expect when receiving a parcel from Canada, so I was on pins and needles until the Sun 660′s arrival. It seemed to be taking for-ev-errrrrrrr. In fact, I was certain the camera had come to the US and been sent back to Canada, because I wasn’t familiar with that country’s online package tracking methods. Just when I’d given up hope, my postal carrier left a box on my porch! I was delighted! The camera was in good nick and good working order. I’m looking forward to the Sun 660 becoming a regular part of my “arsenal”!

In working order, indeed!

• I love my new purse camera bag!

Confession: I hate most camera bags I’ve used. I usually end up casting them aside and throwing my cameras in my purse instead. That’s probably why I often look at purses and think, “Hey, that could be a camera bag!” I was at a thrift store and saw this bag hanging up in the “boutique” area of the store. I actually hoped it was a camera bag with a camera in it. Perhaps that Polaroid 680 I dream of finding at a thrift shop? No, that was not the case. I asked the store clerk if I could see the bag, and I found that it is supposedly an Etienne Aigner. Could be a knock-off for all I know. What I did know was that it was a pretty nice purse, had various pockets inside which I thought might hold compact cameras and film ,and had that front pouch that might come in handy – all that, and it was only $15. I thought, “I’d pay $15 for a purse at Target, and this is definitely a step above that!” I bought it. Obviously.

My instinct that I would be able to turn this into a bag for carrying little cameras around was correct. As evidenced by the photo below, it definitely fit my Olympus XA, my compact digital camera, and some film very comfortably.  As evidenced by the photo above, it even holds my non-Sonar Polaroid SX-70 (and looks quite fetching as it does so!)

Now  I have visions of myself walking around London (a girl can, dream can’t she?) wearing this camera bag crossbody-style strolling around the city, taking photographs at my leisure. Maybe this will be the year I make my triumphant return visit to England…

• I love this vintage tin!

I have too much “stuff” – far too much to fill that little apartment in Memphis I used to have. Most of it is in storage now, so I’m trying really hard not to buy any more knick knacks. I found that my resolve weakened when I saw this tin at a “junk store” in my town. Believe me. Finding something this charming was like finding a needle in a haystack in that place….

My eyes fixed upon this charming tin, and I became even more taken with it when I turned it over and found that it was imprinted with the words “Coffret importé de Belgique.” I assumed that meant it was made in Belgium. Oh,so this tin is super cute AND it’s from Europe? Sold! Now, I know I just told you that I have too much stuff as it is, so I promise that I will take one item which is already in my collection of knick knacks, and donate to a thrift store in order to redress the balance.

Items photographed with my Pentax ZX-7 and Pentax SMCP-FA 50mm f/1.4 lens!

I love Annie and Jeremy so much. I’ve known them for nearly ten years (wow!), I sang at their wedding, and I felt so honored that they asked me to do some photos of them a few weeks before their little one was due to arrive.

I looooooved this! Jeremy’s grandfather was a rodeo man, and they got the baby some little bitty cowboy boots to pay homage to him! So sweet.

Congratulations to Annie and Jeremy on the arrival of Eli, and a very Happy First Mother’s Day to Annie!

Square images taken with Hasselblad 500 C/M, Rectangular images taken with Pentaz ZX-7

I happily picked up more NIGO edition PX 70 Color Shade from The Impossible Project when they restocked this {limited edition} film. Being limited in availability, I wanted to make sure each exposure counted! I put the pack of film into my newer-to-me, original model Polaroid SX-70 camera. After a coupla shots, I discovered that this camera was over-exposing the photos, which produced a more “dreamy” effect. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…

I decided after the first four exposures that I wanted to try the rest of the film cartridge in my SX-70 Sonar model, since I’m more familiar with its exposure tendencies.  So I did a little magic trick and *alakazam* the remaining NIGO film was in the Sonar SX-70!

I enjoy the differing results from the two different cameras. How about you?

Polaroid Sun 660 AF • PX 600 Silver Shade UV+ Black Frame

Pentax ZX-7 • Kodak Elitechrome 200 (expired), Cross-processed

But I digress.

I just love the feel of “homey” pictures taken on medium format film, so shooting in Kat’s home during a recent Muddy’s menu photo session was the perfect opportunity to break out the Hassy. The draping fabric of our photo backdrop and the charming details of the decor in Kat’s house were perfectly suited for what I had in mind for this set of photos!

Hasselblad 500 C/M • Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm/2.8 T* • Fuji Pro 400H

More Hassy photos to come…I’m ’bout to kick it into high gear with this thing!

This roll of “close-ups only” film was another one which I finished and didn’t have processed until months later. I’m bad about that when it comes to 120 film, I guess! I’m quite happy with the results though, so this is a good reminder that I need to slap one of the close-up filters onto my Yashica D and take that bad boy for a spin on a more regular basis!

Yashica D TLR • +1 or +2 Close-up filter

Since we were listening to Coldplay throughout the afternoon and evening, we thought it’d be fitting to post some of that band’s lyrics along with these photos. Maybe when I get the other photos we took yesterday developed (viva film!) ,I’ll be inspired to pair them with more Coldplay lyrics. Until then…

Come up to meet you, tell you I’m sorry
You don’t know how lovely you are
I had to find you, tell you I need you
Tell you I set you apart

Tell me your secrets and ask me your questions
Oh, let’s go back to the start
Running in circles, coming up tails
Heads on a science apart

Nobody said it was easy
It’s such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard
Oh, take me back to the start

I was just guessing at numbers and figures
Pulling the puzzles apart
Questions of science, science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart

But tell me you love me, come back and haunt me
Oh and I rush to the start
Running in circles, chasing our tails
Coming back as we are

Nobody said it was easy
Oh, it’s such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard
I’m going back to the start

Polaroid Sun 660 AF • PX680 Color Shade, Gold Edition

More from my maternity session with the Townsends, coming soon. Baby Eli, coming soon.