monadnock mama

Kelli Ann Wilson May 16, 2014

film // march & april

Working with a 100% manual camera & 35mm film is both challenging and rewarding. I absolutely love the fact that I have to put more thought into the pictures I take, that they don’t always come out how I wanted them to, and that by the time I develop the film I have largely forgotten what I photographed so it’s always a fun surprise to look at the prints.

I was also thinking about what a gift it is to take a photo of someone on film. Every single childhood photo that I have of myself was taken with a film camera. How many kids these days will have even one photo taken of them with a film camera? Probably not many, unless one of their relatives or friends is interested in film photography. The reality is that most of the photos our kids will have of themselves will probably be taken with a cell phone & will probably never be printed — if that’s not depressing, I don’t know what is.

I am so happy that I have a film camera, and that I am learning how to use it, because it truly is a special and unique way to capture someone you love. There’s something about the soft edges and the way the light falls that you just can’t get with digital, no matter how many filters you use. So, get a film camera and take pictures of your kids, your friends, your family and, of course, your cat! You won’t regret it. You can get the camera & lens that I use on ebay for next to nothing these days.

Here are some of my latest film photos, and you can see more by visiting my flickr photostream.

canon ae-1 program // canon fd 50mm 1.8 lens // kodak professional bw400cn (expired circa 2000) // processed by Monadnock Imaging, Keene, NH // scanned by me on the lexmark prestige pro805 (because I forgot to ask for a CD with my prints — d’oh!)

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Kelli Ann Wilson May 16, 2014

20 // 52

“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2014.”

Lillia: This week I was feeling sad about a few things, and you were such a great comfort to me. I am so amazed by your empathy and your nurturing spirit. It doesn’t show all the time (you are a kid, after all), but you feel deeply the distress of others and you try your best to alleviate it. You have a lot of wisdom, too, for such a young person. So, thank you, Lillia, for supporting me and for giving me the opportunity to see my trials and tribulations in another light.

Zane: On our walk yesterday you met one of our neighbors who gave you two very cool rocks for your “rockry coweckshun” (rock collection): one was a rounded stone that came from the bank of the Connecticut River (it looked like an egg!); the other was a fire agate that came from his friend’s mine in Arizona. People are very drawn to you, probably because you are adorable, but also because you really enjoy engaging with others. You are the very definition of friendly!

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Kelli Ann Wilson May 12, 2014

baby turtle

Our house abuts a conservation area that mostly consists of a largely manmade, yet long out-of-use, body of water called the Mill Pond. Every Spring the mama turtles come up from the water and lay eggs, which hatch sometime near the end of summer. I was so surprised to see a baby painted turtle this past weekend, since it seemed to be the wrong time of year. It turns out, some painted turtles overwinter in their nests after they hatch, and then make their journey back to the water in the Spring! I can’t believe this little one survived the winter we had this year — it was so brutally cold and long. But, here he or she is, against the odds!

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Kelli Ann Wilson May 8, 2014

lakebreeze village

Last weekend my daughter, Lillia, and my mom built a little fairy village in our backyard. Strategically placed just beyond the fence (possibly to keep little brothers out?), it sits atop an embankment that provides a lovely vista over the Mill Pond. Aptly named “Lakebreeze Village,” it is a gloriously colorful and bustling fairy haven. It is also very tiny, which gave me an excellent opportunity to do some practicing with my new 105mm macro lens. I love how the little plastic characters actually seem to come alive when you see them larger than life. Let’s meet some of them, shall we?

P.S. I still believe in fairies, do you?

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Kelli Ann Wilson May 8, 2014

19 // 52

“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2014.”

Lillia: This week at school was riddled with drama — mean girls and mean teachers. You are so hard on yourself when you cry at school, but your big heart is one of your best qualities. I know this situation well, as I was once the little girl who cried a lot at school (now I’m the adult who still cries more than most other adults, but I’m okay with it). The good news is that most people are unlikely to remember much of anything about their elementary years, let alone whether or not you happened to cry often. It will get easier to contain as you get older, but you’ll probably always have very strong feelings, and that’s not a bad thing. The world needs compassion and empathy more than it needs anything else.

Zane: This week you got to come with me to the car dealership to have my car inspected. That was a pretty exciting adventure for someone who loves anything that has a motor. We got to see a tow truck really close-up and you were surprised to learn that they weren’t moving a car, but a very big tool box! When you’re a little bigger, I bet your uncle (who works there) will let you come and look around the shop.