This summer was jam packed with long days and nights, exciting trips, new friends, and memories that I’ll hold onto for a long time to come. If there’s anything I’ve realized more than ever, it’s that time is passing so much faster than I expected it would.
The first year of our marriage flew by us. Every weekend was accounted for. We had to (and continue to have to) plan in advance for any slow time, even if it just means sleeping in on a Sunday. We’re so fortunate to have the busy schedule we have, and it’s teaching me that I can easily forget to really take in the moment as it’s happening.
I have a constant well of inspiration and drive to create, yet it sometimes feels restrained. I think one of the most fulfilling ways to ease that feeling of creative anxiety is to document the in between minutes and days; creating photos that aren’t even necessarily “good” by whatever standard, but that are meaningful to me. I think that’s what film achieves for me. Digital has become my “moneymaker” and sometimes feels a little lacking even when I’m making something personal. 35mm in particular is reminding me that the imperfections, missed focuses, and corrupted frames are all part of the process that I so fondly and eagerly learned by in the beginning. I tend to want to control a lot of things about my photos, and it’s healthy to be able to let that go sometimes.
All that said, here are some snapshots of my summer 2018, from a bag of random film rolls I’d accumulated. I hope you came out of it with memories you’ll enjoy for years, just the way that I did.
These are all shot with my carry-around Nikon FM2 mostly on Portra 400.