Nostalgia

To what extent

2011-11-20T22:44:00.000-08:00

Scratched onto a bus seat:

"To what extent will you ignore your own personal conscience in order to do what others tell you to?"

Abbot's Lagoon

2011-11-17T02:39:00.001-08:00

Abbot's Lagoon, a photo by Erin Eli on Flickr.

Life seems particularly beautiful lately, despite recent circumstances. I guess "loss" is dependent on how you interpret and process. I'm living the sort of life I know my brother would appreciate, and that's never far from my mind.

we were there

2011-10-30T22:04:00.000-07:00

We were there in the house when he died.

I was in the next room, frozen, eyes wide after hearing my brother Tim call for my parents. Early morning light was pouring through the shutters onto the couch I'd spent the past few nights on. I was surprised at the sharp feeling in my stomach, my racing heart. The buildup to that inevitable minute hadn't actually prepared me one bit, it seemed.

I blinked a few times and was finally able to move. I walked the ten or so steps into the room where the rest of my family stood in a circle around the simple hospital bed that supported my brother. I understood. Immediately.

After a time, we were able to leave him as he was: impossibly still under stark white sheets in that softly-lit room. We left the door open.

don't be afraid

2011-09-02T06:26:00.001-07:00

My family, a photo by Erin Eli on Flickr.

When the night comes, don't be afraid. You're only dreaming.

poppies

2011-07-31T08:49:00.001-07:00

poppies, a photo by Erin Eli on Flickr.

I got these Icelandic poppies at the farmers market at the Embarcadero. It's touristy as hell and way too crowded, but I like the produce and flowers there, so it's worth it. As long as I'm in and out in under an hour anyway.

Lemonade

2011-05-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

Years ago, my mom took a simple lemonade recipe (6 cups water, 1 cup lemon juice and 1 cup sugar) and made it perfect with one step: by taking one of the cups of water and melting the sugar into it, she creates simple syrup. Such an easy thing to do, and it improves the lemonade so much - no more gritty lemonade or endless stirring. It's my favorite!

I usually double the batch, so measurements shown here are twice the amount the recipe calls for.

2 cups water

2 cups sugar

Halve lemons, remove any obvious seeds.

Juice!

Lemon towers are optional.

Chill and serve over ice.

Slim Angel

2011-03-28T00:39:00.000-07:00

This camera (click to enlarge):

makes photos like this:

and this:

koi and swans

2011-03-15T03:39:00.000-07:00

This is from a disposable camera. I like it.

I can't sleep.

Rainbow carrots

2011-02-23T12:25:00.001-08:00

Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

I'm starting to shoot food, and I'm starting to love it. It seems pretty natural that I'd combine two of my favorite things (photo and food), but I avoided it until recently because my shots always looked like crap. Yellow and flat, not as crisp as I'd wanted.

I'm finally getting to the point where I have the right equipment to take shots that I really like. It's so fun to experiment and practice because I know that I'm learning so much each time, moving closer to where I want to be.

I want to produce gorgeous, professional looking shots and I'm confident that I'll be able to someday. In the meantime, here are some carrots in a cup.

Sentence

2010-11-26T16:06:00.001-08:00

Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm at my parents' house in north county San Diego, loving my new Canon 30d. Digital is so practical, instant. I can learn from my mistakes because I can see them in front of me.

This is Laurel on Fuji FP100c - shot by my Landcamera.

Mirror

2010-11-03T22:06:00.001-07:00

Mirror
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

In love with this!

Strange image from a roll of 120 shot on my Diana. Light leaks after exposure imprinted the numbers on the film, I think.

"It's much more apparent when there's no one else in the house, and light is slowly fading and slipping behind the hill and the ringing in your ears rises up in a sudden wave. You feel so still and like this could go on forever but it won't. Soon you'll forget, soon you'll be talking and laughing or sleeping quietly in your dark room."

EK

2010-10-22T10:48:00.001-07:00

EK
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

Strange angle ( I can't remember how I originally took it), but Erin just looks so pretty.

This shot is 35mm slide film that I converted to black and white. Our friends Rachel and Dave had a brunch party last month, and even though it was overcast that day, it was pretty bright - there was tons of great, diffused light coming through the windows.

Getty

2010-10-14T00:45:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

EK and I visited LA/Long Beach a few weeks ago for Anch's birthday. We spent a ridiculously hot but awesome afternoon at the Getty - definitely one of my top 3 places in Los Angeles.

35mm FujiFilm with my Nikon, 50mm lens.

Home

2010-09-17T08:43:00.001-07:00

Home
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

I've been living in San Francisco for about two months and I'm in love!

India

2010-06-03T23:52:00.001-07:00

India
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

What a gorgeous little girl - Claire's niece. I photographed her a little bit last month when I was visiting Whittier with my Nikon (here) and my Mamiya, which is yet to be developed. The light was low and I was only using iso 200 but it turned out nicely considering. We'll see how the medium format looks in a few months I suppose.

The light's different up here.

2010-04-19T19:45:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

My friend other Erin and I flew down to Long Beach last weekend. This shot is from our return flight.

35mm film/Nikon/50mm lens

Walnut Creek

2010-04-05T18:53:00.001-07:00

Walnut Creek
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

Been up in the bay for about two months. Things are great but there's not a whole lot of certainty. That's okay, I think. I'm happy.

35mm film with my Nikon N65, golden hour.

Koi again

2010-01-26T20:44:00.001-08:00

54690001
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

On the way down to San Diego one afternoon a few months ago, I stopped at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano. I hadn't been there since.. ever? It's fairly small but what it lacks in size, it makes up for visually. The grounds are a beautiful patchwork of slightly crumbling fountains bursting with koi and lilies, sprawling green lawns ringed by the traditional Mission olive trees, crimson buds weighing down pomegranate boughs, vine-enveloped trellises, kumquat trees dripping with vibrant orange fruit. I wanted to live there.

I brought in my Diana F+ and a few rolls of 120 and had fun with all the color.

Claire making french toast

2010-01-19T23:35:00.001-08:00

Claire making french toast
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

Welllll, I realize I haven't posted in forever. I'm terrible, I know.

This photo (plain ol 35mm on my Nikon) reminds me of Walnut Creek, up in the East Bay. My friend Claire was helping make french toast for my good friend Erin's birthday. Soon I'll be able to hang out with both girls on a regular basis; I'm moving to the bay area in a few weeks. Exciting! Nerve-wracking!

Slow Moves

2009-11-08T15:55:00.000-08:00

Broken Holga. I think the shutter is sticky and it doesn't always trigger the flash. These shots are double or triple exposures. Junk, but I like the anonymity...I just got hit with deja vu. Weird.

Susan

2009-10-13T08:58:00.001-07:00

Susan
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

My friend Tasja and I shot some pictures of our friend Susan recently; this is a crop of one of my photographs. I used my Mamiya 645S and was reallllly happy with the results.

We created a gorgeous softbox feel by putting a fitted sheet right over the window, cutting the light and contrast down drastically. I can't wait to shoot in her room again.

I think I was using regular old Neopan b/w film here!

My first time exhibiting work!

2009-09-01T11:17:00.000-07:00

This month I'm exhibiting work for the first time. I rented a small section of wall in a gallery in the Santa Ana Artists Village, and this coming Saturday is their monthly Artwalk. If you're in the area, stop by and say hi to me and check out all the other great artists!

http://www.santaanaartwalk.com/

Wedding

2009-08-03T09:43:00.001-07:00

Abby
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

This photo is from a wedding I shot in mid-July. The bride, Abby, is dancing with her new father-in-law for the money dance.

Thanks for this job definitely go out to my friend Susan. Her brother-in-law's little brother was getting married, and she sold me as the photographer. (Thanks for having that kind of confidence in me, lady!)

It was a great learning experience and ended up being really fun! The bride and groom were really laid back and easy to work with. In all, it was a very satisfying experience. I'm still editing, but enjoying the process more and more as I go along.

OC Fair

2009-07-16T11:40:00.001-07:00

The fair
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

Mariel and I switched cameras - my Nikon SLR for her Lomo LC-A. I went to the fair with my friend Mary and it ended up being a perfect place for the Lomo - tons of bright colors!

And yes, that is a Lomo that Mary's holding. Ohhh, we're photo-nerds.

Allie

2009-07-09T17:02:00.001-07:00

Allie
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

I want to take more shots of this pup - she's a cutie. Somewhere away from the beach would be nice though. Despite the high contrast, I'm happy with 35mm shot.

Maybe I was too quick to write off 35mm in favor of medium format. Hrmm!

conclusion of a bad dream

2009-07-01T12:57:00.001-07:00

"I was filled with deep regret that I couldn't tell everyone how much I loved them, my family, my friends. How would they know if I wasn't able to say it to them right then? What if they'd forgotten?"

645 with prism

2009-06-29T10:53:00.001-07:00

645 with prism
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

Elizabeth Luna and I shot together a few weeks ago in Long Beach. Her sister Hannah was our model and assistant.

I hadn't used my reflector in a while so I brought that along. I always forget how much contrast it adds - it's nice if you want a bit more dramatic shot. We all had a lot of fun lighting each other and shooting with my Nikon, Mamiya and Land Camera.

Liz got some really cool stuff on Polaroid 690, which I'll link to once she puts it on Flickr.

triptych? Sounds like a disease

2009-06-03T09:36:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been going a little nutty with older photos - a sure sign that I need to go out and shoot more. Also, I have a ton of color 120 to be developed!

In the meantime, and since I can't take photos of Anchal for geographical reasons, this type of thing is holding me over:

Spring Polas

2009-05-27T11:19:00.001-07:00

Spring Polas
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

Two recent Polaroids (they're Fuji instant film but they're still polaroids to me) that I took at school last week with my Land Camera.

My friend Liz (in the picture on the left) took this shot and I used it for a project for my Intro to Digital class. We had to have 9 different 4x4 images that represent us in some way; some semblance of a self portrait. These very much reflect my interest in instant film.

Stranger in the House

2009-05-13T12:31:00.001-07:00

Stranger in the House
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

Explored an abandoned house and adjoining trailer with Tom a few weeks ago at the Sea.

You know, I think this is the first color roll I've shot on Hasselblad. In the past I've used my Mamiya, but never full 6x6.

On a color film/Hasselblad note, my friend Roger from school shot some incredible frames on slidefilm with Hasselblad. Holy crap. Look through all of them.

Resting

2009-05-11T09:40:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

Last weekend I checked out a Hasselblad 501cm and a Polaroid back from school. I love it, it's an incredible combination. You get the amazing focus of the Hasselblad lens, and the immediacy of Polaroid. Well, Fuji in this case.

Dead Tilapia on Bombay Beach, much fresher than I usually see there.

Tom on Polaroid

2009-05-06T14:35:00.001-07:00

Tom Bland
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

My photographer friend Tom Bland was visiting the US for the first time, so we did an abbreviated version of the southern California tour. Venice Beach, Griffith Observatory, the Salton Sea (he's a photographer, I had to take him there!), and the Getty. There's so much more to see, but I think we did pretty well for a long weekend.

This was shot with my Polaroid Land Camera, using the Fuji black and white packfilm.

Sidenote: if I edit a picture that I've already linked here, my blog says that it's "not available", even though when you click through, the image is there on flickr. I'm really irritated by this. Does anyone have a solution? I had to repost.

Ghost Koi

2009-05-04T16:54:00.001-07:00

Ghost koi
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

A polaroid I took last year at the Japanese Garden at Long Beach State, that I just got around to scanning. The water was dark so I set the dial to "lighten" (precise, yeah??) and so the shutter stayed open a bit longer than normal, creating this slightly blurred effect.

I was looking at this today and made the mistake of wikipedia-ing Koi. I learned all about domesticated carp and how they were bred for color and how they're related to goldfish but aren't goldfish.
Now I'm full of even more useless information.

Diffused

2009-04-28T10:55:00.001-07:00

blurry John
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

This roll reminded me that I need to start shooting cleaner. What's the point of taking a shot if I'm not going to pay attention to essential details like background and focus. Yeah, I'm getting the general aesthetic I want, but only at a thumbnail size.

For example, it would've been so easy to remove the books and other items on the shelf behind him. That would've improved the shot so much. Not to mention the fact that the focus is off.

I want

crisp
clean
simple
beautiful

shots!

Time to get on it.

John the Scientist.

2009-04-28T10:46:00.001-07:00

huh?
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

Huh?

Hasselblad 501cm, 80mm lens. Acros 100. Diffused light through a window behind me.

The film version

2009-04-20T11:28:00.001-07:00

Tasja_Hassy019
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

Following up on an earlier post about Tasja; I developed and scanned my 120 rolls from Tasja's back yard, shot on Hasselblad 501cm with an 80mm lens.

Fuji Acros 120 film, 100 ISO

I'm in love with medium format film!

Where are you going?

2009-04-06T11:39:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure..

(click to view larger image)

We were each others adventures, education & loves.

2009-03-31T15:02:00.000-07:00

"Separation is a hard truth to swallow.

When you see your friends, their smiling faces and hear their voices and laugh with them at jokes and memories it's hard to understand why people "choose" separation.

More or less we've chosen to move away from one another, leave Long Beach in search of adventures, education, love, something that we felt like isn't in our lives.

But, all those things were in our lives all along."

- All text by an anonymous collaborator, including the post title.

Photos by me, shot on 120 film with Mamiya 645

Spring

2009-03-29T23:27:00.001-07:00

Tasja
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

Today I borrowed Tasja's Rebel to take some shots of her in her backyard. I also shot a roll and a half on the Hasselbad I have checked out from school this week. It's Spring Break so I don't have to return it until next Monday - sweet. I'll post the film versions of these shots once I develop them.

Portfolio

2009-03-23T16:10:00.000-07:00

Hastily printed last Thursday night:

Scholarship Portfolio

Kate

2009-03-09T12:07:00.001-07:00

Kate
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

I have a Tungsten (lighting) portrait due Wednesday in my Intro to Pro class. Kate agreed to be my model.. and then told me that she used to teach Tungsten to college kids at Mole Richardson, the company that makes the lights that we use in the studio! Um, random and awesome! She gave me a lot of pointers on practical light handling, and was a lot of fun to work with in general.

This is the digital component, shot on the studio 5D. Black and white 120 shot on Hasselblad coming soon.

Find some beautiful place to get lost

2009-03-06T20:57:00.001-08:00

Oceanside Gulls
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

So much to do lately! The weeks are flying by. I can't help but think the next few years will go quickly as well.

Actually, flickr, no that picture is not unavailable.
How do I fix that? I'm such dummy when it comes to this blog.

Creating a portfolio

2009-03-04T11:48:00.001-08:00

Nevada
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

Towards the end of March, I'm going to apply for scholarships at school and I need to submit a portfolio of 10-20 images. I've never made one before and I'm so intimidated! How do I judge my best work?

To be honest, some of my favorite shots are things like this that I took with my Polaroid Landcamera. A few people have told me that Polaroids should be fine to include, as long as they're "cohesive with the rest of the portfolio".

Thoughts? Help!

When did I become a hipster??

2009-03-03T15:00:00.001-08:00

Erin Oven
Originally uploaded by Miller Truby

Taken by Miller Truby at the Salton Sea, one of my favorite places in Southern California.

Summer

2009-03-03T12:06:00.001-08:00

Susan
Originally uploaded by Erin Eli

This past weekend felt like Summer so much. I can't wait for longer days and warmer nights.

Here's one of my latest favorites, shot on 35mm Fuji with my Nikon SLR. I really like Susan's expression and the diffused light on her face. Although the background could have been a bit cleaner.. oh well.

Something that's going to be interesting in the next few months is my transition to medium format and digital. I was recently given a Mamiya 645 Super (thanks to my amazing friend Michelle), and at school we're using mostly Hasselblad. I'll also be shooting a lot of digital for school and other occasions when film isn't practical.

But at this point, I'm so familiar with my little SLR that it's the easiest thing to shoot with, even when I know the Mamiya can produce much better images. I need to just remember that resisting that temptation will pay off in the long run..

Take that, Germans

2009-03-02T15:31:00.000-08:00

A German publication from the 1830's regarding Daguerre's advancements towards a fixed photographic image:

"The wish to capture evanescent reflections is not only impossible, as shown by thorough German investigation, but the mere desire alone, the will to do so, is blasphemy. God created man in His own image, and no man-made machine may fix the image of God."

In that case, I know a lot of blasphemers.