A Sample of Ojai via an SX-70

Got to try out my "new" SX-70 Sonar while we were vacationing in Ojai, CA last weekend. Was quite happy with how it performed. My only complaint is that its a little bit more awkward to travel with compared to the classic manual. Or I just need to find a better bag. I do need to get a neck strap for it though. Nice thing about walking around Ojai is that most things of interest were 5 minutes from our Inn. Easy parking, plenty of food choices and nice variety of shops. For as small of a town as it is, there is quite a bit of interesting things to photograph and be inspired by. If we had stayed an additional day I would have easily gone thru my other pack of film. Up next, Holga shots. Dropped film off at the lab today, probably will have something to see by mid-week. Stay tuned.

          

          

          

Signs

Coffe Cup Sign, originally uploaded by LeandroF.

Mels Diner Sign, originally uploaded by LeandroF.

Polaroid SX-70 classic camera, Polaroid Artistic TZ film.

Crows & Trees Diptych

Crows & Trees Diptych, originally uploaded by LeandroF.

I must be a scarecrow. There were about 2 dozen crows hanging out on the street, picking at leaves and bits of things on the street and sidewalk near my home. I drive by, they barely move. I park 2 houses down, take 2 steps towards them and they start cawing like crazy and start to fly up to the trees and surrounding houses roof tops. I swear this has happened to me every time I try get pictures of them. Tried to make the most of the moment and shot these two Polaroids (and a few shots with yet to be processed from my black slim devil). Was pretty happy with these as a diptych. Seemed to reflect the feeling and atmosphere.

Polaroid Artistic TZ SX-70 film, original folding classic SX-70 camera.

SX-70

365 2.0/340, originally uploaded by LeandroF.

1st shot with the Polaroid Artistic TZ SX-70 film. Ordered a couple of packs of ATZ and the Fade to Black film from Polapremium during their black friday sale. I really like this film so far. It has such a nice color palette to it. Plus, I'm thrilled that my SX-70 classic original still works! Many many moons ago when I was still an art student and aspiring photographer, I utilized Polaroids (sx-70 and peel apart) here and there, but not a huge amount simply for budget reasons. It was cheaper to roll and process my own black and white film. So I saved my polaroids for certain things. At the time, if you were on a budget, you had to choose. Now today, in the midst of everything digital and being able to shoot as much as one wants, I've had my own analogue film realization which has also led me back to Polaroids. I've become a very selective shooter over the years, even digitally, I usually (not always, but most of the time) know if I've got something I like within the first few shots. This applies to my holga shots and now to my Polaroid shots as well. Seems to suit my shooting style/method. Oh how I've missed this.