Crystal Castles – Magic Spells
[Please visit the post to listen to audio, it will be worth your while.]

I’ve been editing digital photos like they are going out of style, so I took a break to scan some of my recent Impossible Project Polaroids taken with my (sister’s) SX-70 camera. This little triptych is from my adventures in picking figs off my mother’s fig tree, which is exploding with deliciously beautiful fruit this year (and every year). The cardinals and the wasps love them too, so they need to be picked pretty much every day this time of year to ensure they don’t get overripe on the tree. Plans for this year’s crop include fig ice cream (made by me) and fig chutney (made by my mother). Mmm . . . I can’t wait! In the meantime I will eat them fresh.

Note: As with the rest of the photos on my blog, you can click it to see it larger.

Gravenhurst – She Dances
[Please visit the post to listen to audio, it will be worth your while.]

It’s been a bit over a week since I returned from my west coast trip and I have finally made it through all the photos from the San Francisco portion of the trip. Here is a selection of some of my favorites. More can be see here. I am ready to go back for more!

Blonde Redhead – Here Sometimes
[Please visit the post to listen to audio, it will be worth your while.]

It sure has been steamy around these parts lately, what with all the 100°+ days and it’s not even August yet. What better excuse to stay indoors than to get to know my new Canon 7D and read the manual from cover to cover! I don’t normally read manuals so intricately, but since this camera is a big upgrade, I thought it would be a good idea so I can use it to its fullest.

This blog should see more updates in the coming weeks as I head out west for a bit. I am very much looking forward to sub-90° weather, fresh air, ocean water, and gorgeous scenery among other things. I expect with the new camera in hand, as well as some film cameras and the travel, I will have more to post while I am there and when I return.

Enjoy your summer and stay cool . . . unless of course you like this kind of crazy heat/humidity.

Tame Impala – Alter Ego
[Please visit the post to listen to audio, it will be worth your while.]

No new regular posts, but look! It’s another postcard!

Every week (or so) I draw a postcard and mail it to someone. If you would like to be that someone, email me here with your mailing address. I will only use your address once to mail the postcard and then I will delete it from memory. Please also let me know if you receive a postcard from me. I know one has already been lost in the mail so I want to make sure everyone who has asked for a postcard has received one. Thanks!

Surfer Blood – Anchorage
[Please visit the post to listen to audio, it will be worth your while.]

I have been very busy/distracted/lacking in creative juices lately and sadly this blog has taken a hit. I drew a bunch of postcards a while back but haven’t gotten around to photographing/scanning/posting them. Perhaps I should implant myself with some sort of shocking device for when I am in danger of being late or missing a post.

Every week (or so) I draw a postcard and mail it to someone. If you would like to be that someone, email me here with your mailing address. I will only use your address once to mail the postcard and then I will delete it from memory. Please also let me know if you receive a postcard from me. I know one has already been lost in the mail so I want to make sure everyone who has asked for a postcard has received one. Thanks!

A Hack and a Hacksaw – Salt Water
[Please visit the post to listen to audio, it will be worth your while.]

Last weekend was the Seersucker Social organized by Dandies and Quaintrelles. Disregarding the intense heat and humidity, it was a lovely afternoon complete with a nice shaded bike ride through Rock Creek Park and phenomenal Hendrick’s gin cocktails at Hillwood Estate (which I definitely need to return to and explore). There have been plenty of write ups and photos posted here, here, here, here, here and here, so I am not going to repeat what’s been said, but I thought I would post a few photos of my bicycle/outfit for the event. I bought three yards of seersucker fabric and sewed myself a marsupial skirt (with decorative buttons) and used some of the extra fabric to wrap my bicycle frame and weave in between the spokes.

I didn’t get any photos of the combo together, but here are some photos of the process and a photo by Matt Steenhoek from the event.

Photo by Matt Steenhoek

No tune today, just a photo . . .

Dusty Brown – This City is Killing Me
[Please visit the post to listen to audio, it will be worth your while.]

This is part two in my series of photos from Dinosaur Land. This set was taken with my Olympus OM-2n 35mm camera using Fuji Neopan 100 Acros black and white film. I don’t know if it’s how I am scanning the negatives or what, but I don’t think I am a fan of this film. Normally I like to scan and do some minor adjustments, but in general I like to keep the images true to the negative. Unfortunately I thought the photos taken on the Neopan 100 Acros were way too low in contrast (I like my blacks black, not ashy gray), so I did a little work on these photos to darken the blacks and create more of a range. So here they are . . . more dinosaurs.

P.S. If you like this Dusty Brown track, you can download the EP for free on the ISO50 blog (and if you are nice you will make a wee donation).

Modeselektor – Edgar
[Please visit the post to listen to audio, it will be worth your while.]

Back in the day (166 million years ago . . . or a couple thousand if you believe in this) this would have been my last photo ever, as I would have been very quickly consumed by this dinosaur that strongly resembles Dr. Finkelstein. Lucky for me it’s 2010 and I can safely get this close to a dinosaur without being eaten.

A little over a week ago “Hoi” and I went on an adventure to Dinosaur Land to take some photos and see if we could make it through alive. I can’t believe I have been in the DC area as long as I have and never knew that this 40+ year old fiberglass menagerie existed; I love places like this.

I brought my Mamiya m645 (medium format color film) and my Olympus OM-2n (35mm black and white film) and so far have only had the color photos developed. These are a few of my favorites from that roll.

“Hoi” also managed to catch me looking a bit like a dinosaur.