Only Time

My latest photography love is taking pictures that could be from a different time, a time that leaves all of the worst of the now in its own frame, blurred by an airbrushed filter, adds bunny ears and whiskers and then deletes it with harsh alert tone that jars you every time. To follow, some time capsules.

The key to catching this time I speak of: imperfection. Offset composition. A bug on a petal made translucent from the sun, whose power takes over–not mitigated by camera settings.

Subject matter certainly helps. This gorgeous Buick Skylark almost had me returning late from lunch. My father had a very similar Chevy Impala when I was a kid. I remember it vividly, though it helps that when my Dad drops me off at the train station after a visit he points out where it was stolen and laments the details of its loss still decades later.

I wanted to lean on the door, but my outfit was not era-appropriate. An attempt in continuity helps.

Next–fuzzy focus. Here, a faded city in the background from the S53 bus, could be years ago.

Props: these are real skates from the late 80’s / early 90’s.

More Props: Le Clic, the first camera I used… not the original, I bought the same one on eBay.

Realness is another element. Real smile, no poses, no repulsive need to be adored.

Candid

Idiocy helps–not caring what others think… because now people care way too much about what others–even strangers–think. Footloose and fancy-free, my friend would say.

An aside about my idiocy–Thank goodness I had these wrist guards on. I wiped out several times breaking my fall with my hands. Things I blamed my falls on: pms-induced issues with equilibrium, eating too big a meal, wheels being too loose, not skating for awhile.

Other things: Dancing shadows look like children