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iPhoneography has become a passion of mine and with a little time and patience it has become easy to produce fun, creative images with a little-known digital photography app called Hipstamatic. Beautiful landscapes, architecture and people come alive withe numerous filters and lens that a throw back to an era that was fading fast. You can load your mobile device with camera gear that allows you to hone your skills without carrying thousands of dollars in camera equipment.

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Hipstamatic as a digital photography application that uses the phone’s camera to allow the user to shoot square photographs, to which it applies different software filters to make the images look as though they were taken with a vintage film camera. The user can choose among a number of effects which are presented in the application as simulated lenses, films and flashes. Several of these are included with the application, while others may be acquired through an in-app purchase.

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So how do you use @Hipstamatic….well I will tell ya!

  1. When you open the app you will be looking at the back of a camera. You will see the viewfinder, the shutter, flash and the film window. To change the film, hit the film icon in the menu and swipe up and down.

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2. The front of camera can be accessed by tapping the curved arrow in the bottom right corner. The lens

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FUN FACTS!

Hipstamatic can be a little overwhelming at first, trying to understand how all the different combinations work and what kind of effects you can create using the app. The app comes with a few pre-set lenses, film and flashes, which you can use in any combination of your choice.

You can purchase additional ‘HipstaPaks’, which usually shouldn’t cost you more than $0.99 a pop. HipstaPaks will have at least one film and lens, but some also come with flashes, and camera cases if you want to jazz up your app a bit. The app itself will cost you $1.99, although it’s occasionally available on sale for $0.99.

images Film photography inspires me! It makes me slow down and think. I have to pay attention t0 the lighting conditions, my settings,  loading the film and most importantly taking the lens cap off. You can laugh…the first few times I did. Digital cameras and cell phone cameras have made me complacent and I am determined to go back to the basics and get this right. Yes, I am a home grown photographer and I am proud of it.

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My journey into photography started when the photography world went digital. I started with film and didn’t know what the heck I was doing. Digital cameras made everything so easy but the work didn’t nurture my soul. It was a job that I loved but I was not passionate about photography until I started collecting vintage cameras. I was in Tbilisi, Georgia on a humanitarian mission and we used our free time to go to a few street and flea markets. The quality and the cleanliness of the cameras I saw as I wandered from stand to stand was amazing. But….I am a Soldier and my spidey sense let me know that word had passed ahead of us and everyone knew that an American was buying cameras so the prices tripled. I had to cut my shopping short because I am nobody’s fool and I know the game. I went home with 15 or 20 cameras because we switched it up and went to different markets. I paid around $25 U.S for each camera and felt good about it.

images-1Fast forward to 2016, I came across a cheap Diana F+ and a Holga for less than $80 bucks, new in the bo mind you, and it was on. I have made mistakes and I share these stories to remind myself to slow the hell down. I didn’t do any research before I loaded my first roll of expensive a$$ 120 Lomography film. I didn’t know how to load the damn things. I didn’t know where to get them developed. All I knew is that I had to do something before I lost my mind. Well, it was an expensive lesson and it taught me to slow down. Twenty rolls in and I have finally figured out where to get the film developed. I have learn that you don’t shoot multiple shots of anything or it will come out of your pocket. For sure I have learned to take the darn less cap off….and it still happens if I am in a hurry. I also learned that those cute little clips on the side of the Holga will cost you a brand new 3 day old camera.

All those lessons and those most important thing I learned was that I love it! I am going to stick with this hobby and master it. Maybe one day I will be an expert….today is not that day. So I want to hear your stories and your lessons because this is all about sharing. I am not an expert and I don’t have a particular direction. I am taking it slow and relishing the journey.

 

Leave a comment…Join me in the journey. We can share the ride!

 

LIVE LIFE IN LOMO!

 

 

So I have returned from my travels to Mew Orleans and a Mexican cruise courtesy of my amazing parents. I am feeling triumphant because I packed all of my fun toys and returned with a baggie full of film all prepped and ready for drop off. I am anxious to see the images of Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico.

I am proud to say that I used all of cameras on this trip and I took six or seven for variety. I learned a few things about each one. The least expensive of the lot my Fuji Instax was the most fun and drew people like a magnet. The looks on my fellow travelers faces when they saw a photo pop out of of the top of the unit was worth every photo that I gifted to my new friends. So this camera is a must- have for every trip from now on. The settings are a no-brained and the pics come out soft and perfect.

So this camera is a must- have for every trip from now on. The settings are a no-brained and the pics come out soft and perfect. Buying film for this camera in bulk from Amazon was a lifesaver and saved me from spending unnecessary money. Per habit, I located a camera store in Canal St. in NOLA but realized that I didn’t need a thing but secretly I was hoping to stumble across a hidden gem.

Here a few instants I didn’t want to bombard you guys with selfies of my sisters so you get me and ocean shots.

So take your Lomo and see what you get!

th-2I have had to dig deep into my past to get a handle on film photography. I’d gotten accustomed to snapping photos with my iPhone that the basics got away from me. It’s the little things that trip me up…taking the lens cap off and reloading on the fly. It will be really interesting to see the prints when they come back. I am not discouraged it is all a part of the journey back to film. Lomography has made exploring the 35mm film format that much more accessible with the launch of their super -cheap cameras that produce dreamy, light-straked photos. This week I am exploring the world of black and white.

Lomography’s Lady Grey is a lovely black and white 35mm ISO 400 film that will add class and elegance to your photos. For capturing action and great low-light shots, Lady Grey is your best bet. Lomography’s Earl Grey is an exquisite black and white 35mm ISO 100 film that will surely give your shots an extra dose of style and class. Whether you’re taking landscapes or portraits, you will get jaw-dropping results with Earl Grey super-fine grain and wide tonal range.

images-3The East Coast has been hit with a number of heavy rainstorms this year and last week I got caught in a big one. I was soaked from head to toe. Thankfully, I was on my way home for the day so that soggy feeling had a foreseeable ending. I knew it was time to bite the bullet and buy a pair of red Hunter boots! I have danced around this purchase for years. I have been looking for a deal on them because I already have a pair of black and a pair of fuchsia Hunter boots but my heart was set on the eye-popping red version. Every time I wanted to buy a pair my size was unavailable or I didn’t want to pay full price. Well, my lucky break came in an email from Groupon. They had my boots! The size and color and they were discounted. I knew it was time and when they arrived all I could do was gaze at them. They are beautiful!

I love shopping in my closet! It is so much fun to pull outfits together from what I have and come up with new ways to wear items that I have had for years. I find that I do not shop as much and buying key items keeps my wardrobe fresh and wearable all year round. I want these boots to make a statement all year round and I am already planning the cutest looks for them. I love denim dresses and now I have the perfect rainy day compliment for them. Those plaid blankets scarves from last 6e6a89d7c783424df5510b4fed46eb9aseason?!…. red Hunter boots pick up the color and make a casual outfit pop! Grab your favorite leggings and sweater or those white skinny jeans from the summer….pair them with red Hunters add a denim jacket and you are set! Light snow on the ground….red Hunters with the comfy liners will keep your feet toasty! There are so many ideas that Hunter boots pay for themselves in all of the compliments you will get from your friends. There are so many ways to wear these boots that you will never be disappointed.

Let your personality shine with that pop of color that can take an outfit from drab to fab! Keep it simple, classy and fun! You can’t go wrong with red Hunter boots.

4_2048x2048My natural hair journey has been long but satisfying. I love trying new things but I stay away from any and everything lye-based. It has been 5+ years that started in Afghanistan. I spent a year working in Kabul, Afghanistan and the work was very meaningful but my hair suffered greatly. The water was hard and my lightened strands to a serious beating. So, I did what I always do and turned to the Internet and researched a solution. I came across and advert for The Damn Salon and instantly knew that I found my solution. I booked an appointment with the salon’s touring team that comes to Washington D.C every three months for a marathon hair session and found my happy place. The styles that I wore were wild and free and represented my personality perfectly. The styles that I wore were wild and free and represented my personality perfectly.

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I met the salon’s creator, Mushiya Tshikuka and we bonded instantly over the natural hair movement. I gave my hair health to Mushiya and The Damn Salon for two years and was rewarded with hair that was free of chemicals and growing like a weed. …..And that was 5 years ago and our friendship is as strong as ever! I have never met a woman that cares as much about women’s emotional health and how it is tied to our confidence. She wants every woman to look and feel good.  Mushiya went on to become a featured cast member of ‘Cutting it in the ATL’, a reality show that followed the business practices and lives of a few elite Black hair salon owners in Atlanta, Ga.

Mushiya has given me looks that give me life! Here are a few of my favorites!

 

So that is the ‘Damn’ back story! LOL! Mushiya has unleashed my inner hair diva and I haven’t looked back. When I have been Damn’d my confidence is through the roof. I am a bit shy normally but I do not have confidence issues. But, I get an extra boost when I leave the loving, creative atmosphere that The Damn Salon brings to every city they visit. We talk, laugh and boost each other up. Mushiya is an accomplished chef and we eat well….I am guilty of bringing the wine on a few occasions. We share success stories, wishes and fears. I even learned a few Congolese dance moves that I am going to bust out one day when I want to dance like no one is watching….I was with these ladies when I received news that I was accepted to grad school with a scholarship so it was with joy that I returned with the news that I’d graduated with my Master’s degree in Emerging Media Studies from Loyola University Maryland. We laugh, we cry and we love!

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Along with the love and sisterhood come the products….YASSSSSSSSS! I left with a shiny pink bag chock full of products that Mushiya has developed for natural hair and the people that love STUFF! b04677_ae699ec6b5188070e2edd4f28fa399d4When I came home from Afghanistan with damaged, bleached hair with balding spots that were down to the scalp in places I couldn’t see. It was these products that brought my hair back to its natural state. I massaged the shea butter-based hair butter into my thirsty scalp once a week and in a few short months my hair grew back in the balding spots. A few months after that I had a headful of healthy hair to deal with.

It has been a week since I got my hair done and I am still enamored with the Urban Twists that Mushiya chose for me along with the honey and platinum color that she knew would compliment my skin.

Damn! I am summer ready and off to my next adventure…stay tuned!

OriginalPhoto-518069418.627040I have written many blogs on my love of photography and I am always on the hunt to add a new twist to my craft. So here it is I am done with grad school with a freshly minted Emerging Media Master’s from @LoyolaMaryland and a lot of time on my hands. I was gifted a powder blue Fuji Instax mini 8 camera and a load of film….so off I go to capture art and life as I see it.

The Fujifilm Instax mini 8 is a basic point and shoot camera that takes instant photos and develops them like an old school Polaroid camera. The analogue camera looks like a toy and and is guaranteed to have serious hipster appeal.

The Instax mini 8 looks like a big kids toy from its matte plastic finish, chunky lens and big buttons. It’s not exactly pocket-friendly, but it’s light enough to throw into a bag without trouble. The buttons and features are basic. Up front is a button to extend the collapsible lens and turn on the camera. Around the lens is the brightness adjustment dial you can twist to choose the different exposure levels. On the hand grip is the camera trigger with the viewfinder above and the always on flash just beside it. Around the back is where you’ll find compartments for film and the battery on the hand grip. Yes it takes batteries, two AA ones to be precise. This is an analogue camera in every way.

Bottom line….it is a lot of fun! The photos have vibrant color with a vintage feel. I can’t wait to take this camera on my weekend walkabout. The film is not cheap but this is my hobby and it is all about keeping me busy before I get bored enough to jump into a doctoral program. I was able to find black and white Instax film at my local Target and will update this post with pics of those pics tomorrow.

Be and individual! Don’t Follow the Crowd! Take it back to the days before technology ruled us. Most Importantly…..Have Fun!

 

 

Most women have to adjust their hair products when the seasons change. I am no different! When the temperature rises I want to feel free. I let go of all things heavy. My morning beauty routine gets shorter and products get lighter. Natural curls and minimal makeup become the norm. I tackled summer make up early on and @MilkMakeup images-2quickly became my go-to. Milk Makeup allows my natural skin to shine through and takes minutes to apply with your fingers. Tap tap tap and off you go in all of your natural glory! Next…the hair! I wear my natural kinky, curls in the summer and it takes as much work as my winter hair. After a much needed haircut I knew I was in for a hair adventure. I had to find summer hair products that would allow me to co-wash, define my thirsty curls, springy coils and stubbornly unidentifiable nape all before I run out the door for work.

The first leg of my journey to me on trip back to the products I used when I first went natural over four years ago. The combinations just weren’t right and I was stuck with heavy, clumpy hair full of white hair product. I tried all of my old go-to products and none of them gave me the look I wanted. So, off to the blogs I went, I had to figure out what products would and the amounts I needed to use. Kinky Curly is a great product and can make a comeback as my runner up product. 81osU7w-iGL._SX522_Light gels and the leave-in conditioner gave my hair slip and made the detangling process easy. Nice product but I needed a product that would elongate and the curls in the crown and front of my hair….(different textures…who knew!) I also wanted a fresh, clean scent……then the lightbulb went off in my product addled brain.! Miss Jessie’s!

 

My Amazon order arrived today and off I went to do a test run. I am very satisfied and hope my hair is as happy as I am! First, I applied Super Sweetback Treatment deep, daily conditioning treatment that made my hair softer almost instantly….so far so good. Next, I applied a quarter-sized dollop of the Baby Buttercreme moisturizing leave-in creme to seal in the moisture. Finally, I styled my hair with Curly Meringue curling custard 51bGwgaFJTL._AC_UL246_SR190,246_using the shingling method check out the Curly Nikki website if you need to know more about different styling techniques for natural hair. After a few minutes of gently raking my fingers through my strands I was done. The final step was to give my hair a few good shakes to make sure my curls were defined. I gave my hair a few minutes to settle and went back for a closer look. Meh, my nape and sides are not taking to any of the normal products and will only be tamed by Eco-styler gel so I applied it to my shorter nape and sides. Eco Styler gel works without fail and will hold my hair in place with no problems.

These products work for all types of curly hair so give your hair a summer makeover!

 

 

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Hey WEEKENDERS!!!! It is finally SUMMER…keep an eye on the weather but we have finally reached the unofficial start of summer and now the Memorial Day has passed it it time to jump right into you summer plans! Looking for something to do in the Maryland/ DC/Virginia area in mid-June I recommend a wine fest! I can’t say enough about my local wine fest. Food, Fun, and Music…all on the beautiful Baltimore waterfront. The 3rd Annual Baltimore Wine Fest is simply the best. Experience 160+ wines from around the world, gourmet eats provided by local eateries, live music, chef cooking demonstrations, wine seminars, craft beers & spirits, unique shopping and a family friendly atmosphere. Gather up your girlfriends, besties and bring the kids!

An event like this is a photographers dream! Everyone is happy, friendly and ready to pose for you. I take my Holga and a few rolls of film and let the light lead me. The festival fashions are phenomenal and the smiles are plentiful. The first year we had a few rain showers but it didn’t stop the party. I danced barefoot in the grass to fabulous reggae and zydeco-inspired music. It was my personal Coachella….the best part I walked home. So come out and say Hi! Tickets are available in the link above. Hope to se you there….share your photos.

images-3I am at heart a photographer! I love the feel of a camera in my hand and I carry one everywhere I go. I was trained as an Army videographer and was told that I am a good one. I chalk that up to great Army training, a steady hand and breath control are the result of my years in uniform behind a camera capturing things that go BOOM! I wouldn’t trade it for the world but my heart is in photography. I use my iPhone 6s Plus and my Hipstamatic app for spontaneous, in-the-moment shots and friend shots that end up on Facebook and Instagram. When I want to capture dreamy, artistic shots I pull out the Holga.

images-1After its launch in the early 1980s, Holga cameras became a popular option for people like me that want to shoot medium format 120 film on the cheap. The Holga was manufactured in in China and was marketed as the working-man’s camera that was expensive and available to everyone. Alas, camera production was shut down in late 2015, but the Holga is making a comeback! Lomography color negative film paired with the Holga produces photos that are lightly colored with light leaks and blurry edges that are artistic and full of life. My interest in Holga’s started a few years ago and I was able to purchase my Holga’s…yes I have a few and plan to get more…from Amazon and with it’s Prime delivery option I can have a new one in my hand in a day or two. I love the fun colors and the toy camera feel.

Photos don’t have to be perfect and if I can get one beautifully, imperfect photo out of a roll of film I am happy. Find beauty in the simple things! images-2The summer season and all its adventures and activities will guide you just follow your eye.

Happy Holga Days and I want to see some of your pics.