Costa Rica Film

I feel like it has been five billion years since I have posted my own photos on here. Truthfully, I have missed it terribly.

I got a couple rolls of film developed this week that have been sitting on our bookshelf for well over a year. I decided it was finally time to bite the bullet and drive down to my favorite local printing shop to get them developed (Replicolor anyone?). These are some photos from my Costa Rica trip I went on two summers ago with a few photos exploring downtown SLC thrown in the mix. I was so excited to get these back! I knew most were from Costa Rica, but I had completely forgotten about a little downtown adventure Zac and I went on FOREVER ago! We bought these Anywhere Travel Guide cards, and decided to explore our own city. We ended up trying some awesome new restaurants, and explored some places we probably never would have. To be honest I completely forgot that I had them. I will have to take them on our next city adventure together.

These photos got me really excited to start taking some photos again, and to maybe edit and post some photos I just haven't gotten around to yet. I have had a really it hard time finding what my "thing" is when it comes to photography. I feel like I have literally tried everything! But if I am being completely honest with myself it is the photos that I find on film where I see my true passion. I am all about candid, and I love capturing places, people, and things in their natural surroundings. That sounds so so so cheesy, but I don't know how else to explain it. I have tried to be so many things when it comes to being a "photographer". I get pulled into wanting to do what everyone around me is doing. I can't do the weddings, engagements, and family photos. That stuff doesn't make me happy. And realizing that makes me completely okay with photography just being my hobby. Sometimes you try so hard for so long to impress people with your "skills" in whatever it is that you are doing that you forget why you are actually doing it. I constantly putting my camera bag on the shelf for the fear of being inadequate. I want to put that mindset aside, and get back into taking photos purely because I love taking them.

Well that was a lot to say just to show you some really old photos!

 My awesome husband (then boyfriend or fiance, I can't really remember) posing in front of a cool brick wall just because I asked him too. Haha

 Obviously I didn't take this one. Photo cred to the husband. 

I know this photo is blurry, but for some reason I still love it.

 Seriously though, how green is this place?!

 I think it is definitely time to go back.

Breakdowns

I swear one day I am feeling on top of the world, and that I have my life all figured out, and then the next day I am on the verge of a mental breakdown. This was my day yesterday. Does this happen to anyone else but me?

Yesterday was just a bad day for me, and when I sat back and thought about it I realized that it was all on me. I was the one stressing myself out, and for not reason at all. Do you ever have those days where you are either of sick of your job, or school, or anything really, and it is just for that day, but it is like all the sudden your head explodes, and you can't stop your thoughts from running wild? You put so much stress on finding that perfect job, or being this perfect person, and before you know it you are doing all you can not to break into a million tiny pieces? Why do we do this to ourselves?

It is ridiculous you guys. The need for being perfect, and comparing ourselves to everyone. Just days before you were thinking how lucky you are, and what a blessed life you have, and the next thing you know you have completely turned your back on that wonderful life, and instead are wasting your time trying to become someone you are not. I think we sometimes we just need to take a deep breathe, step back, and realize most of us have it pretty good, and there is just no need at all to do all this comparing and perfecting.

I guess the main point I am trying to get across is life is just too hard if your are constantly comparing yourself to others, and my goal from here on out is to change my attitude about that. Instead of being jealous of those who might be more successful than me, to instead be excited and proud for them! We should all be rooting for each other. Life isn't a competition! We should all get to CHOOSE the way we want to live without fear of not being good or glamorous enough.

Well this is the end of my rambling ladies and gentlemen. Here is to a new attitude, and to less breakdowns.

P.s- Pictures are from a Saturday adventure with my love to Bridal Veil Falls. We were driving through the Alpine Loop when we stumbled upon this beauty. It was too gorgeous not to stop and pull over to take pictures. I want to go back some day soon, and explore it a little more!

Beginnings

About two weeks ago I took in two rolls of film to get developed that have been sitting in my room for a year and a half. They were my first two rolls of film I shot after taking my dark room photography class my first semester of college.

I was so excited to see these. Mostly because I couldn't remember anything I had taken on them. My goodness, did I have a major flash back to the past! In these photos I see experimenting with my camera, past relationships, my pup that passed away almost a year ago, and just random things I thought were important at the time of taking them. I think the biggest surprise with this developed film is to see how much I have grown as a photographer since then. Guys, these pictures are kind of horrible. Haha Half of them are just noise, and the others are extremely under or over-exposed. Oh, and blurry! I couldn't forget blurry. I am going to share them anyway, because it just goes to show what practice and passion can do in just a year and a half. Seeing these have just made me appreciate that I have stuck with photography, and that I continue to learn and grow.

But seriously you guys, get ready for these. Some are a bit of an eye sore. Haha I am not sharing all of them, because that would just be mean. So yeah, here are a few.

Ahhh my pup!! Look at this handsome guy. Love him to pieces! Miss you buddy.

Obviously I have to end with a selfie. It only makes sense. But seriously, don't ask me what made me decide to take a picture of my window, yarn, and best of all an old friend sitting in the corner of a shower completely drenched. Let's not try and figure out how my mind works sometimes, because that is just chaos. 

So there is "younger" Shelby trying to be a cool and hip photographer... HAHAHA if only I had known.

San Francisco: The Film

Oh my goodness, I am so excited you guys. It has been a little over a year since the last time I put some new film in my camera, and now it is all I want in life. I just want piles of film, and hours to explore and take pictures. There is just that look of film, the feel of it. I can't even describe it, but it is one of my favorite things in the whole entire world. I am a little rusty when it comes to operating my film camera, so just be aware of that. Either way, I love these pictures, and it takes a lot for me to say that. I have a bunch, so get ready!

I am kind of obsessed with the darkness of china town. Everything is so close together, so the colors really stand out in photographs.

This and the beach were my favorite part of the day. Just taking a little breather from running around all day, and taking a little nap in the sun. I can't even explain how perfect and needed it was. Especially coming from Utah death cold weather. 

The end of our day consisted of venturing to the heart of downtown, and hanging out there for a little bit. This guy was so awesome, and we stood and watched him play for a while. 

The rest of the pictures are from our last day in San Fran when we went over the Golden Gate Bridge to go an explore Muir Beach. My goodness it was gorgeous!

I actually still have some pictures of Muir beach on another roll of film, but I have yet to finish it. Those will be shared as soon as I find someplace or reason to take more pictures!

This really was the perfect mini vacation. I already want to go back. Just feeling the sun was enough, but the beauty of San Francisco was definitely a plus. Til' we meet again San Fran (oh please let that be soon)!