TexasGirl Photography

March’s Frugal Film roll was made in Marfa! I had that little plan in my head from the beginning, and I’m pleased to have been able to carry it out. The light was stunning that Sunday morning, so except in shady spots my Holga had plenty of light.

Looking at the above photo now, I’m realizing maybe I should consider a lens cap. This Holga of mine has been carted all over the place, clearly through a lot of sand and desert dust.

As I mentioned in my previous post, we have been to Marfa once before. Nine years ago, we turned an opportunity to meet my parents out at Big Bend for a few days into a week-long road trip; we took the extra super slow way to the park, stopping at all kinds of little towns along the way. Marfa was one of them. The main thing I remember (besides how cool Planet Marfa was, and I’m happy to say that place is still there) was the sensation that maybe the whole town was closed that day. Honestly, none of us could figure why so many people were obsessed with it, since as far as we could see there was absolutely nothing going on.

This time, however, we made our usual white-knuckle drive down I-10. We stayed at Alpine in a cheap motel on Saturday night and went to Marfa first thing Sunday morning. The light was incredible: this is what I saw- LIGHT. And color. So maybe I can see why people make the long drive, since I can certainly understand a passion for the high desert. Mine tends more toward New Mexico, but Marfa is closer!

We parked in a couple of different places and wandered around. One was near the courthouse, where a lot of the distinctly Marfa photos come from. I definitely have versions of these places made with other cameras from our last trip.

At a gas station where I got out to wander around a little, I noticed a new mural, which just happens to be on the side of a local film store! A couple of days after we got home from Big Bend, I saw Lomography feature this shop on their instagram (and probably website), so of course y’all need to check it out. They are having a community darkroom fundraiser, too. . . . .

It was a great morning in Marfa, until a guy yelled at me from inside his house because his dogs were going crazy barking at me out in the street (they started it, so yes I also tried to get a photo of them next to the “beware of dog” sign). After that, it was time to go! (Dear unfriendly Marfa man: “they’re just dogs” doesn’t apply to photographers. I would like to invite you to check out the work of Elliott Erwitt.)

The noteworthy white church next to the courthouse really grabbed my attention, so I made a few photographs of it (without getting yelled at).

I could have sworn I cleaned all the dust off these images before I saved them to share with y’all, but today as I’m plugging them in to my writing, I see dust! Rather than go back and redo everything, I’m just going to roll with it. The film still looks distressed to me, and I will admit I am liking it less as the project goes on. I’m not certain if it looks this way 1. because of the stock itself 2. because I’m putting it through a Holga or 3. because of the way I am developing it.

Anyhow, onward toward another month of Frugal Film! Thank you for looking!