TexasGirl Photography

In case you missed it in my last blog post, I’m working on a project this year in my hometown of Waco, TX. You can read about the impetus for it, the plans, etc in my previous post.

Here it is January 18th and I’ve already been to Waco twice! The first time I went specifically to kick start the project, and the second time it was passing through on the way to Ft Worth. I had cameras with me (of course) and we always stop at least to see my parents when we pass through; I was able to expose a roll of Kentmere Pan 400 in my Diana F during that stop.

My first stop was the Hotel 1928 , because I wanted to see the photographs from my Dad’s archive that they have hanging there. Long story short: I was VERY IMPRESSED with the place in general and can’t wait to hang out in the cafe sometime. Atmosphere 100, y’all. It touched me deeply to see so many people looking at and discussing the photographs. Waco history has always been a big part of my life, so I definitely love to witness others taking any interest in it.

I made several photographs inside the hotel then had to remind myself I was there to photograph Waco and not just that one location! The first two photos below are Diana F and Kentmere Pan 400; the rest are Rollei and Tri-X

After we left the hotel, we roamed around Washington and Austin Avenues, plus went over to Franklin. Here’s the truth: I was super excited to be there, to be starting on the project, to be using the Rolleiflex for the first time in a while. Unfortunately I was too excited at first to pay proper attention to detail with a camera that wasn’t quite as automatic for me as it used to be, so some of the images aren’t as sharp as they could be. But all in all I would call it a good start, and I’m feeling confident in terms of all the next times to come. The photos below are a mix of Diana and Rollei. . . .

I made some instant photos that day, too, but I’m sharing so many photographs with this post that I’ll leave those out!

Being raised with so much Waco history around me all the time, it’s hard for me to look at the place through a lens that doesn’t include the past. I know how things used to be downtown, so when I see it now part of me feels confused, like a time traveler that just arrive from 1948. Why aren’t the businesses busy? Where are all the pedestrians? This is why I am set on including the Diana camera in this project, because the photographs come out like something through the looking glass.

We drove up Austin Avenue past all the old houses, and I made a few photos out the truck window until I was out of film and realized I could come back and walk along the street instead.

Another decision I’ve made is that I want the main body of work for the project to be made with the Rolleiflex and Tri-X film. The Rollei belonged to Windy Drum, after all! For the project I carried out in Williamson County, I used one camera, one film, and I feel like that continuity was a good thing. . . . obviously I will take other cameras with me as part of 12 months on film, but Rollei and Diana will be my main babies, serving slightly different purposes.

To that end, here’s my January Frugal Film offering, out of the Diana with Kentmere Pan 400, the second time I was in Waco.

Thank you so much for looking! Thoughts and comments are welcome. I really want to do a good job with this, so I am eager for feedback!