Film Photography 2

Photos from my PentaxK1000.  Taken in Middleton, Stevens Point, and just west of Westfield, WI. 

Film Photography

I recently rediscovered my Pentax K1000 (it used to be my parents old 35mm camera).  I used to use it mostly for taking pictures of the stars (astrophotos), but wanna start using it for taking pictures of other things..I also started using disposables as well to take photos.  I think one of my favorite things about film photography is waiting to see how the photos turn out..with digital its so instantaneous, but with film you have the anticipation.

so here are some of my photos:

Disposable camera photos:

Music Monday: Cosmo Speedway (and Wilderness Survival)

I just discovered these guys this last week while listening to Pandora (High Places radio).  So when I went to their Facebook page the other day I was surprised to find that they only had 215 'likes'.  I guess I just thought that since they were on Pandora they'd be a little more known, but I guess not.

When I was looking more into them, I found out that there's two bands with two guys.  So these two childhood friends had many failed attempts at bands, and decided to collaborate.  However, while they were working on their first album, the decided they wanted to produce their own music, with the help of the other.  So there are actually two bands: Shane Reed leads Cosmo Speedway and Nick Grosvener leads Wilderness Survival.  Together they've created eight albums.  They're kinda electro-retro sounding and pretty chill.

'Lights On' by Cosmo Speedway:

Shane spent six months sleeping on a couch because this was set up in his room.  He actually started a fire when a light fell over over on the dry brush.  The whole thing was made using stop motion (which I think is one of the coolest effects) using 3,600 images. 

'I'm the One' by Wilderness Survival:

Cosmo Speedway's website

Wilderness Survival's website

hello

Monster cookies

I love baking and I haven't in a long time so I decided it was time to make some monster cookies.  The recipe I used was from Paula Deen (so you know they are gonna be good).  I love monster cookies cause they have a little bit of everything.  My two favorite cookies are oatmeal and peanut butter, so the fact that these cookies have both just make them amazing.

The Ingredients:

3Eggs

1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 12-ounce jar creamy peanut butter
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1/2 cup multi-colored chocolate candies (M&Ms)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (I used white chocolate chips)
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
• 
  
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease the cookie sheets

In a very large mixing bowl combine the eggs and sugars. 

Mix well

Add the salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter. 

Mix Well

I recommend using an electric beater (just to make sure the butter is mixed in well)

Stir in the M&Ms, chocolate chips (again, I used white chocolate chips because you're already getting chocolate from the M&Ms and I like white chocolate), baking soda, and oatmeal

Mix well

Use two tablespoons to make each cookie.

Place them approx. 2 inches apart

Bake for 8-10 minutes (do not over bake)

Let stand for 3 min before transferring to cool.

This recipe yields ~3 dozen delicious cookies

Knowing my roommates, these'll probably all be gone in a couple days. Especially since one of them claimed all the cookies before they were even finished.

carpe diem

For those of you that don't know what carpe diem means, it's Latin for seize the day. I never heard of it until high school when I started running.  My cross and track coach (probably the best coach I've ever had), would always say it, and ever since then I try to live by it.  When ever we would race or have a hard work out all he'd really say to us was "carpe deim".  In other words, run the best you can and seize every moment of it. It really made you want to do that when you were running the race.  It's stuck with me ever since.

It's been something I try to do and live by.  It doesn't necessarily mean that you have to do all kinds of stuff everyday.  To me it's more about living life to it's fullest and enjoying every minute of it, no matter what it is. More recently I've been a lot better about saying yes to doing more and trying new things.  And I'm extremely happy I have.  It makes me even more happy about the life I have.

This kinda goes along with one of my previous posts, take a chance, in that I feel in order to carpe diem, you have to take a chance.  I mean, how can you really make the most of your day without actually taking a chance?


As a little side note:
I finally got a pair of TOMS shoes this summer and have really wanted another pair.  First because the idea behind it is so cool and because they are very comfortable.  When I saw they had limited edition carpe diem shoes, I fell in love with them instantly.
I'm really excited to get them and read the book
TOMS carpe deim classics

What could have been

Within the past few years, I feel I've changed a lot (mostly since graduating high school).  This is something I find myself always thinking about.  Mostly because I feel I've changed a lot.  Also because I am constantly wondering what thing's could have been like if I traveled down a different path.

There are always so many different choices to make each day, some are bigger than others.  Like what you decide to eat that day or what you wear isn't that big of a decision and probably isn't really gonna affect you later in life.  Every once in awhile you come across something that requires time to think about and what could happen depending on what decision you make.

This past year alone, I feel I've changed the most and made a lot of big decisions (some that were very difficult to make).  More recently, and more frequently I've been wondering how things would be if I had mad a different decision back in January.  For me this was a really big decision and sometimes I wish I would have kept things the way they were.  Another part of me is glad with my decision because the last half a year would not have been how it was at all.  And there are definitely somethings I've enjoyed very much in the last half a year that I wouldn't change a thing about.

A friend of mine recently told me this: "Don't hate anything. Just accept it. Things are fine the way they are since they have ended up that way, thus they should be that way."  I found this very true, it's just saying you have to be happy with the way things are because it's the way they are supposed to be.  Almost as if the choice you made was the right choice.

Are there any decisions in you're life that you still wonder what would have happened if you chose something other than what you chose? Do you wish you could go back and make the other choice or are you happy with the one you chose?

take a chance

I believe in giving something a chance and taking chances.  I've always thought that everyone deserves a chance.  You never really know what'll happen unless you give it a chance. It may turn out completely terrible, or it might be the greatest decision you've ever made.  But you'll never know until you give it a chance.

I've been given many chances in my life for a lot of things, and I'm very grateful for them.  More recently I've noticed how much little things mean to me, and how much I appreciate the chances I've been given.  For some situations (one in particular) I've been given more chances than I probably deserved. And I cannot thank that person enough for being so understanding and giving me more than one chance.

What bugs me most is when people don't give things chances.  They get something in their mind that they don't want to change. I try to understand (because I can be stubborn too), but it's hard because I can't help but think, 'you aren't gonna know if it's gonna work unless you give it a try.'  All I ever ask of these people is to give it a chance.  You never know how absolutely perfect something could turn out to be.  The worst that could happen is you aren't happy with the things work, and you go on with life.  I'm very understanding (and I feel a lot of people don't know this about me or don't realize it), so if for some reason the chance you took isn't what you wanted, I get it. 

All I ask is you take a chance because you never know how absolutely perfect something could turn out to be.

Music

I love listening to music, and I'm always looking for new stuff to listen to.  Every once in awhile I find myself going on 'new' music binges. So here are some of the bands that I discovered on my last binge (in no particular order):

Foster the People:

I don't remember how I came upon this indie pop group from LA. but I came across their song "Pumped Up Kicks" somewhere in my search for new music, and instantly liked them. Their entire debut album, "Torches", is a pretty good listen. They remind me a lot of MGMT (so if you're a fan of them there's a chance you'll probably like these guys as well). The group is also nominated for a 2011 VMA (Best New Artist).  Also if you're lucky enough to have tickets to Lolla this year they're playing Friday at 3pm at the Sony stage.
Website
Facebook page
Here's their video for Helena Beat:

High Places:

I discovered this indie rock duo from Brooklyn while watching Skins (UK).  Their song "Banana Slugs/Cosmonaut" is in season 3: episode 8 of Skins, when the group is trippin' after eating shrooms. The song itself (and I guess most of their music) is pretty trippy. The few lines of the song that I just love is: 

and we're all full of questions
and we would like to know just exactly where we came from

and exactly where we'll go

I think I like it so much just because it's so true.I just really like their sound the most; its very different, and you can get "lost" in it (which is something I love).

Their blog

Facebook page

Noah and the Whale:
I've heard of these guys before, but never really looked into them.  However the other day, when I was watching Dev's (who I absolutely love atm) new video (In the Dark), I saw a link for their video "Life is Life", so I decided to check it out.  I'm a very visual person, so I've always been a fan of music videos.  The video is all in color but the way the color red pops in the video is awesome. They are an indie folk band from London (which maybe a reason I like them, cause what girl doesn't love a guy with an British accent and can sing?). Again, if you have Lolla tickets (I'm very jealous) they are playing Sunday at 230pm on the Bud Light stage.
Website
Facebook page
The "Life is Life" vid:

Parlours:
This group was featured on the season finale of Chicago Code.  Whenever I hear a song I like I always look it up right away (that way I don't forget and possibly miss out on some amazing artist).  I was really surprised when I found out they were from Iowa and they only have an EP out.  They're an indie-folk-pop band.  I love how its all acoustic and the harmonizing of Dana and Scott.
Website
Facebook page
"I dream of Chicago" video:

Just a few others:

The Morning Benders--Indie rock band from Berkeley, CA.  Their "Bedroom Covers" album is amazing, and their video "All day day light" is super fun. website 

The Rosebuds--indie rock/folk band from Raleigh, NC.  Currently on tour with Bon Iver.

website

Gang Gang Dance--Experimental rock/electronic band from NYC.  Also discovered these guys while watching Skins (UK) website

Also if you've never heard of the site Sputnikmusic, you should check it out.  A friend from college (who has amazing taste in music and introduced me to so many new bands) used it all the time.  It's a good way to see what people think of band's albums based off ratings.  The ratings/reviews are from both professionals and amateurs.  I like it a lot when I'm looking at newly discovered (by me) bands, what their better albums are.