Mocking Bird l Vancouver Film Photographer » Polaroid

Birthday in Polaroids

Amanda — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:58:53 +0000

Thank you so much for all the beautiful birthday wishes yesterday. I feel truly blessed to receive all the kind love that I did. You touched my heart in ways you’ll never know.

The Canadian took me out for a beautiful day after making me breakfast and spoiling me with presents. We were super lucky to have the warmest day we’ve had here yet and did lots of walking all over the city. From Kits to Denman, into Yaletown and down Robson, ending the night at a restaurant overlooking English Bay, it was a perfect day spent with my love.

I of course took my Polaroid with me and wanted a special picture of us on my first ever summer birthday in Canada. He did an awesome job, don’t you think? I love you, sweetie! Seeing as the Pola chopped his head off, we retook it with the digital but this is a Polaroid birthday spread so you’re getting this one instead.

My boy was very clever and got me some lovely pressies but I was most impressed with one in particular. About a month ago we were in his favourite record store, Zulu, talking about vinyl and he mentioned that I had no U2 vinyl here. I told him that I only ever really wanted the 12 inch version of New Years Day. It’s over 20 years old and after all my years of collecting U2 memorabilia, I’d never found it. Clever boy that he is, remembered what I said and got it for me for my birthday. :)

Thanks again lovelies!

Rainbow Polaroid Cameras at Photojojo

Amanda — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:38:10 +0000

Want to get your hands on a limited edition Rainbow SX-70 OneStep Polaroid Camera? Photojojo to the rescue. The lovely folks from Photojojo have teamed up with The Impossible Project to offer 50 of these bad boys packaged up with 2 packs of sepia toned PX 100 film.

The cameras have been fully refurbished by The Impossible Project and are pretty rare as many of these cameras are not usually in working condition. You can read all about the TIP film that comes in the kit here.

The cameras go on sale today from the Photojojo store. Check out the link to read more about what The Impossible Project have done to restore the cameras and how you can use them with the new film. They’re so pretty!

p.s. Photojojo are also looking for a marketing guru in San Francisco if you’re interested.

Meeting Old Friends

Amanda — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:00:59 +0000

I have a friend.

I have a friend whom I treasure dearly, not only because she is amazingly talented; not only because she is beautiful inside and out; and not only because she has introduced me to a world of creative opportunities…

I treasure her dearly because even though we have been friends for almost 3 years yet had never met until this week, spending an afternoon wandering through shoe stores and playing with her family on the beach, felt like we’d known each other for aeons.

Those three cherubs above I recognised before I even recognised their mama but I’m sure they thought I was some strange lady who talked funny. Of course, by the end of the day we were holding hands and giving hugs. Gorgeous angels all four of them.

Jenifer, Susannah and I are moving forward together on a glorious and exciting journey. Three Polaroid sisters from three different corners of the world daring to be brave together with cameras in hand. The Aussie is so honoured to be riding on this fairy tale journey with the American and the Brit and I hope that someday soon, all three of us can meet up for some royally Polaroidy mischief.

This week I feel blessed.

Check out Jen’s new portfolio and wedding sites.

Some Springtime Polaroid Goodness

Amanda — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:00:11 +0000

During my absence from Vancouver, flowers have sprouted up all over the place. Fields are over run with wild flowers while gardens are brimming with colour and happiness.

Secretly they whisper to me with a little nod and a wink letting me know that everything is going to be OK. The sadness that sits low in my heart is lifted a little with all the blooms and hues dotted amongst the green.

It’s as though Monet has waltzed in with his paint brush and dabbed his little Parisian heart out all over the streets and sidewalks.

New Sydney Finds

Amanda — Tue, 04 May 2010 12:19:32 +0000

In my returning to Sydney discoveries, I’m loving:

Children’s store Seed now has a women’s range- gorgeous clothing and accessories!
Gorgeous homeware stores in close by suburbs.
Latest Frankie and Real Living magazines by my bed.
Peter Alexander’s new range in store.
Magnation store in Newtown.
Crust pizza (nothing new- just loving it once more).
Kinokuniya now selling Japanese masking tapes and ribbons.
Wearing Havaianas while everyone is complaining about being cold- for once I’m not the one feeling the cold!
Spending time with the one with the cupcake.

What are you loving at the moment?

Oh Roid Week, How I Love Thee

Amanda — Mon, 03 May 2010 10:41:44 +0000

Polaroid lovers get a little giddy this time of year with Spring Roid Week upon us again.

This Roid Week I am looking through my Polaroid camera with new eyes. I am seeing my hometown with a fresh light and it’s actually very exciting. To be able to see newness in something that I know like the back of my hand has me wanting to get out there and re-experience this fabulous city.

Of course, my first Roid Week shots are an illustration of some of my favourite things… my muse & sister, chocolate sprinkled cappuccinos, Sydney sunshine and purty cupcakes.

Will you be joining me this week? If Roid Week is new to you, go grab your Polaroid, snap some roids and upload your shots to the Roid Week flickr pool. Of course, once you’re done, go grab a cuppa and spend some time browsing through a cavalcade of Polaroid magic.

Some Very Exciting News

Amanda — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 22:48:57 +0000

Hello from sunny Sydney!

My little adventure back home has begun with lots of family hugs and stories from the past 7 months. I worried that coming home after such a long absence would feel strange and that things would have changed. Some things are different, many have remained the same but it’s nice to sit down to dinner with my family and have things as they always were. I’m heading out for some quality sister time today and hopefully will return with some Polaroid magic.

In the midst of my packing and leaving for the airport, some very exciting news was announced. If you follow me on twitter, you may have already heard our big announcement.

Over the past 6 months, some very talented and gorgeous ladies and I have been madly planning something big. Something that is a dream come true for me, something that I’m still quite shocked about, something that I think you might like.

Jenifer Altman, Susannah Conway and I have been offered a book deal with Chronicle Books and I couldn’t be happier! We put together a proposal for a ‘How To’ book on Polaroids. Chronicle came back to us with an offer and we have accepted. The book is looking at a release date of Spring 2012, so it’s a while off yet but it’s super exciting and something that I am very passionate about. I know that it is going to be something really special and I cannot wait to share more of our journey with you.

Polaroid shooting here I come!

Reasons Why Living In Canada Is Awesome

Amanda — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:34:46 +0000

Reasons why living in Canada is Awesome

Travelling to another country just to check out some flowers is an acceptable thing to do.
Flowers and pretty petal type things bloom big time. There is colour everywhere.
Easter is in Spring when eggs are supposed to hatch and babies are born. Makes more sense that way.
I get to see the Rocky Mountains this year.
Crossing into America took less time than it used to take me to get to work each day.
There is snow on the mountains when the sun is shining.
Rolls of film are developed on the same day.
The seasons are noticeable. Things have gone from being grey and dead to overflowing with green.
I get to watch TV shows when they are supposed to be watched.
The border guards are far less scary than the US ones.

There are plenty of other reasons but these were the few that I was thinking about this morning.

This Polaroid was taken at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Washington.

Today I Love

Amanda — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:40:37 +0000

Do you like my pile of polas and letters?

Today I love… letters from home, camelia petals, Small Magazine, book packages from Amazon, kind emails from Mocking Bird readers, Marry Me Peonies from Emerson Made, Nikki the cat who has decided our computer/TV room is her new sleeping room, Girl of All Work stationery, a new novel to crack open, Purdy’s Chocolate, Wii Fit Hula Hooping, Lost Podcasts with Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, sunlight on forecast rainy days, finishing a roll of film, sending off prints to faraway lands like Slovakia, the kindness of twitter and flickr friends, the possibilities of another week…

What are you loving today?

This Is What I Want

Amanda — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:00:43 +0000

I want you to buy film from The Impossible Project on Thursday.

I want you to take bundles of Polaroids so that you have piles of them stacked on your shelves.

I want you to watch this.

I want you to look at this and this and this and this. And this one too.

I want you to understand why I am so passionate about this art form.

I want to have Polaroids of my wedding day.

I want my future children to enjoy using the same Polaroid camera that I have used.

I want to see their faces when they see the image appear in front of them like magic.

Thursday is the beginning.

What do you want?