French Roast by Fabrice O. Joubert

The French Roast is a short film by Fabrice O. Joubert.  It's taken home quite a few awards since its release in 2009.  This is the first I'm hearing about it, but certainly happy to have stumbled upon it.  Less than 10 minutes and worth a watch.  The animation is brilliant and really well done.  Enjoy!

Have you watched any good shorts lately?  I also love La Luna which is a couple years old now, too.  

It's Still Winter!

Yep, there's still a lot of season left for us here on the east coast, and I am not complaining.  It's been magical so far and I can't wait for more snow.  Call me crazy!  Philly's being hit with a snowy/ice mix today and it's very pretty outside.  The dog loves the snow, too!

Dressing the part:

Diemme Firenze Combat Boots

AXS Trail Parka

Barbour Morris Utility Waxed Jacket (W)

Quoddy Black Deck Chukka

Hiut Denim Selvedge Denim Hack@ 2013

Mad Bomber Plaid Wool Hat

Stay warm, folks!

Featured On A Favorite Blog Of Mine

I'm really excited to be featured on Hei-Astrid today for the series "Why do you shoot film"!   Astrid runs a fantastic blog and it's been one of my favorites for a few years now.  I highly suggest heading over to her site and having a look around.  You will not be disappointed. I feel honored to be involved with her project!  Thanks again, Astrid!!

Upgrade Your Christmas Gifts For Under $15

Well, well, here we all are again. Officially one month from now it will be Christmas.  Swirly winds filled with snowflakes, warm fireplaces, good food and cheer, loved ones around us, what else could you possibly want or need?!  Well, for those still searching (or beginning your search) for the perfect gift or stocking-stuffer, look no further! 

"Heap on the wood! - the wind is chill; But let it whistle as it will, We'll keep our Christmas merry still." - Sir Walter Scott

1. Glencairn Scotch Whisky Glass
2. Antler Chew for Dogs
3. Dark Rum Votive
4. Duck Rabbit Milk Stout
5. James Joyce's Ulysses
6. 24 of Hank William's Greatest Hits
7. Chromed Brass Guitar Slide
8. Southern Tier Krampus Helles Lager
9. Bandana in Fishing Lure Print
10. Authentic Wool Boot Socks
11. Vermont Cinnamon Cider Syrup
12. Cocktail Ice Cube Trays
13. Elixr Mexican Santa Theresa
14. BW Film Ilford
15. Dr. Bonner's Peppermint Castille Soap
16. Swedish Morakniv Classic

Forgotten Film Photographs Taken In Philadelphia

Forgive me if some of these photos are repeats.  They were in a folder that I thought was long-lost.  These are just a few snaps from around Philadelphia earlier in the year.  All were taken with the trusty Pentax K-1000.

End of Winter Exploring: Philadelphia, PA

When you become the tour guide of the very city you live in, things can get a bit stressful.  So much to see, so little time.  Then to consider what your tourists want to actually see and do may not be what you usually like to do.

Sometimes these situation can lead to stress and anxiety, but this time, a few months ago, the situation led to an exploration of places I rarely ever set foot near.  And I liked it, hopefully my guests did to.

So I thought to mention some places I like in Philly, and places I would like to go...after the jump:

A Very Long Engagement (2004)

Based off of the novel by Sebastien Japrisot('91), A Very Long Engagement still remains one of my favorite books->film to this day.  A star studded cast featuring Audrey Tautou, Marion Cotillard, Gaspard Ulliel and Dominique Pinon all together to star in a theatrical masterpiece by Jean-Pierre Jeunet.  I think its time to dust off the old DVD and pop it in.  You know, because its raining and snowing and thundering/lightning in Philadelphia.  Happy Saturday! Oui, oui!

From another season

I posted about my trip to the orchard last fall, but I thought to share some of the film photos I took. The original post in October contained pictures all taken with i4s so I had to follow up with the good stuff.  There really is something special about film, it's an ongoing learning process, one that forces you to take your time and really think about what you want to capture. 

Recently I've started to make my decisions sort of like taking a picture.  Step back and really take a look at the situation.  Does it feel right? Would it look better in a different light?  Am I looking at this the right way?  I know, sort of a cheesy way to compare life decisions to picture taking, but it's so true!

So here's a couple links I thought to share with Winter in mind:

The  Lost Wolves of New England-NY Review of Books

Saranac Lake Winter Carnival

Snowboarding-Adventure Sports Journal

Hot Chocolate Recipe-Orangette

Stay Warm!

Last December

Some quiet moments from this past December in Northeast PA.  The first snow I've seen all season.  Breaking in the Bean Boots.  Playing around with my camera and sanding that gd stump for hours. 

Walking Around Philly

 

 

Park Visits

These are from a few weeks ago hanging out around Race Street Pier and Spruce Street Parks.  More Pictures

Montreal Find

Montreal

A few summers ago I headed to Montreal for a visit.  I took a roll of film to the store today to be developed and accidentally took an old roll from the trip.  It was completely by mistake and a lot of the pictures were messed up, but this one looks really cool to me.

What Goes In The Ditty Bag? | Best Made Co.

Pictures by Best Made Co.

Pictures by Best Made Co.

Pictures by Best Made Co.

The Best Made Ditty Bag Origins

Originally a ditty bag would most commonly store the tools of a sailor’s trade, typical contents might include: beeswax, varied needles, buttons of different types, pins, white tape, Dutch tape, thimble, whited brown thread, black thread, worsted blue and scraps of light duck, his marlinspike, a fid, a palm and needles, a bullock’s horn, and personal sundries. As wind was eventually replaced with gas and nuclear power, the sailor’s ditty would contain uniform and personal effects (see above diagram). Since its nautical origins, the ditty has been adopted as an effective all-purpose utility bag for other trades including space exploration, forest services, the boy scouts, sea scouts, etc.

Some say the ditty bag got its name from from the word “dittis” (a derivation of the Saxon word “dite” meaning “tidy”), others say that because a sailor would spend great lengths at sea he needed two of each item (hence it derived from “the ditto bag”).  Here

My Camping Ditty Bag Picks:

I'm no sailor so these are some essentials that I think every camper's "Ditty Bag" should have:

Details: New Balance Trail Runners  |  Outlier Waterproof Jacket  |  Dr. Bronner's Peppermint soap (shampoo, cleaning dishes, laundry)  |  Ziplocks Double zips  |  Gravity-Free Pen  |  Field Notes or Any small notepad  |  Film Camera: Pentax K1000  |  Kershaw Leek Knife  |  Tough Hatchet  |  Insect Repellent  |  Collapsible Kites and Fishing Rods

The Best Made Co. Ditty Bag $118.00

Barnes Foundation: Relocation

Despite the controversy surrounding the relocation of the Barnes, as chronicled in the 2009 documentary The Art of the Steal, the building design for the foundation has surprised me.  Designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects (here) true to their design philosophy, they've created a building that evokes a sense of lasting and beauty.  I was apprehensive with the initial build and location of the foundation at the start, but thoroughly surprised by the lovely result.

Film: Around Town

More here

NYC a few weekends ago...

"That's not a light leak, that's baby jesus smiling"

bigger pics here

Nature II

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