I often share here photos I have taken on a day that a cold front is passing through. Cold weather just puts me in a good mood and in turn helps me to create. Every year I look forward to the last days and first days of the year when we will get a break from the Florida heat. We recently had our first cold front of the year and we had to take advantage of it and go out to our favorite spot to take photos and have a nice time.
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So we got bundled up for our 40 degree cold front (yes I know that’s not cold for most of you haha), and we headed out.
The Gear I Used
For gear I loaded up my Brevite jumper with my Leica M2 and my camera for the month of November in my One Camera One Month project for the year, the Rolleiflex Automat. For the lens on my Leica M2 I used my Voigtlander 35mm f 1.4 because I like the way it renders color.
Kodak Portra 800
For film I have been using what ever I have in my fridge, and luckily I had some Kodak Portra. I used 800 in the Leica and 400 in the Rollei. You can buy Film From B&H or from KEH.
A Beautiful Evening on Film
We got to our destination just as the sun was starting to set and the temps were rapidly dropping. There was a lot of wildlife buzzing about because they were not used to this drastic drop in the temperature. I was so excited to see them so that I could try to catch a photo of them.
Right away I spotted a stork in the marshy part of the lake. I was glad to see it because I hadn’t seen one in a long time. I immediately tried to get down on the ground to get a level point of view and just as I lifted my camera, he flew off. I was so afraid that I didn’t get the shot, and at the same time excited at the prospect of possibly having got it.
After developing there film, I found that I did get the shot! I only wish I had a longer lens so that I could’ve gotten closer.
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Next I concentrated on getting photos of the sunset. It was pretty overcast so I was really worried that the color film would be wasted on these scenes. Then as time went on the sky didn’t disappoint. It turned various hues of purple and pink. We loved it.
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odak Portra 800
Suddenly, as I’m standing there taking these shots, something in the water caught my eye. I kind of froze in place when all of a sudden this little otter came popping out like swamp thing! I called my wife and daughter to hurry over and they were stunned. The poor little guy looked so cold and hungry. He had to have been desperate to come out with us standing there.
He ran across to the other side of the water, briefly stopping in fear to see if we were going to hurt him. We were so shocked by his sudden appearance that I couldn’t operate my Rollei fast enough to take his photo, but Kelsey got a quick shot with her phone. Lainey said, “What was that!?” We laughed.
Then, as we were laughing and doing back to what we were doing, I looked directly down below me in the bushes and saw the creepiest scene of what appeared to be a frozen fish. I immediately took photos of it because there was just something so macabre about it.
Do you ever see something in life and get excited and take a ton of shots while you think in your mind omg this is going to be such a good pic? Then scan it and you’re like, “was I high?” but that is the fun of photography. I don’t know if many things beat that feeling in the moment. That feeling will forever be attached to this photo for me.
Kodak Portra 400
Then the Sandhill Cranes I had been hoping would head my way, flew by low above my head screaming. I didn’t get a shot, but tried to, and they flew to the other side of the lake screaming at me. I guess they don’t like paparazzi. At that point it was getting dark and I had finished my color film. So we went to the playground where Lainey had a ton of fun before we headed home.
To End a Beautiful Evening on Film
We had such a good time. That feeling of getting photos that you are excited for and can’t wait to develop is something I don’t think I will ever get tired of.
Nature had given us so much to see that night and it wasn’t don’t yet. On the drive home, the sky had this deep pink tiger stripe pattern going on in the clouds. I took several photos on my phone but it doesn’t do it justice.
Being sick a lot of the time, as well as just being busy parents, doesn’t allow for us to have many relaxing nights like that one. That is why I wanted to record it and share it. Have you ever had a simple but beautiful evening that you captured on film? Let me know.
Until next time, stay motivated and keep shooting.
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