#35mm

Traveling Film Camera

Shot on Ektar 100

Shot on Ektar 100

I have been so busy in 2019 that I have barely taken time to write anything about anything but that needs to stop. Not only do I enjoy writing, but I also find it therapeutic to a degree. While I have been working a lot, I have found a new podcast that I love called AnalogTalk. The entire series is about shooting film and all things film related. If you keep up with me either here, or any other social media you know my adoration for shooting film so this is right up my alley. I have shot more film in the last three weeks than I have all year and that makes me happy. Shooting film is a completely different process but it also pulls from a very different place in my creative space. That is a post and Youtube video all in itself. Speaking of, who follows me on youtube? Show of hands, or comments below, please.

Ok to the meat and potatoes of this post. I have not worked out every detail of how this will work but I am starting with friends of mine that I think will enjoy the project but also make it better as a whole. Enter the traveling film camera. This, unfortunately, is not an original idea to me but one I am running with none the less. I am going to choose one of my point and shoot 35mm cameras, load it with film and mail it off. I will create a private Facebook page for those involved so we can have a place to discuss the details further. If this is something you would enjoy helping me create and would enjoy being included please email me at - info@jeremygouge.com. Once the project starts the Facebook page will be where we discuss using the camera if needed, as well as who to mail it to next. That's the exciting part. I want to start by mailing it to a good friend of mine in Cookeville, TN and then he gets to choose who to mail it to next. He will add that person to the FB group as well. I am very excited to see what we produce collectively. Once the camera gets back into my possession, I will have the film developed and prints made. I also will either make a zine or book from the images. Anyone will be allowed to purchase a copy but those who helped me create it will have first dibs on a copy. I am also in the brainstorming process of creating a Patreon page for this project or other projects going forward. Depending on how well this goes, will determine the next issue. More details found on the private FB page but you have to email me for that information. :)

I am extremely pumped to get this project on its feet, as a personal project may be exactly what I need at the moment. So let's make it happen friends.

CraggyPinnacle-35mm-Blueridgeparkway-AshevilleNorthCarolina

Leonard and Sarah's Wedding

Dramatic portraits make me happy

So a few weeks ago I had the extreme pleasure of capturing moments like the one above for this happy couple. You may recall the image of them we captured during the engagement session at Hungry Mother State Park on the bridge over the lake. Meeting them that day for the first time, I quickly knew we would have a great time working together. They are so in love, and they share that love for Leonard's son Jake that I also had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with. Those moments led up to the big day, and that's what I am writing about now. Before I get much further here is a short video I shot, that my good friend Wes and partner at Throat Punch Productions put together for me on the fly. Take a sec to check it out then I will meet you on the other side.

 

In this video I tried to capture some footage of the last venue I shot a wedding at using my Fuji Xpro2 and even broke out the Minolta Dynax5 35mm film camera. Huge thanks to Wes for putting this together for me as well.

I hope you watched it and left some feedback. I would love to do more of them and I learned a lot from the first attempt. Stay tuned for more of that and Wes wrote more about our new venture HERE. He is a much better writer than I am. Ok, back to the newlyweds. Sarah and Leonard were married at her church in Marion, VA. It is a small church established in 1859 with a stunning wooden door and high ceilings. The church also sets at the base of several mountain ranges so it was a perfect backdrop for such an incredible day. 

The weather was moody to say the least but we were blessed to miss almost all of the rain and had the opportunity to be out side for shots like this.

I love how engaged they are with one another here.

The ceremony was lovely and the church quickly filled with friends and family of the couple. Immediately following the service, even though the pastor almost forgot to have them kiss LOL, we had a few minutes for portraits just of the new Husband and Wife before packing up and heading to the reception several miles away, also at Hungry Mother State Park. This was amazing because we wanted to remake the photo I mentioned above, and thought the weather would refuse us the opportunity but once again, fate was on our side.

From the wedding day :)

From the wedding day :)

Ok I know  I am rambling so I will leave the rest of the story to be told visually through the images from the day. Let's go!

I usually keep my blog post's to a few images but wanted to incorporate moments from the entire day for a change. This couple was so much fun to be around and so was their entire family. I had multiple people stop and speak about the engagement pictures or to express their gratitude for being there. Often it's the small things that make a day special, and together I think we truly told the story of Sarah + Leonard Gardner!

All of the last images below were shot on 35mm film, and developed by The Darkroom Lab. I want to really shoot more and more on film, so be watching for those soon.

Shot on film

The couples stamp

The couples stamp

The Grandparents of the Bride

The Grandparents of the Bride

Beautiful Church for the wedding.

Beautiful Church for the wedding.