La Vie Belem

Bel. Writer. Cinema fanatic, photography enthusiast, music devotee, book lover, Star Wars stan, and overall pop culture junkie. My Film PhotographyMy iPhoneography All photos are mine unless otherwise credited. Follow my Film blog Follow my Book and Poetry blog Follow my TV blog

[laviebelem]

Took out my BB-8, Kodak Brownie and Pentax K1000 out to play this weekend. Hopefully should have some film scans this week for ya. Also, BB-8 loved the snow. He was all like, do you want to build a snowman? Yes, BB-8. Yes.

[laviebelem]

MOMA adventures. 

[laviebelem]

I can't say that 2015 was my favorite year, even though there have been many blessings: new job for me and for my dad, many weddings, new baby in the family, three year anniversary, family reunions, new Star Wars 😊. The passings of my aunt and my grandma this year however are two events that I'm still reeling from and don't know if I'll fully recover. I miss them more everyday. Let's say goodbye to 2015 with my ‪#‎2015bestnine‬ from Instagram and let's keep moving forward! Thank you to all of you for your love and support. Have a Happy New Year!

[laviebelem]

Christmas this year was a lonely one without my entire extended family, especially my aunt and grandma who passed away this year, but we made the most of it. We saw Star Wars (a second viewing for me - still awesome!), ate dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and took family pictures. 

Happy Christmas, everyone! 

[laviebelem]

Guys, I haven’t been on Tumblr in FOREVER. Are the replies gone?? I want to reply to people’s post. Wah. 

[laviebelem]

Orange details in Soho. 

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Lonely sunset bicycle. East Village. 

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Last November, my friend Shannon came to visit and we took some really great photos together. The sunset over Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 5 was just amazing. 

[laviebelem]

“I’m learning persistence and the closing of doors, the way the seasons come and go as I keep walking on these roads, back and forth, to find myself in new time zones, new arms with new phrases and new goals. And it hurts to become, hurts to find out about the poverty and gaps, the widow and the leavers. It hurts to accept that it hurts and it hurts to learn how easy it is for people to not need other people. Or how easy it is to need other people but that you can never build a home in someone’s arms because they will let go one day and you must build your own.” 

—Charlotte Eriksson, Another Vagabond Lost To Love: Berlin Stories on Leaving & Arriving

[laviebelem]

Foggy days in Dumbo.

[laviebelem]

You have a wonderful and blessed rest of your life and make sure to continue on spreading the love and I hope down the line you get everything you ever wished for and more. much love

What a nice message, pearlmarley. Thank you. Same love to you. 

[laviebelem]

I was going through the Kodak Brownie tag, and I saw one of your really old (& beautiful!) photographs. I've been thinking about buying one but I was a little concerned about finding film for it - have you had trouble with that?

Hey greypoppies! Thanks for the compliment. I love shooting with my old Brownie. It’s a bit unpredictable like the Wild West, but the photos always come out so dreamy. Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to use my Brownie too much lately, but glad you enjoyed the old photos. 

Traditionally, the Brownie I have takes 620 film, but 120 film fits quite well, albeit a bit snug. This video gives you a good rundown as to how to load 120 film into a Brownie. If you have the original 620 spools in the camera, some people transpose 120 film onto the 620 spools, since the fit will be better, but you have to be sure to do that in a completely dark environment so as to not ruin the film. I haven’t tried it, personally, but could be an option. 

Generally, I recommend using low ISO film, like Ilford Delta 100 for BW and Ektar 100 for color (although you have lots of options) since you can only minimally control the Brownie’s shutter speed and it only has one aperture. 

Best of luck! Let me know how it goes :)

[laviebelem]

A chilly, but lovely walk through Washington Square Park yesterday. 

[laviebelem]

My Valentine's Day game is on point with my Hulk drawing, huh? Happy Valentine's Day, friends!

[laviebelem]

Just like Paris's Pont des Arts "Love" locks, the Fulton Ferry Landing in Brooklyn has people proclaiming their love with locks. Lets hope it doesn't produce the same negative effects as it did in Paris because I think it's actually pretty great.

[laviebelem]

From warm sunshine in Florida to a blizzard in NYC. My Instagram lately. 

[laviebelem]

The snowy aftermath. The blizzard was thankfully a bit of a bust, but it made for a lovely walk in Prospect Park and a wonderful sunset.