Survived the Sleep Test

(c) Matt Larson, 2011

iPhone Hipstamatic + AutoStitch Apps

So last night I checked into the local hospital to take my Sleep Test because someone says I'm impossible to be next to while in sleep mode. I don't believe it, but so it goes. 

As all of you know, where Matt goes ...  so does his iPhone. So, what an opportunity to make some images. Here's one I'll share showing me all wired up. Yes, it's awful but I did survive. The second exposure is of my wonderful cott bed and yes, it was totally brutal. Awful. Uncomfortable and anything else horrible you can think of ... and squeaky too. 

I learned last night, while being wired up ... it appears there can be some serious medical issues if sleep problems go unchecked. So I'm proud to have had the opportunity to take care of something that should have been checked off the list long ago. How about you? 

This is my public service announcement to bring sleep issues to the forefront--even if they don't effect us (me, that I know of) but instead our loved ones. Do yourself a favor, if you have issues, breathing, not breathing, snoring and just plain not being able to sleep. Get it checked. Next week ... the colonoscopy!  (kiddin')   More on the sleep photos soon ... and the cheerful results.

Inside the Dali

Shot with my Hipstamatic for iPhone
Lens: Salvador 84
Flash: Off
Film: Blanko

Goodbye October Nights

Channelside Tampa Skyline, (c) Matt Larson, 2010 (iPhone)

Full Moon, (c) Matt Larson, 2010 (iPhone)

Cinema, (c) Matt Larson, 2010 (iPhone)

October Night, (c) Matt Larson, 2010 (iPhone)

ToyCameraPlay.com

Art-O-Mat Project

Just wrapped up another 50 blocks and dropped them in the mail today. A few weeks ago, I heard from Tina Agullar, a writer in Dallas who purchased one of my blocks. She ended up doing a nice interview with me for an online site called ArtAndSeek.org. Very flattering and I feel lucky to get that kind of exposure from this fun project. I thought it would be a great way to promote the blog here and it's been just that.

Art-O-Mat Piece from ToyCameraPlay, (c) Matt Larson, 2010

I really enjoy hearing from all the Art-O-Mat collectors. On my insert that comes with each one of my pieces, I put a mention for folks to let me know where they've purchased their piece. I'm amazed at the number of folks that I've heard from via email. Last week I heard from yet another collector who writes,

"I'm attaching some photos of the whole experience. I actually chose the Random Fun option and was pleasantly suprised. Thanks from Dallas, TX." --Margaret Barajas

Attached to the email was six photos that showed the whole experience from the first look at the Art-O-Mat machine to her purchase of one of my iPhone images taken at Bok Tower & Gardens in Polk County. Thought I would share her email with you guys ...

Photo #1 from Margaret

Photo #6 from Margaret
Courtesy of Margaret Barajas

To all of you that have made a purchase from the Art-O-Mat machines ... thanks so much for sending the emails and becoming fans and collectors! And oh, keep the emails coming ... always good to hear from you!

NEW Art-O-Mat Blocks Shipping Tomorrow

Return to the Darkroom

Environment Portrait
Lana Aquarelle, 140 lb.
Salt Print, 2010

After many months of avoiding the darkroom, I've found a process that has me all fired up again--making salt prints. Thanks to F295 Studio! Lots of testing to make a digital negative dense enough for the process, but I think I'm getting closer. This one, the exposure got a away from me but in good light, it shows really well. I normally wouldn't print that dark but I'm liking it a lot the more I look at it. This is from my favorite spot to shoot on Gandy Blvd. on the St. Pete side ... a place we used to call "The Rocks." More testing, more to come ... soon, very soon.

Nancy's Oak Tree

iPhone, AutoStitch
9 photos Stitched Together
(c) Matt Larson, 2010

Sunday in the Park

Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, iPhone, AutoStitch App
(c) Matt Larson, 2010

Hillsborough River, iPhone, AutoStitch App
(c) Matt Larson, 2010

An Evening at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art

We had a wonderful evening at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art tonight for the Dean Mitchell opening. Thanks to C Gary Moyer for turning me on to this crazy cool iPhone app that I decided to take advantage of tonight and use--it was the perfect opportunity.

Dean's exhibition titled "Visions with Heart and Soul" is a retrospective covering 38 years. In addition, there are other exhibitions that are worth driving over to Tarpon Springs to see. As you can see from the photos, the museum is absolutely stunning from any angle.

Museum Lobby, 5 Photos, Auto Stitch

Dean Mitchell, View of Gallery Wall, 5 Photos, Auto Stitch

Interior View of of Gallery, Dean Mitchell, 4 Photos, Auto Stitch

Interview, Floor to Ceiling, 5 photos, Auto Stitch

Exterior Lobby Outside of Library, 5 Photos, Auto Stitch

View of Focus Galley Installation, 6 Photos, Auto Stitch

All Photos (c) Matt Larson, 2010

A Walk Through the Park

Circle of Water (top) and Green Squares (bottom)

iPhone, Camera Bag

(c) Matt Larson, 2010

Photos From Last Weekend

Princess, iPhone, Camera Bag (c) 2010

Mom, iPhone, Camera Bag (c) 2010

The Art-O-Mat Project

Well, I'm almost ready for my first shipment to Art-O-Mat.

I think this is the perfect fit for ToyCameraPlay and it has been a fun one to work on this past week. I'm printing select toy camera images shot with the various cameras mentioned here on my blog and sizing the images to 2" x 3", which is the image size of the paper for the Polaroid Zink printer and the Art-O-Mat blocks. They were made for each other.

All and all, this isn't going to be a money maker but I think it's a great way

to promote my blog, get more followers, market my images and build a new collector base. I also plan to have buyers e-mail me and tell me where they bought their piece of art and which piece they bought.

I think it should make 2010 a fun year! Let me know if you find one in a machine next year (they won't be until late January before these are available).

Holga Image, cropped for Art-o-Mat Project.

Polaroid Image, cropped for Art-o-Mat Project.

iPhone Image, cropped for Art-o-Mat Project.

Mini Diana Image, cropped for Art-o-Mat Project.

All photographs (c) Matt Larson, 2009

Friday Night! A Walk Around Channelside.

Yep! It's me! ToyCameraPlay

Both Photos, (c) Rebecca Sexton Larson, 2009

Lensbaby Portraits of Matt Larson

Bok Tower Revisited

All Photos (c) Matt Larson, 2009

iPhone, Lolo Filter

I was able to find a good angle to remove all the shell paths leading to one of the Grottos at Saint Leo.

On this day, the gates were open giving me access to the inside. Beautiful when the candles are lit. Very peaceful too.

Prayers are written on pieces of paper and placed within the rocks.

All Photos (C) Matt Larson, 2009

iPhone

Thought I would share a few photos I shot this past weekend at the Grotto in Saint Leo, Fl. Below is a written clip from the website of Saint Leo Abbey, Benedictine Monks & Retreat Center.

"On December 8, 1916, Father Augustine Feller, OSB offered the first Mass on the altar in the grotto. It is reported that 'the whole village of San Antonio, Florida made the first pilgrimage on foot-men, women, young and old, and the little Children." The annual custom of making this pilgrimage lasted for many decades."

Lettuce Lake Park, Tampa

Wild Berries

iPhone, Camera Bag, Helga Effect

(c) Matt Larson, 2009

Pine Needle Portrait

iPhone, Camera Bag, Lolo Effect

(c) Matt Larson, 2009

Tree Bark Portrait

iPhone, Camera Bag, Lolo Effect

(c) Matt Larson, 2009

It was nice to get out of the house today and take the Mini for a ride. Becky and I went up to Lettuce Lake Park up by the Univ. of South Florida. Beautiful cool weather day! We took a walk on the boardwalk and enjoyed the Winter day in a wonderful park that I had never visited. After that it was off to Dade City for lunch at one of our favorite places, Lunch On Limoges.

Finally! A Toy Camera Printer!

Wow! A toy camera printer! Life is complete.

So I spent the afternoon testing this little POLAROID jewel for I have an idea for a project I've been wanting to do with my toy camera images. In my hand is an image of wall art shot with my iPhone. This image is painted on the back wall of my favorite breakfast place--First Watch in DT Tampa. Exiting the printer is one of my favorite Polaroid 600 images of some man-made oyster domes in Old Tampa Bay that was cropped to fit the format of this printer ... to the right is an image recently shot from my Argus Bean on a trip to Kentucky. And below is a Holga image of an old church in Santa Fe, while on a trip to hear Keith Carter many moons back, one of my all time favorite photographers . Anyway, can't spoil the surprise yet, but I'm testing, testing, testing and have high hopes for this fun blue tooth toy polaroid printer.

Toy camera images printed with toy camera printer

(c) Matt Larson, 2009

Photos From the Week

Jet, iPhone, Camera Bag, Lolo Filter, (c) Matt Larson, 2009

Big Leaf, iPhone, Camera Bag, Lolo Filter, (c) Matt Larson, 2009

Twisted, iPhone, Camera Bag, Lolo Filter, (c) Matt Larson, 2009

Dining Room, Still-life, iPhone, Camera Bag, Lolo Filter, (c) Matt Larson, 2009

Weave, iPhone, Camera Bag, Lolo Filter, (c) Matt Larson, 2009

Dining Room Table Leaf Still-life, iPhone, Camera Bag, Lolo Filter, (c) Matt Larson, 2009

Ball of String

BALL OF STRING, iPhone, (c) Matt Larson, 2009

You know what I like about having a camera phone on me at all times? It's the ability to stumble upon little jewels like this one. This ball of string was just sitting like you see it on the desk right next to me. It was being used to tie goody bags together to make sets of 25. This was a true 5 second shoot, did not touch, did not light it. However, it was run thought my favorite APP--camera bag, used the Helga filter.