-22855 Mulholland Hwy. Calabasas, CA 91302-

Calabasas Courier Online

-22855 Mulholland Hwy. Calabasas, CA 91302-

Calabasas Courier Online

-22855 Mulholland Hwy. Calabasas, CA 91302-

Calabasas Courier Online

The Art of Stew

The Art of Stew

Although I consider myself to be more of a summer gal, December is filled with many treats and traditions that I deeply enjoy.  I love drinking eggnog, snuggling with my cats (Katz) and watching my breath linger in the crisp air, but my favorite and most vivid memory about the holiday season happens in my dark room.  I think that a homemade photograph is the best gift that anyone can receive, besides a kiss of course.  For the holidays my dad and I develop photos that we have accumulated over the years for our family and friends.  After looking at hundreds of pictures on a contact sheet, we choose which negatives we are going to develop.  We then place them in an enlarger and begin to process the photographs.  With this method, we produce memories in a sea of chemicals, highlighting every bit of emotion hidden within the soul of a photograph.

Developing a photo is similar to creating a memory, for they both captivate timeless moments in the grand scheme of our lives.  They give our memories an everlasting existence.  While in the midst of forming an unforgettable experience as well as during the process of developing film, the concept of time is broken.  Fading moments are solidified within each piece of photo paper.

Surrounded by a cozy fire and loving family and friends, I spend Christmas Eve exchanging gifts and laughing.  As I hand my Grandfather an envelope, he smiles and pulls out the memories that were once lost with time.  Staring into the eyes of the photograph, tears of joy begin to form in his eyes.  I have just managed to make a man five times my age cry of happiness, all because of the powerful feelings emitted from a mere photograph.  When I first began making photos, I wished that my eyes could take the pictures so I would not have to go through the trouble of developing them, but I have now realized that the procedure leading up to the final product is just as important as a memory in solid form.  I will never truly understand how a photograph is able to capture so much, but that does not stop me from being astounded by the reactions they receive.  They allow me to never forget the memories with those who I will forever hold dear to my heart.  Cheers to yet another year of dark room delight.

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