Hello, Lovelies. It’s a chilly Friday here in the Desert (I’m allowed to think 57 degrees is chilly…right?) and I’m bursting with excitement. You see, my Contax 645 (e-hem…the camera of my life) came in a couple of days ago, and I’m headed to the snow to burn off a few rolls with a gorgeous couple. Le sigh.

Honestly, I never thought I would own this camera. Only the Jose Villa’s and Elizabeth Messina’s of this world get to shoot with a Contax. The Contax 645 is considered the “darling” of medium format film cameras, and is no longer in production…hence it’s scarcity and steep price tag. I never thought that I would start as a digital photographer, and slowly but surely find my way to a medium that fits me like a glove. I never imagined that purchasing a used, $75 film body on a whim 2 years ago would lead me to so much more education, knowledge, passion and eventually to this place of creative freedom. God is so good, His plans are perfect, especially when I didn’t see them coming!

(Mamiya 645, on loan from Richard Photo Lab. Fuji 400h, The Parker Palm Springs)