Newsletter #1: Greetings and Dusting off the Project Box

Newsletter #1: Greetings and Dusting off the Project Box 

April/May 2022

Howdy! Let me first say that I am starting this without expectations, rules, goals, or guarantees. Creating a newsletter has been a project that I’ve wanted to work on for a while now, and even if no one particularly pays any attention to it, it still feels like something I could look back on in a couple years and laugh at. With that said, this is definitely a work in progress, and I am striving towards a format that is most visually pleasing - I may try using Substack; however, I am still on my way to figuring it out. So anyways, welcome to the newsletter where I share all sorts of stories, reflections, ideas, poems, pictures, and whatever’s on my mind. 

Upon recently moving into my sister’s old bedroom, I uncovered some art that had been stored away for a while under my bed in a dusty, black portfolio box. What better way to begin this newsletter than by sharing some old projects, starting with film photos I took and developed in a darkroom photography class at UCI a couple summers ago. 

The first film I shot - nothing great! 

In the class, we learned how to use film cameras and how to work in a darkroom, developing our own photos. There was something so meditative about physically developing your own photos, the caution and carefulness to not get a scratch or fingerprint on a picture, and the stillness of the darkroom. I remember days that I would get into the darkroom at noon and start working, and the next thing I knew it was five o’clock. That experience was such an amplified feeling of being creatively encompassed in a project, and it’s that kind of feeling that keeps me inspired to explore my creativity. 

Here are my four favorites from the portfolio. 

                                                               


Along with these photographs, there were many copies that didn’t make the cut (too light, not enough contrast, fingerprints, etc.) Looking through the box, it was interesting to see how many tries went into making the final picture, and I am so grateful that I was able to experiment with this kind of photography. Nowadays, I’ve become less passionate about my photography undertakings, but I liked seeing these old projects.

 This sort of felt like an exhibition, but you can expect many different forms in future newsletters including poetry and discussions about hot topics like change and self discipline. 

Respond to this email if you have something to say! I am listening. 

Thanks for reading,

Kayla 

P.S. I will probably send something out every 1-2 weeks. 

If you decide you don’t want to be on my email list anymore, let me know! (I won’t be offended)

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