I love diptychs.

This is not an exercise that I'm very comfortable with, but there's something I find very interesting and often absolutely endearing about the joining of two images that create a common theme, two photos that complete each other, literally or not, telling a peculiar story, stirring up various emotions or documenting simple beauty. Together.

Some of my favorite diptychs are featured on two Flickr Pools: Diptychs - two is better than one! and pola-diptych for those who shoot with Polaroid cameras. And while most of you are probably familiar with Stephanie and Mav's wonderful 3191 a year of evenings site, I wanted to share with two other similar photoblogs that I love: mebetweenyou by Alison of Supercapacity fame about her daily life with her two daughters and 2 peas, a photo collaboration between two moms, Joanna and Rachael. I love the intimacy, the funny, touching stories that exude from the associations of their images.

"A mini story in two frames, an association, siblings, parent & child, different perspectives on the same theme, anything that works well as a team of two. Get creative! Think in pairs!"

And share your links in the comment section!

On February 8, 2008 Polaroid announced that it will abandon instant photography. Like everyone else I panicked, stocked up on film and signed the petitions. I haven't taken many photos since then. It's April and I'm wrapped up in my winter coat, wool turtleneck, scarf and carry an umbrella with me every day while avoiding dog poop on the pavement and waiting for sx-70 weather. But I also know that for some reason, I don't feel it. I just don't feel like taking photos.

When I feel uninspired I get up early to think, I sit at the children's section of the local library. I set up my sons' favorite toys while they are at school so we can immediately play together. I read. I knit or buy something for someone I care about. And despite the frustration, I realize the value of each moment: enabling me to grow, to be honest, to think creatively about how best to use these moments of discouragement. To make my own rules without feeling guilty about it, and reconnect with my true self.

What do you do when you feel uninspired? How do you keep being creative despite the moments of doubt? How do you use these moments? And here are some favorite Polaroid photos and a book project that I'd like to share with you. Please feel free to leave links to yours.

1-2-3-4 ) by tae-tae

yellow blouse & seahorse by danske

waiting by athena

Monday by cute annie

and For the Love of Light: A tribute to the art of Polaroid, a collaborative book project featuring some of my Flickr favorites like Jenny Vorwaller, Fernanda Montoro and Anne Naumann.

Happy Friday.

Most of the time I am madly in love with my Polaroid sx-70 camera. And some days I am overwhelmed with dread. A daunting, pervasive fear of disappointment that is inhibiting my desire to be more creative, to experiment. I think it's because you can never really predict how the Polaroid is going to come out like. There's very little you can control except for the composition, the angle.

Yet I am willing to give myself the space to grope for the light, to stumble, bump into walls and step on sharp edges. And mostly, to have fun. So that I can learn, be surprised, more intuitive and not afraid of trying. Again, and again. Because sometimes (for me, it's quite often) your attempt fails. But sometimes the very feeling you wanted to convey is intact and the unique moment you tried to capture on film is far better than what you had imagined.

Here are some of my favorite Polaroid photos that I would like to share with you:

Rainy days by busyinmyhead. I love how she captures the light with her camera.
Sunday* by tae*
This Polaroid photo by eri*airfuly and basically every photo from her Polaroid Children Flickr set.
And finally, the talented Supercapacity, and her wonderful Pola-diptychs. Alison is a true inspiration.

I will share more links to beautiful Polaroid photos on every first Friday of the month. But tell me, what about you? Do you shoot with a Polaroid camera too (leave a link to your site or Flickr in the comment section below)? What do you like most about it? And please, feel free to share your favorites too.

It's about the moment, not the circumstances. It's about the people, not the scenery. It's about truth, and not about perfection. Instants of gleeful nonsense, innocuous reflections of the soul, unabashed postures and peculiar faces wrapped in 3.5 X 4.2 in. films. It embodies the essence of now without tainting it. The confluence of emotions, whether you're waddling and quaking like a duck or reluctantly trying to look natural, is framed and extended indefinitely. The evidence of our ever substantial need to treasure what we had.

I love Polaroid photos because this is exactly how I want my life to be like.