July 4th - 19:04

Title: July 4th - 19:04 Medium: Super-8 film Aspect Ratio: 4:3 Resolution: 2880 x 2160 File Type: H.264 Codec / MP4. Comments: Today was as American as you can get! It was Independence day in Texas. I had planned for us to stay at a cabin in Lago Vista right on Lake Travis in the Colorado river. I figured there would be people blasting off fireworks over the water. Ethan mentioned to me he knew a girl named Leah who had just moved to Austin and was happy to come visit us at the lake since she did not have plans for the 4th of July holiday. Before Leah arrived I suggested we goto the grocery store to buy some produce to have a spread of food for our guest. I cut up a ton of watermelons in the kitchen. And decorated them with chia seeds, mint, and lime juice. It was my favorite vegan snack to cool you down on a hot day, which it was. Leah arrived and we introduced ourselves. It was the first time meeting her. She asked us if we had any alcohol and we said we do not drink, although we like to smoke occasional joints. She laughed and said she quit drinking and was happy we weren't doing that. I served her some watermelon and then we went off to go hiking to the lake. I walked barefoot and quickly realized we had to climb on a bunch of large rocks to get to the water. We sat by the water for a while and started hearing the fireworks bursting in the sky. The sun was starting to hover over the forest and I was inspired by the water and the light. Leah started sharing about her story on becoming a photographer. She brought her Polaroid camera too! We were geeking out on polaroid pictures and asked to make a portrait of her with her camera. I had an idea. I suggested that we can do the portrait of the day with her shooting me with her Polaroid while I am shooting her with my Super 8 film camera. It was an eye to eye exchange. Two photographers speaking through light. Playing with our cameras... Sharing our visions... Having fun making a moment, together. We wrapped up the shoot and all sat on the rocks together; A romantic lake view. Eating the watermelon that I brought to the rocky picnic. Smoking another joint while watching colorful and bright explosions in the purple twilight sky. We watched as local boats passed by waving at us. A golden dog from a neighbor nearby ran up sniffing us to say hi. We stayed for another hour and then it was time for Leah to go back home. Ethan and I walked her to her car and waved goodbye and a safe drive. Ethan and I had munchies again and went back into the kitchen to finish up all the watermelon because we had to leave the place clean in the morning. We sat in the backyard hot tub to relax. A triangle of watermelon in one hand and a roll of wedding cake in the other. A wonderfully calm evening with my brother.