It’s that time of year again. The excitement of the hustle-bustle, shopping for the perfect gift, holiday gatherings and all that the season has to offer. I don’t want to be a downer, but, I find that all the parties, fun and cheer on top of our regular work and family obligations can be a little overwhelming at times. Is it just me?

So in the midst of it all, I decided to make some time to celebrate the silence this past week. You know, to appreciate those rare but quiet moments with myself. Just me—no one else, no expectations. On my way to an appointment on Tuesday I arrived a little early to spend some time walking through Central Park. I even remembered to pack one of my Polaroid cameras.

It felt good to shoot film, a rarity for me. It’s so much more deliberate and contemplative than my usual shots with my iPhone. It made my quiet time feel even more special. No planning in my head what apps I will use to make my next creation. No ideas about editing. No rushing off to share the latest shot on Instagram. But rather, settling into a slow pace, patiently waiting to see how each instant photo would turn out.

The photos in this post were all shot with my Spectra on Impossible PZ 600 Black Frame Silver Shade film. I love the Spectra camera–and this film–the combination of which has turned the “impossible” films into “possible” for me. Although not perfect, I always get pretty satisfactory results with this film (with variations depending on the air temperature). And hey if you missed it, you should check out Lindsey’s post from last week to learn all about this fabulous camera…she really captured its true essence in her post!

I even found some time to visit one of the fantastic parks in my neighborhood this week. It’s one of my favorite places to go to recharge. Sweeping views of the Hudson River, gorgeous trees, and lots of nooks and crannies to explore. Don’t you just love the beautiful, unpredictable lines of the stark branches on a bare winter tree? They jut and jag every which way and I find there is something so lovely and so lonely at the same time.

These self-portraits below are from a similar “me-time” mission I went on last winter when I needed to clear my head and breathe in the fresh air. Looking at these photos below I remember how very cold  I was, but I got the break I needed at the time and I love the vintage feel to these film images…

In case you didn’t know, our theme on the blog for December is “celebration.” I hope my celebration of a different kind–of silence–will inspire you to cherish the quiet moments and take some time for yourself this month. Our dear Kirstin will be here on the blog on Monday to kick off our holiday musing giveaways so I hope you’ll stop by again then. Happy Film Friday!

Until next time,

Christy | Urban Muser