Hi! I’m Barbara Murray and I’m bringing back our Feature Photographer series for 2024. Our first featured photographer for 2024 is Kristin Randall. She’s currently based 30 minutes outside Paris, Tennessee, but her photography draws not only from her present surroundings, but from her upbringing and frequent visits to Michigan, as well as her time in Florida. In this post, she tells her photography story through the captions she’s written for her photos. All the 35mm photos here were taken with a Canon EOS Rebel X. The instant photos are taken with different cameras and films as noted. I’ve also inserted some brief interview questions she was kind enough to answer. All the text in italics is Kristin’s .

Sorrel horse that lives in a pasture with 3 other horses near Dustin’s mom’s house that we used to walk down to and visit. Was able to get some closeups of his eye.

Most likely coming home from work and picking up my daughter from daycare. There’s this spot where a house might have been once and there’s a little uphill driveway of dirt and rocks. I parked at the bottom and had Sadie go stand like this and everything just came together. I love ideas and photos that do that.

Polaroid SLR 680, Polaroid 600 Film

What role does photography play in your life? It is a hobby, a passion, a creative outlet and stress relief. But it plays a very strong role in my life. I carry a camera every day, not knowing when I’ll see something that compels me to capture it in some way.

When did you first start shooting film, and why? I first seriously started shooting film in 2002-2003. Before that, I dabbled with disposable cameras mostly but nothing serious. As to the why… I wanted to be a Nat Geo photographer and film just had this look to it even though digital was up and coming as far as accessibility to everyone. 

Dustin loved to take the kids and I all over northern Michigan and show us lighthouses and different spots that he knew about. Exploring and adventuring was our thing. Revisiting these images in the wake of his death is both beautiful and heartbreaking because he awoke in me, my love for lighthouses Above are three photos embodying Kristin’s love of lighthouses. Left to right : 1. This one is the Frankfort North Breakwater Lighthouse in Frankfort, Michigan 2. This is Little Sable Point Lighthouse in Mears, Michigan. Another spot Dustin took us to. Another unforgettable day! 3. This one is the Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse in Manistee, Michigan. This was our favorite lighthouse to visit.

1. What Lake Michigan looks like in Manistee, Michigan next to the lighthouse. Like stepping into an absolute arctic environment that is out of this world! It was both captivating and beautiful but also chilling to realize how one misstep would mean your demise. 2. ice formations sculpted by the wind and the waves off the lake when they crash over the pierhead. Crazy beautiful despite the cold! 3. A closeup of the crazy ice formations on the Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse in Manistee, Michigan.

Are there factors that make you choose film over IPhone or digital in particular situations or is it just a matter of what’s convenient? Film is where my heart will always be, particularly instant so that’ll be the type of camera that I always carry. Mostly convenience but if preplanned then I almost certainly have 1-3 film cameras on me.

1. Polaroid SLR 680, Polaroid 600 Film These wild daisies grew on the riverbank behind my dad’s house in Michigan. This was on one of our trips up there and I decided to try a different perspective, as if I was laying down amongst the flowers and looking up.

2. The ghosts started to follow me everywhere. They were on the go! Discovering a world far faster than the confines of the house and yard they originally set out to haunt. 2 & 3 Polaroid Go , Polaroid Go film

3. I pass by this abandoned house every day when I go to work or town. I stopped just the once to get this and haven’t stopped since but wanted to. Maybe I’ll stop again one day… for now, happy accidents, ghosts in the film and a house that might be haunted.

These are two of my personal favorites from the photos Kristin submitted. The loving attention to detail in the first photo makes you almost not realize what you’re looking at.

Sometimes it is the details that make the photo. Like all these snail shells in this cypress log that a gator was sunning itself on. Anyway, the shells and gator tail caught my eye. On the right is the rest of the gator from the previous image. Loved how he was algae covered, and the way all the light and shadow and color came together on film.

What would be your “dream” photoshoot – place/camera/time of day/film/subjects –  whatever would make it a special time to commemorate on film? If I could go back in time to have a good working pack of time zero, a waterfall, and my kids. I feel like that would make a fantastic photoshoot. Or my kids in a big pasture and an old barn with some expired but not more than 10 years past expiration Polaroid ID-UV packfilm. 

Kristin uses a variety of photo formats including 35 mm and instant film, as well as digital photography and IPhoneography. To see more of her beautiful and very personal work check out her Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dreamscapesxx/ and TikTok @polagal_85. You can follow her on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/kristinrandall.