Bottle Rockets: July 2013

July 4, 2013

by Ethan Hulbert Posted in 35mm Film

bottle rockets

35mm film – Petri camera, 4th of July celebrations in the year 2013.

A 35mm film portrait shot with a vintage Petri SLR on the Fourth of July, 2013, showing a young man named Alex outdoors in West Town, Chicago. He’s smiling brightly with deep dimples, wearing black-rimmed glasses, a navy blue baseball cap, and a yellow T-shirt printed with a giant hotdog—perfectly kitschy Americana. The background is softly out of focus, showing a residential building and a parked car, all bathed in a teal-blue film tint. The bokeh effect and shallow depth of field make Alex pop warmly from the background, with a casual joy that captures the laid-back summer holiday vibe.

alex

A dynamic street photo taken on 35mm film with a Petri SLR, showing Lauren in mid-movement on a West Town sidewalk just after lighting a bottle rocket. She’s turned slightly away, beginning to run as the firework smokes and hisses behind her, visible near her heels on the concrete. Lauren wears a red plaid shirt and sneakers, her long hair split-dyed—though here only the brunette side is visible from the camera angle. She looks beautiful, caught in motion, with a tree-lined street of cars and modern apartment buildings in the background. The color has a distinct cool cast from the film stock, adding a timeless and slightly dreamy atmosphere.

lauren

A creative close-up photo shot on 35mm film showing a single outstretched arm pouring out a glass bottle of Jarritos soda. Though the bottle appears to be pouring, it’s actually releasing smoke or ash from a recently lit firework—though the smoke itself is faint and not easily visible in the image. The background is blurred but shows grass and parked cars along a residential street. The person's skin is light-toned, and there’s a subtle tattoo on their arm. The soft focus and blue film cast give the image a dreamy, ambiguous feel—equal parts suburban mischief and filmic texture.

smoke billowing from the bottle

A warmly lit indoor snapshot taken on 35mm film showing a group of friends during a Fourth of July house hangout in West Town. From left to right: Lauren (visible with the blonde side of her split-dyed hair, sitting with her legs curled up, looking serene and beautiful), Alex (behind her, wearing the yellow hotdog shirt), Justyn (sitting cross-legged on the floor in a blue shirt, smiling slightly), Darcy the gray tabby cat lounging lazily on a carpeted cat tree in the background, and Amanda on the far right, mid-conversation and focused on making Jello shots. In the foreground, snack bags, bottles, and plastic cups cover the table, adding to the cozy, casual party vibe.

lauren + alex+ justyn + darcy + amanda

An indoor 35mm film photo focused on Caitlin, seated on a couch, smiling as she holds up a hand mid-gesture. She has long dark hair with bangs and wears a bold white necklace and a sleeveless coral top. The shot has a soft yellow warmth typical of indoor film lighting. To the lower left edge, only the top of Elliott’s head and part of his face are visible as he lies sideways out of focus, grinning playfully. Behind Caitlin, a beige couch and wall details—like a shelf and a small piece of hanging art—create a cozy, personal domestic backdrop.

elliott + caitlin

A warm, candid indoor portrait shot on 35mm film with a vintage Petri SLR, showing Ethan (me!) sitting on a couch inside a West Town apartment on the Fourth of July, 2013. I'm wearing a sleeveless white tank top and smiling directly at the camera. My short brown hair is gently tousled, and the golden film lighting softens my features. In the background, slightly out of focus, Lauren sits beside me, turned away in conversation with someone off-frame. Her long blonde hair (the blonde side of her split-dye) is visible, and she wears a red plaid shirt. Behind us, a refrigerator with magnets and a wood-paneled kitchen add cozy context to the holiday hangout. Caitlin took this photo.

myself + lauren

A soft-focus film photo of Darcy, a light gray tabby cat with subtle stripes, lying curled up on a beige carpeted cat perch mounted to a post. She’s facing slightly down and to the left, with wide, relaxed eyes and her ears perked gently. A hand—Amanda’s—reaches in from the side, resting affectionately on Darcy’s back mid-pet. The background is dim and warmly lit, with golden tones from the film adding to the cozy, domestic atmosphere. Darcy's fur catches the light softly, and the image feels intimate and quiet, a little moment of peace amid the evening gathering.

darcy

A candid and energetic photo taken indoors on 35mm film, showing Amanda at the center of the frame, holding a Jello shot in both hands and reacting dramatically. She wears a loose, semi-sheer black-and-white off-the-shoulder top, glasses, and has her hair pulled into a braid over one shoulder. Behind her, Justyn lounges casually in a blue shirt, partially visible. The far wall is covered by a large projected image—from a home projector—showing a boating or water scene, adding a fun backdrop to the party moment. The film grain adds a charming softness to the motion and expression.

amanda

A tight 35mm film close-up of Elliott indoors, wearing reflective, mirrored sunglasses with orange-red tints that dominate the photo. The reflections are chaotic and vivid, distorting the room and making his gaze mysterious. Elliott is slightly out of focus, adding a dreamy or dazed quality, and wears a blue tank top with white stripes. In the background, Lauren is blurred but visible, her blonde hair catching the warm light. The composition is tight and slightly chaotic, making it feel like a spontaneous flash of memory during a rowdy holiday evening.

elliott + lauren

A daytime 35mm film photo of the front façade of 917 S Racine Avenue in the Little Italy neighborhood of Chicago. The building is a classic Chicago brownstone-style apartment with a large central arched entranceway framed by light stonework. The door is deep red with a small semicircular window at the top, flanked by intercoms. Above the arch are three tall windows, and additional bay windows on both sides jut outward with large panes and curtains visible inside. Parked in front are three cars—a teal Toyota Corolla, a silver Honda Civic, and a red sedan—lined up on the gray asphalt of the street. The sunlight is harsh and direct, creating strong shadows and giving the image a punchy blue cast from the film stock.

new home

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