Christmas in
Big Smoky Valleyby Deon Reynolds
It was Christmas Eve in Big Smoky Valley. We had just turned south onto State Route 376 from Highway 50 when we spotted this lone juniper tree. It sported an amber flashing light from a construction barricade on top and was covered in Christmas decorations. We had to stop and take a closer look. Upon doing so, we discovered that not only was this tree decorated for the holidays, but also had gifts under it, and some very nice ones to boot. The sign next to it read: "Need a toy take one got any xtra leave one."
I shoot these black and white panoramas with a disposable Kodak panorama camera. The first thing I do is tear off the cardboard cover, pry open the camera, and pull out the color print film. Using a fine file I distort the frame inside. Then I load it with Tri-X black and white film. Some of my disposables have had over a hundred rolls of film through them.
Click here to learn more about Deon's book of photography, Nevada,
with essays by Jon Christensen.