"People take pictures of the summer,
Just in case someone thought they had missed it,
Just to proved that it really existed.
People take pictures of each other,
And the moment to last them forever,
Of the time when they mattered to someone.
Picture of me when I was just three,
Sucking my thumb by the old oak tree.
Oh how I love things as they used to be,
Don't show me no more, please"
-The Kinks.
"Cheap cameras are not unlike cheap sunglasses: usually made of plastic, inexpensive to replace if lost, and offering a slightly skewed view of the world. I heart cheap cameras..."
-excerpted from "Shutterbug" by Ellen Jo Roberts, August 2007 issue of The Noise (www.thenoise.us) August 2007
I shoot film on cheap junky dimestore plastic cameras, and vintage thrift shop treasures. I am in love with Holga (both 35mm and the more recognizable 120 medium format) and outside of lomographic style, I also adore precise old rangefinders (Argus, and Yashica in particular). I sometimes like to shoot digital, but not in my day-to-day life.
My college degree is in fine arts/painting. I like cats and dogs, road trips, vintage Volkswagens, martinis and capturing bits of daily life in rural Arizona. I adore Flickr because I love looking at other people's photo albums, even if I don't know them. There's a universality that speaks to me in the photos of random strangers.
ALL PHOTOS are copywritten to me, and may not be used without my express consent. Please contact me if you have interest in licensing any of my images.
(PS- For those who've recently added me as a contact-- I am often times so far behind in keeping up with my current contacts that I am not always that quick at adding new ones. For this I am sorry. I will get around to you eventually--this is my goal!)
Dogs in Disgui... medium -sized edition By Ellen J.D.Roberts Book Preview 
Dogs in Disguise In costume and Inc... By Photos by Ellen J.... Book Preview
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EllenJo's favorite photos from other Flickr members (4,406)
Contacts (226)
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colorfulsky
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Groups (50)
- Adorkable 7805 photos, 680 members
- I Ate This 279060 photos, 18464 members
- Palm Tree 2262 photos, 509 members
- Rusty Old Cars 23195 photos, 4176 members
- Sunset's View Masters 267 photos, 166 members
- Tempe, Arizona 2036 photos, 262 members
- Your Best Shot 2009 14006 photos, 17919 members
- I Have Night Vision 882 photos, 143 members
- Abandoned Schools 1994 photos, 203 members
- Upgrade to Film 3368 photos, 504 members
- Polaroid Cats 770 photos, 147 members
- Guess Where Chicago 4892 photos, 901 members
- RAMONES T-SHIRTS UNIVERSAL 201 photos, 150 members
- Thrift Store 50 photos, 103 members
- Autumn Leaves 28146 photos, 3537 members
- Animals in Your Art 34410 photos, 2898 members
- SLOW magazine 1797 photos, 222 members
- The Illinois [directory] ! 20019 photos, 1147 members
- Scenic Michigan 12778 photos, 639 members
- The Michigan Gallery- 12242 photos, 795 members
- Absolute Michigan 83007 photos, 2165 members
- What I Wore Today (drawings only!) 2241 photos, 1623 members
- Indiana 17216 photos, 748 members
- Naturally Indiana 5473 photos, 386 members
- Lake Michigan 11386 photos, 912 members
- Explore Northeastern Illinois 2157 photos, 106 members
- Enjoy Illinois 6839 photos, 322 members
- Fun Feet Pictures 877 photos, 236 members
- Graffiti On Vehicles 813 photos, 43 members
- Small Town Southwest 255 photos, 53 members
- 100 reasons to love summer 1663 photos, 229 members
- Boston Terrier Art 168 photos, 43 members
- POLAROID EDGE 55879 photos, 4309 members
- that couple 59 photos, 9 members
- converse n.w.o. 8493 photos, 1393 members
- El canto del cisne - The swan song project 228 photos, 119 members
- Classic Thunderbirds 79 photos, 10 members
- Inspired by William Wegman 83 photos, 26 members
- From the Airplane Window 7418 photos, 2141 members
- D I E T R O F R O N T 2223 photos, 201 members
- Lane Tech 320 photos, 30 members
- Karmann Ghia Personalities 246 photos, 31 members
- Camera Porn Friday 255 photos, 147 members
- 日本のインスタントフィルム 605 photos, 435 members
- Inside / Outside 444 photos, 135 members
- [The Future Is Analogue] 2232 photos, 224 members
- "Black Bird Fly" camera and photos 6321 photos, 927 members
- People Holding Fish 160 photos, 237 members
- Fujifilm INSTANT - (Peel Apart Film Only) 4169 photos, 680 members
- Rock a house party! 345 photos, 102 members
Testimonials (6)
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the lowest fidelity! says:
"incredibly honest images. inspiring, and full of happiness!"
10th November, 2009
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susan catherine says:
"Ellen Jo's straight forward honest photography shows us not only one of the lovely places on earth (Arizona) but the quirkiness she brings to her environment. From her adorable quirky dogs, to her fun-filled Arizona adventures, to the imaginative toy camera capers, there's never a dull moment in her flickr photo stream!"
9th June, 2008
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connaught34 says:
"Ellen Jo is a truly remarkable artist. She has done for Chihuahuas what Leni Riefenstahl did for National Socialism and has been more successful at putting Arizona on the map than Lewis and Clark. Why, one is tempted to ask, is she not running for President?"
11th January, 2008
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e l e c t r o l i t e says:
"You gotta love EllenJo's eclectic mix of great images. From retro self portraits to road trips and the creative portraits of Floyd and Ivan. She captures it all with perfect vintage flair and humor."
19th December, 2007
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ilovecoffeeyesido says:
"Oh my, EllenJo rocks the vintage cameras!! I honestly didn't know such vibrant arty pictures could come out of those old cameras until I lurked through her photo stream! Her appreciation for the American roadside attractions and funky old travel destinations is truly felt in her photos... plus she hoists a tiny Chihuahua up in almost every one and what is more pleasing to the eye than that?! :) And seriously, if she makes me nearly wet my pants one more time dressing up her dogs, I'm going to have to lay down a couple layers of newspaper on this chair because I know the day will come when I will need them!! :)"
17th December, 2007
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"Shanty" Cheryl says:
" They say laughter is the key to staying healthy and happy. Well, I think my life has been extended a bit just by viewing EllenJo's pictures. Her portraits of Floyd are absolutely brilliant and can cheer me up anyday. Her collection of vintage cameras makes for amazing pictures as well."
6th September, 2007
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