Those who know me, even virtually, will realise I have a small (or perhaps large) obsession with everyday objects. I particularly like objects that are made with passion and care and which develop over time showing their use and the results of the rigours of daily life. Here I present photos of two such objects, in the first of what I think will be an occasional series illustrating this obsession.
Image made with a Pentax MX-1
ZeeBee Leather iPhone Case
Unfortunately I don't have any photos made when this case was new, but since purchasing this case from NoKipple I've been using it daily, probably for close to a year now. When purchasing I was able to specify both the leather and the stitching, which is a nice detail. I believe you'll be able to do the same if you purchase direct from ZeeBee.
Image made with a Pentax MX-1
I was also able to specify the leather used, in this case Natural Horween Chromexcel, a leather well know for the way it develops patina over time. What I like about this case is the way the leather is darkening fairly subtly, you can see this just below the logo in the first photo.
Image made with a Pentax MX-1
I also like the way the leather deals with surface scratches. In the past this would bother me but I now realise this is just part of life and I don't try to keep things pristine. I also like the way the leather lightens when it is stretched, which you can see above.
All General Made Passport Wallet
Image made with a Pentax MX-1
Another beautiful object, this time made by All General Made in Scotland (ZeeBee are in the US, I should have mentioned that). This time I managed to make images before starting to use the wallet, and in case you were wondering this is a passport wallet made with their oily veg tan leather.
Image made with a Pentax MX-1
Now lets be honest, no-one really needs a passport wallet. In fact, this is far less useful (at first glance) than an iPhone case. But, and here's the thing, I travel a lot and the idea of having something with me that will give me a sense of belonging is really important. How can I get a sense of belonging from a passport wallet though. Well its really all about the patina that I know will develop, knowing that this wallet has been with me on good trips and bad. I guess its giving me a sense of reality to hang on to.
Image made with a Pentax MX-1
This wallet also has pockets for my driver's licence and other essentials I am likely to need while I am travelling.
There are some dangers when using passport wallets. One is that border control staff sometimes don't like them much so you may find yourself taking your passport out when you enter a country. Additionally, those horrible little stickers that sometimes get stuck to passports may end up on your wallet. In both cases, I've reconciled myself to this being part of the develop and general use that will allow the object to grow over time.
Final Words
I realise I am probably over thinking these things, and I'm also conscious that this obsession with objects is probably not very healthy. It is what it is though and I shall certainly be sharing more of these types of posts.
As a final note, all of these photos were made with natural light, and I can't really vouch for colour accuracy. However, I hope this at least gives you an idea of what to expect with these kinds of product.