The River - I can't believe I have written about this!!!

Quite some time ago I wrote a series of posts regarding an essay I was working on called The River.  I actually completed the essay a while ago but apart from showing it a Blackburn Camera Club, I omitted to do anything else with it.  I think I just got caught up with getting shows ready and starting new bodies of work.

Anyway,  I've finally got round to posting the final AV presentation on YouTube and each of the stills are on my flickr page.  There is more to this story but that will come in the very near future.

Messing with a purpose

The last few months have been hard.  A bout of illness has left me feeling uninspired and a tad unproductive.  Yes, I've done a little and I believe I have done it well but trying to find the motivation to pick up at least one of my cameras has been a challenge.  It's a rarity that rolls of film that have been put in my bag to shoot with haven't left the canisters they came in.

On Monday, I visited my camera club well, I say my camera club, we were actually visiting Darwen as one of our joint evenings.  The guest speaker was Barry Payling.  Barry is a well respected photographer who shies away from digital and continues to shoot with his Hasselblad on Velvia film.  Not only that he shows his slides (real ones, not digital) on a Hasselblad projector.  Barry proved to be a good speaker with some very nice images.  Not everything was to my taste but there were some that I did enjoy.  The most important thing about Monday night, for me, was seeing my photography friends again.  It has given me the kick up the backside that I needed.  So, this week, while the weather was nice I actually managed to get out and shoot some pictures.  Nothing too serious, just messing really but messing with a purpose.

I’m not sure if it’s time to get back working on my essays again.  It might be a little too soon but as things improves it will come back around.  For now, it was nice to to shoot.

The rest can be seen here.

Being Multi-disciplined

Most photographers have a passion for one particular area or genre of photography, others try a bit of everything and as a result of this master any.

I like trying new things.  I like trying new techniques but I quickly find that I'm bored and return to my two favourite disciplines, nature (in this I include landscape and wildlife) and documentary.  I just guess it is where I am comfortable, where I am home.

Finding Treasure

Roe Lee Park Pavilion - Pracktica MTL3.

Ilfodata B, ASA 25, f16. Developed in Rodinol1:300, 30 minutes

A while ago I was given a box of old photography junk.  Most people would have thrown it away but I had a rumage through it and found some useful stuff.  Some I'm actually using!  A couple of old bakelite 35mm developing tanks, bits of measuring stuff, some reusable 35mm film canisters (for hand rolling.  Film not tobacco!) and a couple of rolls of Ilford HP5+; all good usable stuff.

There was also a sealed tin with white tape round it.  On the tin it was marked Ilfodata B made by Ilford.  If what was on the tin was right, this was 100ft of 35mm film.  Guess what? I was quite excited!

Off in to the reading room, I mean darkroom, I mean bathroom (it's multi-functional!).  I shut the door and carefully opened the tin and sure enough, there in the dark, I could feel a roll of film!!!  So I snipped a bit off and rolled a short length.  I gave this to Bob to have a play with.  He's more experienced than me with weird stuff.

After searching the internet we could not find any information on this.  We found one article on Ilfodata HS something or other which was made by Ilford for copying documents.  We had an inkling that the film we have is for something similar.

So we were still in the same boat.  We had absolutely no information about this film; what it’s ASA (ISO) rating was, how to shoot with it or even how to process it.  Bob thought it might be ‘contrasty’ with being a document film but also thought that the developer pyrocat would sort it out.

Assuming that this was the last 100ft of this film in existence (that we know of.  There is none on eBay or in of the places where we know to get weird stuff from) we thought we should contact Ilford and see what information they held.

They basically knew as much as we did.  They thought it was manufactured somewhere in the 1970’s (which we gathered from the design on the tin) and suggested an Ilford developer that we probably wouldn’t use anyway.

So back to square one!

Pracktica MTL3 with Pinhole lens on.

This weekend I decided to bite the bullet and shoot a little bit and try developing it.  I have to admit, my knowledge of handling film is limited but I am learning all the time.  Back when I shot film, I mostly shot colour and sent it to a lab.  I dabbled a bit with processing black and white but didn’t go beyond a couple of rolls.  So, I’m on a learning curve of chemicals, techniques and working in the dark!  It’s fun.  I mean really fun!

Friday night I rolled enough film to shoot five frames.  I had the idea that I would try shooting with a 35mm pinhole again.

Come Saturday morning I nipped down to Roe Lee Park to shoot the pavilion there.  It has sort of become my test subject!

I shot one frame with my 50mm lens at ASA25, f16, couldn’t tell you the shutter speed but I think it’s around 1 second maybe ½.  I then shot one at 5 seconds to try and take in account reciprocity.  I then changed the lens and put a 43mm pinhole lens on and finally a 75mm pinhole.

During the evening, I re-read the article on the HS and one thing jumped out at me.  The author had said that the film was similar to Kodak Technical Pan.  I went on Massive Dev Chart and look up Technical Pan Developing times.  At least I would have a starting point and could mess with development on the results of this short length.  I’d nothing to lose.  There sure enough was Rodinol, 1:300 for rating ASA25.  Excellent.  I could do this.  I mixed up the chemical and began the process.  40 minutes later and I was on the final wash.  A bit nervous I peel the film off the reel.

Wow, was my response.  The photograph made with the lens on was stunning.  I could see every tile, every mortar joint in the building.  The negative look gorgeous.

The pinhole isn’t  quite right but it’s getting there!  These are scans of the negative.  For some reason the scanner has cropped the top of the building off on but it gives an idea.  The neg is so much better though!

A trip with a Trip

Ghyll Cemetery

Just before Christmas I bought some Kentmere 400 film.  Basically to try it out and I have to say, I am impressed.  It’s a lovely film for the price.  Yeah, I’m impressed.

A couple of weeks ago, I put the film in to my little Olympus Trip 35 and started shooting with it.  Nothing in particular but just trying the film and getting used to the camera.



A Nelson Street

I love the Trip.  It’s such a fantastic design and beautifully built.  The images from it are lovely too.

So, just taking my time shooting a little randomly slowly started to fill the roll up.  Even Eve, my daughter took it out and had a go at shooting with it!  She did pretty good as well!



Griffin Manor

First up was a stop off a Ghyll Church and Cemetery and Barnoldswick.  Some nice little shots came off from that.

Then there was pulling my camera out of the bag at the camera club.  Just for a little documentary type shot.

One grab shot in Nelson which I think has a nice social commentary without having people in it and finally, a little walk around Griffin Park, Blackburn.

To see the shots and other shots with the trip visit my flickr set here.

Back in the Box

As posted a little while ago, Remnants went back in its box with a little sadness both from me and the gallery at La Dolce Vita, Colne.  Finally, I have got round to sorting everything out and I have now got a little time to reflect.

As part of this process I took photocopies from the comments book and they are fantastic.  I thought I would share what has been said about Remnants.

‘Really impressive and very moving’

D. Claude.  Leeds

‘Emotive, calming’

G. Hensley.  Trawden

‘Very atmospheric and engaging’

I. Cleasby.  Oxford

‘Very beautiful images, dark and sombre but uplifting’

                                    M. Fielding.  Colne

‘Captivating, mesmerising images.  Beautiful.’

                                    Miriam & Andy.  Colne

‘What an unexpected surprise!  Very impressive indeed!’

                                    G. Read.  Colne

‘Simply brilliant and nice to see a local artist’

A. Ul-haq.  Colne

Thank you so much to everyone who visited the exhibition and took time to comment.

Lancaster with the Camera Club

Monday night saw a group of us from Blackburn & District Camera Club head north up the M6 to Lancaster.

For a change we had some decent weather and some decent light.  I haven't processed many of the images yet but here is two that I have done so far.

While not massively stunning images the re-occurring themes of stone, monochrome and nature taking the built environment back feature quite heavily.

Today I have been doing some work around Pendle, but more on that tomorrow!

An Evening Out with my Daughter

After the constant deluge of rain we seem to be getting all summer, Sunday night dried up and turned in to quite a nice evening.  So my daughter and I decided we would pick up our cameras and go out on the Ribble to catch the sunset.  Well, with it being school holidays, why not?

Anyway we came back with a couple of images that we both like.  My favorite being the one pictured left.  

I wasn't intending the swan to be in the image but it came and wanted some attention.  I was looking for long exposures to bring out the movement in the water.  Would you believe that the swan actually managed to stay still enough to get a sharp enough image at an exposure of four seconds!!!

On Monday night I was out with my friends from Blackburn Camera Club.  We took a ride up to Lancaster and did some shots up there.  I'm in the middle of processing those and will post them later in the week.

On the Pixel front we have finalised our guest contributor today.  That announcement will be coming soon!

Tired, busy and preparing for the Annual Exhibition

It seems like ages since I last put a post up.  It may have something to do with the fact that my computer is in storage while I re-model my house.  Thankfully that is now coming to an end and I should be back home.

Photography wise it has been extremely busy!  A while ago I posted about an unusual job.  Well, the job was for the Nelson Branch of the Salvation Army.  They requested a group photograph to celebrate their 130th anniversary.  I was more than happy to oblige and due to the amount of good work they do also waved my normal sitting fee.

A couple of weeks ago a couple of friends and I took a night off from our usual camera club meeting and did a diversion in to Blackburn Town Centre to do some night photography.  I got some shots that I really like.  Here are a couple.

In the coming weeks I have been booked to give several talks.  One is a return to the Salvation Army to talk about my photography.  This one is also going to be the first outing of the finished Remnants project.  I've one location left that I really want to shoot and add to the collection to completely finish the project but the end is almost in sight, which to be honest is a bit sad as I have really enjoyed this one and still haven't thought of a follow up.

The second talk is for the camera club (Blackburn & District Camera Club).  A couple of us are going to a talk about those photographers that influence and inspire us.  I'll post after the talk as I don't want the subject to yet be know.  All I will say is that the opening line of the talk is 'In the words of Monty Python "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition"'

This is the time of year for the Camera Clubs Annual Exhibition and just as the other memebers are, I am busy preparing.  We can enter up to 10 prints and 10 digital images.  The hard part is deciding what images to enter in which category.  It's one where you have to put aside your favourite images and try and second guess what a judge will like. The entry night is next Monday so good luck to everyone involved.  I will give reports as and when judging starts.

As far as competing goes I think this maybe my last year for a while.  There are a few photographic challenges that I want to complete over the next few years and the pressure of competing doesn't help.  So it may be time to step back a little and concentrate on what I want to achieve.

Anyway, we shall see what happens!

For something a little different!

I'm going to take a little of a side step with this post to introduce a new publication from Blackburn & District Camera Club.

Pixel is a new monthly magazine that is created by a small group of Blackburn & District Camera Club members overseen by its editor and Publicity & Communications Secretary, Lee Johnson.

The magazine aims to keep members informed of club activities and industry news as well as a way of showing off members work and giving hints and tips to our newer members or those new to digital photography.

The magazine is only available on line, although, special editions will be produced throughout the year that will be for sale.

More information about Blackburn & District Camera Club is available from http://www.bandd.cc/

Open publication - Free publishing - More blackburn

Busy, busy, busy!

Well, its been quite a while since I last entered anything on to my blog and really there isn't much to tell!  Live has been so hectic that I haven't even had chance to pick up a camera properly apart from a couple of jobs for clients.

In the next few months some interpretation boards are going to be installed in Borough of Pendle's parks containing an array of my images including landscapes and wildlife shots.  Will post more nearer the time.

This week sees the start of competition season at Blackburn & District Camera Club.  I have four images entered in the digital projection section.  Will post results sometime next week.

This week I accepted a job for a rather unusual but interesting assignment.  I'm keeping it a bit close to my chest at the moment but I will reveal all in the coming weeks.

Festive Wishes!

It's been a busy few weeks here.  Just putting together Remnants so have been out of action for a while.  Just had to post to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Finding Time!

Finally, I managed to sit down and do some editing.

A couple of weeks ago I went on an outing to Skippool Creek with other members of Blackburn & District Camera Club. It wasn't a particularly good day with grey flat skies, mist and low visibility.  Despite this I did come away with a couple of shots that I did like.  The shots have been sat in Lightroom waiting to be developed for two weeks with me just about getting round to them the other night.

I'm also working on a couple of surrealist images that need to be finished so my camera is going to be left alone for a couple of weeks while I catch up.

Typed by Lee and Caleb.

A Productive Weekend

This weekend has been particularly productive.

The Remnants project continues to grow.  Just when I think I've added more than enough images to it, I find another location that I have to shoot and add in.  At some point, I'm going to have to say stop and leave it well alone!

From Saturday morning you could tell it was going to be a nice sunset.  So about an hour before, I headed down to the Ribble, set up, sat and waited.  I shot three different aspects of the river at sunset and I have to say that looking at them in Lightroom, I think there are some gorgeous images to be had.  The one on the left is the first one out.  It's only in a rough edit so isn't quite perfect, but I think it's lovely for a start and a sneak peak!

I also finished editing the images for a clients portraiture session.  I quite happy with the finished article and I'm sure the client will be.  I think I've definitely got the essence they were looking for.

Tonight is the Presidents Prize night at Blackburn and District Camera Club.  It is also the last chance to obtain Photographer of the Year points.  At the moment I'm lying in fifth place, considering I haven't done much competing this year, I'm quite happy with that!  The interesting fight is in the beginners section where only one point separates the leaders!  Should be an interesting night!