I went out today to shoot some large format film, the first time in over a year. I took four holders with me, two loaded with HP5+, the others with Ektar.

I decided to take a trip into the Peak District, to Stanton Moor, where there are a number of interesting features, including rock outcrops, stone circles, and ruined industrial buildings amongst others. It’s roughly 45 minutes drive from home and I left at 6:15am in order to ensure the sun was still quite low in the sky.

Shooting 4×5 in rarely a speedy process (for me at least) so, given the locations for my pictures were a fair distance apart, each shot necessitated setting everything up – tripod, camera out of the bag, camera set-up, lens attaching, framing the composition and setting any movements required before firing the shutter. Then packing it all away again before moving on to find the next shot.

I shot all four sheets of HP5+, and tow sheets of Ektar. I’ve probably knackered one of these because I forgot to change the ISO on my light meter, so it’s effectively underexposed by two stops. Oh well.

Anyway, I got home around lunchtime and decided I’d develop the HP5+. Imagine my delight when I discovered that both film holders contained no film…

I was certain that they were loaded as I’ve been meaning to shoot them for ages, concerned that they have been sat in a cupboard for months, but it seems my memory doth deceiveth me.

I’ll have to check the Ektar to make sure those aren’t the same (although I’m still pretty confident that they’re loaded).

Thankfully, I took my Olympus XA-3 with me and shot about 20 frames with that, so the day shouldn’t be a complete failure. I also developed a roll of 120 HP5+ I shot last weekend (given I’d gotten all the gear out), and those look quite nice. I also still got to visit Stanton Moor and note that it’s place worth visiting again in future, so as a scouting trip, it was a success at least.

I’m a bit gutted though, all the same.

Anyway, here’s another shot from my Scarborough trip (although even that day had it’s problems, as I described here).

It’s a rusty railing next to the beach, but it also looks a little like a bendy-armed figure about to give a hug, which I perhaps need today.

Minolta X-300, Minolta MD 50mm f/1.7 & Kodak Gold. Lab developed. Home scanned and converted with Negative Lab Pro.

Taken on 14 March 2026