Steel City Snapper photography
35mm, medium format and large format film photography (with the odd bit of digital every now and then…)
Another digital shot from Barcelona today.
Something good that happened today…
I had a chilled couple of hours lying on the bed watching episodes of QI while the cats snoozed beside me. It’s really nice to relax like this (especially as my legs were aching a little from yesterday’s hike) and it’s something I don’t do often enough, always being busy with other stuff that can probably wait a little while.
Ricoh GR III
Taken on 20 December 2024
I’ve not had chance to write up my new “Expiriment” post today as I went out for a hike and didn’t get back home in time. Maybe tomorrow, time allowing…
Instead here’s another digital shot from December’s Barcelona trip.
Something good that happened today…
I went out into the Peak District with the intention of wandering around Baslow, one of the closest villages in the park to Sheffield. I think there are plenty of subjects there and, while I’ve driven through the village on many occasions, I’ve never actually stopped to explore.
However, when I arrived, I instead decided to walk to Chatsworth House, which stands a mile or so down the Derwent Valley from the village. I ended up hiking for miles, but the weather was bright and clear, I shot a roll and a bit of Tr-X through my Yashica Mat 124G, and had a good time doing it. It’s nice to get out and get some fresh air and exercise.
Ricoh GR III
Taken on 22 December 2024
I’ll be posting more photos from this roll in the coming days and, given it’s an expired film, I’ll try to write up a new “Expiriment” post.
For now, here’s a single frame that I shot while visiting Peter Mitchell’s “Nothing Lasts Forever” exhibition at Leeds Art Gallery last autumn.
Something good that happened today…
My eldest son came to visit after he’d been to get his hair cut. We all ate pasta and had a good catch up.
Olympus OM-10 & G.Zuiko 35mm f/2.8 on Kodak Elite Chrome 200 (expired 2004) . Lab developed. Home scanned and converted with Negative Lab Pro.
Taken on 5 October 2024
We walked past this place selling dumplings on a number of occasions while in Barcelona (although we didn’t get chance to purchase any). I thought it made for a nice picture.
Something good that happened today…
I’m still struggling to find something to put in this section on some days. I did have some good personal news, but it’s not something I want to talk about on here, so I’m clutching at straws a little otherwise. I think that the fact I tend to worry about things a lot can mean the good stuff gets obscured.
So I’m going to go with my weight. Not that it’s great – I’m overweight and at least a half-stone over what I was back in the autumn – but I’m still over a stone lighter than I was this time last year and, while my weight is not really dropping much at present (still some Christmas treats hanging around the house that need to be defeated!), it’s not increasing either, which bodes well for when I make a proper effort to get it under control soon. Hopefully I might hit my target this year!
Ricoh GR III
Taken on 22 December 2024
One of the occasional pictures I post that I’ve used as an entry in the annual film photography competition I’ve taken part in for the past few years. The theme for this one was Games of Chance, and the shot was an emergency backup for another picture that didn’t work out as expected.
Something good that happened today…
I usually restrict the cats to downstairs when I’m working alone at home as they tend to make a nuisance of themselves. Today I decided to give them a chance.
They made nuisances of themselves.
Nonetheless it was nice to have them around. I might do it more often – maybe I’ll bring their beds upstairs so they can sleep in my office while I work.
Olympus OM-10 & Zuiko Auto-S 50mm f/1.8. Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°
Taken in November 2024
St. Peter’s church stands in Trusthorpe, a village that sits between Mablethorpe and Sutton-on-Sea. The village just merges into the two other locations though with no countryside in between. Much of the land just behind the sea defences is now the home of a large caravan park, which can be seen in the bottom two pictures. If you look very closely at the second caravans photo, you can just see the tower of St. Peter’s poking up out of the treeline.
Something good that happened today…
I had a Jamaican salt fish patty for my lunch today. Never had one before and it was pretty nice.
Yashica Mat 124G & Kodak Tri-X. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°
Taken on 21 September 2024
There is a house behind that tree. You can just about make it out…
Something good that happened today…
I was told today that I’ve been successful in keeping my job, which is a huge relief.
The relief and gratitude is, however, considerably tempered by the fact that lots of my colleagues have not been so fortunate and will be leaving the team (and possibly the business) in the near future, which is horrible. I’ve been in that position myself, and it was awful. I expect that all of them will be able to find new jobs given the line of business we are in and their hands on experience, but it’s still not a happy situation for them to be put in through no fault of their own. They are all good people and I will really miss them.
Yashica Mat 124G & Kodak Tri-X. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°
Taken on 21 September 2024
The last batch of last year’s Mablethorpe / Sutton-on-Sea chalet / beach hut pictures (although I may have a few more worthwhile digital picture that I might pull out of the hat if I need something to post one day).
These four were all shot on Tri-X, rather than the expired Plus-X of the others.
Something good that happened today…
It’s been a bit of a lazy Sunday. My dad visited this morning. Then I developed a roll of film I shot a couple of weeks ago (my first official 2025 film photos). Then I spent the rest of the afternoon doing not much apart from browsing the internet and watching a bit of TV. A roast chicken Sunday Dinner has filled my belly.
Given the uncertainty over what could happen tomorrow, I think this relaxed day is something to be happy about and be thankful for.
Yashica Mat 124G & Kodak Tri-X. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°
Taken on 21 September 2024
Another Lifeguards hut. Never photographed this one before, although given that they all look pretty much the same, it’s not so much the hut as the surroundings. This one overlooks the beach at Sutton-on-Sea.
Something good that happened today…
I’ve done little today other than scan some negatives and watch TV. But it’s been relaxing, and that’s a good thing.
Yashica Mat 124G & Kodak Tri-X. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°
Taken on 21 September 2024
This is the new “Cultural Hub” building at Sutton-on-Sea. Still under construction when I took this photo, I believe it is due to open sometime in 2025.
It replaces the old Colonnade and Pleasure Gardens development that stood on the site since the 1950s an, as such modern developments often do, has caused some debate, some residents and visitors welcoming the new, modern structure, others criticising the loss of the old and viewing the new structure as an eyesore.
Whatever people’s views, there is little to be done now but accept it for what it is.
From my perspective, it made for an interesting photo, and I’ll have to revisit it to perhaps photograph the completed building (and maybe go onto the sun terrace to take a picture from there!).
Something good that happened today…
The uncertainty over my job continues, although I will find out one way or the other on Monday. My mood seems to shift from day-to-day – yesterday I felt quite upbeat about things, but today I’m the opposite. I’ve had hints that I have a good chance that my role is safe, but not a guarantee, so I’m tending towards a pessimistic view today as I don’t want to get my hopes up only to have them dashed. This has made it quite difficult to find something good to write about, but I’m going to say that it was the team call we had this afternoon. Most of the people present (and some were not) are in the same position as myself – stuck with uncertainty until after the weekend – and some of them are in a more difficult position as certain grades have fewer available roles between them. Despite this, and although everyone is clearly unhappy about the situation, we are still able to come together and support one another with encouragement and advice. I work with good people, and that’s definitely a good thing.
Yashica Mat 124G & Kodak Tri-X. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°
Taken on 21 September 2024
