Another picture taken in close proximity to those posted over the last couple of days.
This is a bit of a “tripod holes” scene, and you can probably fine a large number of alternative (and probably better) photographs of the same location. It sits beside one of the main paths leading through Padley Gorge so, unless you take the path on the other side of the gorge, you can’t really avoid it.
Still, I’m quite happy with how it turned out. I’ve cropped in a little to remove some additional brightness where the grey and overcast sky was visible through the branches at the top of the scene.
Chamonix 045n-1, Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Angulon 5.6/90 & Kodak Ektar. Lab developed. Home scanned and converted with Negative Lab Pro.
Today’s picture was taken just a stone’s throw from the one I posted yesterday, but shot a year later. Thankfully the Kodak Ektar sheet fil, already expired by a few years when I loaded it into the holders, has stood the extended wait quite well, especially as it was just sat in my office and not refrigerated during this time. I wonder if we sometimes get overly concerned about the longevity of film if it’s not cold stored? I expect that, unless you’re in particularly adverse conditions, it will fare quite well at normal room temperature in a temperate environment.
Chamonix 045n-1, Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Angulon 5.6/90 & Kodak Ektar. Lab developed. Home scanned and converted with Negative Lab Pro.
I remember thinking at the time that I might as well just pull the sheet of film from the holder and throw it in the bin, such was my certainty that I’s messed it up beyond salvation. In the end, I decided to leave the sheet in the holder until I shot the remaining three sheets I had loaded on some other outing. It took almost a year before that next outing with the 4×5 Ektar came around.
Tempting fate somewhat, I returned to the same location – Padley Gorge – although the weather wasn’t particularly inspiring, it being a typical UK dull and overcast autumnal day. Nonetheless I decided to shoot the remaining three sheets I had loaded into my film holders. This being the first time I’ve shot colour 4×5 film, and as I don’t have the chemicals or equipment I’d need to develop the film at home (as I do with black and white), I had to find somewhere to send the film to be processed. I also had to locate a spare film box that I could use to send the sheets (they need to be sent in a light-tight container, usually a double box with a lightproof bag inside). It ended up being a month before I managed to post them out to the lab I chose, then another week to get them back.
When I saw the negatives, the original badly exposed shot looked a little thin, so I was expecting a bad result. Imaging my surprise when the picture you see below appeared from the scanner! It’s the best of the four sheets by far, I think. Yes, I’ve done some post-processing to make it look its best, but nothing too dramatic, and I’m extremely happy with the result. If you click the photo you can see the full-size version on Flickr, with all the lovely detail that a large format photograph provides.
There’s a lesson here about not giving up on things, even when they seem a lost cause…
Chamonix 045n-1, Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Angulon 5.6/90 & Kodak Ektar. Lab developed. Home scanned and converted with Negative Lab Pro.
When I visited King’s Lynn, although there were plenty of people about, and lots of traffic, the roads close to the quayside were often devoid of pedestrians and traffic. Not completely empty, but quiet enough that it was easy to bide my time and get a photograph of the street scenes without anyone around.
I wonder what used to stand here, beside this (I presume) wharf building? You can see where it once stood, the whitewashed outline of it’s gable tattooed on the structure it shared space with.
I’m sure someone familiar with King’s Lynn would know.
This attractive old building is the Custom House in King’s Lynn, Norfolk. It dates all the way back to 1683 where it was originally a merchant’s exchange. It took on the role of Custom House in the 1700s and continued to do so through to 1989. The bottom of the building used to be an open arcade serving as a meeting place for merchants, the upper part of the building supported by supported by columns, but the arches have since been filled in, and the columns replaced by masonry.
One of my sons has gone on a trip to Europe with his friends. This is the first time he’s done this (although some of his friends have been away together before), partly because he doesn’t like flying, and partly because, being fair skinned, he’s not a huge fan of sunshine holidays. This trip is a city break though, and it’s November, so hot weather and too much sun are unlikely to be an issue.
Hi mother and I are understandably nervous – it’s one of those “firsts” that you go through with your kids. First night away from home. First time on a bus by themselves. First time driving alone. First trip to a pub. First trip to a nightclub. The list goes on.
He’s a sensible young man and, while I’m sure he’ll avail himself of some drinks while there, he won’t do anything foolhardy, but your children are precious and it’s natural to be concerned for their safety, security, and happiness, even if the likelihood of anything affecting these things is small.
He left the house early this morning to walk to the house of his friend who was driving some of them to the airport. I was asleep when he left, but woke at around four to go to the toilet and realised he had already set off. I was then unable to get back to sleep until I got a message from him saying he was at the airport. I slept off-and-on for the rest of the night and when I did wake properly, kept checking the progress of his flight. I was much happier when I knew he’d arrived safely and, while I’ll be much happier when he’s back home again, I feel less on edge today than I have for the last few. Being a parent can be stressful!
My other son (we have three) had a review meeting today for the internship he’s attending this year. We went along with him and were extremely happy with his progress. He is getting along great and we couldn’t have hoped for better feedback from the staff at the place he is working. We are very proud of him. There are also positive signs that there may be a permanent position for him, which is very good news. Being a parent can also be very rewarding. 🙂
Steel City Snapper photography 