Fishing on the Wharf

October 18, 2017 fishyfisharcadeLeave a comment

I went to the Boston Spa camera fair at the weekend (where I bought a Zeiss Ikon medium format folder – which needs a small bellows repair before I can use it, and a Zuiko 135mm f/3.5 lens for my OM-1). I took the Nikon F70 with me and a roll of Agfa CT Precisa to shoot. I chose the Nikon as it’s in-built metering is far superior to any other 35mm camera I own, and I wanter to try and make the most of what was my very first roll f slide film. I shot a few frames at Boston Spa, then a bunch more when I stopped off at Brodsworth Hall on the way home. The remaining frames were shot on a day off yesterday at Clumber Park.

My initial findings are that:

Seeing a set of slides that you took for the first time is a magical experience.
Slide film really DOES have a lot less latitude when it comes to shadows and highlights (although none of my shots suffered too badly as a result)
My usual basic processing techniques in Lightroom don’t transfer from reversal to positive film (not without some tweaks, anyway)
The shots taken with my 50mm prime are superior to the ones with the 28-80mm zoom.

Overall though, despite my hit rate not being quite what I usually get (although I might’ve been rushing the roll a bit), I’m pretty happy with the results, and there are one or two lovely picturs (by my standards, at least) amongst the rest.

The shot here isn’t one of the best (although I do really like the composition, with the angler at bottom left), but it’s the only one I’ve uploaded to Flickr so far.

I’ll definitely be shooting more slide film at some point though.

Nikon F70, Nikkor 28-80 f/3.5-5.6 AF-D & Agfa CT Precisa.

Taken on 15 October 2017

35mm · Film photography · Photography

A crane over Camden

October 17, 2017October 17, 2017 fishyfisharcadeLeave a comment

We managed to catch some nice weather on our trip to Camden last month. On the first day, at least – the Sunday was a little grim and overcast.

Pentax P30T, Rikenon 50mm f/2 & Kodak Portra 160.

Taken on 9 September 2017

Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

Bolsover castle

October 16, 2017January 28, 2025 fishyfisharcadeLeave a comment

This was taken with my Lubitel 166 U medium format camera. Despite its limitations, it’s capable of some very sharp images. It’s a pain in the backside to focus and compose when compared to my Yashica Mat 124 G, but it still gives a very nice picture if you treat it right.

Lubitel 166 Universal & Rollei Superpan 200.

Taken on 4 March 2017

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Glowing Japanese design

October 15, 2017October 15, 2017 fishyfisharcadeLeave a comment

This glowing head was in a display case in Manchester Art Gallery as part of a wider display of Japanese design that was being exhibited when I visited earlier this year (not to see the Japanese design stuff, but to visit the Strange and Familiar photo exhibition).

Nikon F70, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF-D & Adox Silvermax.

Taken in March 2017

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Love locks

October 14, 2017October 14, 2017 fishyfisharcadeLeave a comment

As on many bridges around the world, the pedestrian footbridge across the river Wye at Bakewell in Derbyshire is festooned with padlocks placed there by couples, friends, and anyone else with a reason to attach one.

Olympus OM-1, F.Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 & Kodak Portra 160.

Taken on 20 February 2017

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Approaching High Bradfield

October 13, 2017November 22, 2017 fishyfisharcade1 Comment

This was taken back at the start of the year, when I went for a walk around High & Low Bradfield, just outside Sheffield. The day is probably most memorable for the fact that I stumbled and fell flat on my face in the verge while walking down the very steep hill to Low Bradfield. Luckily, apart from my pride, nothing was hurt too badly!

Olympus 35 RC & Ilford HP5+.

Taken on 13 January 2017.

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Canal-side

October 12, 2017November 22, 2017 fishyfisharcadeLeave a comment

A canal-side building on the Sheffield & Tinsley canal.

Nikon F70, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF-D, Kodak Tmax 100 (expired September 1994 and shot at 50 ASA)

Taken on 28 August 2017

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Metropolitan hotel

October 11, 2017 fishyfisharcadeLeave a comment

A shot taken while walking back to my car following the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride a few weeks back. This is the Metropolitan hotel in Sheffield.

Nikon F70, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF-D (with red filter) & Fomapan 100.

Taken on 24 September 2017

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Tunnel vision

October 10, 2017 fishyfisharcade5 Comments

I wonder how many times that title has been used for similar posts?

An older shot, from a trip to York back in the summer. I think I might’ve already posted a similar shot, taken at the same location and time, but that one was in portrait format, so this is a new one.

Olympus OM-1, F.Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 & Ilford HP5+.

Taken on 10 June 2017

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Aerial

October 9, 2017October 9, 2017 fishyfisharcadeLeave a comment

I recently shot a roll of expired Kodak Ultra 400 (it expired in March 2006) through the Pentax MZ-50 I bought for a pound at a car-boot sale in the summer. Sadly, the results have been pretty disappointing – the 28-80 lens I have on the camera seems to produce pretty soft results, which I’m unsure is because of the optical quality, or because it has an infuriating need to hunt for focus, quite often switching just as you fire the shutter; I also took a bunch of mostly uninspired pictures too if I’m honest, most of them of pretty mundane subjects; but the main disappointment is the sheer amount of curve on the negatives. They’re pretty much arched! It was a real fiddle to scan them, and the results are not my best.

All things considered, the shot here is probably the best of the roll. The colours are nice and the composition is pleasing in a minimal sort of way (I would’ve put the aerial on the thirds line, but the damn auto-focus kept trying to focus on the sky if I moved the viewfinder – even with the shutter half-depressed).

I’ve decided to sell on the rest of the expired Ultra 400 I have though (and probably the camera and lens too).