35mm · 4x5 Large Format · Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

Twelve favourite photos from 2023

As another year comes to a close it’s time for my annual selection of favourite pictures, one from each month. As is always the case with these things, the list is based on my thoughts in the moment and the selection could easily change if I were to pick them yesterday or tomorrow.

Looking back through the year I was curious as to which camera has been used most for my photography. I thought there might be two or three contenders for the prize but, in actuality, there was a clear lead in the shape of my Bronica ETRSi, which has been used to shoot sixteen rolls of film in 2023. In distant second place was my Yashicamat 124G with six rolls (including one I developed today and have yet to scan), and then a tie for bronze between the Olympus Trip 35, and the Fujica GW690. I wonder which camera will be most used in 2024? Tune in this time next year!

January

Crossing the Moss
Fujica GW690
Kodak Gold
Converted to B&W in Lightroom

I struggled to get colours I was happy with using Negative Lab Pro for this roll. It usually works very well, but this roll was having none of it, so I resorted to a monochrome conversion.

February

Motorway
Bronica ETRSi
Zenzanon 75mm f/2.8 PE
Ilford HP5+
8sec exposure @ f/22
Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°

March

Going about their business
Yashicamat 124G
Ilford HP5+
Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°

April

St. Peter's Church, Elmton, UK
Chroma 4×5
Fujinon NW 135mm f/5.6
Fomapan 100
Ilfotec DD-X 1+9 12 mins @ 20°
1/30sec @ f/32

May

Venetian scene
Olympus Trip 35
Kodak Colorplus
Lab developed. Home scanned and converted with Negative Lab Pro.

June

Past the lifeguard flag
Olympus OM-1N
G-Zuiko Auto-W 35mm f/2.8
Ilford HP5+
Ilfotec DD-X 1+9 @ 20° 15mins 45secs

July

Skegness lifeguards
Bronica ETRSi
Zenzanon 75mm f/2.8 PE
Kodak Portra 400
Lab developed. Home scanned and converted with Negative Lab Pro

August

Watching the world go by
Bronica ETRSi
Zenzanon 150mm f/3.5 MC
Ilford HP5+
Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 @ 20° 9mins

September

St Peter and St Paul's Church, Sturton-le-Steeple
Chamonix 045N-1
Fujinon NW 135mm f/5.6
Fomapan 100
Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°

October

This year's autumn
Fujica GW690
Kodak Portra 400 NC (expired 2007)
Lab Developed.
Home scanned and converted with Negative Lab Pro.

November

Rother Valley sunrise
Canon Sure Shot Z135
Kodak Gold
Lab developed. Home scanned and converted with Negative Lab Pro.

December

Garden shed
Yashicamat 124G
Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 @ 20° 10mins

I expect that December’s picture might be changed as I still have a bunch of other stuff to develop and scan, and there may be shots amongst those that I prefer.

So that’s another year’s round-up. Now onto 2024! Have a happy New Year everyone.