Steel City Snapper photography
35mm, medium format and large format film photography (with the odd bit of digital every now and then…)
Let’s hope it doesn’t suddenly roll forwards!
I’m still uploading photos from this steam rally, even though I’ve attended another one today and now have a whole bunch more to develop and scan!
Does tons of metal
Make for comfort when weary
Perhaps it might do
Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 14 August 2021
When I was a kid the Bond Bug wasn’t an unusual sight, even if not completely commonplace. Every one (to my knowledge) was painted the same bright orange and this, plus the lift-up canopy door and three-wheel design made them special in the eyes of my friends and I. For a while I thought they were so named due to some sort of connection with James Bond – perhaps he drove one in some spy movie I hadn’t yet seen.
They were actually named due to them being manufactured by Bond Cars Ltd (I’m assuming that James Bond wasn’t moonlighting as a vehicle manufacturer…) and were the last in a range of three-wheel vehicles that began in the 1940s with the Bond Minicar.
Despite their sleek and futuristic design, the car was powered by a 700 or 750cc engine with a top speed of just 75mph. I’ve never ridden in a Bond Bug but did have a trip in a Reliant Robin once – another three-wheel car – and based on that experience (it nearly tipped on its side going around a corner!) can only assume that reaching top speed must have been a somewhat terrifying experience.
Did James Bond once drive
His namesake car the Bond Bug?
Well he should have done
Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 14 August 2021
This will be another very concise post – as have several over the past couple of weeks – this time mostly because we had a visitor and so it’s later than I’d normally start typing this. I’ll write longer posts again at some point, honest – maybe even break the three paragraph mark! 🙂
So, we have today the bonnet of a Ford Consul Capri. I know little about this car, but was attracted to the stars on the grille, which have a charmingly kitsch look about them.
Yesterday’s future
The stars on the car you see
Retro envisioned
Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 14 August 2021
The sounds of the twenties sounded from this almost-a-century-old gramophone. And it could be yours, complete with records, for just £75!
Revolving vinyl
Analogue sounds from years ago
Warm crackling audio
Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 14 August 2021
The weather at the Astle Traction Engine Rally the other week was dull and rainy. While this meant there were umbrellas in abundance and raindrops of automotive paintwork – both attractive subjects for a photograph – it also made the act of making photos was far more troublesome, especially without the benefit of a weather-sealed camera.
It also meant that a lot of the exhibitors could be found sat inside their vehicles to escape the damp, as in this Rover 100 and Rolls Royce Wraith.
Sat in your dry car
Looking out at passersby
Don’t want to get wet
Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 14 August 2021
There was a considerable fleet of Land Rovers at the Aslte Traction Engine Rally. All neatly lined up in groups. Here are a couple of photos of two of the groups. I kinda feel that “pack” would be a better collective noun for this sort of vehicle.
Four wheels to the floor
Steady footing on soft ground
For roving the land
Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 14 August 2021
While looking for interesting details inside the cabs of vintage vehicles, I came across one with a bowler hat on the bench seat. If an apple had been present, the feel of a Magritte painting would have been complete!
Ghosts of the classics
Linger on in strange places
Shame there’s no apple
Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 14 August 2021
The rear wheels and tyres on this Lanz Bulldog tractor are huge. Normally – for a tractor – this wouldn’t be unusual, but this particular example is kitted out as a car. It looks distinctly hot-rod-ish in style, although I doubt the engine is up to making much speed.
Bulldog vehicle
With back wheels like a hot-rod
A disguised tractor
Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 14 August 2021
A very quick post of a raindrop-spotted headlamp.
Not got any time
To do anything today
My apologies
Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 14 August 2021
Many traction engines are painted in matt-black but others, such as the one shown here – the Denby Maiden – are painted in bold colours – in this case a green body and vivid, banana-yellow wheels. Had the sun been out I’d have likely made some photos on colour film, but it wasn’t, so I didn’t.
I’ve seen many lovely colour photographs made on dull, overcast days, but my success rate in such conditions is not stellar and, as a result, I tend to stick to bright, sunny days for my colour film use.
Our cat is home now and we’re very glad to have him back. He’s not too happy about being confined to the house for the next few days though, and I’m not particulalrly excited about having to clean out his litter tray either (especially the fragrant “incident” he produced this morning :D), but those are the responsibilities of having animals in the family. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
See these vivid scenes
Reduced to monochrome sights
On dull British days
Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 14 August 2021
