Tag: Chimney

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Opportunity without inspiration

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I had the opportunity to go out yesterday and today to do some photography, but mostly failed to do so. Part of this might be one of those dips in inspiration that seems to afflict photographers from time to time, and it was this which meant that, as the weekend approached, I was unable to decide just where to go.

This was compounded, perhaps fatally so, by the fact that I’d got set in my head that I was going to use my large format camera, which I haven’t used in over a year! While I love the images I can get on 4×5 film, I’m also put off the process somewhat by the effort required.

Not only is it an expensive process in terms of film (especially if I shoot colour!), but perhaps more tellingly, in my time. Each shot takes a lot of preparation to get right and because of this, I might only come back with a handful of pictures which then puts a lot of pressure on me to try and make sure they’re all worth the effort. Sometimes I think about the work I need to put in and just think “Nah! I can’t be bothered…“.

Another factor is that, if the weather is nice, then the weekend will draw others to places I might want to photograph. While this is fine – I have no ownership of these places, and everyone else has as much right to enjoy them as me, it can lead to frustration if my perfectly composed shot keeps getting disturbed as others enter the frame (usually in the short window when the light is perfect). If I’m shooting smaller formats then it’s easier to avoid this as I can work much faster and have a greater chance of taking a picture quickly when opportunity arises.

I did go out briefly yesterday morning, with an intent to photograph a local cemetery, but with a detour to get some urban landscape scenes for a photo comp I’m taking part in. Luckily, I also took my pocketable Olympus XA3 with me, and used that to take these pictures, as it really wasn’t worth the effort of setting up the 4×5, but the large format camera would serve me well at the next destination, or so I thought. But when I got there, the place was closed. A sign on the gates said it would be closed for two days (the previous two days, not the day I was there!) and it wasn’t possible to gain access. After this I though about maybe going somewhere else, but a thick bank of cloud had moved in, the light was lost, and I decided to cut my losses and go home and do something else.

I planned to go out this morning too, the weather forecast had looked promising with a mix of sunshine and clouds, but I woke to a pure blue sky devoid of any interest, and by the time some clouds began to show their fluffy faces late in the morning, the sun was high, the light was harsh, and any desire to photograph had left me.

Obviously, as soon as I’m back at work tomorrow and unable to go out with a camera, the weather will no doubt be perfect and I’ll be abuzz with inspiration again. Sigh…

Here’s a picture of Steetley dolomite works, taken on a day where I felt a lot more inspired.

Distant dolomite works

Nikon F80 and Nikkor 70-200mm f/4 ED VR on Fomapan 400 (@320asa). Semi-stand in Rodinal 1+100 for 1 hour @ 20°.

Taken on 8 February 2026

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Lone tree and chimney

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It wasn’t the best sky for photography on the day I took this. While it was a blue sky, rather than grey, which at least meant there was some contrast to be had, I still dislike empty skies most of the time, and being shot on black and white film, there wasn’t even any colour to be seen.

I think blank skies can work if you’re looking for negative space in a picture, or – if shooting colour – as a contrast to other subjects, but otherwise they can be a lot of nothing taking up a lot of the frame. This is made worse by the fact that I sometimes get banding artifacts when scanning images, which are especially noticeable in such scenes.

I’d much rather have some clouds to break things up and add interest.

Lone tree. Lone chimney

Nikon F80 and Nikkor 70-200mm f/4 ED VR on Fomapan 400 (@320asa). Semi-stand in Rodinal 1+100 for 1 hour @ 20°.

Taken on 8 February 2026

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Across Whitwell to the dolomite works

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One of the landmarks near Whitwell is Steetley Dolomite, a large quarry and refining plant to the south of the village. The large chimney can be seen from some distance and, even when the rest of the works is obscured by the low hills in the area, the top of the chimney is often still visible.

The two shots below were taken from the same spot, with my stabilised Tamron 28-300mm zoom lens earning its keep.

Over
Dolomite works

Nikon F80, Tamron 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD & Agfa APX 100. Rodinal 1+100 (+2ml) semi-stand 1 hour @ 20°

Taken on 8 March 2025

Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

The end of the road

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I thought I’d treat myself to one of those clickbait titles similar to the ones I see on YouTube from time to time. You know the ones, where the person titles their video “My final post” or “That’s it. I’m finished.” or something else that gives the impression that their video making days are at an end but, upon viewing, it turns out that it’s “My final post… of November!” or “That’s it. I’m finished… Putting together this year’s calendar which you can buy from my SquareSpace site.“.

So in the spirit of that annoying tradition, today’s post is just about what I found at the end of the road I drove down in Whitwell, Nottinghamshire one day. In this case it was Whitwell railway station. The station today is a pretty simple affair – a couple of platforms, a footbridge, and some shelters for passengers. There used to be a selection of buildings at the station, but these were removed when the line was closed to passenger traffic sixty years ago (although passenger services would resume in the 1990s). The buildings were not lost however and were rebuilt at Butterley on the Midland Railway – Butterley heritage line as they were almost identical to the buildings that had originally stood there.

As to why I drove to the end of the road, it was mostly to see if there was a good composition of the chimney at the nearby Steetley Dolomite works (you can see it just above the Whitwell railway sign to the right of the first picture). I think a longer lens might have led to a more dramatic photograph but, alas, a long lens the GW690 does not have. Instead it’s a shot of loads of things poking up into the sky. A bit mundane, but I kinda like it anyway.

Street furniture at Whitwell station

The second picture was another reason I drove down here. The lamps on this footbridge are just about visible peeping over the bridge crossing the railway tracks that I’ve driven across on a number of occasions, and I’d wondered if there was a picture to be had of them. This was the picture I got, although I think there may be better ones to be found if I revisit the place, possibly (again) with a different focal length at my disposal.

Footbridge ramp

Fujica GW690 on Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 @ 20° 9mins.

Taken on 17 August 2024

Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

Dolomite works

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The chimney of this dolomite works is visible from a long way away. I’ve driven past on a couple of occasions and taken photographs of the buildings, which are impressive and crusted with white dolomite deposits, although I’ve not attempted to see if the actual quarry workings are visible from the roadside.

The road and verge is also covered in a faint white sugaring of dust from the works’ activity.

Workings and chimney
Hiding behind a tree

Fujica GW690 on Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 @ 20° 9mins.

Taken on 17 August 2024

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Cement works

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In the midst of the picturesque Hope Valley stands the cement works. This used to be owned by Blue Circle Cement when I was younger, but the plant has been in the hands of multiple businesses since it was first built in 1929. The current owner is Breedon.

Despite the structure being quite a contrast from the otherwise scenic agricultural surroundings, it provides quite a striking focal point and the sight of the building and chimney features frequently in landscape photographs of the area.

I have a memory from a long ago school trip to the area where someone mentioned that it was an eyesore and spoiled the scenery, whereupon the teacher explained that, while that might be the case, the operation also provides a large number of jobs for the people who live in the area.

Hope cement works

Nikon F80, Tamron 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di VC PZD & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°

Taken on 18 May 2024

35mm · Film photography · Photography

False autumn

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There’s a definite autumnal feel to the picture in today’s post, I think, despite it being made in early February.

It’s the colours that do it, lots of browns and oranges here in the buildings, bricks, and boughs.

No-one else around

Canon Sure Shot Supreme & Fujifilm Superia X-tra 400. Lab Developed. Home scanned and converted with Negative Lab Pro.

Taken 5 February 2023.

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Synchronous things seen from beside the canal

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I thought I’d lump these two photos together in today’s post. There are two reasons for this.

Firstly, both shots were made while I walked along the towpath beside the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal, heading back towards Victoria Quays, so there is a connection there.

Secondly, there is (to my eye at least) a visual connection in the shape of the piece of sky in the railway bridge picture, and the chimney in the second shot. It almost feels like, if you were to overlay them that they might somehow intersect and fit together. Obviously it wouldn’t be a perfect fit, but compositions definitely have a synchronicity about them, a kind of positive / negative relationship.

Railway bridge
Ascending

Olympus XA-3 & Kodak Tri-X. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins 20°.

Taken on 27 March 2022