Steel City Snapper photography
35mm, medium format and large format film photography (with the odd bit of digital every now and then…)
S1 Artspace is a gallery nestled within the Park Hill housing complex. The organisation has been in place since 1995, but the gallery at Park Hill is a more recent venue.
Unfortunately, as museums and galleries have now closed in the UK due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s now closed for the time being.
Samsung Fino 60S & Kodak Colorplus.
Taken on 1 March 2020
I’ve posted images from Sheffield’s Park Hill complex a number of times before (see Life among the ruins, Work continues, Colourful buildings, Scooter) and the location always tends to provide something worth photographing.
These two are from the test roll I shot through the Samsung Fino 60S – in fact the bulk of the roll features the complex.
The little camera and cheap film have, again, done quite a nice job on my pictures I think.
Samsung Fino 60S & Kodak Colorplus.
Taken on 1 March 2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the British government’s decision on Wednesday to close schools in England today for the foreseeable future, my youngest sons have effectively left school today. They would have been taking their GCSE exams in a few weeks and then leaving anyway, but those exams have now been cancelled with the results likely to be decided based on existing performance.
I made an effort this morning to take a few photos of them in their school uniforms for what is probably the last time, and it was quite moving. While neither of the boys seem overly concerned at the events – they now, effectively, have six-months off before they start sixth-form or college, which I think had it been granted to me when I was their age would have held similar appeal!) – for my wife and I it’s a sad day, and we feel that current events have robbed them of the final months of their comprehensive school time
The events are also likely to have an impact on any photography I carry out in the coming period. Although there are no rules preventing me from going out at present, I do wonder if things will change if the situation worsens.
At the end of the day, it’s the health and wellbeing of people that counts, and I have more than enough photographs to keep posting here on a daily basis, so I will deal with the situation as it develops, but I do wonder how things might have changed when we move out of it all.
Anyway, as the reversed sign in today’s photo says, “Do more of what makes you happy” – just as long as it doesn’t put you in jeopardy of course! Stay healthy and virus free! 🙂
Samsung Fino 60S & Kodak Colorplus.
Taken on 1 March 2020
My dad recently gave me a bag of cameras and film that someone he knows had given to him. Most of the cameras were unbranded digital cameras probably 15-20 years old with very low resolutions and built-in batteries that I had no way to charge, so they went in the bin. The only film camera in the bag was a Samsung Fino 60s. There were also three rolls of expired film dating from 2005.
The Samsung had a roll of film still in the camera, which I assumed to be of similar age as the rolls in the bag. After fitting a battery I used up the remaining shots on the roll and got them processed. Sadly, all the shots I took were unuseable due to the film’s deterioration, but the frames that had already been shot by the original owner had some recoverable photographs. They were still pretty poor quality, but featured images of a baby and (I assume) their grandmother and a picture of a dog, so I burned copies to a DVD and gave them to my dad to pass back to the person who’d given him the cameras.
While the specs of the camera are not great, I’m not one to waste things, so loaded it up with a fresh roll of Kodak Colorplus and took it out for a walk. The resulting images I got are a bit of a mixed bag – some are tack sharp and look great, but many more are somewhat soft. I’m unsure as to why this should be the case – the photos were all shot in similar lighting and, mostly, at the same focal length. A lot of the shots also had a distinctive defect on the images – a metallic looking arc in the same place on each shot – very noticeable on some shots, but feinter and smudgier on others. After asking around, I was informed that it was most likely the result of a light leak on the telephoto lens barrel assembly. Luckily, the placement of the defect was such that it could be cropped (or removed in Photoshop) in most of the photos.
As a result of this defect it’s unlikely I’ll use the camera again. It’s not worth putting on eBay, I don’t think, and I don’t want to donate it to a charity shop given the fault, but I dislike the idea of throwing away something that mostly still works. Oh well, I’m sure I’ll figure something out.
Todays photo is one of the sharp results, and I really like the vivid colours that the Colorplus has delivered. Give this cheap consumer-grade film the right conditions and it shines!
Samsung Fino 60S & Kodak Colorplus.
Taken on 1 March 2020
It’s said that men, when the reach middle age, can compensate for their lack of youth by splashing out on a fancy set of wheels. Well how about this hot little coupe? 🙂
It does have a slightly disapproving look about it though, with it’s eye-like lights and pursed mouth, so maybe don’t be too heavy on the accelerator…
Pentax Espio 140M & Ilford HP5+.
Taken on 11 February 2020
This giraffe was stood outside Dunkin’ Donuts at a shopping park we visited recently. The background was too busy to shoot it full length, so I chose to place it against the cludy sky instead, lending it a somewhat comically menacing air. I have an odd sense of humour…
Pentax Espio 140M & Ilford HP5+.
Taken on 8 February 2020
Another grabbed shot, taken while walking back from the local shopping mall.
Pentax Espio 140M & Ilford HP5+.
Taken on 11 February 2020
I walk past this house sometimes if I walk to the post office, and on this occasion the light was very nice – low sunlight casting lovely, contrasty shadows. As I usually carry a compact camera in my coat pocket throughout the colder months, the little Pentax Espio was on hand to do the job.
Pentax Espio 140M & Ilford HP5+.
Taken on 11 February 2020
A pair of pigeons (or are they doves?) perch atop telephone wires. It reminds me of one of those old cartoons where the birds would place their heads to the wire and evesdrop on the converations being transmitted.
Pentax Espio 140M & Ilford HP5+.
Taken on 11 February 2020
Sometimes an accident works out for the best. Had I not inadvertently switched the camera to the No Flash / Bulb setting (instead of just No Flash), this would have been a standard street shot of a chap with a walking stick on a rainy pavement. As it is I’ve got a wonderfully impressionist version instead. While I don’t have my intended shot to compare, I suspect that this would be the one I’d prefer given a choice.
Pentax Espio 140M & Ilford HP5+.
Taken on 15 February 2020
