Steel City Snapper photography
35mm, medium format and large format film photography (with the odd bit of digital every now and then…)
I’ve walked past this bungalow on a number of occasions and noticed a Jack Russel terrier peeking out the window. On this day I snapped his picture as I walked by.
Canon Sure Shot Supreme & Fujifilm C200.
Taken sometime early January 2020
Back in December, not long before Christmas, was the last time I visited the city centre. Less than a fortnight later the nation was placed back into lockdown and it became off-limits. The day in question was bright with sunshine and I spent an hour or two wandering around with my Texas Leica and the Sure Shot Supreme. The Supreme has been my “coat-pocket camera” for the past few months, going with me most places whereupon I would make the occasional picture when something caught my eye. Mostly, in these cases, I don’t really keep track of where and when I made each photo unless there’s something notable enough to get captured on my timeline. In this case, due to the Pandemic, a walk around town fell into that category. The roll of film in the camera was finally finished towards the end of last month (the Supreme has some Colorplus in there now).
The two images shown here are, respectively, the Yorkshire Artspace Persistence Works building, and the Rutland Arms pub. They sit opposite one another on the corner where Brown Street and Furnival Lane meet. I’ve never been inside either of them.
Hopefully I’ll get to see them (and the rest of the city centre) again before too long.
It’s easy to miss
The things you take for granted
When they’re out of reach
Canon Sure Shot Supreme & Fujifilm C200.
Taken on 20 December 2020
Don’t worry, I’m not going to compare three almost identical photos of the same bridge today. Instead, it’s the same bridge but photographed from the footpath that runs beneath. The sun kept peeking out from behind the clouds so I timed the shot for when the bridge supports were catching some extra light and I think it’s lent the picture a nice three-dimensionality.
Above the river
Girders of steel support
The ghost of rail tracks
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford Delta 400. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°.
Taken on 12 February 2021
Two photos of the same derelict railway bridge spanning the River Rother. The first shot on HP5+ in somewhat dull conditions, the second on Delta 400 in brighter light on a day with sunshine and interpersed cloud. Before comparing the two photos I’d assumed I would prefer the one taken in brighter light, but I think the overcast day image clinches it which is a bit of a surprise as I normally dislike such conditions for photography (although by neccesity I have to embrace them living with the UK’s weather!).
Two shots of one bridge
Crossing the River Rother
Conditions may change
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford Delta 400. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°.
Taken on 12 February 2021
A couple of fenceposts today, photographed when I walked down the Trans Pennine Trail the other week. I’ve walked on it several times since, just not as far.
One more week to go until “recreation” is given as a reason to go out (as well as just for exercise), although we still need to remail local – rather confusingly the order is to stay at home, but you can go out one a day for recreation or exercise, or to meet one other person outdoors. Three weeks later, assuming that infections are continuing to fall, various other leaisure activities re-open such as tennis and golf. While I have no interest in either of those things, I will take it that it means I can venture slightly further afield for my photography again (my reasoning being that I presume few golfers will only play on courses within walking distance…). Then, at Easter (again, dependant on infection rates), domestic holidays are allowed (with restrictions). This should mean that I can travel further still, which will be nice. Given that I’m a solitary creature when out with my camera, I doubt I’ll come into contact with many other people anyway,
The first of the fenceposts below has a laminated clapping-hands picture afixed to it. I’m assuming that this is in relation to all the clapping activities people have partaken in to thank key workers over the past year, but I guess it could be for something else completely.
The second post has no signs attached, but a nice clump of moss on its top.
To hold up a fence
A post of some description
Really is a must
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford Delta 400. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°.
Taken on 12 February 2021
Another bridge photo today. I seem to have a small collection of images of bridges across the River Rother, more specifically: footbridges.
You can see the next couple of bridges downstream here and here.
Crossing a footbridge
The water flows slowly past
Beneath and onwards
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 12 February 2021
The photo today is the view north from the bridge depicted in yesterday’s blog post. No trains were forthcoming (although I didn’t hang about to be fair).
Today I crossed a hurdle in my Couch to 5K running plan. After suffering my calf injury on my first attempt (on week 1, day 3) I rested the sore leg for a couple of weeks before starting afresh. My progress so far has been steady with no further injuries, and no failed attempts at any of the runs – I am running at an embarrassingly slow pace though!
This week say me reach week 5 of the plan, one which I had felt some apprehension about. Week 5 (as is week 6) is a transition week where you move from shorter runs interspersed with brisk walking, to longer runs, culminating in a full 20-minute run on the third day. A few short weeks ago the thought of running for twenty minutes straight seemed impossible – even running for 90 seconds felt like an achievement – but, gradually, as the weeks passed and my fitness and stamina improved, I began to feel more confident about it. The second run of this week was two 8-minute runs broken by a 5-minute brisk walk, so not too much of a difference, and I managed that session without any real difficulty.
So, late this morning, after my breakfast had had time to digest, I did my warm-up, got dressed in my running gear, and headed out. After the 5-minute warm-up walk I began to run at my usual slow pace, a podcast my companion for the duration. Every so often – at five, ten. fifteen and, finally, eighteen minute intervals, the Laura’s voice on the C25K app let me know my progress, finally declaring that I had finished and that I should be proud of the achievement!
And I am. I’m not quite there yet – the final goal is to be able to run for a full 30-minutes non-stop – but it feels within reach now. Just a few more weeks to go.
My legs are aching
But now it’s in a good way
Feeling fulfillment
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford Delta 400. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°.
Taken on 12 February 2021
Bridges are probably creeping up on power lines as one of my most oft photographed subjects I think. This one crossing the tracks not far from Renishaw golf course.
In other news, I have some time off work next week, so I’m looking forward to that – even though my ability to do stuff is still largely curtailed – and plan on a few long walks from home where I’ll hopefully find opportunities to make photos.
I also received a box full of old slides in the post yesterday and plan on scanning some of those. There are a variety of subjects but a considerable number of them look to be European holiday photos from the early 70s. The colours on the Kodachrome slides look loveley, and there are some nice looking Fujifilm slides in there too.
Across twin rail lines
Iron bridge. Steel and rivets
Carries me over
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford Delta 400. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°.
Taken on 12 February 2021
I was concentrating so much on getting the horse – which was moving around slowly – in sharp focus that I didn’t notice it was sticking it’s tongue out when I fired the shutter…
Standing in the snow
Making rude gestures to men
Making photographs
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 12 February 2021
The two bridges shown here once spanned both railway and canal. They are both almost identical, functional, no-frills affairs. The railway lines have been lifted for almost forty years now and I’m unsure how long it has been since this stretch of the canal contained water. The bridges now span a path used by foot traffic (plus bicycles and – maybe – horses). The canal remains empty of water and canal-boats for the forseeable future – although many other stretches of the Chesterfield canal have been restored, so hopefully it may see use again in years to come.
Barges and bargees
Once floated by while nearby
Locomotives passed
Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 12 February 2021
