Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

Askham and bromide drag

These two pictures were taken on the same mini-road trip as the ones I shot in Eaton (such as this). I’d finished the roll of Kentmere 100 and switched to Fomapan 400 at this point. I took three photos at the village of Askham, and then shot the rest on a later outing (yet to feature on the blog).

Sadly, after developing and scanning the pictures I was presented with disappointing results.

Firstly, the images all displayed fine white speckles of the sort I’ve encountered before with Fomapan films. They are probably unnoticeable when viewing the images here on the blog, but are scattered liberally across the entire results – far too many for me to remove with Photoshop (I would need the patience of a saint!).

Secondly. despite using the same semi-stand technique used previously (and successfully) on another roll of Fomapan 400, this roll showed very noticeable signs of bromide drag. I’ve been able to mitigate the worst of this with Photoshop, but it’s still faintly visible in both these pictures if you look carefully (it was much worse before editing). I’m not sure what caused it on this occasion when there was no sign of it at all the last time, but I may take some additional precautions the next time I semi-stand Fomapan (an additional inversion or two at 15 minute intervals, perhaps…).

Despite all this, I do still like the pictures, especially the way the clouds are rendered.

The road to Askham
St. Nicholas' Church, Askham

Fujica GW690 & Fomapan 400. Rodinal 1+100. 1 hour semi-stand development.

Taken on 2 August 2025

Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

A barn(?) and a phonebox

I think this building is a barn, but my understanding of farm architecture is limited. It stands in the small village of Eaton, right beside the main road through the settlement. A phone box stands in front of it, although it’s now been converted into a mini-library. I missed the focus on the phone box shot slightly (the point of focus ended up on the planet just behind it – I love the photos I can achieve with the GW690, but it’s rangefinder patch is not the easiest to see), which I’m a bit miffed about.

Village barn
Telephone

Fujica GW690 & Kentmere 100 (@400) Rodinal 1 hour semi-stand development. 1+100 in 500ml of water, with a couple of extra ml of developer added.

Taken on 2 August 2025

Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

Bridge across the Idle

This brick-built bridge crosses the River Idle to the west of the village of Eaton in Nottinghamshire. It’s quite a pleasant scene and there is a bench in the spot upon which a couple were sat before I took my photo. It would be a nice place to sit with a book.

Bridge across the Idle

Fujica GW690 & Kentmere 100 (@400) Rodinal 1 hour semi-stand development. 1+100 in 500ml of water, with a couple of extra ml of developer added.

Taken on 2 August 2025

Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

Approaching sheep

I had to work fast to get the sheep in shot before they became obscured by the gate. As soon as they saw me they began to bleat and make an approach. Perhaps I look like a farmer. Or maybe they’re used to passersby giving them treats. I had no sheep snacks upon me, alas.

A field of sheeps

Fujica GW690 & Kentmere 100 (@400) Rodinal 1 hour semi-stand development. 1+100 in 500ml of water, with a couple of extra ml of developer added.

Taken on 2 August 2025

Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

The first shot

On the day I went out and made this batch of pictures, I started in a poor frame of mind. I was feeling grumpy and a bit depressed about stuff, so most of the first part of the day just involved me driving aimlessly about, too annoyed to spot potential compositional opportunities, much less take any photos.

This was the first shot I took during the outing (it was shot just before, and just down the road from, the picture I posted yesterday), and while it didn’t completely clear my low mood, it did get me started with some photography. The first shot is often the one that unclogs the gears, and I was able to then finish off the rest of the roll (albeit only eight frames with the GW690) and even make a start on another.

I’d started out thinking I was just wasting my time, but by the time I got home I felt much better about things.

Logs, corn, and electricity

Fujica GW690 & Kentmere 100 (@400) Rodinal 1 hour semi-stand development. 1+100 in 500ml of water, with a couple of extra ml of developer added.

Taken on 2 August 2025

Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

Forbidden lane

Unlike yesterday’s photograph, this was a location that I’d never passed before. It’s not a lane that can be traveled as, although you can’t see it in my picture, it’s blocked off with a metal gate. Looking on Google Maps, it’s possible to see where the track leads (to a farm) and that there are two other entrances to the same track. For some reason I find “mystery” roads like this interesting, or rather I like to know where they might lead (it’s very often a farm though…).

Anyhoo, despite the lack of access, it was a scene I felt would make a good photo, what with the leading lines of the track and power wires.

Forbidden lane

Fujica GW690 & Kentmere 100 (@400) Rodinal 1 hour semi-stand development. 1+100 in 500ml of water, with a couple of extra ml of developer added.

Taken on 2 August 2025