Cabmen’s shelter

September 21, 2021 fishyfisharcade1 Comment

The shed-like structure in the middle of the street in this photograph is a cabmen’s shelter, one of thirteen remaining in London. The shelters were originally constructed in the late 19th century to provide drivers of hansom carriages, and later taxicabs, with a place to take shelter and get food and drink. Laws at the time forbade taxi drivers from leaving their vehicles unatended at taxi-stands, meaning they could find it difficult to eat hot meals or shelter from unpleasant weather. Parking elsewhere would mean having to pay someone to look after their cab while they were away from it for fear it may be stolen.

The Cabmen’s Shelter Fund was set up to construct shelters at major cab stands, with the buildings containing an attendant who would serve food and drinks from a kitchen (which could also be used by the drivers themselves). There were also seats and tables to accommodate drivers inside the shelters.

Drivers can enter
And find sustenance within
These cabmen’s shelters

Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.

Taken on 19 August 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

West End scenes

September 20, 2021 fishyfisharcadeLeave a comment

A few pictures from the West End of London today, all made with the little Olympus XA3. Nothing especially planned or carefully composed as I was there for a couple of days with my wife, so most pictures made were grabbed whenever the opportunity arose.

Sounds of Pet Shop Boys
Might be evoked by a walk
In a West End town

To Leicester Square — Towards Leicester Square

Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.

Taken on 19 August 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Las Vegas

September 19, 2021 fishyfisharcade2 Comments

Not that one.

This is an arcade in London’s Soho district. It’s been there for quite a long time – it was certainly there in the early 90s, and I expect it was there for quite a while before then. The ground floor is filled with gamblimg machines and is for over-18s only, but the entrance on the left leads downstairs to the videogame goodness for all ages.

Follow the noises
The sound of the underground
Of pixels and sprites

Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.

Taken on 19 August 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Backstreets

September 18, 2021 fishyfisharcadeLeave a comment

I find that I’m often drawn to photograph scenes like the one in today’s post. I’ve not tagged them in such a way as to be able to find them easily, but I’m sure that if I look through my archive of photos that there will be many that bear close resembalnce. It’s not an original composition – looming walls on either side of the frame drawing and leading your eye towards the vanishing point between – but it’s one that always appeals to me.

In urban canyons
This photographer sets out
In hunt of pictures

Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.

Taken on 19 August 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Private

September 17, 2021September 18, 2021 fishyfisharcadeLeave a comment

I wonder how many people attempted to traverse the private road before the owners decided to not only put up a sign, but also furnish the gate with its own custom wrought-iron version as well?

I guess one of the downsides of living in a picturesque tourist town is that you get lots of tourists, some of whom might be somewhat over-reaching in exactly which parts of the town they can explore.

Keep out of this place
It’s not free to be explored
It’s private you know

Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.

Taken on 16 August 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Fast food, fast blog

September 16, 2021September 16, 2021 fishyfisharcadeLeave a comment

A couple of fast-food vans. Feels like an apt choice given I’ve had fast food for my lunch today (well, fish & chips from a chip-shop anyway). I’m also absolutely knackered as well (not from eating the fish &chips!), so it’ll be one of those concise posts today. I’ll still write a quick haiku though. Only a few more months until I stop inflicting these on anyone who happens to read the blog. I’m gonna stick out the full year of them though!

Fish and chips for lunch
And very nice they were too
Eaten in the sun

Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.

Taken on 16 August 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Masked mannequins

September 15, 2021 fishyfisharcadeLeave a comment

I’ve noticed that the numbers of people still wearing masks has declined in the months since it ceased to be compulsory and instead became a recommendation in England. There are still plenty of them about, moreso in shops and other indoor spaces, but there’s a definite reduction. I still tend to wear mine when indoors (not at home, obviously) but have found myself forgetting more frequently of late. Previously the fact that the majority of the people around me were wearing them would act as a reminder and I’d quicky don my own, but with fewer to be seen it can be easier to forget, especially if I’ve been going in and out of various shops, continually putting my mask on and taking it back off again.

Forgetting my mask
Is becoming more common
As rules are withdrawn

Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.

Taken on 16 August 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Walking beside the Wye

September 14, 2021 fishyfisharcadeLeave a comment

This photo was made on our first visit to Bakewell in almost a year. I last visited back in October last year. I’d planned on going out again when the autumn colour kicked in properly but the country was thrust into a series of “tiers” based on Covid-19 infection rates and I was unable to travel beyond our local area.

While it was nice to get out there again on this day the weather wasn’t the best, being dull and rainy while we were there. I shot twenty frames with the XA3 and got a few nice pictured despite the conditions, including this one looking up the River Wye.

I was very busy with work and sorting our cat out after his recent accident, so stumped up to have this and another roll lab developed to save me the time.

A trip to Bakewell
On a dull and rainy day
Can still be quite nice

Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.

Taken on 16 August 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Botanical gardens

July 15, 2021July 15, 2021 fishyfisharcadeLeave a comment

After visiting a photo exhibition at Weston Park Museum a few weeks ago, I took a circuitous route back to my car, snapping pictures of this-and-that (including the shot of the cobbled alley I showed on the blog yesterday). The route took me through the botanical gardens and I made the three pictures published here today.

I’ve not visited the botanical gardens that many times despite the duration of my abode in the city – I recall my nan talking about taking me when I was a small child, but I can’t remember anything about the visit beyond the feintest gossamer thin memory of the event. It’s somewhere I tend to forget is there, but I might try and explore it a little more next time I visit – there’s the remains of an old bear-pit in a part of the park I’ve not explored, and the glasshouse (while being closed to the public during the Covid-19 lockdowns) is another place where a nice photo or two might be had.

Giant emerald fronds
Take abode in the glasshouse
Heady, tropic scent

Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.

Taken on 29 May 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Down cobbled alleys

July 14, 2021 fishyfisharcadeLeave a comment

Sheffield was heavily damaged by bombing during WWII which resulted in the loss of many of it’s historic buildings. As with many towns and cities that were affected similarly, the destroyed buildings were replaced by new structures during post-war re-building. Thoughts on the aesthetic qualities of these replacements – often angular concrete and glass edifices – varies, but in general tends towards the negative in comparison with the older buildings.

It’s quite easy to think that the entire city is full of structures built after the war while missing the multitude of older buildings still present. Similarly, it’s also easy to imagine that the streets of the city are paved in modern materials and that all the history has disappeared, but the truth is that you generally don’t have to walk very far to find evidence of the past. Sometimes this is peeking out from behind the curtain of modernity, but it can also be found largely untouched, such as this cobbled alleyway not far from one of the city’s hospitals. Yes, there are signs of change in the shape of the lamppost and the somewhat ugly patch of tarmac, but mostly this still remains as I imagine it would have looked a considerable time ago.

Beneath the modern
A strata of history
Still waits to be found