Tag: Olympus XA3

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Botanical gardens

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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

At the botanical gardens
One end of the glass house
Down to the fountain

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

Taken on 29 May 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Down cobbled alleys

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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

Cobbled alley

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

Taken on 29 May 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Car-park abstact

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I’ve titled this post “Car-park abstract”, but is it really abstract, or just a photograph of a car-park. Moments after entering the title I decided to search online for abstract photography and, if I’m honest, judging by the results it’s perhaps on the very edge of what might be classed abstract.

A lot of the results were either close-ups of objects that are still easily recognisable, close-ups that require a little more thought in a “can you tell what it is?” type fashion, identifiable objects placed or lit in an unusual way, objects reduced to collections of primary colours, shades, or shapes by composition, or just images of random patterns.

I guess my car-park photo probably needs a bit more work to truly fit into the abstract realm but, hey, it got me a blog post when five minutes ago I had no idea what I was going to write.

I’m losing focus
Drifting into the abstract
I paraphrase NIN

Car park

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

Taken on 29 May 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Unintended stories

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I took this photograph looking down onto the beach from the promenade at Bridlington. I wasn’t quite quick enough to keep the woman at the top of the picture within the frame. At first I was disappointed that I’d not taken the shot quicker but, on reflection, I think the way it’s framed with her partially exiting the top of the shot is more interesting. It’s added a small sense of mystery to the image I think.

On the beach they wait
A sandcastle mystery
Unfolds before us

On the sand

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

Taken on 27 May 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Pirates

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Out at sea a lone pirate vessel heads south along the shoreline. Crewed by a motley band of brigands, ne’er-do-wells, and, well, anyone who bought a ticket for the pirate boat trip from the hut at the harbour really.

No press-gangs required
For a trip to sea on this
Small pirate vessel

Pirate shores

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

Taken on 27 May 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

North towards Sewerby and Flamborough

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The photograph today shows the view looking north from Bridlington harbour, with the beach stretching on towards the village of Sewerby with its well-tended bungalows and from there, where the beach falls back into the cliffs, the spit of land that curves around to Flamborough Head.

Flamborough is a place on my list of locations to visit this summer, although I’m not sure if I’ll get there or not yet. I stayed in a cottage there once when I was young on a trip with my grandparents and cousins. Flamborough is a small place and is the location of a lighthouse and a number of scenic coves which, at low tide, allow exploration of the cliff-foot and sea caves.

Flamborough lighthouse
It’s glow to be seen afar
From land and from sea

Stretching north

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

Taken on 27 May 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Sitting on a wall in a seaside town

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After yesterdays photo of a coiled heap of rope on a harbour wall, today there’s a picture of two fellas on a harbour wall (albeit a different section). This trip to Bridlington has, so far, been my only visit to the coast since last autumn. I’ll hopefully get at least a couple more visits before the summer comes to an end though. Because I don’t go too often it always has a charm, and there are always things to photograph.

The British seaside
The beach, the sea, the sunshine
And some fish and chips

Coastal conversations

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

Taken on 27 May 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Boating past Mother Shipton’s Cave

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Two girls row their way up the River Nidd at Knaresborough in North Yorkshite. To the left of this scene, behind the large tree, is Mother Shiptons Caves, a local attraction. Mother Shipton herself was a prophet who supposedly foretold various events including the Great Fire of London and the defeat of the Spanish Armada amongst others. She was born in the cave to which the area is now known.

The attraction is well known for its “petrifying well” where visitors over the years have hung objects beneath a flow of mineral-enriched water where they gradually turn to stone. All manner of objects are there, including children’s toys, ice-skates and even Queen Mary’s shoe, each gradually becomeing encrusted in mineral deposits as the years go by.

For a while the attraction was owned by the magician, Paul Daniels, a staple of television entertainment when I was younger. Mr Daniel’s is no longer with us and I’m unsure as to who owns the attraction these days.

Mr Paul Daniels
A performer of magic
On television

Boating on the Nidd

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

Taken on 26 May 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Homes on a hill

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I’ve had a long day full of phonecalls. Almost back-to-back all day long with no more than half-an-hour between each. As a result I feel like I’ve achieved little (even though the calls all served a purpose). To make it worse I’ve had a low-grade headache since I got up and, for a worrying moment, almost felt I was going to drop off to sleep during one of the calls!

But the working day has concluded now and it’s time to think of something to post on my blog which, today, is a small set of photographs of homes on a steep hill in Knaresborough.

Though gentle at first
The street soon increased incline
Taking us downwards

Descending
Chalet-style
Down Water Bag Bank

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

Taken on 26 May 2021