Tag: sign

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Kissing gate

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Kissing gates’ primary purpose is to allow human passage while restricting that of livestock. The origin of the name is supposedly because the gate “kisses” it’s frame when it opens and closes, although the more romantic later etymology alludes to couples in close proximity taking the opportunity to kiss in the confined space.

They can be a real PITA if you have a backpack and a tripod, let me tell you!

Kissing gate

Nikon F80 and Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-D on Tri-X Pan Kodak Tri-X Pan (likely expired sometime in the 1990s) @125asa
Ilfotec DD-X. 1+4 8mins @ 20°.

Taken on 21 March 2026

Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

Empty frame

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The curious thing about this picture is that, if you look closely, you can see that the writing on the sign affixed to the building is reversed. When I first saw it I had a moment where I thought I’d scanned the negative back-to-front, event though I was sure the building and empty sign-frame were positioned this way when I composed the shot. In the end I checked Google Street View to check I wasn’t going crazy and discovered that the sign is actually reversed in the physical scene. Perhaps the owners flipped it over at some point. The empty frame certainly gives the impression that accommodation is no longer available.

Something's missing

Yashica Mat 124G and Fujifilm Pro 400H. Lab developed. Home scanned and converted with Negative Lab Pro.

Taken on 11 October 2025

Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

Beside and over the Moss

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The Moss flows (appropriately enough) through the Moss Valley, an area of farmland dotted with woodland. Despite it’s close proximity to suburbs of Sheffield, it feels very much like you are in the heart of the countryside when you explore the area, which is threaded with a host of footpaths and lanes.

The two pictures today were taken beside The Moss, the first shot required a little patience while I waited for a couple of dogs to finish their excited leaps into the river (the ripples in the water are evidence of their fun).

I’m not sure what lies across the narrow bridge in the second picture. It might be access to farmland on the opposite bank, but from looking at a map, there is also another pond on that side of the river a little further downstream, so it’s possible it’s access for anglers. Whichever, it looks a little overgrown.

Bankside trunk
Private Keep Out

Yashica Mat 124G & Kodak Tri-X. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°

Taken on 27 December 2024

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On a corner

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My son had a job interview this morning, which was good. I offered to drive him there as it would be at rush-hour and I thought it would allow him to prepare during the journey rather than being focused on driving. The traffic was quite heavy, but we got there with plenty of time to spare.

He was in the interview for over an hour, including a walk round the place of business, which felt like a good sign to me. Now it’s a case of waiting to see if he was successful and also if it’s a role for him. He’s hoping to apply for another vacancy that he’s been told about, so hopefully he will have a choice of options. My fingers are crossed for him.

As for today’s picture, there was something that caught my eye about this scene. The colour of the building. The interesting exhibition poster. The windows and signage on the building. And in the background, the street art.

Unearth the Untold

Ricoh GR III

Taken on 16 August 2024

Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

Farm signs and a farm

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One thing I was particularly pleased about with this roll of snowy scenes was that I managed to expose the majority of them well. Snow can often blow out or be rendered an unattractive grey if not given the correct exposure and recommended guidance if to use exposure compensation to over-expose if you’re using a reflective meter, such as the one built into many cameras.

My Bronica doen’t have a meter though (even the one in my metered prism seems to have carked it!), so I rely on a handheld meter instead, and my preferred technique is to use incident readings – the light falling onto the subject, rather than the light reflecting off it. This has a benefit of giving an accurate reading in these sorts of scenes (well, most of the time anyway). I think a couple of my shots were not metered as well as the others, but even those were retrievable in post processing.

The two below look pretty good though.

Farm signs
Snowy farm

Bronica ETRSi & Zenzanon 75mm f/2.8 PE & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9 mins 30 secs @ 20°

Taken 11 March 2023.

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Chinese takeaway

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This boarded-up takeaway caught my attention the last time I was in Mablethorpe in 2020 and I made a picture of it then. It wasn’t a very good photograph though – the weather was dull and I think it needed some sunshine to get anything from the subject matter.

On my trip this year, the sun was out and I made the photo you see today. It’s most likely no award winner, but the jumble of tilted and broken letters, and the vibrant red, white, and blue colours attracted me and I like the slightly abstract feel.

Chinese takeaway
Closed for business now these days
No more egg fried rice

Not the best red letter day

Canon Sure Shot Z135 & Lomography Xpro Chrome 100 (expired 2012)

Taken on 16 September 2021

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Encroachment

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This wooden telephone pole (I still have an urge to call them telegraph poles, despite that mode of communication having fallen into history) sprouts from a bushy hedge. The base of the pole is becoming hidden by encroaching branches, and tendrils of ivy are starting to reach higher up the structure.

The pole serves a double purpose, also acting as the host for a streetlamp – a charmingly vintage-looking one with its little flourished curl where it holds the lamp.

Encroachment

Weathered wooden pole
So many seasons pass by
Cracking its structure

Light fixture

Olympus OM-2N, Zuiko Auto-S 50mm f/1.8 & Kodak Tri-X Pan (expired 2003) . Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°.

Taken on 5 April 2021

Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

Signage on the trail

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The path beneath the bridge in the background of this photo leads to Rother Valley Country Park and the signs in the foreground identify the southern route along the Trans Pennine Trail. As the lockdown continues so I become ever more familiar with this area close to where I live. The next announcement about restrictions is scheduled for Monday when we may find out when some of them may start to be lifted. I’m not expecting a full return to freedom, or even an immediate losening of the rules, but it will be good to have more information at least.

Freedom to exercise
But no more than once a day
Like a gilded cage

Trans Pennine Trail signage

Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.

Taken on 8 February 2021