Steel City Snapper photography
35mm, medium format and large format film photography (with the odd bit of digital every now and then…)
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
Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.
Taken on 19 August 2021
This is one of those photos that I have high hopes for when I first see the negative but which, on closer examination, is let down by some technical problem. In this case the man in the mirror is slightly out of focus. Now there’s a good reason for this – the photo wasn’t a posed portrait, it was a candid shot which involved me crouching down to get the correct angle on the mirror and then capturing someone’s refelction as they walked past. People would be in the mirror for a fraction of a second, so no time to nail the focus and I just went with what looked right in the brief moments that someone passed through the frame.
I still like the picture a lot, but wish I’d have nailed the focus better. The pose is bang on though and I don’t think I could have gotten anything better.
Man in a mirror
Seeing a reflection of
A photographer
Yashicamat 124G & Shaghai GP3. Lab developed in Xtol.
Taken on 4 September 2021
Well the photographs from the Astle Traction Engine Rally continue to appear, and still several more likely to make a showing too. I hope I’m not boring anyone with these.
I don’t really have any great interest in the machines for their own sakes. They’re impressive, to be sure, and interesting to look upon, and I’m very grateful for the fact that they’re still being maintained and made available to see for the general public. But my interest almost ends there. They make beautiful subjects for photographs though, don’t they?
And so I visit steam rallies, classic car shows, and other similar events where old machines and other artefacts of days gone by might be found. I might not know much about the things on show but I know a worthwhile picture when I see one I think.
I know what these are
Not at an expert level
I just make pictures
Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 14 August 2021
Let’s hope it doesn’t suddenly roll forwards!
I’m still uploading photos from this steam rally, even though I’ve attended another one today and now have a whole bunch more to develop and scan!
Does tons of metal
Make for comfort when weary
Perhaps it might do
Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 14 August 2021
The sounds of the twenties sounded from this almost-a-century-old gramophone. And it could be yours, complete with records, for just £75!
Revolving vinyl
Analogue sounds from years ago
Warm crackling audio
Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 14 August 2021
The weather at the Astle Traction Engine Rally the other week was dull and rainy. While this meant there were umbrellas in abundance and raindrops of automotive paintwork – both attractive subjects for a photograph – it also made the act of making photos was far more troublesome, especially without the benefit of a weather-sealed camera.
It also meant that a lot of the exhibitors could be found sat inside their vehicles to escape the damp, as in this Rover 100 and Rolls Royce Wraith.
Sat in your dry car
Looking out at passersby
Don’t want to get wet
Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 14 August 2021
The Tramlines festival takes place in Sheffield each summer (although it was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic). The first event took place in 2009 and was a free-to-attend event for several years, although it has now become corporately run and ticketing is in place for the main festival, which is held in Hillsborough Park. The festival attracts big-name artists and is named after the city’s tram network, SuperTram.
Although a paid ticket is required for the Hillsborough event, there are a number of free entry venues scattered around the city under the moniker of Tramlines Fringe. The photos in today’s post were made at one of these events, held outside the Dorothy Pax bar at Victoria Quays.
Down by the canal
Music and dancing take place
It’s time for Tramlines
Nikon F80, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G DX & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 24 July 2021
I can’t hear the word “underpass” without it bringing the sound of John Foxx’s 1980 electronic classic song of the same name – although I still always have a childish urge to switch the chorus to “Underpants!” :).
I’m really happy with how this shot turned out. Again, the vignetting has added some grit to an already nicely gritty scene. I’d just walked beneath the underpass myself and was out the other side when I saw someone going the other way. So I about-turned and grabbed a picture of their silouhetted form as they reached the light at the far side of the tunnel. The 35mm lens focuses pretty slowly for some reason on the F80 so the figure isn’t totally sharp, but I don’t think it matters at all in this picture.
Figures pass below
Under the traffic above
Echoes of John Foxx
Nikon F80, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G DX & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 24 July 2021
This fella was pottering about on the edge of this canal boat and tinkering with the ropes. I have no idea about boats so don’t really know what he was doing – he could have been tidying for all I know.
I used my APS-C 35mm for most of the roll that this picture was taken from. Although designed for a crop-sensor, it has a large enough image circle to work on a full-frame / 35mm camera, albeit with vignetting. The vignetting becomes pronounced as the lens is stopped down, but at wide apertures it’s acceptable (well, to me anyway). The autofocus seemed exceptionally slow on the F80 with this lens though.
Fast lens, slow focus
It’s not meant for a camera
That shoots 135
Nikon F80, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G DX & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.
Taken on 24 July 2021
Another cast-back to our New York trip in 2019, and another quickie post.
In indoor spaces
Hither and thither they move
Like Lowry people
Canon Sure Shot Z135 & Kodak Portra 400 (converted to B&W in Lightroom).
Taken on 26 May 2019
