35mm · Film photography · Photography

Leeds Civic Hall

Given the brilliantly lit white facade of this building, I’m happy that the slide film caught the detail without blowing it out. I guess the dynamic range across the whole scene is not too large, but I still wondered whether this would be a success or not.

It would have been nice to have a tilt-shift lens to capture the scene. While I don’t hate converging verticals in photographs, sometimes, when they’re only slight as is the case here, they bother me more for some reason.

Something good that happened today…

I managed to find some time this lunchtime to develop a couple of rolls of Tri-X that I’ve shot recently, so I have another 24 images waiting to scan. I’m always glad when I’ve gotten film development done because I find it a chore. It’s easy enough to do, and I’m relatively successful at it, but I don’t get the enjoyment from it that some other photographers do. On the other hand, I do quite like scanning, which some other photographers hate!

Leeds Civic Hall

Olympus OM-10 & G.Zuiko 35mm f/2.8 on Kodak Elite Chrome 200 (expired 2004) . Lab developed. Home scanned and converted with Negative Lab Pro.

Taken on 5 October 2024

35mm · Film photography · Photography

The Light

Another of the expired Elite Chrome photos. The Light is a retail and leisure centre in Leeds and contains shops, bars, restaurants, and a cinema among other things. The name seemed fitting for this picture as “the light” really was quite nice.

Something good that happened today…

I missed my “Something good…” bit yesterday because I published an Expiryment post, but I’m back today.

My son started his new job today, and while we haven’t had a “debrief” with him about it yet, he seems happy enough, which is good.

The Light

Olympus OM-10 & G.Zuiko 35mm f/2.8 on Kodak Elite Chrome 200 (expired 2004) . Lab developed. Home scanned and converted with Negative Lab Pro.

Taken on 5 October 2024

Digital · Photography

Marina

Another digital shot from Barcelona.

Something good that happened today…

I went out for a drive with my son who starts his new job on Monday. As it’s a considerably longer drive than to his previous place of work, I chaperoned him on a test run to make sure he was happy with the route. All went well.

Marina

Ricoh GR III

Taken on 20 December 2024

Digital · Photography

In a plaça with a guitar

Another digital shot from Barcelona today.

Something good that happened today…

I had a chilled couple of hours lying on the bed watching episodes of QI while the cats snoozed beside me. It’s really nice to relax like this (especially as my legs were aching a little from yesterday’s hike) and it’s something I don’t do often enough, always being busy with other stuff that can probably wait a little while.

In the plaça with a guitar

Ricoh GR III

Taken on 20 December 2024

Digital · Photography

Lady Dumpling

We walked past this place selling dumplings on a number of occasions while in Barcelona (although we didn’t get chance to purchase any). I thought it made for a nice picture.

Something good that happened today…

I’m still struggling to find something to put in this section on some days. I did have some good personal news, but it’s not something I want to talk about on here, so I’m clutching at straws a little otherwise. I think that the fact I tend to worry about things a lot can mean the good stuff gets obscured.

So I’m going to go with my weight. Not that it’s great – I’m overweight and at least a half-stone over what I was back in the autumn – but I’m still over a stone lighter than I was this time last year and, while my weight is not really dropping much at present (still some Christmas treats hanging around the house that need to be defeated!), it’s not increasing either, which bodes well for when I make a proper effort to get it under control soon. Hopefully I might hit my target this year!

Lady Dumpling

Ricoh GR III

Taken on 22 December 2024

Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

Sutton-on-Sea Cultural Hub

This is the new “Cultural Hub” building at Sutton-on-Sea. Still under construction when I took this photo, I believe it is due to open sometime in 2025.

It replaces the old Colonnade and Pleasure Gardens development that stood on the site since the 1950s an, as such modern developments often do, has caused some debate, some residents and visitors welcoming the new, modern structure, others criticising the loss of the old and viewing the new structure as an eyesore.

Whatever people’s views, there is little to be done now but accept it for what it is.

From my perspective, it made for an interesting photo, and I’ll have to revisit it to perhaps photograph the completed building (and maybe go onto the sun terrace to take a picture from there!).

Something good that happened today…

The uncertainty over my job continues, although I will find out one way or the other on Monday. My mood seems to shift from day-to-day – yesterday I felt quite upbeat about things, but today I’m the opposite. I’ve had hints that I have a good chance that my role is safe, but not a guarantee, so I’m tending towards a pessimistic view today as I don’t want to get my hopes up only to have them dashed. This has made it quite difficult to find something good to write about, but I’m going to say that it was the team call we had this afternoon. Most of the people present (and some were not) are in the same position as myself – stuck with uncertainty until after the weekend – and some of them are in a more difficult position as certain grades have fewer available roles between them. Despite this, and although everyone is clearly unhappy about the situation, we are still able to come together and support one another with encouragement and advice. I work with good people, and that’s definitely a good thing.

Under construction

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

Taken on 21 September 2024

Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

On the beach at Sutton-on-Sea

I cropped in on this a little, but the big 6×9 negative took it well, and the GW690 still keeps it nice and sharp.

Something good that happened today…

A simple thing, but this morning, as I was cleaning out the cats’ litter tray into a bag to go in the bin, there was a very loud tweeting in the garden. The singer was a small robin atop the fence, chirping at the top of it’s little lungs. It was a really nice start to the day (although maybe not the cat litter part…).

News on the beach

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

Taken on 21 September 2024