Steel City Snapper photography
35mm, medium format and large format film photography (with the odd bit of digital every now and then…)
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.
Ricoh GR III
Taken on 20 December 2024
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.
Ricoh GR III
Taken on 20 December 2024
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!
Ricoh GR III
Taken on 22 December 2024
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.
Yashica Mat 124G & Kodak Tri-X. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°
Taken on 21 September 2024
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…).
Yashica Mat 124G & Kodak Tri-X. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°
Taken on 21 September 2024
As much as I like to look at street photography, I don’t tend to take too many street shots myself. This one turned out quite well though, I think. I like the colours.
Ricoh GR III
Taken on 20 December 2024
Ricoh GR III
Taken on 21 September 2024
Olympus OM-10 & G.Zuiko 35mm f/2.8 on Ilford FP4+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 @ 20° 10mins.
Taken on 2 August 2024
There’s something distinctive about the architecture in British seaside towns, particularly those that came to prominence in the Victorian and Edwardian periods – rows of grand villas abound.
As the traditional British seaside holiday declined (mostly due to the availability of low cost trips to continental Europe – where guaranteed hot sunny weather replaced the risk of a week in the rain, potentially trapped in a caravan, or a hostile Bed & Breakfast), so a lot of the beautiful and traditional buildings have similarly fallen into disrepair. Without the tourism, the money to run and maintain such places was lost. The building in the centre rear of today’s picture has become home to both pigeons and gulls, but with no sign of human occupancy (or window glass, for that matter). It’s a shame that these places are not in use, but I don’t think a lot of UK resorts currently attract the people who could afford to renovate such properties back to glory. Perhaps in time they will.
It’s odd to think that, if you could uproot these buildings to somewhere in central London, they would probably be worth millions.
Olympus OM-10 & G.Zuiko 35mm f/2.8 on Ilford FP4+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 @ 20° 10mins.
Taken on 2 August 2024
Things seem to be picking up in my job this week. I’ve gone from being in the midst of a quiet patch to having several pieces of work fall at my feet. In part this is due to three members of our team leaving – one of whom I’ve known about for awhile, but the other two have come as a bit of a surprise – and I’ve been asked to pick up work they have been, or are currently involved with. This is a good thing – I’d much rather be busy than pushing papers around my desk (although I’ve mostly been using the quiet period to do training), but I’m a little uncertain as to what is required at this stage. I guess I’ll find out soon enough though.
Olympus OM-10 & G.Zuiko 35mm f/2.8 on Ilford FP4+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 @ 20° 10mins.
Taken on 2 August 2024
