Frugal Film Project 2021 - April

 You may notice a distinct number of similar compositions this week in my Frugal Film Project roll of Fomapan 200 for April. I decided to combine a photo walk for the FP4 Party with my Frugal Film Project and challenge the old grey matter. As it turned out, I actually had two afternoons at Wigan Pier which gave me ample opportunity to concentrate on what I was doing rather than fumble about and getting mixed up. I keep forgetting my brain isn't as sharp as it once was, but at least it is better than it could have been after my stroke. Small mercies and all that. Anyway, on with the show.

The weather was a tad cloudy on the day I shot this roll of Fomapan 200 at 400 iso which did a lot to tame the highlights and I actually got some cloud definition without having to fight with it. One day I will get the right mix of cloud, sun and a flat calm canal at the same time, but until then random it is, just as mother nature intended.

The improvements to Wigan Pier are looking very impressive. I spoke last week about the refurbishment and it's progress being delayed by the pandemic which means very little has been done over winter. The buildings were made weather proof and just about all of the outdoor part is complete. However I would love to see inside as it's been many years since I have been in any of the buildings on the Pier Quarter as it is now known. When it opens for business I will try to be there with my cameras and capture the event on film.

One sad part about the Pier Quarter is one the bronze statues has been vandalised again. Vandalism is one of the signatures of a gang of yobs, destruction for kicks or shits and giggles. It saddens me as the statues are a welcome addition to the canal towpath giving ramblers a visual idea of how the Pier Quarter was back in it's hey day and the people who worked there. No wonder she looks fed up. Chains have been placed around the statue to try to secure it and stop it falling over. I hope a more permanent solution is found soon.

Enough with negativity, I really enjoy using my Olympus 35RC, it has grown on me. I have a much better understanding of rangefinders now and my skills are definitely improving each time I use it. As I mentioned earlier for a change I shot my roll of Fomapan 200 at 400 and developed it as 400 in HC-110 dilution H 1+63 for 9 minutes at 20 celcius. I am happy with how they turned out as it was definitely not a good day for using a 200 speed B&W film. This was a great learning experience and one to repeat again in the future  I will leave you with a few of my favourite images from my walk and will of course link to the album on Flickr below. I hope you enjoy them.

Frugal Film Project 2021

FP4 Party 2021

 It's the time of year for the FP4 party, a celebration of Ilford FP4 125 film designed to get people out and about shooting the same film stock in whatever camera they choose. Last year I just managed to get a few rolls of film shot for the FP4 party before the pandemic shut the UK and most of the world down for months. I said in my blog about it back then that I would definitely take part again and this years edition saw me take a walk around Wigan with 2 rolls of FP4 and my Olympus OM-2. Sadly I couldn't use my OM-1 as it needed a little fettling, but when you have an OM-2 as well it's a win win situation. I also took my Zuiko 50mm f/1.4 and 28mm f/3.5 lenses and switched between them frequently. 

I really enjoy taking photo's around Wigan, it is my home and I try to show it in a positive manner. The town was once at the heart of Industrial Lancashire, in the 19th century you were never more than half a mile from a coal mine. It hosted one of the biggest Iron Works in the region and it's Mills wove the cloth that clothed the world. That history can be seen at the Wigan Pier complex that is currently undergoing a refurbishment after a few years of standing empty and I decided to shoot my first roll there.

Once the butt of a music hall joke, Wigan Pier gained fame through the literary social commentary by George Orwell, The Road To Wigan Pier. George was a little disappointed to find the oriiginal pier had long been demolished when he came to stay in Wigan, but still walked the towpath along which I and many other Wigan residents still use to this day. Wigan Pier is represented by two rails that stick out on the bank of the Leeds Liverpool Canal. The buildings that make up the Wigan Pier complex were once a thriving port unloading raw materials and loading finished goods onto barges for transport to Liverpool to be shipped around the world.

Having been empty for several years, Property developers Step Places in conjunction with local Arts Hub The Old Courts, Wigan Council and the Canal and River Trust began regenerating the Pier Quarter, as it has become known, to turn the complex into a thriving hub for local small businesses to create and sell their goods, house an Events Venue and Pub for concerts, weddings and conferences and also house a Gin Distillery. Refurbishment has been delayed by the pandemic, but the folks delivering the project have pledged to finish it within budget although a little later than planned.

I shot that first roll at box speed and would have quite happily stayed with box speed for roll number 2, but Jess Hobbs, a great film photographer from Montreal, said she would shoot and develop a roll as a 400 speed film. This intrigued me enough to give it a try as pushing film is not something I have done on purpose yet. I knew I would have one roll to contribute to this years FP4 party so a little experimenting was definitely going to stretch my skills a tad and add a little variation into my photography.

I set off for Wigan town centre with a fresh roll of FP4 set to shoot at 400 and picked out a few landmarks along the way. Trencherfield Mill opposite Wigan Pier was the last working Mill in the town and has been repurposed as a residential area and an Academy for Live and Recording Arts. It also has a few large items saved from the demolition of the coal mines and Iron Works that have been put on permanent display as a reminder of the town's Industrial heritage. Of note there is a huge Ventilation Fan that once drove massive volumes of fresh air into a coal mine to push stale air rich in CO2 and Firedamp out of the shafts and provide the Miners below ground with air fit to breathe. Well, as fit to breathe as possible in the dusty envirnment underground. There is also a huge steam driven hammer that was used to make parts for all manner of machinery that was assembled in factories in Wigan.

I also took a couple of photo's of Wigan Wallgate Railway Station, one of two in the town the other being Wigan North Western on the West Coast mainline. Wallgate serves the local branch lines and has taken many a Wigan resident off to the seaside town of Southport for a well earned day out or a trip to Manchester or Liverpool for a shopping trip. Wigan also has a few mock Tudor style buildings that harken back to the towns long existence as a small market town before the industrial revolution grew Wigan into one of the biggest towns in the area.

Sadly, my aching bones told me to go home and I finished my roll off by chasing the dog in my back yard. Wel, he did the running, I just had to throw things for him. I just wish he would give them back without an argument. I am still undecided about my roll shot and developed at 400. I can see the difference, but maybe it's a method for a dull day when more light is required. It was a bit to bright on the day I chose to go out and it gave me a lot of contrast.

So, that's my contribution to thie Spring 2021 FP4 Party. Here's a few images I shot and as always I have placed both rolls in albums on Flickr for you to see them in full resolution. I had a lot of fun taking part and can't wait for the next one and you can see a lot more images from others who took party by following the #FP4Party hastag on Twitter. Also check out Jess Hobbs you tube channel. Click the links below.

#fp4party

FP4 Party roll 1 at box speed

FP4 Party roll 2 at 400

Jess Hobbs You Tube Channel

Ilford FP4 box speed

Ilford FP4 at box speed

Ilford FP4 at box speed

Ilford FP4 at 400

Ilford FP4 at 400

Ilford FP4 at 400

Ilford FP4 at box speed

Pentax SP500 - A Long Term Review

It's now a few months into my fifth year of taking my photography seriously and I want to speak about the camera I started with back in February 2017, my Pentax SP500. I have spoken before in my blog about my budget spotmatics and the start they gave me with a Helios 44m-4. I have learned a lot with my SP500 and have gathered a few M42 lenses to accompany it. A Helios 44m-4 it originally came with, a Carl Zeiss Jena 135mm f3.5 sonnar, a Beroflex auto WW 35mm f 2.8 and my recent purchase, my Meyer-Optik Goerlitz 30mm f3.5 Lydith. All these lenses produce excellent images and have all lived on my SP500 for a few months as I got to know them. I used my SP500 exclusively through 2017 and most of 2018 when a dear friend gifted me my Nikon F801. My go to gear is now my Nikon F801 and my D700 DSLR, but I still take my SP500 out from time to time just for the joy of using it.

The biggest thing about photography for me is enjoying the process. Feeling comfortable with a camera and lens combination is paramount and that effects every process that comes after it. I have learned to handle my SP500 competently and, having spent a few days over the last fortnite looking through my archive, I have seen a genuine improvement in my skills and the quality of images I have produced with it. I made a concious decision to buy a fully manual camera when I began my journey and every time I use my SP500 that decision is vindicated.

Made in the early 1970's, the Pentax SP500 was the cheapest spotmatic camera in Pentax's inventory. This is borne out by the lack of a timer and the shutter speed dial only going to 1/500th. It is a basic camera with the most rudimentary match needle CdS light meter, the only bit of "high tech" on the camera. Some would see the lack of bells and whistles as a disadvantage, but after four years I have learned this to be it's super power. It does the basics and does them very well indeed.

The quality of it's construction is superb and it has been through some abrupt changes in weather over the last four years as it can rain at any time here in Wigan. It has performed excellently every time. I know one day the battery will eventually run out, but so far the light meter has been very reliable. I will often use sunny 16's with it and just check one or two shots with the light meter and I have found we get a lot of 1/250th at f/11 kind of days here in Wigan. The ability to read the light and shoot accordingly has been a skill that crept up on me before I realised I could do it without thinking about it. That's how comfortabe I have become with my SP500. I can use it intuitively as there is literally nothing to worry about. After four years I can take my SP500 out and be ready to shoot before I have sorted the basic settings out on my Nikon D700 and my F801.  

There is a lot of sentiment that goes with a first camera, or a first of anything, but in this case that sentiment has been earned and is well deserved. It is a fairly heavy lump of precision engineering and has a reasuring clunk when I release the shutter. You know when you have taken a photograph with an SP500 and so does everyone within a ten foot radius of you. Most folk would think that to be a worry, "if it clunks that loud it must be on it's way out", but that's a complete 180 from the truth. My OM-1 and OM-2 are super quiet and are as precise as a swiss watch, but my SP500 takes a spoon and rattles the pans like a bell, proudly announcing to the world "I have taken a photograph!" It is a very recognisable sound and I love it.

Here's a few images I shot recently on Kodak T-Max 400 which I admit to getting the development wrong. I forgot how many times I had used my mix of Kodak HC-110 dilution B and was initially disappointed with them. However, since having a little play with them in Affinity Photo I think they have become what Bob Ross called a "happy accident." I have also placed an album on Flickr you can visit by clicking the link below. I hope you enjoy them.

Kodak T-Max 400 - Pentax SP500

7 Shots With My Nikon D90

 Whilst shooting film for the last few years has been more fun than I imagined, I still enjoy using my DSLR's, particularly my Nikon D700. However I still have a soft spot for my first DSLR, my Nikon D90. I purchased my D90 in late July 2017 and for the first few months I used my Tamron Adaptall lenses on it until I could save enough cash for an autofocus lens. This gave me a good grounding in digital photography and made me learn to use manual mode straight from the start. Since moving up to full frame with my D700, my D90 has taken a back seat so I decided to take it out for an afternoon and put my manual focus 50mm f/1.8 AIS on it. 

I was heading out to the park with my Nikon F801 and a roll of HP5 for a previous blog post. I saw it as an ideal opportunity to get reacquainted with my D90 and use it as a helpful way of finding my shots without wasting half a roll of film. I enjoy the synergy between Digital and Film photography that has helped me improve as a photographer. I know some folks will only shoot one or the other, but I find using both works for me.

The Nikon D90 has and APS-C sized sensor that Nikon describes as DX and has a decent line up of lenses it shares with the Nikon D3000, D5000 D7000 and D500 series of DX camera's. I only have 2 DX lenses, an AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR GII and a Tamron LD Di II 55-200mm f/4-5.6 macro. For travelling light this is all I will ever need, but lets not foget that all important F mount which means I can use just about every F mount lens Nikon has produced. having a drive motor in the camera body means I have more lenses to choose from than it's siblings that rely upon lenses with a motor built in to them.

There is the crop factor to take into consideration that effectively makes the 50mm lens I used a 75mm lens by multiplying the focal length, 50mm by the crop factor of 1.5, making my 50mm AIS a great portrait lens. This doesn't actually change anything about the lens, it changes the field of view to make it appear to be a longer focal length.  It's a nice little optical advantage of using full frame and 35mm film camera lenses on an APS-C camera. The D90 also has a focus peaking indicator light in the viewfinder that lights up when focus is achieved in the centre of the lens. This is great for folks like myself who haven't the best eyesight and wear spectacles or contact lenses. If your eyes aren't too bad it has a diopter adjustment wheel that you can dial in to suit your eyesight without glasses or contacts.

I took a lot of photographs with my D90, but only chose seven to edit and put in an album on Flickr simply because most were similar compositions from slightly different angles and settings. Mike Browne's teaching skills got me doing that and it's a good habit to have. It also helped me get my film shots dialed in too. I am always amazed by this camera's dynamic range, but it's in good company as it shares the same sensor as the "Pro" level D300 DX camera. This ensures bright colourful images and a decent low light capability for those dull days or indoor events where a flash is not necessarily the best idea. This camera was aimed at the serious enthusiast and it has every right to be thought of as much more than an entry level DSLR. When covid allows us to get out and about again it will be coming with me a lot more and not just to back up my D700 and F801. The D90 is worthy of being described as a great travel camera on merit.

I really enjoyed using my D90 again, it's a breath of fresh air and keeps my skills up to speed. You can get a little too comfortable using the same camera all the time, even when it is a legend amongst DSLR's. My D90 keeeps me honest. Here are the 7 shots I chose from that session and you can also view them in full resolution on Flickr. I hope you enjoy them.

7 Shots With A Nikon D90

 

Frugal Film Project 2021 - March

 Two weeks ago I spoke about shooting Tri-X in my Nikon F801 as a side to my main reason for visiting the park, shooting Foma 200 in my Olympus 35RC for the Frugal Film Project. I just can't seem to go out with just one camera these days, it's an addiction I am glad to have as it keeps me out of mischief and is healthier than booze and recreational drugs. It's legal too. Hurrah! 

For my third roll of Fomapan 200 for the Frugal Film Project I decided to go to Mesnes Park in Wigan as it is where I had my first film photography walk with my friend Owen in 2017. Four years on and much improved as a photographer, I had to document an afternoon in my favourite classroom as this months contribution to the FFP '21. I have spoken of the history of Mesnes Park here in Wigan a few times over the course of my writing and I never tire of paying it a visit. After all, it does belong to the people of Wigan and it's nice to enjoy some fresh air and greenery to soothe the soul. Cabin fever has been a problem for me over the winter and having this facility on our doorstep has been a saviour at times for many people, not just myself.

On this fine March afternoon there were a good number of folk either passing through or enjoying a seat outside the Pavillion with a coffee. There was a good number of folk walking their dogs too. One chap was busy throwing a ball for his Boston Terriers whilst another chap was trying to keep his Husky from jumping into the fountain! I've seen that before, Huskies love water, they regulate ther body heat through their paws and enjoy a paddle to cool off as at this time of year they still have their winter coat. Elsewhere in the park there were families enjoying a stroll and quite a few kids using the park as a regular route home from school.

All too soon it appeared that I had almost used my roll and I began heading home and captured a shot of the exterior of Wigan Market to finish the afternoon. Public facilities are great for exercise, a breath of fresh air and a spot of photography, especially if they have some great buildngs and a statue or two. As with the previous months I have put my best images in an album over on Flickr that I will link to below. Here's a few to whet your appetite and I hope you enjoy them.

Frugal Film Project 2021