Frugal Film Project 2022 - July

 I started this months Frugal Film Project roll of Ilford HP5 with the intention of using my Pentax SP500 as my everyday carry. I would try to take it out with me and grab a few shots here and there as the month progressed. That idea went out of the window pretty early on as I got totally engrossed in other things. By now you will know that I start things with the best intention of getting it done, but squirrels are attention grabbers. I only managed getting out with my Pentax SP500 for a couple of days, but I did take some photos this month.

I began my roll of Ilford HP5 for July with a trip to our local hospital, the Royal Albert and Edward Infirmary here in Wigan with my wife. Health issues have been getting attended to after being parked for a couple of years because of the pandemic and I accompanied her to an appointment. I knew she would be there for a while and covid restrictions are still in place which meant I couldn't go any further than the reception area. My camera gave me something to do whilst she was there.

When we arrived at the hospital my first composition was waiting for us in the car park, a beautiful late 1950's VW T2 microbus, the split windshield model with two bench seats in the back. I had to grab a couple of photos. This VW is a much loved example of the now highly collectable early T2 from the 1950's. It wasn't a restored example either. It looked like it is used regularly and well cared for. It also had a disabled persons "Blue Badge" on the windshield which made me very happy.

I always like to see an old vehicle being loved and driven, but especially by someone with mobility issues. Here in the UK a Blue Badge is issued if the applicant has difficulty walking or has to use a wheelchair. The owner of this Vee Dub can't walk very far, if at all, but they can drive there in style and I heartily approve. I also took a few photos around the hospital grounds then popped into town for a bit of shopping before returning to collect my wife. The Hospital is a mix of the original late 19th century hospital and the more recent architecture that was built at the turn of the 21st century. We have always been given excellent care there over the years.

I didn't go for many walks this month as we had a heatwave here in the UK that topped out at 40.8 degrees celcius or 105 degrees fahrenheit, a record temperature for the UK. We love to moan about the weather here, it's either too hot, too cold, too much snow or it's raining various family pets. We are damn good at it too. The media drives the hysteria at times as they love to sensationalise every aspect of life here. All I wanted to do was drink cold snacks and relax as this spike in the temperature never lasts more than a few days. It's also terrible for just about every form of photography with the exception of infrared. So I did that.

It's the last Tuesday in July and I finally got out with my Pentax to finish the roll and just had a relaxing wander along the local farm roads. I tried to shoot things I hadn't looked at in a while and a familiar composition that I just cant pass by without taking a photo. I really like that tree. I also tried to capture a honey bee doing its daily foraging. I wasn't too successful at that, but hey, I tried. Photographing insects with a manual focus lens is challenging enough, but a pre-set aperture lens ups the difficulty a notch.

I think I am really getting the hang of this Meyer-Optik 30mm f/3.5 Lydith. Yes, it's a fiddly thing to use, but once you get the muscle memory in place it becomes easier over time. I will master it eventually, but for now I will take being able to use it competently as a win. I am enjoying it more with each walk and that is all the vindication I need for buying it in the first place.

If you enjoy my work, please consider a donation to help me continue my journey via the Ko-Fi buttons on the page, all donations are gratefuly received. Here are a few photos from my July roll of Ilford HP5 for the Frugal Film Project 2022. As always I have put them and more in an album on Flickr you can visit using the link below. I hope you enjoy them.

Frugal Film Project 2022