This month is a tale of two parks, Peel Park in Salford and Mesnes Park in Wigan. I took Baldy the Baldax on our visit to Salford Art Gallery and Museum and, as nature had blessed us with nice weather, I took some shots looking down into Peel Park. The park is noted for being a location in the film adaption of the Harold Brighouse play, Hobson's Choice. It's where the characters Maggie Hobson and Willie Mossop go courting.
Peel Park is not a difficult place to get to. Salford Crecent railway station is close by and my wife and I intend to make a day of it next time we visit. From our high vantage point I could see the lay out was quite ornate and I took a few long shots alongside some shots of trees my wife pointed out for us to photograph. There is a ramp leading down into the park, but Keith was a little worried his faithful chariot would not have enough power to make it back up. I must admit I would have struggled walking up it.
Sadly we had to leave Salford and make our way home, we've had one parking ticket on our travels and we do not intend getting another. We will be back someday as it was an enjoyable afternoon outing, but we might need a sherpa to carry us up that hill after exploring Peel Park more thoroughly.
I needed to finish my roll of film and I made my way into Wigan several days later to capture some shots of Mesnes Park, the jewel near the centre of Wigan, loved by residents who enjoy spending time there or just using it as a part of their walk into town. Mesnes Park was built in the late 1870's - early 1880's and given to the people of the town to use for leisure time after a long week down the mines, in the mills or at the iron works.
Peel Park was built in the 1840's for much the same reason. It was also the first public park in the UK paid for with money donated entirely by Public Subscription. The people of both Salford and Wigan make full use of their parks and it's nice to be able to enjoy some nice scenery on a sunny afternoon.
Both parks were also refurbished in the early 2000's with help from grants awarded by the national Lottery Heritage Fund and the staff at both work hard all year round keeping them looking their best. It didn't take me long to finish my roll of Ilford HP5 120 medium format film in Mesnes Park and I headed home.
I developed my film a couple of days later in HC110 1+31 dilution B for 5 minutes at 20 celcius and soon had it hanging to dry in my bathroom. I digitised it with my Nikon D700, Tamron Adaptall 2 90mm f/2.5 macro lens, Valoi medium format film holder, Pixl_Latr and A5 size led light pad. I processed the RAW files with Affinity Photo 2.
Sadly not all my photos were up to standard as light leaks are once again plaguing Baldy the Baldax. It has to be the bellows that are failing, which to be fair are doing well for 90 years young. I have one more month and then Baldy will have done a full year. I will shoot my June roll of Ilford HP5 and then decide on wether to bring on super sub for the remainder of the year. I have to be honest I didn't think Baldy would get this far and has exceeded my expectations. Tough choice coming up I reckon.
Here's a few favourites from my May roll of Ilford HP5 shot for the Frugal Film Project 2024. I really enjoyed getting out and about and photographing two beautiful green spaces right in the middle of Salford and Wigan. As always I have placed them and more in my Frugal Film Project 120 medium format album on Flickr you can visit using the link below. I hope you enjoy them.
Frugal Film Project 2024 - May - 120 medium format
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