The #FP4Party began in 2016 when Emulsive.org used it as a means of bringing people together to enjoy the delights of Ilford FP4+ 125. You can read about the origins on the Emulsive website via the link below. Needless to say it was a success and was a regular feature on the film photographers calendar. I took part in my first #FP4Party in March 2020, just before we got locked down for the summer thanks to our microscopic nemesis, Covid 19.
I had a lot of fun, shot a few rolls of film and continued my fledgling education in developing film at home that I had started in January that year. It was my first collaborative event and gave me a great appreciation for Ilford FP4+ 125. Sadly it became dormant over the last couple of years until recently when fellow film photographer Paula Smith over on Bluesky proposed having another #FP4Party in April 2026. I jumped at the chance and checked my stash to see if I had any in stock.
Collaborative events like the FP4 Party are fun ways to get out and shoot some film then share your photos with the film photography community. It never ceases to amaze me at the creativity people have when challenged to use one particular film in the camera of their choosing. I have no doubt whatsoever that it will be the case this time around too.
My first roll was duly loaded into my Minolta X-700 with MD 50mm f/1.7 lens and a yellow filter added. My plan was a simple one, have a wander around Wigan Pier and the first couple of locks at the bottom of the Wigan Flight of 23 locks that rises 217 feet in the space of 2.5 miles. This was the last stretch of the Leeds & Liverpool canal to be completed with a grand opening ceremony at Britannia Bridge in 1816.
It was at Britannia Bridge where I finished my roll of FP4 in my X-700. A walk up the Wigan Flight is not on my bucket list, but I may walk down the flight from the Top Lock, in stages as Im an old man, my legs are old, my eyes are dim, my nose is knackered! I switched to my second roll, this time in my FED 2 with Jupiter 12 35mm f/2.8 lens and took a few shots around Wigan Pier and a couple in town as I made my way home, thoroughly worn out, but happy with a very productive day in the spring sunshine.
I would like to say that Spring is officially here now, but Winter had other ideas and it blew a hooley for the rest of the week. Thankfully it had mostly cleared off by Saturday afternoon and I was able to complete my plans for the week.I finished my roll of Ilford's finest FP4+ 125 in my FED 2 with a gentle stroll in my local countryside. I had my trusty Gossen Trisix to help me with my exposure settings and it's good to give the old skills a run through. Once I had finished my roll in my FED 2, I got my Agfa Isolette out and shot a roll of FP4 in 120 medium format to round off the afternoon. I still had a fair distance to walk so it gave me something to do as I headed home for a well earned cuppa.
I developed my three rolls of Ilford FP4+ 125 with Bellini Euro HC, 1+31 dilution B, for 8 minutes at 20 celcius and soon had them hanging to dry in my bathroom. I digitised them with my Nikon D700, Tamron Adaptall 2 90mm f/2,5
macro lens, Valoi film holders, Pixl-Latr and A5 sized led light
pad. I processed my RAW files with Affinity Studio.
First impression of my films as I hung them to dry was very favourable. I had well developed negatives which made it easy to digitise and process with Affinity Studio. I was happy with my choice of a yellow filter I used on my Minolta X-700 on that first beautifully sunny afternoon. I got great photos and may even print one or two in the not too distant future.
My roll shot with my FED 2 was a different vibe. No filter used meant no real definition in the sky, but I'm OK with that. It was also the roll that bridged the gap between the rolls of film shot with my Minolta X700 and Agfa Isolette. The first half was in the late afternoon as I made my way home from my walk along the canal and the second half was the first half of my gentle walk in my local countryside. I could easily have been happy with one full roll, but after finishing the week with my Agfa Isolette, I'm happy I got 3 rolls and that will do for me.
Here's a few favourites from my 3 rolls of Ilford FP4+ 125 shot for the return of the #FP4Party. I had a lot of fun getting out and about and really appreciated the workout I got, both physically and mentally. Well, maybe not as much as I would when I was younger and much fitter than today.
The important thing was having fun along with the good folk of the film photography community who chose to take part. It doesn't matter how many rolls we shoot or even if we only get one sheet of 4x5 done. "The King Of Trichromes", Andrew Keedle got into the spirit of the event with a superb 7"x17" trichrome shot on FP4 that you can see on Bluesky or via the link below. As always I have posted these and more in my albums on Flickr you can visit using the links below. I hope you enjoy them.
Emulsive.org - Introducing The FP4 Party
Ilford FP4+ 125 - Minolta X-700
Ilford FP4+ 125 - Fed 2
Ilford FP4+ 125 - Agfa Isolette
Andrew Keedle - Trichrome on FP4
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