Frugal Film Project 2026 - Compact - April

I left my frugal films late in April, a busy month at home meant I didn't get out as much as I would have liked. Then I strained summat in my left arm whilst my wife and I were doing a little DIY. It's a pain I have felt before and it's healing with rest, but it stopped my fun for a little while. Carrying cameras was a no go for a week or two and it was the last week of the month when I got out and about with my Hanimex 35RAS to shoot my April roll of Kentmere 400 for the Frugal Film Project. 

I'm glad I had to wait out an injury as the last week of April turned out rather nice. Plenty of sunshine, a cool breeze and temperatures us Brits are built for saw a lot of people enjoy a day in Mesnes Park. It would have been rude not to head there myself as there's been a development I needed to see for myself.

When I arrived on a sunny Saturday afternoon, the park was full of folk relaxing at the Pavillion, having picnics on the lawns and generally enjoying their day. I began my photography near the Pavilion. A couple of long shots down the length of the Park was a good starting point and I made my way around the park, finding compositions as I strolled. 

It wasn't long before I reached the bit I had come to see. A tree I have been photographing since I came back to film has been felled. I was surprised that it had survived the previous cull, but it was merely delaying the inevitable. The tree hadn't produced much foliage over the last few years and, despite having a great shape, it was dying. I'm genuinely sad to see it go, but the great cycle of life will continue when a new tree is planted to replace it.

I walked over to the the Park Lodge where a few wedding cars were parked and took a couple of snaps of them. I hope the happy couple enjoyed their day as it was beautiful weather for them. The lawn outside the wedding room was filled with Bluebells too which I hope added a little colour to their wedding photos.

I headed into town, happy snapping away and I was really starting to feel my arm giving me a bit of grief, so I headed home for some painkillers and a well earned cuppa. I finished my roll the following Monday with another quick wander around town before heading back towards home, happy that I finally got my first roll of Kentmere 400 in the can for April.

I developed my April roll of Kentmere 400 shot with my Hanimex 35RAS a couple of days later using Belini Euro HC, 1+31 dilution B, for 6 minutes at 20 celcius. For the first time this year I had to cool my chemicals down before letting them stand as I loaded my reels and tank and let them come back to 20 celcius. I 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 35mm film holder, Pixl-Latr and A5 size led light pad. I processed the RAW files with Affinity Studio.

Considering my Hanimex 35RAS gave me a fight in January, it's been great ever since. I didn't have to do much to my photos with Affinity Studio and was able to work my way through them in short order. Overall I am happy with my photos this month and I am hopeful that the summertime will bring me more opportunities to get out and about in the sunshine with my intriguing Hanimex 35RAS.

Here are a few favourites from my April roll of Kentmere 400 for the Frugal Film Project 2026. I have also added a photo of the tree that was felled that I took recently for comparison. As always I have placed them and more in an album on Flickr that you can visit using the link below. I hope you enjoy them.

 Frugal Film Project 2026 - Compact 

Now You See The Tree
Now You Dont....