Pressure

A couple of weeks into the new year and I’ve almost run out of new pictures to publish on the blog. This happens from time to time and isn’t really a problem as I have loads of photos that have never appeared here before, so it’s not like I’ll run dry or have to start repeating images or anything. Nonetheless it bothers me. I like to have a stream of new pictures, mostly due to the weird way my brain works and puts internal pressure on me to do things that, at the end of the day, really aren’t that important. I doubt a lack of newly shot pictures on my blog will make front page news.

I have a roll of Delta 400 in my Yashicamat 124G with four frames left to shoot. If I manage to do that, then I can develop and scan the full roll at the weekend and keep the fresh photo express on the tracks. I also have a couple of 4×5 large format sheets to develop, but I’m wary as to how succesful they might be as photographs until they’re scanned. If all goes well that should give me enough pictures to keep me going another week, but I’ll be in the same position of self-imposed stress about it by the following weekend. Sheesh!

Is anyone else crazy like me?

Apropos of nothing, here’s a picture of some power lines…

Olympus Trip 35 & Ilford HP5+ . Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°

Taken on 24 December 2022.

Across the fields

Two sets of power lines en-route to the large substation at Canklow meadows a few miles away.

I liked the contrast between the organised and regular structures of the pylons and the organic shapes of the two trees flanking them on the horizon.

Yashicamat 124G & Ilford HP5+ . Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°

Taken on 24 December 2022.

Experiments in multiple exposure

A week or two back I posted the image that I entered into October’s film photo competition. Before shooting that image (and before I even realised I could make multiple-exposure photos with my Nikon F80) I shot a roll of expired Tmax 100 with my Holga (which I definitely knew could handle multiple exposures!). None of the images from that roll were as appealing as my final entry, but there were a few interesting pictures nonetheless. Here are some from the roll.

Holga 120N & Kodak Tmax 100 (expired 2007). Fomadon R09 1+25 5:30 mins @ 20°

Taken on 9 October 2022

Lines in the sky

It’s been a while since I posted a photo of powerlines on the blog, so let me rectify that…

There were two things that attracted me to this shot. The foreground and distant pole providing a sense of direction and travel through the scene were the first thing that caught my attention as I approached in the car. Then, after parking I noticed that the best angle to make the picture would also result in the contrail mirroring the track of the powerlines.

I don’t think the picture works as well as I thought it might, mostly because the foreground fence is a bit of a distraction. Unfortunately, given the focal length of the camera and the available places where I could position myself to take the shot meant I couldn’t avoid this. I tried cropping the fence out, but the result didn’t look right.

Olympus XA3 & Kodak Tri-X. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8mins @ 20°.

Taken on 30 April 2022

Water and electricity don’t mix

I’ve not posted a power-lines photo for a while, have I? Well let me remedy the situation with this photo of a transformer (at least I presume that’s what it is – I know little of such things) stood at the edge of a flooded field.

It’s a mundane scene, and one that is undobtedly repeated countless times across the country (albeit with perhaps less flooding), but one that appealed to my eye when I saw it.

Fujica GW690 & Ilford FP4+. Lab developed in Xtol.

Taken on 20 February 2022

A pylon in the fog

It’s been a while since I posted a power-lines picture I think, so let me rectify that. If you’ve read this blog for a while you’ll perhaps realise that I find pylons and power lines an appealing choice of subject matter. Not to the extent that I go looking for them purposefully, but they often draw my eye. This pylon, stood like some metallic sentinel on the foggy and frosty Woodhouse Washlands certainly caught my attention.

I took myself off for a trip to the seaside today. I don’t often tend to go there on cold January days, but I figured that a change of scene would get my creative juices flowing (plus I could eat some fish and chips while looking out at the sea…). The day was sunny and bright, but bittely cold with chill winds – the remnants of storm Malik that was now headed east out to sea – so a hat, gloves and a fully zipped up jacket were a definite necessity. I’m feeling tired now, and ready to hit the shower when I finish typing this, but my belly is full of my fish and chip dinner, and I have two rolls of 35mm film to be developed, so the day counts as a success. The pictures will turn up here in a bit, although I’ve got two other rolls of stuff to root through before that happens. It’s nice to be back in the black again, photographically speaking.

Back to the usual routine of work tomorrow.

Yashicamat 124G & Ilford HP5+ (pushed to 1600asa). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 13mins @ 20°

Taken on 15 January 2021

Washlands tree on pushed HP5+

This pollarded tree has featured on the blog at least once before (and probably more times, but this is the only one that my quick search pulled up). It’s usually difficult tophotograph in isolation due to all the surrounding elements. There are other trees close by that can creep into the shot and cause background distraction, there are power lines and pylons in the area, a concrete viaduct spanning the valley, and older brick railway viaduct, plus a whole bunch of industrial units on the valley side. It’s still possible to get interesting pictures, but you generally have to work the other elements into the shot.

On foggy days though most of these things fade away. There’s sight of some of the other trees in this shot, plus the vague lines and shapes of the power lines and some factory buildings, but the fog serves to mostly obscure them.

I shot this roll of HP5+ at 1600asa and pushed it in development as the light was very dim. There is added grain in the resulting images and perhaps a little more contrast, but I think they serve to add some grit to the pictures.

Yashicamat 124G & Ilford HP5+ (pushed to 1600asa). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 13mins @ 20°

Taken on 15 January 2021

Southerly transmission

A photo from the archive today, made a couple of years ago back when we were under the first covid lockdown here in the UK. I’m pretty sure I’ve not posted this image before – I searched for the camera, film, and the words “pylon” and “power lines” and nothing showed up, so finger’s crossed.

I was going to post another shot from the curly expired Tri-X, but it was another frame with the odd marks and, given the nature of the scene, I couldn’t photoshop them out to my satisfaction so decided against uploading it.

Bronica ETRSi, Zenzanon 75mm f/2.8 & Fomapan 100. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 8 mins @ 20°.

Taken on 27 April 2020

Through an unnamed village and towards Christmas

Today’s photo is one of those scenes where, to my eye, everything just looked to be in the right place to make for an interesting picture. It definitely needed the power / telephone pole and wires I think, and I remember placing myself so that the lamp on the front of the building to the right would be silhouetted. It’s one of those pictures where I just though “yes” when I saw it come out of the scanner.

We’re now in that period post-Halloween and bonfire night here in the UK where Christmas kicks into higher gear. Now that those two have passed, retailers, advertisers and all the rest will launch into six weeks of increasing festivity ready for the big day. Last year quite a lot of people actually put Christmas decorations up as soon as bonfire night had passed, claiming the miserable Covid year meant they needed something to cheer them up. I wonder if that will persist? Personally it’s waay too early just yet. December 1st is my unofficial line I think. Advent clandars will appear then, the festive idents will appear on the terrestrial TV channels, and the first weekend after this date is usually when we trim the house. Still four weeks away yet though.

I also need to start putting together my gift for this year’s Emulsive Secret Santa now that names have been drawn. It’ll be back to a chunkier package again this year following last year’s paper-gifts only rule due to the pandemic. I’m looking forward to finding things to pop into the parcel.

Before we know it
Christmas will be here again
Where has this year gone?

Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+ (@800asa). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 10mins @ 20°

Taken on 22 October 2021

Power and communication

A slightly grandiose title today. It sounds like I’m about to launch into an essay on politics and propaganda or something. Well, if that’s what you’re here for then prepare for disappointment. Instead, you’re getting some power-line photos. The bonus is that they’re carrying telephone wires too. Woot!

I think it was the large web of wires atop the poles that caught my attention. Telephone poles are becoming less common in urban areas such as where I live, with new cabling being run underground through ducts, although there are still poles to be found on older estates, particularly out into the suburbs. Out in the countryside theough and they’re still pretty common, although not always with such a bounty of cabling. I spotted this pair in a small village while out driving arounf looking for photo opportunities. I think they look pretty good against the threatening skies.

When we’re mistaken
By something someone might say
We have got crossed wires

Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+ (@800asa). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 10mins @ 20°

Taken on 22 October 2021