I do date from pagan times, and age makes bones to creak

A quote from John Masefield’s “The Box of Delights”, or at least the BBC television adaptation – I’m not sure if the quote is in the book or not – has been used for today’s post. It seemed to fit the image.

While the tree stump (and living tree that frames it) most likely don’t date from pagan times, I think the image is evokative of ancient woodland and has an air of mystery about it. The spidery, blood-vessel-like branches work very well to add to the feel and, once again, the Holga adds it’s own brand of unique beauty to the scene.

The photo is underexposed as a consequence of the Holga’s limited aperture and (even more limited) shutter speed choices, and also the fact that the film was almost 10-years expired. I do like this sort of moody, high-contrast look though, and it’s one that the Holga carries off with aplomb in a way that I think would be disappointing had I used one of my other medium format camera,

Holga 120N & Kodak Tri-X (expired 2012).

Taken on 27 December 2019

Testing out the Bronica

As a treat for my birthday this year, I decided to get myself a Bronica ETRSi. I’d been thinking about a different aspect-ratio medium format camera for some time (and almost bought one a few months back), so my birthday seemed a good time to take the plunge. The camera I got is in nice condition and came with the 75mm Zenzanon f/2.8 lens, the speed-grip, and the AEII prism finder. The camera is very heavy in comparison with any others I own and, especially when the lens hood is fitted, looks like I’m carrying a movie camera around with me!

The camera came fitted with the standard, plain ground-glass focussing screen. While this is in pristine condition, I found that it was very difficult to finesse my focusing – especially when using wider apertures at closer distances. However, I managed to find a split-prism finder that someone had advertised as faulty and scratched, so I took the plunge and took a chance on it. The new focusing screen works fine and, while it’s certainly seen some action and gained a number of battle scars in its time, it’s still nice and bright and the focussing is much, much easier with the split prism.

I took a few family shots last week and decided to finsh off my test roll this lunchtime so headed out to the nearby village of Ridgeway for a short walk and to shoot the remaining six frames.  While the camera is very weighty, the speed-grip makes it pretty comfortable to handle in both landscape and portrait orientations, and I had no problems controlling it.

I dropped the film off on my way back to work and was very fortunate when the lab were able to process it before they closed this afternoon, so a big thanks and shout-out to the great people at Peak Imaging.

Here are three of the shots that I’ve scanned and uploaded.

Bronica ETRSi, Zenzanon 75mm f/2.8 PE & Kodak Tri-X (expired).

Taken on 4 July 2019

Times change

I really like the way this quaint village scene came out (it’s in Eyam). It has a nice contrast and crispness about it. It has a somewhat nostalgic air, or a least it does until you notice the modern cars in the background and the fact that the phone box has now been modified to house a defibrillator instead of a payphone. Hopefully no-one will attempt to make a call with it! 🙂

Yashica Mat 124 G & Kodak Tri-X.

Taken on 2 February 2019

Winter walkers

My initial plan for this photo was just of an empty scene with the track curving around to White Edge Lodge in the middle-right of the frame but, upon seeing this couple and their dog approaching, I held the composition until they were close and had a separation between them. They probably wondered what I was doing, standing still with a weird-looking old-fashioned camera as they walked by, although both responded to my greeting of “good morning” in a friendly way. 🙂

Yashica Mat 124 G & Kodak Tri-X.

Taken on 20 January 2019

A tree on White Edge

I trudged across the snowy moorland to get a shot of this interesting looking tree.

Yashica Mat 124 G & Kodak Tri-X.

Taken on 20 January 2019

Pooh’s Place

Well, this isn’t the One-Hundred Acre Wood, but who knows. Maybe Pooh has started expanding with all his movie royalties, or maybe there are multiple Pooh’s?

Yashica Mat 124 G & Kodak Tri-X.

Taken on 20 January 2019

Phantom pain

This was taken at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park at the end of September last year and was part of a series of installations in one of the galleries.

Yashica Mat 124 G &  Kodak Tri-X.

Taken on 29 September 2018

Completely in love

I’ve taken shots of the love-locks on this particular bridge a number of times before. It’s not festooned with them or anything – there are maybe a couple of dozen or so – so it’ll probably be a while before the bridge is in danger of collapse and the authorities turn up with bolt-cutters.

Olympus OM-1, Zuiko 28mm f/3.5 & Kodak Tri-X

Taken on 23 March 2018

Little fluffy clouds

This art installation of folded cloth lattices resides in the stairwell of Sheffield Central Library. I’m not sure how long it’s been there, but I took more photos of it a couple of years ago. They remind me of clouds when viewed from the side.

Olympus OM-1, F.Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 & Kodak Tri-X

Taken on 10 March 2018

The older shots are below.

Olympus 35 RC & Kodak Tri-X

Taken late autumn 2016

Big Wheel

There’s another photo of this already in the blog from a week or two back, although that one was shot on my Mess-Ikonta (albeit taken on the same day). That one was a wider shot from further down one of the streets approaching the market square, as opposed to this one that was a bit more up close and personal.

Canon Sure Shot Telemax & Kodak Tri-X.

Taken on 22 February 2018