View allAll Photos Tagged StayBrokeShootFilm
The vagaries of film are fully evident here with the somewhat weird colours and the very grainy texture while the reflective glass of the windows plays havoc with a clear view to the outside scene. Technically a fairly rubbish picture I know but I like the silhouetted figures against that amazing sky. Taken last winter on a visit to Horizon 22, one of the newer viewing platforms here in London.
35mm film photography
Leica M2
Zeiss Biogon C 35mm f/2.8 ZM
Kodak Portra 400
These are the famous Tulip Stairs at the Queen's House in Greenwich. When you see it in person it really is a stunning piece of architectural design, made even more impressive when one considers it's age.
From the Royal Museums Greenwich website:
"The sweeping Tulip Stairs are one of the original features of the Queen’s House. This ornate, wrought iron structure was the first geometric self-supporting spiral stair in Britain."
35mm film photography
Leica M2
Zeiss Biogon C 35mm f/2.8 ZM
Kodak ProImage 100
Double exposure shot on a Canon A-1 with fujicolor c200. The negative was digitised using a Canon EOS 600D and a macro lens
I was waiting for a friend outside Warwick Avenue tube station when I spotted this gentleman sitting in the open hatch of this rather smart looking green hut. I said hello and asked to take his picture to which he agreed. I did ask him what it was he did in his lovely hut and he did tell me but for the life of me I can't remember exactly what it was other than it had something to do with taxi cabs. Judging by the bread rolls and coffee cups in the right hand window I imagine he served snacks and refreshments to the drivers.
EDIT: Many thanks to Lynda Morris who has pointed out that this is one of 13 remaining "Cabmen's shelters" that are still intact in London. She provided a link which I'll share here that gives a really interesting history of these shelters and how they came to be.
[heritagecalling.com/2024/04/09/a-brief-introduction-to-ca...]
35mm film photography
Leica M2
Zeiss Biogon C 35mm f/2.8 ZM
Kodak Vision 3 500T
A little experiment combining an analogue scan converted to B&W with a painting-on-canvas texture using PS layers. It doesn't bear a great deal of resemblance to the sunny scene depicted in the original scan but I like this result.
Medium format film photography
Rolleiflex 3.5F TLR
Schneider Kreuznach Xenotar 75mm f3.5
Kodak Ektar 100 colour film converted to B&W
Texture applied in post processing
One of the many charms of London is that there are many world class museums and buildings open to the public free of charge. "The Queen's House" in Greenwich is one such attraction. The house itself now hosts an art museum that celebrates British maritime history but it was originally designed as a house for Anne of Denmark, wife of King James I, although she never lived to see it built to completion. I was there on a sunny April afternoon and as I was walking around the house I noticed this window with it's drawn shade and the wonderful light spilling through. (A picture that really is not at it's best when viewed on a smartphone unfortunately.)
This is shot on Kodak ProImage film, a stock I've only recently started to use and this particular roll produced some beautiful colours and tones.
35mm film photography
Leica M2
Zeiss Biogon C 35mm f/2.8 ZM
Kodak ProImage 100
The depraved and cruel killing spree of Jack the Ripper in London nearly 140 years ago has become the stuff of legend. No one was ever convicted of the crime although there have been many suspects, everything from the painter Walter Sickert to Prince Albert Victor, the grandson of Queen Victoria, and a lot of others in between. Someone recently claimed that they had solved the murder by examining DNA from a scarf that was purported to have been worn by the Ripper and apparently had his blood on it. I would take that claim with a grain (or jar) of salt but nevertheless it's still an event that gets written about, has had endless tv series made about it, and remains a fascinating subject for a lot of people to this day.
Which brings me to this picture. There are a number of these small alleyways that run off of Whitechapel Road in east London. This is smack dab in the middle of the area that the Ripper committed his horrific crimes in. One alley in particular (not this one but one close by) is a meeting point for Jack the Ripper tours around the area. So it's almost certain that Jack, whomever he really was, has indeed traversed this alley. I leave that up to your imagination. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
35mm film photography
Leica M2 rangefinder
Zeiss Biogon C 35mm f/2.8 ZM
Kodak Portra 400 (expired) converted to B&W in post
On the same day I visited the Queen's House (see some of my most recent posts) I stopped in at the Chapel in the Old Royal Naval College, a building that was originally designed by Christopher Wren as a seaman's hospital, completed by Thomas Ripley in 1751, only to be gutted by fire less than 30 years later. It was later rebuilt by James "Athenian" Stuart and that second design remains today.
One of those places in London, free to visit, that is absolutely worth the journey to Greenwich and surprisingly is usually quiet, at least that's been my experience. Many people pay a hefty price tag to see the Painted Hall which sits across the way from the chapel and don't realise that the chapel is both open and free to enter. The chapel itself is still used as a place of worship and is a stunning piece of interior architecture. And there is always a "guide" there that will explain the history, usually in an amusing anecdotal way.
This gallery of columns forms part of the chapel building and in the right light can be a magical photographic opportunity. I have no idea how many times I've shot this location, it's a lot, but with the ever changing light it can be a hundred different things to a hundred different photographers.
35mm film photography
Leica M2
Zeiss Biogon C 35mm f/2.8 ZM
Kodak ProImage 100 (converted to B&W in post)
I was walking along the Thames a few weeks ago when I came across this pair of Japanese lads sitting cross legged on the wall that keeps people from falling into the river. I'm not sure I'd try it myself, first because my days of sitting cross legged anywhere are behind me and second because I think I'd be a little worried that I'd actually fall in. No worries for these guys though, they were as comfortable as comfortable could be. This is not entirely candid. I did get their attention and gesture that I'd like to take their picture and they were quite happy to let me do so. I've cropped it left and right as I think the square crop probably works better in this instance.
35mm film photography
Canon 7 rangefinder
Industar N-61 52mm f2.8 LTM
Fujifilm Superia Xtra 400 film
One of the more unique bus stations you'll find in London the Vauxhall bus station can be found in what's referred to as Vauxhall Cross, at the south end of Vauxhall bridge and very near the famous MI6 building. Sadly planning permission has now been approved to demolish the station, to be replaced by two tower blocks with provision for a new bus station to be incorporated into the new buildings somehow. I for one will be sad to see it go as its become a bit of a landmark in the area with it's two 'ski slope' arms pointing to the heavens (see first comment box).
From wikipedia: "The bus station was designed by Arup Group. It incorporates two cantilevered arms that contain 167 solar panels, which provide a third of the bus station's electricity."
35mm film photography
Leica M2
Zeiss Biogon C 35mm f/2.8 ZM
Kodak ColorPlus 200
Clapham Junction railway station is a train station in south west London and one that I use often. Whenever I'm on my way back home my train inevitably leaves from Platform 13. This is where this scene reveals itself. I stand on platform 13, look across to platform 12, and this collection of shapes and angles dazzles me every time. I very much suspect that for the vast majority of people looking at this rather mundane transportation scene, most will scratch their heads and wonder what could possibly make this attractive as a photograph. Others will no doubt see it as I see it and be excited by it. We're all so different in this photographic community but very much glued together by our love of what the camera shows us, no matter the genre, format, or subject.
35mm film photography
Leica M2
Thypoch Eureka 50mm f/2.0
Kodak Vision3 500T film
I laugh when my wife says to me, as she often does, that I need to keep my brain engaged. She thinks that if I don't stay mentally agile in a few years time she'll be having to look after a senile old codger who says inappropriate things at odd times and forgets why he's standing in front of an open fridge door (wait, I think that might already be happening!). I imagine she has a good point and in fact I'm not in the mood to let that happen myself. But what she doesn't realise is that I'm a film photographer and as such in the 3 years since I started on that journey I've spent hundreds if not thousands of hours consuming information that will, ahem, improve my photography. Granted, being male, a fair bit of that time has been spent drooling over overpriced German camera gear that I can't afford but in general if nothing else this obsession with film and how to shoot it keeps my mind in constant motion. It has been a steep learning curve, really steep in fact, and even now, when I meet a 'proper' film photographer I'm still in awe. But I am learning, always learning. The journey continues and let's hope the brain fog stays away...
An image taken from the platform at Waterloo East train station, the much smaller sibling of Waterloo station proper. I've always loved this view and in fact I really like this old station which has a wonderful retro feel to it and shows a bit of character. Shot using a Kodak cinema film which gives lovely muted colours which I am very much a fan of.
35mm film photography
Leica M2
Thypoch Eureka 50mm f/2.0
Kodak Vision3 500T
Following on from my last post, also a reflection, I thought I'd post one more. This one is more confusing and only really starts to make sense when one looks at it closely for a few moments. For London architectural photographers this will be familiar I'm sure, the front facade of number 1 London Bridge which overlooks the southern end of London Bridge. It always provides an ever changing array of reflections. Move 10 feet in any direction and it all changes again, which I suppose is the fascination of reflections.
35mm film photography
Leica M2
Zeiss Biogon C 35mm f/2.8 ZM
Kodak ProImage 100 film
Another shot taken from inside the Queen's House in Greenwich looking through to the Old Naval College and Canary Wharf beyond.
35mm film photography
Leica M2
Zeiss Biogon C 35mm f/2.8 ZM
Kodak ProImage 100
Since I started shooting film in earnest a few years ago I've mostly stuck with 50mm prime lenses when shooting 35mm cameras. There have been some exceptions of course but in the main 50mm has been my preferred focal length, especially for my 35mm rangefinder cameras.
A few months back, being the owner of two very beautiful Leica 50mm lenses, both worth quite a bit of money but essentially doing the same thing, I reluctantly made the decision to sell one of them in order to purchase a good quality 35mm lens. And so after selling one of the 50s I purchased a much more modern Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 lens (the 50 that I sold had been made in 1964!) and I've been shooting that lens a lot every since.
I was always reluctant to go to 35mm because I thought it would be too wide for me but once I started to use the Zeiss I found that I actually really liked the wider view it gave. It can be quite good for this type of architectural photography when one wants to incorporate an entire building (or two in this case) into the frame. The quality of the images this Zeiss produces is very good and while I haven't shot it on one of my mirrorless cameras yet I look forward to doing so.
35mm film photography
Leica M2
Zeiss Biogon C 35mm f/2.8 ZM
Kodak Portra 400
Taken on a cold and dull January day last year on the pier in Eastbourne. There is a certain melancholy that pervades British seaside towns in the winter months. In summer they are vibrant and alive with people, in winter they are subdued and mostly cold places with a lot of businesses shuttered until the new season starts again in May. For a photographer both extremes can be interesting.
Medium format photography
Rolleiflex 3.5F
Schneider Kreuznach Xenotar 75mm f3.5
Potsdam 100 B&W film
Apologies to all my contacts for being absent again. Stuff going on right now which is taking most of my attention away from photography. I'll try to catch up as best I can in the next few days.
As far as I can discern this is a late 50s or early 60s Bentley, possibly a Continental, although I’d be lying if I claimed I knew for sure. At any rate the body work has seen better days even if the car itself is still quite regal. There is a current ethos in regard to classic cars where a lot of collectors prefer if the car is in a genuine original condition, warts and all. This example certainly fits the bill on that front but it’s still a very attractive old behemoth for a 60s child such as myself.
35mm film photography
Canon 7 rangefinder
Industar-61 52mm f/2.8
Ferrania Solaris 200 (expired 2015)
Converted to B&W in pp
St Pancras station is a familiar location for me as it's one of the London train stations that have direct trains back to my home station in south London. So I'v been here many times and have shot this section of the station on multiple occasions. However it's not often that I'm there at exactly the right time in terms of available light and how it plays out within the space.
This was taken back in February after an afternoon of conversation and photography alongside my friend Simon (Simon's Utak). I don't know if Simon would appreciate me calling him a YouTube 'influencer' but if that's not already true then he's well on his way to that esteemed position. Simon specialises in reviewing (and shooting with) lenses that produce painterly bokeh, both with vintage lenses and newer lenses that often clone vintage optical design. His YouTube channel is well worth checking out, if only to be soothed by Simon's dulcet tones. :))
One of the benefits of our friendship is that we often lend each other lenses to try out. This is the case with this image. It's taken with a modern 50mm lens for Leica M cameras that's based on a 1940s optical design. It's also easily adapted to modern cameras with the use of an adapter so it's useable for anyone with mirrorless camera. In this shot I just loved the way it handled the dappled light in such a gorgeous painterly way. I've done a bit of post processing on the shot but nothing to add to that painterly look which the lens/film combination produced without any help from me.
Simon's YouTube review of this lens: (Thypoch Eureka 50mm f2. An inspired re-creation of the 'Best British lens ever made').
35mm film photography
Leica M2
Thypoch Eureka 50mm f/2.0
Fujifilm Xtra 400
I took my Zeis Ikon Nettar 515/2 6x9 folding camera out to shoot a roll of Fomapan 200. The camera is around 80 years old, has no light meter and uses the distance focusing method. It captures 6x9cm negatives which are huge compared to 35mm film but not as big as a large format camera but still plenty big enough for me :)
Zeis Ikon Nettar 515/2
Fomapan Creative 200
HC-110 for 9 minutes - 63+1
Shoreham-by-Sea is a seaside town just west of Brighton and Hove. This was taken in February on a day trip I made there using my Tele Rolleiflex TLR and shooting with a 10-stop ND filter to produce some long exposures. If my memory is correct I believe this was shot with a 15-second shutter speed.
Medium format film photography
Tele Rolleiflex TLR
Carl Zeiss Sonnar 135mm f/4
Kodak Ektar 100 (converted to B&W in post)
I think I enjoy a visit to the seaside on a sunny winter's day more than I do a visit in the middle of summer. The less people the better as far as I'm concerned. I had a beautiful day when I visited in early March with some lovely light. I loved the colours that the Portra film produced in this, the perfect film for these kind of conditions.
35mm film photography
Leica M2 camera
Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2.8 ZM
Kodak Portra 160
Ah yes, the dreaded inadvertent selfie, every street photographer's worst nightmare. I suppose I could have cloned myself out of this if I had the patience for it but hey, there I am, reflected with a disgraced pop star leaning over me. Ouch.
35mm film photography
Leica M2 rangefinder
Summicron-M 50mm f/2.0 (V5)
Ilford PanF Plus 50
This water cascade is in a local park which has a little lake, a stream, and this lovely little waterfall. I doubt it has an official name but based on the congregation of geese (and ducks) in the quieter top section I propose to name it Goose Falls. Taken on a dim and dark December day on very slow film so the blurring of the water is more a technical necessity than a creative choice. To get any kind of proper exposure it called for a slower shutter speed. I'm assuming this was either 1 second or 1/2 second but I can't remember for sure. I had the old Rolleiflex perched on the square railing of a pedestrian bridge and I remember having to be conscious of taking the shot while there was no one else on the bridge because the whole thing wobbled every time someone made their way across it!
Medium format 6x6 photography
Rolleiflex 3.5F (Planar)
Ilford Ortho 80 B&W film
The much photographed (by me!) Prospect Place apartments at Battersea Power Station, designed by Frank Gehry architects. I cannot resist this fabulous building and return often to see if I can find a new angle.
35mm photography
Leica R6.2 SLR
Leitz Vario-Elmar-R 80-200 f/4.5
Kodak Color 800 (scanned image converted to B&W)
A little playground that I came across while on a walk from Canada Water to Greenwich earlier this winter. Shot on colour film and converted to B&W in post processing.
35mm film photography
Olympus OM2n camera
Olympus Zuiko 50mm f/1.8
Kodak Gold 200
This is actually the Thames River, in Hampton (not far from Hampton Court Palace). There are a number of 'islands' in the river around this area which have houses built on them (trespassers NOT allowed btw) and this was one of the tributaries created by those islands. I was wandering around looking for a composition and found this little landing where small boats are launched. Looking to my right I saw this lovely scene with the row boat and the bridge in the distance.
Medium format photography
Rolleiflex 3.5E (version 1)
Carl Zeiss Planar 75mm f/3.5
Kodak Ektar 100 (colour film converted to B&W)
Another shot from one of my Regents Canal walks a few months back. A different day from my last posting but in the same stretch of the canal with the permanent houseboat community. Please see my last posting if you don't know what I'm talking about.
I liked the different objects on view here which caught my attention and perhaps hints at a pleasant evening on the water enjoying a glass of wine with friends. However I'm not sure how King Kong fits into the equation, although I do like the fact that he makes an appearance here. 😄
35mm film photography
Leica M6 TTL
Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2.0 (v5)
Kodak Portra 160
Taken last week on the Brighton seafront.
35mm film photography
Leica M2 rangefinder
Zeiss Biogon 35mm f2.8 ZM
Kodak Portra 160