Vintage Agfa Camera

“A few rolls of film to develop gives me a good reason to get up in the morning”

— Andy Warhol

I was shooting content for my Tree Project at the beginning of February. For a few of the shots I used my iPhone and the Hipstamatic app and one in particular - the one with the bird in silhouette - jumped out at me as being particularly pleasing. It got me thinking about digital vintage filters and then my thoughts turned to shooting in film with old cameras.

My treasured Fuji SLR film camera seized up a few years ago and the seals deteriorated badly. And then digital seemed easier and more instant. My old camera disappeared into the dark shadows of the wardrobe. But the desire to shoot film again has never really gone away. I have a collection of well over a dozen vintage cameras but they’re gathering dust and hidden away.

Now what about this for a coincidence? Later that evening and on the very same day when I took “The Tree with the Silhouetted Bird’, I was gifted a vintage camera.

The case contained an Agfa 35mm rangefinder camera. My digital Fuji X100 camera is a rangefinder too so I was keen to see the similarities. I estimate that the Agfa camera dates to the late 1950s. At first inspection the camera seemed to be in good condition. The inside was immaculate and all the levers turned smoothly. I cleaned it gently it with a blower and wipes.

The other cases contained a Lucimeter S (light meter), filters and a flash device.

I spent hours reading up on films online. I was drawn to the characterful Lomography films with enticing names such as Berlin Kino and Metropolis. I struggled to decide between colour or black and white. The choice was overwhelming. Eventually, for now, I put on my sensible hat and decided on a classic Ilford HP5 Plus Black and White film with 36 exposures. The more experimental films could wait for another day.

Now Stockport in the rain can be a little on the dismal side! The streets were almost deserted and I was aware that people rushing by were looking at me in disbelief as I paused with my camera.

The viaduct was built in 1839/40 and has 22 arches. It’s still one of the largest brick-built structures in the world.

As expected, the focus was out which was not a surprise to me. Generally I was pleased that they turned out quite grainy and atmospheric which was what I was hoping to achieve.

I chose PhotoHippo based in Burnley to process my film as I’d heard they offer a great service . I was really impressed with their fast turnaround. Within 24 hours of mailing the film I received an email with a link to download the scanned negatives. I was happy that I hadn’t been contacted to say that the film had been a total disaster! That, my friends, was such a relief! I’m sure they must’ve had a chuckle at my dreary out-of-focus photos though!

So what did I learn from this experience? Next time I will take extra care to focus more accurately. I’ll make sure when loading the film that it’s securely in place.

Overall, in spite of the rain and the jammed film I really enjoyed slowing down with a film camera and can’t wait to get out shooting again.

My next decision is which film to choose!

The Tree Project. January.

This year I'm photographing trees through the seasons. The working title is The Tree Project 2020. I'm not sure how it'll evolve but I hope that will make it all the more interesting.

For The Tree Project in January I took photos of trees in the thick fog! The light was terrible but I really enjoyed capturing the winter trees in such in such atmospheric conditions. I don’t ever remember shooting in fog before but I really enjoyed the experience.

This is one of my favourite trees and one I intend to revisit each month. I think it's a field maple. I know it's a very popular tree to capture as I see it make appearances often across social media sites! I'm unsure whether to describe it as perfectly imperfect or imperfectly perfect. Either way, don't you think it's beautiful and so full of character?

I knew that the project would spark other ideas aside from taking still photos. As I wandered around the trees in the mist I had thoughts of shooting a film with atmospheric music and so that’s what I attempted!

Here is a short film that I shot and edited on my iPhone.

I’ve set up a separate page for my tree project and I hope you’ll pop back to see how it develops over the year. I reckon that this is my way of declaring an intention and being held accountable!

Inspiration Rises from the Mist

Towards the end of 2019 I was driving along the main road from Hartington way in the Peak District towards the town of Ashbourne where I intended stopping for lunch. I especially like to buy local Staffordshire oatcakes when I’m in the area.

I noticed every now and again wisps of mist drifting across the distant landscape. I made a spur of the moment decision to take a detour towards the valley between Thorpe and Ilam. Something was pulling me there. As I passed through the village of Thorpe and started to drop down towards Ilam I was rewarded with the most glorious mist rolling across the valley.

The mist was swirling gently around the bare branches of the winter trees.

I parked up quickly, grabbed the lead of my little dog Ted in one hand and my camera in the other. Poor Ted only has little legs and I don’t think he was very impressed at being walked across a muddy field. Anyway, he’s my photo buddy and faithful friend and fortunately by now he’s becoming more used to my adventures. .

This was a scene I would expect to see early morning. However it was midday and I could hardly believe my luck. I remember filming a spontaneous video expressing my sheer joy at witnessing the light and trees. It was very rough and unedited but I wanted capture the raw emotion and post it for a group of creative friends on Facebook. I knew instinctively that my little tribe would ‘get it’ and of course yes they did! With hindsight I’m quite embarrassed at how amateurish it was. However it set the ball in motion for me to learn video editing. So that scrappy little film was the start of a new project.

But it didn’t end there. Over the next couple weeks, and after bouncing ideas off my creative buddies, I decided that trees would be the focus of a new project for 2020. And so it was from these trees in the Peak District that my Tree Project 2020 has evolved. The intention is that I photograph trees over the course of twelve months and so take time to observe the changing seasons. I have one particular tree in mind but I don’t intend to narrow the project down to just the one tree. The project will be a celebration of interesting trees and creativity inspired by these trees. I already have a few ideas but I definitely don’t want to stick to a rigid plan.

In Search of Something Special

So what have you been up to dear friends? Yes it's been a while since I was last here! All sorts of reasons. Plenty of reflecting and certainly plenty of creating. The time feels right to blow the cake crumbs off the keyboard and re-emerge. It's true to say I've missed this space. 

But I do need to step backwards in time here before I can begin to move forward. There are significant gaps to address. My trip to Barcelona had left me yearning to travel and I felt increasingly restless. Politics in the UK and the ensuing chaos and division unsettled me. My iMac slowly died on me too and uploading photos became a chore rather than a pleasure.

Around a year or so ago an unexpected opportunity for a trip came my way. I hopped on a long-haul flight and left behind the grey skies of Manchester.  Fortunately I also managed to escape The Beast from the East and the freezing weather! 

Fifteen hours later I landed in sunny California for the start of my adventure. 

Photographing Joshua Trees in the desert has been at the very top of my creative bucket list for many, many years. I remember way back being so intrigued by the enigmatic artwork of the U2 album The Joshua Tree. I had to see them for myself one day. 

Let me state from the start that I'm terrified of snakes so venturing into the desert was big deal for me! I'm SO glad I packed my boots in my suitcase! The thought of encountering a harmless grass snake in the UK makes me hyperventilate. The thought of coming across a rattler, well, I was worried I'd pass out with fear! And this was just the track to the house!

The rental oozed vintage and style inside and out. To say my heart was singing was an understatement. Think old type-writers and a working record player complete with a vintage vinyl collection! 

Just a few steps from the doorway and the wide open space was nothing like I had ever experienced before. I contemplated the power of nature and the fragility of human life in such a hostile, yet beautiful environment. 

Even the potted plants with their lengthy thorns commanded respect!

I didn't like to get too close to this arrangement of pots and prickly bits as I was still nervous of what could be lurking in the cool shadows!

And finally, especially for all my friends who appreciate rust and grunge! 

I hadn't quite yet reached as far as the Joshua Tree National Park but the question was beginning to prey on my mind as to what if it didn't live up to expectations? Deep inside I knew that I'd be bitterly disappointed. And then what to do after you've ticked off the top item on your bucket list? I had nothing else to fall back on. 

Janet’s Foss and the Money Trees

Sometimes you see an intriguing sign and you just have to follow it... 

Curiosity got the better of me and so over towards Janets Foss I headed. The path lies on the edge of the village of Malham in Yorkshire. I'd stayed overnight at Beck Hall - a quaint and very old B&B standing alongside the babbling beck and so set off early before the crowds arrived. The substantial full English breakfast - minus the black pudding - had fuelled me ready for walking. 

This is a shallow crossing point for cattle. The presence of water hints at what lies further up stream. 

The neat path leads through kissing gates and  runs alongside farmland with grazing sheep. A couple of lambs with their mother eyed me suspiciously. The sheep here are bolder than the timid ones closer to my home town. Clearly they've ignored the sign on the gate though!

Farm outbuildings are perfect for capturing grunge and rough rustic textures.  A group of passers-by seemed bemused by me photographing a rusty old trough. They didn’t pause to look closer.

I spotted a family of camera-shy baby rabbits hopping in and out of the stone barn. 

The ground here was lower than my visit to the sole tree from my previous post. But even on the  lower levels you witness the harshness of the environment as weather-beaten trees bow and strain against the biting cold winds.

This trio of trees clinging to the edge of the ridge caught my eye. This was a stark contrast to what was to come further along the pathway.

A few strides further and I came across the National Trust sign for the Malham Tarn Estate and the scenery changed dramatically.  An enchanted wood beckoned.

The verdant woodland was striking. Green - so very green and fresh. The scent from the lush carpet of wild garlic wafted across the valley.

I caught a glint of metal on a fallen tree trunk. I took a closer look and saw that the bark was covered in coins which had been hammered into the tree trunk. Row upon row upon row of coins. I glanced further along the river bank and spotted more. These were tree versions of lucky wishing wells. You shove a coin in the tree and make a wish!

Even the solitary bees have their own bee book nests high up in the ash trees. They form part of a bee library.

In the distance I spotted a wall of water and quickened my step. Was Janet waiting for me with a cuppa? 

Ahh,  and so this is Janet's Foss - a small but perfectly formed waterfall.  Janet - or Jennet as she's sometimes known - Queen of the Fairies lived in a cave behind the water. So goes the local legend. 

A place to be still...

A place to sit on the rocks and clear the head of incessant chatter.

The running water soothes.

At locations like this I regret not carrying along my tripod. I find it difficult to get a comfortable balance of weight when out walking and I find that my sturdy Manfrotto tripod can be cumbersome. I can be clumsy and have been known to trip over them…

Ps The tripod issue has been playing on my mind of late. I returned home and bought a new travel tripod - the Manfrotto Befree! I've not yet managed to get out and about with it but I'll let you know how I get on with it!