Psuedo-Pagan and Photographic Ramblings

elswhere

2006-01-17T15:40:00.000Z

Hello - hope someone is still listening out there?

just a quick entry to say I've got a new blog to here AND am involved in an exciting new development - bookmark and visit the new blog to keep informed .......

see you over there!

Leon

ok then - maybe not ...

2005-09-07T19:03:00.000Z

You guys ......!

ok, I wont stop bloggin'. But I wont be doing it from here. I'll have a page at www.leontaylor-photo.co.uk/blog set up , but it wont be updated very often I'm afraid.

Now - can anyone tell me how I set up a blog type template were people can leave comments? and how on earth do I get my own site all RSS'd up? I'm such a thickster when it comes to this kind of thing.

The End

2005-08-30T14:53:00.000Z

I've decided to make this my last Blog entry. Traffic is slow, comments few and far between and to be honest, I'm bored with it. I'd rather be outside taking pictures.

Thanks to all my regulars - it's been great. I'm going to make a real effort to update my website so pop by now and then to see any new pics.

Goodbye.

Backlit trees in Kingswwod

2005-08-20T09:40:00.000Z

Another shot from my ongoing Kingswood project. I printed this at 11x11" on the relatively new (to me at least) Oriental Seagull VC Warmtone paper, which I have to say is the best paper I have ever used (and it wants to be at £80 for 50 sheets!). The print is rich in tones, beautiful gradation, shadow detail is crisp and obvious despite being very dark - it's just amazing, and it dries fla - what a bonus. And warm doesnt even begin to describe the untoned colour, it's like velvet! This one is a smaller version (to fit on my flatbed) very lightly toned in selenium to increase dmax, although I'm not sure this scan does it justice in any way at all.

I heard the news about Mo Mowlem yesterday - very sad. With her and Robin Cook gone, the Labour Party has very few links with it's old self any longer. Both were strong and passionate politicians who tried the "Third Way" but couldnt stand the nasty taste it left in their mouths. They both held great sway in my opinion.

ceiling

2005-08-14T11:16:00.000Z

It's been a while - sorry.

This is a shot of the ceiling in the entrance way to Holkham Hall in north Norfolk, England. Taken with my bessa r3a, 40mm nokton, on orwopan 125 developed in aculux 2, printed on photospeed legacy and toned in maco selenia.

I've been having a bit of a rethink recently . I deleted all my pics at Flikr the other day. I've been spending far too much time staring at monitor screens and not taking enough pictures or spent enough time in the darkroom. My website is way out of date and needs a complete overhaul, and I just post and comment on too many forums/ sites. I'm going to limit to my two faves - toycamera.com and apug.org, and get my arse into creative gear.

Foo Fighters new Double CD- stupendous.

Martin Grech new release - incredible.

Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel - amazing, read it in two days. How did I ever miss this book? It's been around for 20 odd years.

Ripple farm organics box scheme - there is no better! And they are only 5 mins drive from my house so I can pick it up in the field it was grown, from the farmer who grew it - you dont get more local than that!

Metamorphosis

2005-07-18T20:36:00.000Z

I bought a new book last week - "John Blakemore's Black and White Photography Workshop" and it has changed the way I consider my photo taking completely. It is a bit of a darkroom manual, it is a bit technical at times, but it also goes into great details about the emotional and psychological side of Blakemore's pictures - especially his Tulip series which is just amazing. I've seen quite a few original prints of the pictures in the book before and now to see the hows and whys is incredible.

So ... I have embarked upon a new journey to change my way of seeing. I am not going to look so much at the subject, and consider photographing the light as the main impetus of the image. I have set myself a project - every 14 days I am going to go up to Kings Wood (nr Ashford, only a short walk from my house) at dawn or dusk and just photograph the forest - one roll per visit for 12 months. I'm hoping I'll be able to look at what I've acheived over the year and see a journey of improvement and metamorphosis (something Blakemore is very much "into"). I'm going to be technical yet spontaneous ... if something grabs, I shoot and try to get a feel for why something grabs me as it does.

This is from my 1st visit last night. Unfortunately I had a bit of a spanner attack when loading the reel and fogged the film a little - but this has come out ok, and I reckon should print fine.

Big Tub o' Pansies

2005-07-11T14:25:00.000Z

This is from my back garden - I'm not overly keen on pictures of pansies (erm...!) but I was testing film in my new homebrew developer (this is fp4) and I must say it is pretty damn hot! You probably cant see here in the compressed Jpeg but the sharpness and tonality in this negative is amazing.

I've been printing like mad over the past week to get a last minute informal show together. 2 years ago, I was asked to take a series of shots in my old workplace. The building was due for demolition and the plan was to display the prints in the newly built offices. I took them and didnt hear anything further until 2 weeks ago when i was asked if they would be ready for the 23rd of this month. I thought they'd forgotten about it all!!! So after a mad panic, I've come up with 9 pretty reasonable prints which seem to work really well together. They go on display in the foyer as from Friday the 23rd July. I hope they like them.

My thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims of last week's attrocities in London. Words can not say how this has made me feel - I am proud of the way we have and continue to deal with what has happened. It will never stop us.

Black Knights

2005-07-04T18:59:00.000Z

Helen and I took our Nephew to the Jousting and Falconry display at the local castle over the weekend - a good chance to try out some fast-action-both-eyes-open bessa r3a gymnastics. Quite pleased with this one, although it's a substantial crop ... mental note - I must save for a longer lens.

We also tried our hands at archery - I got to use the Long Bow. Cool

Chemicals

2005-06-24T11:27:00.000Z

A couple of points to make about chemicals ...

when someone tells you you can store dry photographic chemicals in ziplock type plastic bags indefinitely, then sells you a load for astronomical prices , dont beleive them! I've just noticed my several year's supply of film developer has gone bad. So I've decided to go the whoel hog, buy some scales and raw chemicals and mix up my own when I need it. This works out so cheap too. Chemicals to make 100 ml of my favourite Pyrocat hd stock solutions work out at about 85 pence - and that will do about 32 MF rolls (with 2 rolls on one reel). I was spending £12.50 on the equivalent :(

secondly - I've been looking for a more gritty yet fine developer to use for 35 mm. Rodinal is too grainy for me so I've tried Patterson Aculux 2 which so far looks very promising (see above image taken on Voigtlander bessa r3a with 40mm 1.4 nokton and orange filter). it gves sharp yet small yet defined grain, good film speed and is pretty darned cheap.

2 Boats

2005-06-16T10:35:00.000Z

I've got this one over at Flickr, but I needed to post about what a great few days I've had this week meeting up with fellow toycamerateers Mark Skorji, Susan Burnstine, Ed Wenn, Damion Rice, Janet Penny and a few significant others. It was great to see everyone, I havent got the films developed yet so might take a while to get my shots posted ( I only took a few anyway - too much to talk about to shoot anything!).

Anyway - great to see you all.

Dont forget to pop over to check out the new lightleaks.org website and to submit your UNUSUAL plastic shots.

That Should Keep Him Quiet

2005-06-09T15:38:00.000Z

I know I promised some (more) boat pics, but I coudlnt resist posting this one.

This is my nephew filling his gob with a bubble-gum flavoured ice-lolly (yuck!) - he never usually shuts up so this was an extraordinary moment and one I had to record. I am so very rarely successful in photographing people that I was pleasantly suprised with this.

A proper little munkee.

Dont forget to check out the new lightleaks.org site and submit your "unusual" plastic shots.

Boats a Plenty

2005-06-07T18:20:00.000Z

This is, as promised, a shot from my test roll out of the Bronica SQAi and 40mm lens (wiiiide).

I went to Dungeness today - probably the weirdest place in the world and took loads of pictures of (wait for it ..........) BOATS - you cant say I'm not consistent! So if you think there is room in your memory stores for YET ANOTHER BOAT PICTURE, drop by here in a while ...... ;)

If you are a plastic lens user, drop over to lightleaks.org to find out about an exciting new publication all about toycameras. The magazine is accepting submissions for the first issue.

Sweetie Shop (like a child in one)

2005-06-01T18:57:00.000Z

After much wrangling, I decided to sell on my old and (a bit untrusty) rolleiflex sl66 - and am now the owner of a brand spanking new Voigtlander Bessa R3A with a Nokton 40mm 1.4 lens ..... wait for it ... AND a used (but you wouldnt be able to tell it was) Bronica SQAi with 80mm and 40 mm lenses.

This is my 1st frame from the bessa - the camera and lens are superb in everyway - I'll be posting some of the broni shots a bit later in the week.

Chuffed doesnt even describe it.

PItts Package

2005-05-17T17:39:00.000Z

This is for Simon Colbran 31st oct 1969 - 17th May 2005

thanks for the laughs

Moving Water

2005-05-10T17:14:00.000Z

An old shot from my trip to the lakes in February.

I had a great day with Ed Wenn, Jim Green and Mike (ed's brother inlaw) on Sunday when we visited a camera collectors fair in London. I managed to come home with a couple of 1940's folder camera's in a servicable but shabby state. I have cleaned them up and they seem fine - they are all loaded up and ready to be tested - look out here for the results.

The toycamera.com magazine, Light Leaks is still under preparation, stay tuned for more dtails soon.

Log Flume - Folkstone

2005-05-02T15:06:00.000Z

This is the Log Flume ride in the derelict Rotunda fairground on Folkestone sea front in a Holga style.

beltain

2005-04-29T06:39:00.000Z

This is (yet another) boat shot taken on Deal Beach, Kent back in February. It was with my Voigtlander vf101 - a superb compact 35mm rangefinder. It was one of those gorgeous low raking winter light type afternoons. Unfortunately it was a little hazy, I think I would have prefered a little more seperation in the clouds/sky.

I got my copy of Black and White photography yesterday and I am in it! It is such a rush to see your own work in print, and when asked to contribute something, I can never quite believe that it is anything other than a joke ... Mr Paranoid :)

Merry Maidens

2005-04-25T18:45:00.000Z

I love this Circle - it is quite small and unnassuming, but a great place to stop and have a picnic (mm, egg and salad cream rolls :)). My dog always loves it here, she runs in circles around the stones very fast and growls at anyone who dares to enter the circle when she is in there.

The electioneering rolls on, all the parties moaning about how bad the rest are, but never saying how good they would be .... yawn.

One peice of massive excitement is the burgeoning activity happening on the new toycamera.com magazine - stay tuned here for more news on this project as it happens. It's gonna be big!

New things I've discovered/ rediscovered lately:-

the ocean by Led Zeppelin (love that syncopation)
Tori Amos - the Bee Keeper (I know, I know, cookie weirdo whiney piano woman - but I had a bit of a crush about 12 years ago and I havent been able to stop myself from buying the records ever since)
Before Sunrise and Before Sunset - great films
Queens Of The Stoneage - Lullabies to Paralyse - just plain good
Viz - thanks to Mark Skorji - cheers mate

Chun Quoit

2005-04-20T21:52:00.001Z

Two versions of the same shot - one in fetching plastic livery and one sleek and refined glass-wear. Which do you prefer???

Did anyone realise that there is a general election about to happen in 2 weeks here in the uk?? Why is it so quiet on the Western Front? I remember GE's during my childhood to be noisy affairs with hot debates, doorstep canvasing and massive feelings of uncertainty - will the blue witch get in for yet another term .... how much more damage will she be empowered to do. But then again, that was the 80's. Now all we get is three main parties (well 2 and a half) spouting the same rubbish with very little variation or vision. Clearly the labour government have shown that they cant really make a difference with their rather wanky 3rd way (or is it just the same way as all the rest???).

We need someone who is brave enough to say, "hang on, none of this is working, we need to change things drastically - try something that really is new" ... I urge any readers of this blog who feel disillusioned like me about the lack of choice in this current political climate to take a look at the Green Party Manifesto Even if you dont agree with the philosophy, you must admit it is so very refreshing that a growingly popular political movement is brave emough to suggest radical ideas in a manifesto aimed at the mainstream ... local currency!, citizens income! - this is amazing food for thought (and tastes to me like it was cooked by a michelin star chef).

I'm going to vote green, but then again, I'm a hippy.

Next Door to the Cheese Ring

2005-04-13T15:15:00.000Z

Whilst in Cornwall the other week, Helen and I walked out to the Cheesering rocky outcrop from the Hurlers Stone Circles nr Minions on Bodmin Moor.

This walk has become a bit of a pilgrimage for me and is something I try to do whenever we visit the area. Julian Cope reckons these naturally occuring wind carved stacks were "Prototemples" or idols and pre-cursors that informed the man made stone circles and other megalithic buildings that scatter the moor. I quite like that idea and, standing on top of the Tor like hill looking in the direction of the Hurlers, I feel like I can really see the significance of it all - but then I climb down and end up feeling quite confused again.

There is often much folklore attached to rock stacks like the cheesering - often involving the stones spinning and turning of their own free will at specific significant times. Just behind the stack in this shot, I found a massive broken stone with huge, deep circular grooves on the surface - almost as if some very heavy stones had been repeatedly turned round and round on it many times ... very odd that!

This picture is a repeat shot. I have shot it quite a few times before, and I think I'll take it again whenever I visit.

The Wife and I

2005-04-01T10:19:00.001Z

We're back from our honey moon and here are some neg scans from the snaps taken by our wedding witness. We got married in a place called trevigue about 1 mile from Crackington Haven on the north cornwall coast. Despite the day starting off misty and damp, about 1/2 hour before we were due to start, the sun came out and flooded us with lovely warm late afternoon light - perfect for these pics overlooking Strangles beach.

We had a fantastic day - thanks to everyone for their kind wishes etc.

I've got loads of films to develop from the rest of the honeymoon and quite a few more negs to scan of the wedding snaps so plently more to bore you with an the weeks to come! Hooray.

PS - for the observant amongst you, yes I am holding a dog lead - Helen wanted to dress meg up in a bridesmaid tutu - but I drew the line at that ... !

Hitched

2005-03-15T11:17:00.000Z

This is Helen (with our nephew, David)

Right ... We're off to Cornwall to get married.

back in 2 and a bit weeks

the eyes have it

2005-03-11T16:44:00.000Z

My SL66 is back from the camera repairer with no fault found. This is good news in a way because at least I dont have shell out loads on a repair bill - but it does leave me in a quandry ... WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON?????

I dug out the loupe and mini lightbox today and looked closely at some new and old negs - it would seem that some of my newer pics are out of focus , but some arent. Also, it seems that the camera is focusing closer than it should, and I am assured that this is not the camera, so I suppose this can only be due to me, or my eyes to be exact. Time to go to the Optician I think!

This neg is one of the only ones from the lakes that has some sharpness in it - not a very exciting picture, but i do like my tree abstracts.

1 week to go.

colour?

2005-03-08T22:32:00.000Z

a splash of early summer colour on this dull and cold March night.

9 days to go!

Holga in the Mainstream

2005-03-04T15:33:00.000Z

Another old shot taken in Perry Woods, nr Selling , Kent
( a lot of detail has been lsot int eh jpeg compression sadly)

This posting is a bit of a brag/ big-me-up ...

Black and White Photography magazine have accepted one of my prints for the regular Printers Art feature they have. The current fomat is two people make a print from the same negative, and compare the two - neither printer seeing eachothers print, only the negative.

The print I submitted was my WTCD boat hull - a Holga shot. This is one more step for plastic acceptance amongst the conventional photographic art world ... which I think is very cool

I am Chuffed to Buggery and cant stop grinning. I dont have a date of issue it will be in yet, (knowing my luck, they'll drop it now!!!) but will post this when I do know.

Who'd a thought it eh???

Kite Flying

2005-02-28T15:37:00.000Z

This is an old picture I took of my brother, Max, practicing his kiting technique on Minnis Bay, nr Birchington, Kent.

I popped into Jessops today - a chain-photographic shop that have branches throughout theUK. I very rarely use Jessops because of past experiences leading me to think that they only employ people who have no idea about photography whatsoever. But, I was passing and had a Tenner burning a hole in my pocket so ....

My fears were confirmed today when I asked if they has any sepia toners in stock - a long shot I know (they have even taken to not keeping any darkroom stuff on display any longer - it's all in the stock room out back). The assistant asked me what I had said

"sepia toner - do you have any. I am particularly looking for a bleach and redevelop type, not the smelly single bath variety", I asked patiently.

"C P toner - what printer is that for?", the assistant asked.

"No, Sepia. See-pee-yer toner - I am the printer and it is a traditional toning bath" I overexagerated the syllables incase I had mumbled the 1st time, as I often do.

"oh, I see - I'll go and have a look"

She came back about 5 minutes later to say they hadn't got any in stock, but swiveled the computer screen around to encourage me to look as she tried to find it in their catalogue. I watched in horror as she placed the cursor in the search field and typed "C P R toner"! At this point, I asked her not to worry and left the shop in a fit of giggles. Not sure why I was laughing, but still have a smirk on my face now.

Only 2 weeks and 4 days to go until the Big Day. I'm sworn to secrecy as to what the big day is, but it's gonna be big, and it will be a day. I am nervous, excited and scared all at once. Time will reveal all.

No Photo today

2005-02-23T11:16:00.000Z

No photos today I'm afraid - just a moan.

I have fallen into the digital trap. My main camera - the rollei SL66 - is having some focusing problems. I have been mainly scanning negs recently to see if I am happy with the image before taking them into the darkroom. This was working fine until I took my printable negs into the darkroom this weekend. I noticed that none of them were in sharp focus - they were all slightly out. I know my darkroom set-up can make sharp prints, my other cameras using this film and developer mix produce good sharp negs so it must be the sl66. The lens looks clear, everything seems to be in order, so I had to send it off to the repairers for a free diagnosis and quote for repair. That'll be another mortgage I'll have to take out then.

It would appear that my use of USM in photoshop had covered this up - disguised the fault and lulled me into a false sense of security. Bloody digital! All of my lake district shots are unusable - completely rubbish. Now, as you may know, I am not averse to a blurry picture - I embrace the holga, but thst is meant to be that way ... holga=blur, sl66=sharp .... only not too sharp anymore.

It's has been snowing heavily here for about 24 hours and is expected to last for at least the next 24 hours. I desperately want to break out the mf slr but I cant!

sadness.

Stripey stone at Sunkenkirk

2005-02-17T21:57:00.000Z

yet another from my trip last weekend.

This is one of my favourite circles. It is quite remote (despite having a farm house not so far away) and takes a reasonable walk to get to. Gives me a kind of pilgrimage feel as I follow the droveway to the site. It is surrounded by some very smoothly curvy hills and ther are some wicked sight-line alignments going on (that I could work out anyway). I found some definite markers for both midwinter sunset and midsummer sunrise, and this quite stunning stripey stone is at the south compass point.

At the risk of sounding new-agey, there is a real Buzz about this place. I get a noticable tingle when i walk into the circle through marked entrance way. there is known evidence of heavily trampled ground within circles such as this, maybe pointing at some kind of ritual dancing, and you can really feel it here - a loads of tripped out bronze age 'shroomies loving the drums.

more lakes pics to come

Buttermere Tree

2005-02-15T22:17:00.000Z

Another neg scan from the weekend trip to the Lakes. I used a ND filter to slow down the exposure on this (about 1 minute I think) to smooth out the ripples on the water surface.

Tech alert ....

I have been extolling the virtues of Pyrocat HD recently (a film developer). I have been getting some great results with this but at the cost of unreasonable film speed loss and long development times. I know this is due to my poor abilities to mix this formula myself rather than the developer itself, having spoken with others who use it and have not experienced my difficulties. I made some improvement by using a lesser diluton of 1:1:50 rather than 1:1:100, giving me shorter times, but even slower film speeds in my reckoning.

I have decided to halt the pc hd and try out some similar but pre-mixed developer called Prescysol, made by Peter Hogan who I met at the weekend. I should get it tomorrow and will be testing for times and speeds over the next few weeks - will post the results for any who are interested.

tech alert over.

I will be posting some more Lakes shots over the next few days as I scan them, so keep looking.

cheers

Back from the Lakes

2005-02-14T16:08:00.000Z

I got back last night - after 7 hours of driving ... I forgot how far it was to Cumbria!

The Gods just werent shining on us during our stay (neither was the sun for that matter). Every time I got my camera out of the rucksack, the grey descended. It was VERY wet everywhere an with the low grey light and rain/ sleet/snow falling, there werent any opportunites for and true landscape pictures. I decided to concentrate on water instead - there was so much of it around that there was little choice.

I awoke on Sunday morning to see all the hills around the village we were staying in covered in snow. The low winter sun was shining and everything looked magical. with a renewed enthusiasm, we all set off for Buttermere but as we drive over teh Honiston Pass, down came teh grey again ... and there it stayed. Oh well - it was nice to just be in the lakes I suppose.

It was great to meet up with the UK APUG guys too. Looking forward to next time.

I'm going to the lakes

2005-02-07T09:23:00.001Z

Castlerigg Circle at Dawn, September 2002

Sunkenkirk Circle, late afternoon, September 2002

these are two of the pictures I took the last time I went to the Lake District a couple of years ago. And I'm going again on Friday! I cant wait. I'm going to meet up with the APUG UK contingency for a weekend of doing photography, and talking about photography.

Last time we stayed in a cottage with the dogs. The place turned out to be infested with fleas, the carpets were moving with them - it was awful. Hopefully it wont be like that this time ..... fingers crossed!

a change

2005-02-01T22:23:00.000Z

I needed a change from my last posting as it was upsetting me too much to look at it! So here is an old picture. Much of the contrast and sharpness has been lost in the jpg resizing, but it'll do for now until I shoot some more film (must shoot some more film!)

Taken on Bronica SQb with orange filter on delta 100 dev'd in Exactol lux

MUI 6 - RIP

2005-01-28T14:35:00.001Z

Mocha
21st September 1993 - 28th January 2005

Sleep Well

Stolen Identity

2005-01-23T01:11:00.000Z

Film Hangers - from a series of shots I've taken of my darkroom to be included in a Q & A type article for Black and White photography magazine

I went to my parents tonight for dinner - I havent lived at their address since I was 18 (15 years) yet, there was an official looking letter waiting there for me. I opened it to find that it was a fixed penalty notice for speeding ... in a car that I have never even heard of let alone ever owned, on 11 november at 23.40hrs somewhere near Sevenoaks!

There are two possible explanations for this. 1 - the police car registration computer has gone mad (not very likely); or, 2 - someone has registered a car in my name at my parents address, or, to be blunt, stolen my identity for some kind of criminal gain.

Now, I have great insight into my slightly paranoid personality traits, and often have to keep it in check, but its starting to run riot now. what next? credit card fraud? tax evasion? False accusation for some long forgotten murder? I think I may need to go on the run - I'll have to join Phil and Grant in Brazil for a while.

You 'aint seen me - right?

Seriously though, something tells me a simple 'phone call to the nice officers at the Kent Constabulary isnt going to resolve this matter (assume typical-english-bobby-condescending-tone-of-voice) "oh, so you have never owned the car then sir? That's what they all say. Our multimillion £ computer is never wrong. It's the old stolen identity plea. Lets be having you ... " etc.

wish me luck!

Affluent?

2005-01-05T10:28:00.000Z

in the uk? click here

Hogmanay

2004-12-31T17:00:00.000Z

Beach Horns

This years most:

# scariest moment was ... I was going to say the results of the US elections but even this has dwindled into obscurity since the boxing day Earthquake and Tsunami in Asia. Our vulnerability is absolute

happy new year

Christmas

2004-12-24T09:13:00.000Z

Click Here

Have a Great Christmas

Ranting Solstice

2004-12-19T23:05:00.000Z

Lanyon Quoit

Solstice time is upon us again. Scientists would say it is the 22nd December, good old fashioned rule of thunb would say on the full moon closest to this time, which is the 26th December this year.

Amazing mortuary monuments such as Newgrange in Ireland and Maeshowe in Orkney are known for their links with this clearly important date for the ancients. I have been to both of these places and words can not describe how much they blew me away.

Everyone knows about Stonehenge's alignment with the midsummer sunrise and we have all seen pictures of the masses gathering there to celebrate the Stonehenge Solstice. In fact, this has become more of a media driven feakshow full of disparate "alternative" new agers thinking they have the answer and it lies there in the "mysteries" of the henge. Even the weirdy-beardy "druids" are nothing but masonic-like secret society members harking back to a 18/19th century romanticised rubbish.

I reckon they are all wrong .. and here is why. The latter stages of the Stonehenge complex had a vastly important, but often missed, sarsen lined procession way called the Avenue leading up to the henge from the direction of the summer solstice sunsrise. Opposite to the summer solstice sunrise is the winter solstice sunset. The Avenue leads towards the sunset at midwinter - and this is what my Stonhenge was built for. I cant imagine the ancients walking along the avenue only to then turn around to watch the sunrise? It makes sense to me that it's purpose was to head towards the setting sun at midwinter, visible through the large trilithon archways at the centre of the temple. A procession towards the event - to witness the awe of the last light on the shortest day. Then it would be time to party because it wont be long before there is plentiful food, warmth and sustenance again.

Newgrange predates Stonehenge and is lodged well into the neolithic so there are indications that our time of mid-winter extravagance has been marked and maybe even enjoyed for 5,000- 6,000 years.

So next time someone tells you that "Jesus was born in September, so Chrismas is a waste of time" tell them to shut up - an maybe even poke them in the eye, or stamp on their toe.

Or perhaps it's me who should shut up :)

Dark Stairs

2004-12-15T20:34:00.000Z

Another from the series described in my previous post.

I'm really starting to feel the midwinter grind. In the morning, I get up and walk the dogs and go to work, it's dark. I drive back home and it's dark. It's always dark and we no longer have an open fire to warm my old cockles ( they need warming occasionally).

But never fear, the midwinter binge is near. I'm looking forward to stuffing my face, pickling my liver and numbing my brain for a few days in celebration ... hoping that very soon the sun might start to show his face again.

Helen and I are going up to the apple orchards this weekend to pick some of the wild holly and mistletoe (that are so laden with berries this year) to make some decorations for the house. Am definitely looking forward to that. Maybe even get the christmas tree too. I'm like a child again.

Westbrook Stairs

2004-12-13T13:12:00.000Z

This is from a series of pics I took of my old offices in Westbrook, Margate. The building was due to be demolished, the idea idea being that I would take a series which would then be framed and exhibited in the new purpose-built offices. I was promised payment etc but, after spending out on loads of rolls of Pan-F and developing them etc, i have not heard a thing ... not that I'm bitter or anything ;)

I've just spent a very magical few hours walking alone in Kings Wood, just me and my camera. It was about 2 degrees so I was freezing, but I hope I got some nice shots. There was wildlife all around, squirrels, rabbits, birds, I even think I may have seen one of the wild boars that local legend says still live there. I dont usually get the chance to see anything living as I have two hyper-aroused sight hounds with me. As much as I love to see the dogs in the woods, it's great to go there alone from time to time too.

A genetic eye

2004-12-08T16:50:00.000Z

A few years ago, My great uncle passed away. In going through his belongings, my Dad found a box full of glass plate negatives - many of which were in a poor state of repair. He gave them to me and I decided to print them.

My enlarger could only take up to 6x6 negs so I decided to contact print these. Once they were done, my Dad realised they were infact pictures of his mother's family. This one shows my Grandmother (the youngest girl) with her older sister.

It turns out that the pictures were taken by my great grandfather and we have estimated that they were from between 1905 and 1925. The family were poor and there were many children so it is a complete mystery as to how teh old man could have afforded to have a camera and use it. I only wish we had found the camera and enlarger too!

One thing that amazes me is the sharpness and rich tonality of these glass plates. Although I found it difficult to hold highlights in many of the prints, the mid and shadow tones are stunning.

Is this proof that photography is genetic?

Darnley Family Mausoleum

2004-11-30T22:12:00.000Z

I took this picture about 3 years ago with my old canon auto SLR and some Ilford SFX i was trying out.

Just found it on my hard drive and thought I'd share - I quite like it still. although it has had a fair bit of Photoshop to tease out the best of it.

The Mausoleum is now being restored to it's former glory which is no bad thing, but I did kind of like it like this ... me and my mates used to go up there at night to get scared. You cant see this place until you are right on it, it's in the middle of a large wooded area and is very spooky. Apparently the spaces for bodes inside the crypt were never used - or were they ...?

Dont forget the [b]toycamera calender[/b] is for sale - click on the words to visit the shop.

How to Disappear Completely

2004-11-29T10:26:00.000Z

I am having difficulties uploading pictures to the blog at the moment - hopefully I'll have that sorted soon ...

Are you having problems deciding what to buy loved ones for the Midwinter Celebrations this year?? Take a look at something that will, with no doubt, prove to be Top o' the Pops for the discerning aesthete this year ... the 2005 Toycamera.com Calendar. Buy one (or several) before the 1st December and you'll get a discount too.

The weather this week proves to be very photo-conducive which can only be a great thing as fellow Toycamerateers Ed Wenn and Damion Rice are making the trudge down to Kent for a Jamboree of Toycamera Delights

Boat at Dungeness

2004-11-22T18:30:00.000Z

This was my submission at toycamera.com for the World Toycamera Day competition gallery ... and it won, I cant believe it!!! It was taken on a holga, hp5+ film, dev'd in pyrocat HD with about 25% extra time because of the very poor light, then printed on ilford MGFB warmtone and lightly selenium toned for colour shift. It prints suprisingly easily. hooray

Smiling Mocha

2004-11-16T09:51:00.000Z

A quick Dog Update. The MRI scans and x-rays have come back showing nothing at all. So no tumour, just a weird doggie fit with no explanation. She has stopped walking sideways and is running around like a puppy again. Hooray.

Lobster Pots

2004-11-15T09:19:00.000Z

Lobster pots, Dungeness, Kent

dark fishing

2004-11-10T22:39:00.000Z

Some fishing nets taken at Dungeness on World Toy Camera Day. A holgagraph with HP5+ developed in Pyrocat HD and printed on ilford MGFB warm tone with some selenium toning thrown in for good measure.

the light in the shed was very low so I braced the camera against the door frame and released the shutter about 6 times to build up exposure. out of 4 attempts, this was the onyl one that was anywhere near sharp though - definitely worth doing a few extra shots in case of errors when trying this technique..

2004-11-08T19:25:00.000Z

The Ring of Brodgar, Part of the huge ritual complex on Orkney Mainland at Stenness

Thought I'd post a colour picture, I havent shot any colour for a long while, this was from my last visit to Orkney in 2002 - and I really miss the place.

I am currently reading The Megalithic European - the new and abso-bloody-lutely excellent tome from Mr Julian Cope. In it, he pieces together (for the first time by anyone) many of Europe's Megalithic remains in an attempt to link the whole into Mr Cope's fantastical antiquarian theory - which he does very convincingly. What I love the most is the photo's of Julian and his weirdy-beardy mates in strange thoughtful poses and wacky Royal Mail style flourescent clothes in what would otherwise be a very serious and sober book. It bloody great and everyone should read it (although some of the photos are a bit dodgy)

There's lots going on at toycamera.com at the mo - the World Toycamera Day gallery is up, there is a planned calendar coming out soon, and lots more.

cheers!

2004-11-01T22:18:00.000Z

Lanyon Quoit. I thought I'd better post a picture too.

it's been a while

2004-11-01T11:30:00.000Z

Nothing much to report. I turned 33 last week which was quite a big deal for me (you know, half way to 66 and all that).

I spent my birthday in London where I visited the Victoria and Albert Museum to see some of the original photo prints held in their archives - unfortunately, the print room was closed due to building works so i couldn't see any of the prints I wanted to. It re-opens on the 18th November so i think i will go back at the end of the month. I did manage to see an original Adams print that was on display - very nice, but I wasnt "Blown Away" - perhaps it wasnt a very good example?

I also managed to get to Silverprint and stocked up on some darkroom goodies - incidently, they have some 12x16 ilford MGRC on offer at 50 sheets for £12 + vat. the only drawback is that the finish is Satin - not one Ive used before, but I coudln't turn down such a bargain. they also have boxes of 100 10 x 8 of the same for next to nothing costwise.

Finally, we visited Hoopers Gallery to check out the John Blakemore exhibiton. This is well worth a visit - there are some incredible prints on show.

I'm printing tuesday, weds and thurs nights this week so should have a pic or two to post next time.

Music I'm listening to in the darkroom this week:
The Mooney Suzuki
The Black Keys

2004-10-21T21:30:00.000Z

Smailholme Tower.

taken on Holiday the other week.

I did some toning the other day and experimented with bleach back and redevelop. It's amazing how this technique can change the colour shift toning creates ... I used some kodak rapid selenium toner to make the deep shadows nice and reddy-plummy, very deep and luscious. I pulled the print there and washed to stop further toning. My original intentions was to then use a sepia toner on unaffected lighter tones so I used a bleach to clear all the un-seleniumed tones ready for the sepia. But I then thought that a yellowy brown wouldnt suit the paticular image (not the one above) so I re-developed the lighter tones in a neutral tone developer, making them much more "grey" than the original olivy tones of the warm-tone print developer. I then re-used the selenium and toned to completion, only this time it gave a more chocolate/ deep brown colour, making a very pleasing split. I think I'm going to experiment with this further and use some different dilutions etc, could be on to something here!!! Seriously, toning can really make a difference to the finished print and is well worth experimenting with - I've only just started to scratch at the surface.

I'm really looking forward to meeting up with some of the toycamera.com chaps and chapesses on Saturday 23rd October - which is, not entirely coincidently - world toycamera day. So dust off those plastic lens crappy cameras and burn some film.

2004-10-13T22:16:00.000Z

I did manage to kick my lazy butt and get on with some printing - here's a picture to celebrate with! This is just a neg scan for now ... but I am really looking forward to printing this one. Techie stuff:- camera - rollei sl66; film - ilford fp4; developer - pyrocat HD 1:1:100. Picture taken with orange filter and -3 stop neutral density filter to prolongue exposure, then the exposure divided into 32 multiple exposures. Beleive it or not, there was a man and a small dog walking right through the middle of this shot - where did they go???

not a lot going on really ....

2004-10-13T11:15:00.000Z

I've hit a slump. I think all the worry and stress of last week has taken its toll. I get home from work all motivated and excited about being creative in the darkroom, then have my tea and slouch in front of the TV and ... nothing. I dont want to move. The dogs jump onto the sofa with me and curl-up. My fiancee makes a cup of tea and joins us - we do nothing all evening until bed time. I then spend ages cursing and grumbling that I have spent yet another evening doing nothing.

Mocha has made a full recovery and is like a puppy again. She's having an MRI scan next week to find out exactly what's going on, but fingers crossed it was just some wierd transitory geriatric dog thing.

I WILL print tonight - I WILL print tonight - I WILL print tonight.

amazing work here

Poorly Dog

2004-10-06T16:53:00.000Z

Mocha the Greyhound

This is Mocha, our 11 year old greyhound. Over the past few months she has been increasingly unwell and having strange episodes. She woke us up at 5:00 am today having the worse "fit" yet and we rushed her to the vet. After having a day of many tests etc, the Vet thinks she is suffering from a brain tumour. There are further tsets for her to undergo, but there is little doubt that this is the problem. Mocha hasnt fully recovered from her attack this morning and her coordination is pretty poor so the vet has recommended thats she stays at the Animal Hospital overnight. Something which we know is the right thing to do, but its tearing our hearts out to leave her there.

Mocha's 1st 18 months of life were horrendous, as far as we know. She was found by my partner in a river, virtually hairless, with very poorly made stiches holding together a bad wound on her leg. It took a long time to teach mocha to trust people again, and until several years ago, she was still waking in the night screaming in panic. She blossomed into a lovely dog with no malice or aggressive side to her whatsoever. We managed to trace her ancestry through her ear tattoo - her mother was "Stylish Debs" and father "Windsor Duke" both racers, so we assume that she was meant for the track, but didn't make the grade so was got rid of. She was 18 months old when found and is now about 11 so, despite the awful start she had to her life (much of which we can only imagine), we can be comforted that she has spent 9 1/2 years of comfort and happiness with us - not many dogs can say they've had holidays form Cornwwall to the lake district to Orkney!

The prognosis doesnt look very good for her now, although we have been assured that there are many things that can be done for her to enjoy life for a while yet - for how long we dont know. As long as she has some degree of life quality and lack of suffering, we dont mind helping her along a little from time to time.

thanks for reading.

Beach Injuries and Good Light

2004-10-02T13:04:00.000Z

Sea Weed

Just got back from Bamburgh. We had a great time apart from a Lurcher injury on day one putting a stop to any long distance walking we had planned. The dog was hurtling about at full speed on one of the VAST sandy beaches - showing off in front of all the inferior slower breeds of dogs - when her attempt at jumping some low rocks went horribly wrong. Her front feet hit the rock and she went tumbling over and over. Luckily, the only damage was some strained muscles and a very hurt doggie pride. After that, all she could manage was 100 yards here and there.

Light ... what is good light? Whilst away, I was lucky enough to be able to spend some time with a very accomplished Black and White photographer and printer. I have learned much from that day - in particular, we were walking under some trees with fairly bright light streaming in between the branches. This is a situation when I will always put my camera away - the difference between light and dark is nearly always too great to make any kind of reasonble print. He told me that, with careful flashing and fogging of the paper (and more than a little skill) - he could make more than acceptable prints from negatives huge subject brightness ranges. This is something I have vowed to explore much further (especially with the help of this little gadget. I'll keep this blog posted.

Equinox and 7 days in the North East

2004-09-24T16:16:00.000Z

Fountain

The Autumn Equinox went by at an alarming rate and all I managed to do was spend my lunch break photographing Botany Bay, Broadstairs, Kent. I wanted to go to Coldrum for the evening, but was just too knackered after work - shame on me.

I must mention that the kentish Cobs are particularly sweet this year - i have a massive bag full and just cant stop eating them

I'm going to Bamburgh for a weeks Holiday tomorrow - cant wait. The weather will be mean, cold and moody, but that is fine by me - I have loads of rolls of fp4 to see me though.

2004-09-20T14:23:00.000Z

Moonraker

Techie Details
Camera - Bronica SQb, 40mm s Lens
Film - Delta 100 dev'd in Ilford Perceptol
Print - details as the previous "boats" shot

Another print that was exhibited today and will be in the Picture This exhibition from 4th October to 5th November in Maidstone, Kent.

I had my picture taken with another artist and a gallery owner today for the local newspapers. Things went very well and the gallery owner has asked me to get in touch about possibly selling some of my prints. Also, the arts officer form Kent County Council mentioned discussing my own exhibition in the Kent County Gallery.

Things feel like they are moving up a notch in the right direction!

Throat much better now thanks for asking ...

2004-09-19T07:15:00.000Z

boats

This is a scan of a print for the up and coming exhibition in Maidstone, Kent. I took this after an afternoon in the Pier pub at Lower Upnor, nr Strood, Kent, using a Holga.

details for techies as follows:
film = Ilford HP5+
Developer = Pyrocat HD 1:1:100
Paper = Ilford Multigrade Fiber Based Warm Tone
Developer = Agfa Neutol WA 1:11
After treatment = Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner 1:20 split-toned to warm up the shadows.

I am really pleased with this negative and it printed with suprising ease. All the time I was scanning negs I thought that Pyrocat HD was good, but know I am printing I can really see it's strengths. Highlight separation is just spectacular with gorgeous tonal characteristics rendering highlight textures and details so visible.

And whst is suprising me the most is the almost complete lack of grain I am seeing - even in hp5. Ok, granted I am not making huge enlargements (about 20 cm x 20 cm) but I expected to see some grain with long high grade sky burn ins etc, but I am not at all.

extractor fan comes this week. The window fitters came yesterday and replaced the darkroom windows with UPVC solid lightproof opening "shutters". The darkroom is nearly complete and I can print in the daytime now.

I will get back later this week with some more of the exhibition prints. Am meeting the local press with the other 3 artists on Monday lunchtime - am very nervous.

the sorest throat ever

2004-09-13T13:25:00.000Z

My darkroom is becoming a pit of fumes and horrid vapour. My thoat is getting worse and feels like it has been lined with tree bark and razor blades. This is so annoying as I really need to be printing every night this week to meet the deadline for print submission for the Picture This exhibition (this friday). So I bought a respirator mask today which will hopefully help, although I now look like Darth Vader (and sound like him too) when I'm printing.

I live on the healthy side of paranoia (if there is such a thing) which led me to spend most of last night awake worrying about the longer-term effects darkroom work might be having on my health. But I cant give up yet - I've spent the last 2 years wating for now. I am going to order a light-proof extractor fan this evening which I will hopefully be able to fit this weekend, so all is not lost.

I managed to tone some prints over the weekend. An attempt at split thiocarbamide and selenium. They turned out much more Gingery than I wanted them, but they are still very nice - and make a huge improvement on the untoned prints.

photoBlogs I like to visit

edandjacqui.com
jimbus.org

arggghhhh

2004-09-09T22:59:00.000Z

It would seem I'm back sooner than I thought I'd be ...

I just spent a very unproductive 3 hours in my darkroom. Until the last few weeks it's been two years since I had any kind of darkroom and I forgot how much of a pain it can all be. I did manage to get 4 of my Sand and Footprints shot printed - three for the apug print exchange and one for the Picture This exhibition, but then I tried some of my other negatives that I had only previously scanned. I can not believe how much scanning and photoshopping can cover a multitude of sins. Black spots, scratch marks, pin holes, poor development techniques, you name it, it was there.

Last week I spent 3 nights calibrating three types of paper on my RHDesigns Analyser Pro enlarger timer. When i tried out the settings they were all totally out. ARGGHHH.

On top of all this, my throat is sore from poor ventilation and chemical fumes

points to note:-

1) Look after negatives much better
2) Revisit developing times and adjust
3) Sort out my bloody enlarger timer (again)
3) Definitely get an extractor fan fitted ASAP

The First Post

2004-09-09T11:06:00.000Z

This morningI have been chosen to exhibit 5 of my photographs at a county-wide show called Picture This as organised by Kent County Council. I only saw the request for submissions this morning. Further to this, there is a special opening day which will feature only 4 Kent artists ... and i have been picked as one of them. I cant beleive my luck.

As this is my first Blog entry, I thought I'd lay down some guidelines for me to do my best to stick to and maybe raise some interest in anyone wishing to track my musings.

I plan to make an entry at least weekly on my adventures in ...

Photography - anything to do with this, artistic or mechanical, failures or successes.

My position is this - I am a traditional black and white photographer. I use film and film only to capture the light that makes my pictures. My final prints are made on light senstive photographic papers. Anything inbetween these two stages is fine by me - scanning, digital internegatives, contact printing or enlargement, I dont care.

thats it for now.

forums I like :-
apug
toycamera.com