Taken with a slightly hazy 1937 Tessar lens on a Rolleiflex Automat Model 1 Type 1 with a very early serial number. Hence the Steichen-esque pictorialist look (which I usually loathe and despise), exaggerated by the sepia toning (likewise). This lens might be really good for portraits, though I might see if I can get it cleaned up.
The lens is uncoated too, so I was expecting flare. After all it was being pointed directly at the sun. Something I like to do anyway, whatever the lens.
Wide-open – check, soft – check, low contrast – check, flare – check etc etc etc. All wrong. Who cares? I don’t.
I’ve always found the railway (railroad) pictures of Jim Shaughnessy hugely impactful and atmospheric but it is (a) quite hard to trespass on UK railways, (b) usually life-threatening and (c) most difficult of all in today’s climate of paranoia – avoiding the BTP collaring me as a terrorist, domestic or otherwise.
So I was pleased to come across this inviting gap in the fence at the end of the line which coincided with the sun being in the right place. An opportunity not to be missed.
The railway tracks really were this wobbly, it isn’t the lens.
The tracks meme had been started earlier when I photographed this bench, transforming this modern eyesore (IMHO).
The camera was a 1937 Rolleiflex Automat Model 1 Type 1, the film HP5+ EI 200, the chemistry HC-110 1+63 (Dil H) 8 minutes. Tis good to get back to using film, particularly medium format. The 35mm I developed last week seemed so small in comparison and long!
by skinnyvoice
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Just came across your blog – better late than never eh? I’ve added you to my blogroll and look forward to browsing back over your previous posts. I love the photos of discarded objects, very poignant!
Thanks DD. I keep meaning to add a list of local blogs, this could be the incentive!
Fantastic photos! I found your blog via the DD and will make sure I come back often.
Particularly interested in the return to film photography, as I’m just pondering whether to start processing my own orthochromatic b&w film (you can do it using a safelight, which is kind of vital for me as I’m not very good in total darkness!).
Keep the photos coming!
That last image is fantastic!
Thanks Gareth. When I first started I used a changing bag which avoids the dark (at least in the film dev stage)