Aires 35

03-05-23

Taken on Nikon F80, Ilford HP5 @ 800asa

I bought this lovely Aires camera in early 2021 for £16.00p including postage, knowing it needed a bit of a service (focussing was stiff) eventually sent it away to PPP camera repairs. It came back working fine. This is Aires first 35mm camera, made for a short time around 1954 so it’s 69 years old, just a bit younger than me ! The large control to the left of the lens is the shutter release. I loaded a roll of Fomapan 100 rated at 200asa. My long time buddy turned up on his Triumph Tiger 1200 and said did I fancy going out to Thornby Hall (blog post) that was April 2022 took 2 or3 frames with the Aires then the rest of the year happened and my enthusiasm for most things waned. Fast forward to March 2023 and the Photo Buddies suggested a meet up in town for a photo walk and coffee, took the Aires with me, forgot my exposure meter so used the sunny 16 rule. Finished the roll and developed the film in Ilford Ilfosol 3, was really pleased/surprised with the results.

Some of the new rather sterile buildings that have gone up in the city.

I’ll post some more images from the Aires later this week.

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Thursday Doors

10-02-22

My contribution to the “Thursday Doors” over at Dan Antion’s excellent blog, check out the link https://nofacilities.com/2022/02/10/goodbye-wethersfield/ for more great doors.

The Crescent

All images taken on Agfa Parat Half Frame camera, Fomapan 100 @ 200asa, developed in Ilford Ilfosol 3

Apparently in the 1960’s they wanted to demolish these buildings ! thankfully they were repurposed and saved by a local businessman. I really like what we have left of the Georgian style of architecture in the city.

Thursday Doors

From a last September walkabout.

Not too many of these old style shops about anymore. (not Baker Street !)

Side of an old empty factory (now sold)

I took these images with a new to me Half Frame Agfa Parat camera, Fomapan 100 at 200 asa developed in Ilfosol 3. Was so pleased the camera worked as it should, its a fully manual camera so you have to estimate focus distance and exposure. I have the Paramat version too, that one sets the exposure automatically.

To see some more excellent Door photo’s pop over to Dan Antions page.

Walk to Town

02-06-18

I’m writing this feeling sorry for myself, I have broken a tooth and it aches. If you shook me there would be a rattle from all the painkillers. Hopefully on Tuesday when I go to the Dentist it will all be over, got a feeling it will be an extraction, the penalties of getting old (long in the tooth)

Took a walk to town last Thursday, the weather was a bit dull but I needed the exercise and the cats needed some treats.

Wild Roses on the Way

Into the Park

I’m so glad this park is on my route to town, all that Green is good for the soul.

A bit of Variegation

In The Pink

One of my Favourite Buildings in the Town

Palais de Dance

This was the premiere dance hall in the city from the 1950’s to the end of the 70’s. It’s derelict now and about to be converted into apartments. I only visited it a couple of times (not my scene) in the late 60’s and early 70’s, I remember the ceiling complete with the prerequisite glitter ball had lots of tiny lights that looked like a starry night sky.

Buddies, Beer and Bonneville

06-05-18

Got a call from a buddy of mine on Sunday asking if I would like to go out on the bike (Triumph Bonneville) on bank holiday Monday (yesterday), yes please I said, where shall we go, how about visiting our buddy who has recently moved out to Stamford, Lincolnshire. I dug out my crash helmet and old motorbike jacket, the crash helmet was good but the jacket was a tight fit, it must have shrunk !!!!!!! so I had to wear my windproof cycling jacket, it only has one pocket so was restricted to carrying my mobile and some cash. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve been on the back of a bike and I was a bit nervous, but it was OK, my friend is a very experienced rider. The weather was great, and we had a good time. Stamford is a lovely town with some exceptional architecture.

Albert Bridge (1881)
  

High Street

The Pub & All Saints Brewery

Very tasty. 

Browne’s Hospital (Built In 1475)

I still don’t feel that comfortable using my phone camera, but it was better than nothing.

PhotoBuddies Walk

24-04-18

Had a PhotoBuddies walk arranged for today, but the weather was really grey and dull with added rain, so we spent most of the time in a coffee bar, which was OK by me as I had been out twice over the weekend to see bands, and consumed more than my total normal months beer intake. I took along my old Olympus E620 digital and a film camera, only used the Olympus.

PhotoBuddies

Chevrons

New Builds

So much building work going on in the city.

G-rrrrrrrr

Old

With not so old TV aerial.

Eat – Drink – Furnish

No more beer – please – The pub is named after Lady Jane Grey.

Spring On The High Street

Was really good to get out of the house and meet the guys even if the weather was not being kind.

Thursday Doors

01-03-18

The weather here in the UK has not been very good over the last week, today it’s -3C / 27F, grey and snowing with a 23mph wind blowing, so I’m staying indoors with the cats. I have had to raid my Doors Archive folder for this “Thursday Doors” post over at the excellent Norm 2.0 blog, do check it out.

Railway Doors

A Cup Of Tea !

While most people stick to photographing the steam trains I like to wander around the storage areas.

Mainline

This one is shot on film at the main station in town.

Around The Town

I think this is the entrance ! another film camera shot.

A Touch Of Egyptian

This old factory door seems to have an Egyptian style about it.

The next two were from a PhotoWalk with the PhotoBuddies two weeks ago.

At The Top Of Constitution Hill

And Just Opposite

Thursday Doors

08-02-18

It’s been ages since I contributed to the “Thursday Doors” blog over at Norm 2.0 . I haven’t been on any door forays recently having taken photo’s of all the interesting doors in the city !!! or so I thought. While I was out on a photowalk with the photobuddies last week we discovered an interesting building tucked away on a backstreet in between modern high rise developments.

St Patrick’s Church & School – Royal East Street

One of the photobuddies found some interesting information on the history of the school.
It seems the school and attached church were in use from the mid 1800’s to the 1930’s The recess to the right of the door apparently held a statue of St Patrick. I hope the building is restored and put to good use, too many lovely buildings have been demolished around the town.

 Reflected Sunlight
The bright reflections were coming from the windows of a modern office block. 

Looks like I need to investigate some more of the back streets in the city and see what I can find.

Yashica Samurai X3.0 #3 and Pruning The Holly Tree

25-09-17

Thought it was about time the Holly Tree had a good pruning. With all the rain we have had this year it’s grown like mad and is blocking out a lot of light in my back room. So out came the ladder, and armed with a pruning saw, teetering at the top I managed to reduce it’s height without getting too horribly scratched up. Not quite a work of fine topiary but the room is now much brighter.

Before

After

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A few more film images from the Yashica Samurai.

Street Art With Waste Pipe

Last Orders

Behind The factory

I love the old Victorian factories in the city, lots of them are sadly being demolished to make way for bland apartment blocks, but some are being converted to living accommodation.

New Living

This was the central post office, I used to top up the franking machine here in the late 1970’s.

Impose Yourself

 

Yashica Samurai X3.0 #2 and Thursday Doors

14-9-17

Here’s my contribution to “Thursday Doors” hosted this week by Manja Mexi Movie check out the link for lots more doors.

Got The Blues

Street Art vs Taggers, and a Door

Slightly Spooky Doors & Gate

The Yashica impressed me with these shots, considering the film expired in 2001.