Nikon F80 #2

03-06-2023

It looked like the Arboretum had been getting a tidy up, branches trimmed and cuttings stacked.

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Nikon F80 – 28-80mm G, Kentmere 400 @ 800asa, Ilford DDX Developer.

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Nikon F80 at the Arboretum

30-05-2023

I had always wanted a Nikon F80, but couldn’t afford one when they first came on to the market. Then I saw a Nikon 28-80mm G lens at a good price and couldn’t resist, this then gave me an excuse to look for an F80 camera ! The prices on that auction site were all over the place and so was the condition of the cameras offered. I waited patiently and eventually one came up complete with box and instructions, the seller said the back was sticky, a common fault with this series of cameras. I paid £38.99p (expensive for me) and ordered some alcohol wipes at the same time. 10 minutes with the alcohol wipes on the back of the camera and the stickiness was gone, and still is. The camera is in great condition, doesn’t look like it has had much use.

So on a bright February morning this year I loaded it up with some Kentmere 400 pushed to 800asa, stuck an Orange filter on the lens, and set off for the local arboretum.

Loved the shape of this tree, and the glow the Orange filter gives.

I shot the entire roll of 24 exposures and developed the film in Ilford DDX the next day.

PhotoBuddies – Day Out #2

25-06-19

This Morning !

The summer weather seems to be bypassing us this year, though according to the latest weather forecast it should brighten up on Thursday, good job as I’m out with the PhotoBuddies.

#2 of last weeks outing to Bradgate Park, I thought the images suited converting to Black & White.

This old tree reminded me of a dancer.

If Summer ever arrives I’m looking forward to photographing more of the park, It would be good to give the old Rolleiflex an outing.

Ilford SFX 200 – And The Spinney

23-04-19

I had the Olympus OM2sp CLA’d a few months back but after using it I noticed the selector lever for the exposure modes was loose and getting looser. So I sent the camera back and they adjusted it foc, and it’s now working as it should. Took it with me to Dams Spinney last week loaded with Ilford SFX 200 (expired 2009) with just one lens a Vivitar 19mm wide angle with a Red 25A filter attached to try and bring out some infrared effects, because the film was so expired I wasn’t sure what I would get. Developed the film in D76 stock solution and was pleasantly surprised by the results, good job as I have another 2 rolls in the egg compartment of the refrigerator. 

New Growth

Fallen

Stand

Atmosphere

Next time I use this film I’ll try an R72 filter to get more of an infrared look. Really enjoyed using the Oly OM2sp, it has a lovely big viewfinder and spot metering, which I used for most of the film to help with the tricky lighting in the spinney. And best of all the negatives were really clean, I filtered all the chemicals before pouring into the developing tank and added a little bit of IPA (not beer) isopropyl alcohol to the final rinse.

Cinestill 800T #2

19-03-19

A few more images from my visit to Dams Spinney on one of the few sunny days we have had lately. I was using my trusty old Olympus OM2n with Zuiko 24mm & old Tamron 90mm lenses, Cinestill 800 asa Tungsten balanced film with, and without the 85B light correction filter.

Leaning #1

Leaning #2

Both with 85B Filter

Mossy

Textures

Tangle

No Filter

Blimey, reached 1,000 followers this week, amazing, never thought I would get anywhere near that amount. Much appreciated, “Thank You” to all the people who have followed my blog.

Congratulations on getting 1,000 total follows

on coronet66!

Cinestill 800T – To B Or Not To B

11-09-19

I’ve had a roll of Cinestill 800T sitting in the fridge (egg compartment) for over two years, so thought it was about time I gave it a try so loaded it in the Olympus OM2n. The T in the 800T means it’s balanced for Tungsten light, to balance it for daylight an 85B colour correction filter needs to be used, but from samples I’ve seen it can look good in daylight without a filter, to 85B or not to 85B. So I took a mixture of images with and without the filter at my favourite place of the moment Dams Spinney.

Without Filter

With 85B Filter

Well I like both of them, they seem to have a bit of an old fashioned look. I’ll have some more shots from this roll to post over the next few days.

 

Dams – Hoots & Feral Toms

27-02-19

Dams
Went for a walk again last week to Dams Spinney armed with my Olympus OM2sp loaded with Kodak TriX rated at 800asa. It was for a change a bright cold day. I’m really enjoying visiting this old spinney but worry how much longer it’s going to be there, seems to be little if any tree management or maintenance on the site, you have to clamber over fallen trees that straddle the path around the spinney, but it’s good for the wildlife and that’s so important in this day and age.

Hoots
I woke up at 4 am this morning to the soft sound of a Tawny owl calling, so lovely. It’s normally the screech of a Barn owl that I hear on a few occasions, they seem to like my very tall “Tree of Heaven” (Ailanthus altissima) to perch in.

Feral Toms
It’s a sure sign of the start of spring when the Tom cats come prowling around the garden. My two Female cats are both spayed and watch on with indifference. Being an unashamed cat lover I feel sorry for these guys not having a home so always leave some food outside for them, the dishes are licked clean when I collect them in next morning.

Dams Spinney

Into The Sun

Tendrils 

Natural Arch

Sphagnum Moss

Autumns Leftovers

Swan Lake

Yesterday

First Blossoms

Phone shot

It was a really warm day for February yesterday so I went back to the Spinney to see what if anything had changed, there were signs of new growth and some blossoms coming through. I took my faithful old Olympus OM2n that I bought secondhand in 1992, slipped in some new batteries and it was ready to go. For over 2 years now I’ve had a roll of Cinestill 800T film resting in the fridge so I loaded it up and am hoping for the best, will send it off for processing next week.

Walking In The Rain

18-01-19

Some friends suggested going for a walk last Wednesday, nothing too strenuous as we had all over indulged over the Christmas holidays and the weather hasn’t been the best for getting out and about. I suggested a walk to the Arboretum and a place called Dam’s Spinney which is just a bit further along, until a friend told me about this area a couple of weeks ago I no idea it was there. Of course on the day it was dull and raining but we decided to make the effort. I was going to take a film camera but opted for my little Sigma DP1. I had to set it to 800 asa (maximum it will go to) and convert the images to Black & White, the Sigma looses a lot of colour information at this asa. With the lens set to wide open the shutter speeds were 1/30th or slower at times.

It’s situated at the edge of a medieval pathway, the whole area is adjacent to an old Roman road that eventually runs on into the city.

A Fine Specimen

No Sweat

There’s a lake too.

It Was A Bit Muddy

New Growth On Old

It Feels Quite Wild In Some Parts

Heavy Sky

Dreamy

The lens fogged over at this point.

All Angles

Tyre Graveyard

The site is next to an old farm which is now a pub and small business area.

We walked around 5 miles (8Km) altogether, so not too far, then back to my place for a pot of tea. Can’t wait to visit again in better weather with some film cameras and watch the seasons change the spinney.

Silver On Blue

29-11-18

The weather has not been very good over the last few days in my part of the UK, the barometer was well into stormy when I looked this morning. The forecast for tomorrow though looks more promising. So I will set the alarm for early and go out for a walk with a film camera, probably to the local Arboretum where I took the following shots on a lovely sunny October day.

Silver On Blue

These were taken on my old Olympus E620 Digital with a polarising filter.

Autumn Arboretum #2

22-10-18

I was hoping to have posted these images at the end of last week but seem to have been busy doing nothing, to be fair to myself I had a birthday along with one of my photobuddies, a few visits from friends and relatives, and of course looking after the lovely cats.

Yellow Glow

Russet

Late Bloomer

One For The Birds

Contrast

Colour Palette 

Catching The Rays

On The Brink