Solar Flare #2

28-07-19

After fitting new light seals to my Minolta X700 film camera a trip out was needed to see if I had managed to cure the light leak or if there was a more serious problem with the shutter. So now having the luxury of a car I took a drive out to one of my favourite country parks “Bradgate Park” I really needed the exercise too, felt like my legs were seizing up, been way too hot for walking.

Bright Bracken

There are odd patches of lighter coloured Bracken, and with a Red filter on the front of the lens this darkens the Greens and makes the lighter colours pop.

Double Oak

Protected #1

Cones

Used the 35-70mm zoom for this with an Orange filter.

Protected #2

Not So Bright Bracken

No Way

Ruins Of Lady Jane Grey’s House (the nine day queen)

It is said to be haunted !!!!

I used Kodak TriX 400 for these shots and developed the film in Ilford ID11 1+1, still got loads of specks on the film, I can only think its the wetting agent I use in the final rinse, it’s quite a few years old, a new bottle is on order.

Well it seems the new light seals have sorted the flare problem, so glad it wasn’t the shutter.

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Solar Flare

24-07-19

It’s been really hot and humid (I can do hot but not humidity) in my part of the UK, approaching 30C (86F) and according to the BBC weather forecast it could reach 34C (93F) tomorrow.

In The Shade

Fleur spent most of the day inside sleeping on an old camera bag, just getting up for some wet food from time to time. Mimi (her daughter) was in the garden under a shady shrub and like her mum just coming in every now and again for food.

The solar flare was leaking light seals (hope it’s not the shutter) on my Minolta X700 film camera, can’t complain really as it only cost me £4.99p a few years ago. This came to light (pun intended) last week after developing a film I had just ran through it.

Operating Table

It didn’t take too long to replace the seals, just a bit messy cleaning off the old ones.

Caterpillar Cafe

Wildflowers

Clingy

These were fine as it was quite shady where I took them.

Light Leaks

The last two images were taken in brighter conditions, I quite like the building shot though.

Went out yesterday and put a roll of film through the camera to test out my light seal repair. Was hoping to develop the film today but the developer was at 30C (90F) The plan is to get up early (if I manage to sleep) tomorrow and hopefully the developer will be at a more manageable temperature.

Rust Never Sleeps #2

22-07-19

Last few images from my rusty Franka Solida 11. These were taken at Beacon Hill in Leicestershire while I was out on a walk with the PhotoBuddies.

The Beacon (trig point)

Really Really Old Rocks

I was very pleased with the Franka camera, admittedly the weather was nice and bright so I could stop the lens down to f11 – f16 which helped with the depth of field, and the Ilford HP5 seemed to like it as well.

Rust Never Sleeps #1

16-07-19

Apart from being the title of one of my all time favourite singer songwriter’s albums it’s also a problem I’ve had with my old Franka Solida 11 camera. The first time I used it I got a lot of scratch marks on the film.

I bought the Franka a few years ago, quite cheaply, apart from the rangefinder not working (I have a clip on one) there were a lot of rust patches inside the camera. I gave the offending parts a good clean with metal polish before I loaded this roll, it has helped, but not quite got rid of all of them. I’ve since buffed the area where the rust was with a scouring pad, we’ll see how this worked with the next roll.

I shot these images in June on Ilford HP5+ and Dev’d the film in Ilford ID11.

Launde Abbey

Welcome

Sheep

Drive

Down

Love the countryside and calmness around the old abbey.

 

20-20 Vision

10-07-19

20-20 vision, I’m not sure if I have ever had that level of eyesight, it’s about 14-15 now, the joy’s of getting older. I bought a couple of lenses from that auction site for my Minolta X700 film camera, couldn’t resist, they were from a charity seller (excuse) The lenses were a Minolta MD 35-70mm f3.5 zoom and Minolta MD 50mm f1.7. Took them with me on a couple of walks last week to test them out.

Without Specs

Minolta X700 – Minolta Md 35-70mm – Ilford HP5+ – Ilford ID11 developer.

The image above reminded me of what my eyesight is like if I haven’t got my contacts in or my glasses on. I deliberately focused on the foreground with the lens wide open to see what the bokeh was like in the background.