Dams Spinney #1

16-04-19

The weather seems to be taking a turn for the better this week, so feeling somewhat seized up after too many days indoors I took my self off for a walk yesterday to my favourite nearby location Dams Spinney. Hoping that spring had started to leave it’s mark I took my Olympus E620 and 35mm macro lens, and Olympus OM2sp and Vivitar 19mm loaded with Ilford SFX 200 (expired in 2009) developed the film today and will scan the negs over the next couple of days.

Grotto

Years

Fresh

Stingers

Fading Back

After getting back home my feet and legs were aching, oh the joy’s of getting older, but I felt much better for being out and about in the countryside, so good for the soul.

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Cat Dreams

13-04-19

Fleur

While I was editing the following images Fleur was sleeping on my lap, she was dreaming, her ears were twitching and her paws were moving. I wonder what she dreams about, I’m guessing it’s chasing other cats from her territory as we have had quite a few new cats passing through. When she wakes she looks around and seems amazed she’s on my lap and not pursuing the interlopers.

First Signs Of Spring

Spring has been slow this year, the weather has been changeable so I’ve not been out Photowalking for awhile, just nipping out into the garden trying out my new secondhand macro lens. I’m finding it hard to get it to focus exactly where I want it to, but I’m getting there.

Weeds

Shy Bells

Sure Sign Of Spring

New (secondhand) Lens

29-03-19

I got a new lens for my old Olympus E620 digital camera today, a 35mm f3.5 Zuiko Macro at a very good price from a dealer. It arrived midday today so I took a few snaps with it to check it was working as it should, the sun was out and it was warm.

Grape Hyacinths

Fleur

Fleur and Mimi

Winter Flowering Jasmine

Seed Head

The Olympus images seem to convert well to Black and White.

Sweet Clementine

I’m pleased with the lens and looking forward to getting out and about with it, focusing on a particular point can be a bit tricky but that’s down to me rather than the lens.

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.