Analogue Photography Monthly - July 2023
News on Youtube and the unexpected start of a project…
Hello lovely people! How was your July? And what are you looking forward to in August?
July was a busy one for me, friends visiting, weddings, youtube videos, testing new films and cameras, writing loads, and lots more.
The analogue industry and community was busy with lots of news to share and I started a new series on my Youtube channel reporting the latest stories to you in this format.
So if this is something that might interest you, check it out!
This was the pilot episode (below) where so many folks left very encouraging comments…so I guess that means I keep going with it? :)
Righto, onto the headlines if you prefer to read them rather than watching :)
July Headlines
Susan and Jeff Bridges Revive the Widelux Camera with SilvergrainClassics
Lomography Announces 400 ISO LomoChrome Color ’92 in 35mm, 120, and 110 Format
Negative Supply Upgrades Basic Film Carrier 35 MK2 with Pro-Level Elements
Negative Supply Launches the 4×5 Light Source Pro Upgrade at Lower Price
Kolari Vision Launches Kolari Shades - Sunglasses for Photographers by Photographers
Artist Simon Riddell Battles Mental Health in Cuillin Mountain with Wet Plate Collodion
Lomography Brings Back Diana F+ Black Jack and CMYK Editions
MiNT’s New 35mm Film Camera Uses LiDAR Technology for Autofocus
Reviewing Things!
I reviewed the TTArtisan 35mm F0.95 Lens awhile ago and it’s live now on 35mmc.com!
Check it out here.
If you want the abridged version…it’s a sharp lens that has lush bokeh at F0.95 if you can hit the spot, but it’s also surprisingly good for street photography.
Next up, Reflx Lab sent me their new light meter to test out and I have to say it’s shaping up to be a glowing review. (not sponsored)
There are some things I point out about it to consider but look forward to more in the review coming soon! It’s one of the most affordable options for an external light meters at the moment so if you don’t want to wait for the review, try it for yourself!
Youtube Updates
Here are the Youtube videos I released in the past month!
My 4th out of 5 Tenerife vlog:
Taking the Lumix FS20 out on the street to see if it can hold its own:
Testing the new Foma Ortho 400!!!
June’s Frugal Film Project video:
Lomography’s new film launch for Color 92:
Ways to save money on color film this summer:
Other Analogue Adventures
While many things make it to Youtube, I do also shoot things that don’t! It’s refreshing to mix it up and photograph without filming it too.
I shot a roll of Hanalogital’s pre-exposed BOKEH film in the Reto Ultra Wide and Slim.
This camera is so tiny!!
It would make a great wide angle street photography camera if the shutter was just one speed faster. And it needs a flash!
This past week, Dave from Alfie Cameras was kind enough to send me a beta version of his cleverly designed tiny half frame camera called the TYCH.
Having four lenses to chose from expands the creative options of the camera. Look forward to a review soon on this all-black beauty!
I also nabbed a BARGAIN on ebay - this “working” Minolta Weathermatic 110 camera with a few rolls of film…well, we shall see if it is indeed working for I submerged it to test if it is still waterproof.
But for £15 all in, I took the risk. And got some fun funky footage of the Taff riverbed from the GoPro too!
The insides were dry when I opened the camera (after making sure the outside was fully dry) and the film roll is now over at Analogue Wonderland for some processing TLC.
I really hope it comes out okay!
(Famous last words from every film photographer ever…)
Aaaaaand there’s another new addition to the Eclectachrome camera family here. A few cameras I wasn’t using went off to better homes, which made room for one more.
It’s an SLR, but the weird thing is, I actually love it!
I’m not the biggest fan of using SLRs (I like looking at them though!)
I prefer rangefinders, compacts, point and shoots, TLRs…pretty much everything except SLRs and Hasselblad-like cameras. In fact, I’ve been trying to get rid of all my SLRs.
Anyone in need of an SLR?
I can’t get rid of my Canon Rebel K2 though because that’s my moms and even if that breaks, it always has a place wherever I go!
So what SLR is it you ask?
It’s a Nikon EM!
I have always wanted to try this camera, ever since I saw it sitting on the shelf at a local lab and admired how teeny it was for an SLR.
I didn’t buy it at the lab because they wanted something silly like £100 for it, body only. So I took to good ol’ EBAY and found “refurbished” one for less than half that!
The only lens that made sense for this size camera was a pancake one, and that’s the Nikon 50mm F1.8 Series E lens. I had this lens before on my Nikon F3 so I was familiar with it.
The only problem is, the 50mm field of view isn’t really for me unless I’m shooting portraits. I much prefer a 35mm or 28mm…
However, these lenses are huge! (well in comparison)
Anyone have any recommendations for F Mount pancake lenses that are 35mm or wider? I’ll take third party suggestions too!
For now, I will see how it goes with the 50mm.
Now, here’s a side story! After developing my first test roll with the EM, I noticed something odd…
I’ve done it again!! I’ve double shot a roll…oye vey…
I shot a roll on Fomapan 400 ages ago only to take the leader out and chuck it back into the un-shot film bucket. Doh!
There was a creeping feeling I had when I loaded the roll, something tugging at the edges of my memory that it had been shot before. Even filming the vlog for it, I said, there’s a good chance I’m double exposing this one. And I did!
However, I LOVE it.
Awhile back, I mentioned wanting to try some double exposure street photography. Well, this roll had several images, the like of which, I want to explore more.
The first time this roll was exposed, it was in my Canon L3 in London on one of the last days I was in the office for my previous job.
Some of the images combined well with the nature/flower shots from here in Cardiff.
It reminds me of my Urban Contradictions zine but in a slightly different twist.
Nature and city life, together on one frame.
Figures, some obscured, some clear, rushing through the street to work, to home, to coffee…Layered with another world, far away, a calmer world, a more serene place, healing for the soul.
These images provoke a lot of thoughts and reflections on the places I’ve lived and worked (mostly big cities) but how being in a more natural environment feels so much better…
Why do we chose to build these harsh environments for ourselves with high towers of fluorescent lights surrounded by constant construction and sirens?
I can feel the allure of the city. What is it that draws me back in? People? The buzzy energy? Is the city a drug? Stimulation?
These images feel personal to me. Reflecting back feelings from a huge transition from that fast-paced, work hard, give it all for the job, big city kinda life through deep burnout to slowly recovering and finding a new foothold.
Still working on that last bit now though. Anyways, just thought I’d share these images and some thoughts. I’d love to do more of this kind of work so I think a new project has begun! Maybe the makings of a new zine?!
Well, that’s enough deep sharing for now haha I’ll leave you for this week with that!
The Nikon EM is great and it also looks so so good!!! I can’t stop looking at it thinking how sexy of a camera it is. :)
Review video is IN process!
I recently took it to this year’s GlastonBARRY festival and hopefully will have some cool shots from there!
Some of the rolls the camera burned through include Reflx Lab 400D C41 film, Candido 800 C41 film, aaaand 500T from This Is How I Roll (UK based cine film seller).
See you next month!
Cheers,
Molly xoxo
I love the double images- what a Happy accident- they look like they could have been planned with the flowers and street scenes together. Thanks for sharing.
the Nikon line around that time IS sexy!! I have 2 FE2's and they are amazing cameras! I shot a roll of Candido 800 and have a suspicion I messed up the development (maybe chems were too old) but wow it was NOT what I expected sadly lol. I don't however, think it was the film (more likely my issue in development) as I shot a roll of Candido 200 and it was AMAZING! I want to see what it should look like so I'm excited to see images from your roll!!