We are coming to the end of February 2023, which means we are almost past the most depressive month of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. March calls and so does springtime.
One of the most beautiful temporary plants here in the UK is the snowdrop. They are delicate small white flowers atop short green stalks that bloom while it is still cold. It’s almost like they come out of hibernation to tell us to hang in there. Spring is coming.
So hang in there!
If anyone would like to support the channel and subscribe, you can do so right here in Substack! Any bit helps being able to write and create the Youtube videos.
Recent Photo News Headlines
Photography Competition takes on Canon’s Sustainability - link here.
Solarcan is running a new Kickstarter for limited editions! - read more here.
Call to Entry for 2023 STRAIGHT 8 Super 8 Film Competition: Link here.
Adolescent Eye Zine Released by Bristol Artist Matthew Broadhead on Welford Press: Link here.
Atlanta Film Co. Adds Classic Double-X Cinema Film to Lineup: Link here.
Lomography Introduces New Discounted LomoChrome Purple 2021 Pétillant Edition: Link here.
Daily Mail Steals Photographer’s Images Without Permission, Pay, or Apology: Link here.
LomoChrome Turquoise Joins the Simple Use Reloadable Film Camera Series from Lomography: Link here.
Analogue Wonderland’s New Lab Print Service Reduces Waste and Increases Quality: Link here.
Orwo Wolfen NC500 begins shipping BUT exports from UK were/are held up due to Royal Mail’s cyber incident for international shipping. Update here.
International Women’s Day Photowalk by Ilford & Leica Store in Manchester - on March 4, 2023 - if anyone has any other events or photo walks or festivals, please let me know and I can add them onto an events page! (BTW I’ve added an events page!) Link here.
February’s Frugal Film Project
Knowing from my January results that the Superia X-Tra expired film was good, I hit the streets of Cardiff excited for what February had to offer.
I’m also working out a sub-project. Each month, my plan is to take the Frugal Film Project into a different area of Cardiff. Then, at the end of the year, I’ll have something that resembles a documentation of each area of the city.
For January, I shot my roll in Bute Park and on the Cardiff Castle Grounds. This month, it was near the end of town by the Central Train Station.
By the time this newsletter goes out, I won’t have the results back but look for the video coming out in early March!
Nikkormat FTN
It’s a beautiful camera, I love the results.
One thing I don’t like though is the shutter speed on the back of the lens. Also, I’m finding front-heavy mechanical SLRs are not really for me. At the moment, I prefer either point & shoots, mechanical rangefinders, plastic automatic SLRs, medium format folders or toy cameras like the Diana F and the Holga.
After the initial honeymoon phase with this camera wore off (only takes one roll), I realized I preferred looking at it rather than using it. But I can’t argue with the results.
Minolta XG1
A 5 GBP charity shop find by my partner in camera thrifting-crime. He frequents charity shops and always manages to find these incredible deals. Or perhaps he doesn’t know the value of the cameras as I do so if the item is unpriced, he is able to offer a low price. I can’t seem to do the same. If I know the value of something, I can’t offer less than that to the clerk. It makes me feel all squirmy inside.
I am the worst bargainer…
I am going to reskin this camera though because the leather is peeling away. It’s a great camera and came with an excellent 50MM ROKKOR lens. The new skin materials have already shown up on my doorstep, courtesy of Milly’s Cameras!
If anyone has any tips on re-skinning cameras, I’d be very grateful!
Now, I know I made the point above of not particularly liking the heaviness of the Nikkormat FTN. And that mechanical SLRS aren’t vibing lately. But the Minolta XG1 is super light! Also, I’ve been looking for a camera to practice on re-skinning so if it turns out okay, I’ll probably put it on ebay for someone else to enjoy.
NONS SL660
I’ve been testing this camera and a review will come out soon! It’s been very interesting using a manual instant camera.
Fujifilm XE4
Gasp! Digital…
I see a few of you hovering over that unsubscribe button. It’s okay. If you want purely film content, that’s not really me anymore. 2022 was definitely 100% film. 2023 will probably look more like 80% film, 20% digital.
I use the XE4 to film now and have had a few street photography sessions with it. I’m also reviewing the TTArtisan’s 35mm F0.95 lens. Which is amazing, spoiler.
So that’s what I’ve been up to this month!
Bonus - I received a VERY kind donation of a set of cameras that someone wasn’t going to use anymore that included a point & shoot, auto SLR, 6x9 folder, 127 camera, and two rangefinders. I’ll be giving them some TLC very soon so you may see results in March!
Youtube & Tiktok Recommendations
Here are some of my favorite Youtube videos of the month:
I’ve also been playing around more with Tiktok recently and can recommend these accounts. It can be hard at first to find really good accounts on Tiktok, so if you are interested in using the platform and want a starting point, here are my favs for different things:
Photomoai - for stunning travel photography videos
Analogue Wonderland - film store, lab, and community goodness
Darkslide Film Lab - for all the film lab content you could want
EJLLOYDART - Emma’s Art which includes lots of film photography
Matt Loves Cameras - funny film content, digicams, creative photography!
Managed by Skye - for Tiktok Tips
Sophia J Carey - for portraits, travel & pro photographer perspective
Shazia Mirza - for comedy
The Minimalists - podcast clips about minimalism
Expired Film Club - for what it says on the tin…
Analoges 35mm - film cameras and repair
Aketch Joy Winnie - for comedy skits about perceptions of life in Africa, she is model, former teacher, I love her videos about Africa, she has a Youtube channel as well
Omid Djalili - for comedy
Reading Recommendations
Matt Loves Cameras new Substack! Check it out here.
Lucy Lumen’s Substack is brilliant as always.
Aragon’s Eye (also a very kind supporter) is also another great read - Check it here. Thanks for the shout too! I really like the writing style and sense of humor.
Hippy Highland Living writes Simple Scottish Stories - I love her writing and she also has a really peaceful, insightful, and beautiful Youtube channel. Check it here.
See you next time!
Let me know what you have been up to in the last month? What are you doing or not doing?
Until next time, hope you all have a beautiful rest of Feb/March!
-M
What a fantastic deal on the Minolta! I love the Rokkor 50/1.7, for many years my dad's Minolta SLR was my only film camera and that was my only lens. I've taken some of my favourite photos with it. Also lol at you and your shutter-speed dial woes 😂
Thanks so much for the shoutout Molly! It’s been Inspiring seeing your Substack grow!