Summertime at Sherringham

And so I return to a recurring theme, that of British Seaside towns. Not in winter this time but actually around the August Bank Holiday 2008 I think. In any case we had braved the elements, left our West Runton campsite and headed for the coast. Once again armed with my 35rc loaded with Delta 400 I watched as the wind whipped the ice cream flags and sun seekers huddled for shelterfrom the rain. Then, out came the sun and an opportunity to bag a shot.



In the darkroom, negative in the Meopta Magnifax enlarger, Ilford Multigrade paper on the easel and 10 minutes later with some magical hand waving under the enlarger light source a picture emerges from the developer. How can anyone get satisfaction from a digital camera and a computer file.

Long live the negative is what I say....unconvinced then vist FADU.co.uk.

"Signs #1" - Shoreham by Sea 2010

I remain fascinated by the English Seaside, it is for many British photographers who like to photograph "found" objects, street scenes and people's eccentricities the equivalent of a City like New York. Victorian faded architecture fights for space amongst garish lights, tea stalls and amusement arcades. In the winter it just gets better.
Looking back through my negatives at the images I continually get drawn towards seasides and signs. In this picture both are combined.
 I waited for a while for a cyclist to pass to complete the picture. On reflection I think it works just as well without a person, in someways the absence of a human being makes the Prohibition Sign more strange and almost surreal.
I've moved back to using Resin Coated Paper in my darkroom 1) for cost, it's cheaper and 2) for speed when I don't have a lot of time on my hands to spend in the darkroom.
Ilford Delta 400 was loaded in my little Olympus 35RC rated at 200 with a yellow filter.

Sorry for the delay in posting.

On reflection - Quimper, Brittany 2009

Whilst walking around the very pleasant Breton town of Quimper during last year's camping holiday I stumbles across this (Harley I think) biks parked against an old wall adorned with posters. It caught my eye so I took a closer look, the mirrors were reflecting the rather grand buildings in the sunshine behind me.
The contrast between the tree elements - wall, bike and reflection is what I like about this image.
Made with a 28mm wide angle lens on my old Olympus OM1.
Not your everyday holiday snap.