Dungeness

I find myself wandering along this desolate but somehow beautiful part of the world once a year or so drawn here by work comittments.
It's always a bit of a lottery because the weather can be really bad. Not ideal conditions for this image, I prefer less direct light and some clouds in the sky. But, it's better to have an image than no image.

Keep it Analogue

Peel Apart Peacock

I know this started out as a photo blog for my black & white darkroom images but really it's become about all things analogue.
I have always loved this slide film shot of a peacock and it now has a new lease of life thanks to the Vivitar slide printer and the wonderful Fuji instant peel apart film

Keep it analogue

For Peter

I think he likes the old shots so here are some more for Peter

Keep it Analogue

Island Hopping early 1990s

More from the archives - shows an early predeliction towards photographing signs!
I have to admit to being a little addicted to this slide printer.....don't worry...more to follow!

Keep it Analogue

Instant Santorini Church

I've been using the Vivitar Instant Slide Printer again.
Some slides work better than others, this rich coloured Kodachrome slide from nearly 20 years ago has transferrred well to Fuji FP100c Instant Film.
I can't believe it's nearly 20 years since we back packed around the Greek Islands

Keep it Analogue

Accordian Player, Montmarte

I may have posted this image or a similar one a few years ago, anyway just rediscovered it as I load stuff onto my Flikr site (Search for Andrew Bartram (Warboyssnapper).
Julie and I had a weekend in Paris when our Son was very, very small. Wandering around Montmarte on the last day with the Olympus OM1n and YashicaMat 124G we stumbled upon this man playing his accordian. Typically French of course.

Printed in the darkroom on Ilford MG RC Paper with some selective bleaching here and there to boost local contrast.

Keep it Analogue

British Museum

A trip to the British Museum a few years ago.
This time with the Olympus OM1n with the super sharp Zuiko 28mm lens

Keep it Analogue

More Archive Stuff - Woodbridge, Suffolk

At the time I shot this I was using pretty much exclusively, my Olympus OM1, usuall with the 28mm Zuiko Lens. It's still a combination that's hard to beat.
A low viewpoint coupled with a red filter to enhance the contrast has helped with the drama.

Keep it Analogue

From the Archives

James was a baby in the pram when we went to the Orsett Show in Essex, in those days I shot exclusively on my Olympus OM1n camera, still a favourite and those Zuiko Lenses are so crisp.
This old man was driving a traction engine and had leasnt out of his window to chat with a mate.

Keep it Analogue

The English Abroad

Wow can't believe it's been a YEAR since I last updated the blog....here's my New Year resolution..."I will post 1 new image every Month till next September"

So, starting Sept 11 here's an image from a couple of years ago, one of a number I made during a family holiday in Brittany. How typical is that....The English Abroad.

So, it's been an interesting year so far, not much time for darkroom work as proper work has been getting in the way, time to readress the balance methinks.

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.

We were camping in Brittany during the Summer, the weather wasn't great but the campsite backed on to the sea/river confluence and offered endlesss opportunities to make photographs.

Most gays I carried my Olympus 35RC rangefinder camera (see earlier post) loaded with a reasonably fast film - typically Fuji Neopan 400 - but on this occasion I had my 1970 Olympus OM1 with its 135mm prime lens. My Son was in the distance and I spotted this lad looking straight at me (must have looked suspicious). I raised the camera, quickly focused and made the image.

I think this is one of better pics of late, and although it is very much a "grab" shot the composition works really well, the eye is immediately drawn to the boy with his trousers roilled up then the sweeping samd bank moves the eye to my stooping Son in the background. The overall "high key" feel to the image also helps.

Once again, it pays to have a camera with you - someone once said that you can't photograph memories.....