Experimenting with F Stops...

I actually don't remember the last time I was this excited about my photos... squeeeeeeee!!

Although Photo Meditations isn't a technical photography course, I did learn something new about F stops and I realised that I had actually taken some photos with my Ricoh camera where I had changed this setting and not realised the effect it would have (here and here, being good examples) At the time of developing them I realised that they were the kind of photos that I wanted to be taking... but I didn't know how I'd even done it.

So armed with knowledge, my new to me Olympus Trip and more enthusiasm than I've ever had on a foggy day, Thomas and I went for a walk around Kirkstall Abbey (and also a delicious roast dinner...) last Sunday and here are some of my favourite results.

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I was drawn to that yellow tree like a magpie to shiny things, it was a beacon in the mist and so pretty. I had to have a photo taken with it... I'm a bit sad that it's a little blurry but a lot of the photos were as I still have lots to learn.

I'm so glad that I learnt this though, most of my plastic cameras don't have this setting but two of my other film others do and it feels great to know now that I can take the type of photos that I want with a different camera and not feel limited by my equipment or knowledge.

In this one film of photos, I feel like I've pushed myself, my photos and what I can do. I've applied everything I'd already learnt combined it with new tricks and techniques and captured photos that I have been truly happy with. Although this does mean I'll be carrying even more cameras around with me now...

Location: Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds
Camera: Olympus Trip 35
Film: Expired Agfa Vista 200

This is what happens..

...when I don't take the photos of my phone for a couple of months... I digitally burst on my blog :) hahaha.
I didn't realise I took so many photos with it to be honest - I do wish that Instagram was on Android photos though - I love Vignette but it would be great to have an easier way to share my photos with people.

Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating it - I'm not going to write a list, as right now I'm thankful for everything and thats a pretty big list...


p.s. I braved the self portrait on the end for Photo Meditations... 
despite my feet it was the only photo of me on there. I was sleepy.

Paris in film: Xpro Chrome

I know I say that I love things a lot, but that is because I genuinely do... and I love this film (and this camera). In fact, it sometimes makes choosing which camera and film to use quite difficult to do... but I don't mind really.

Can you believe that I'm still uploading Paris photos? I guess I can, I did take a lot and 5 posts a week doesn't seem that many when there is so much to share... these photos are some of my favourites from the week. My superheadz slim and wide has relatively no pressure, you don't have to worry about focusing or the bulb setting, it takes no time to take a photo and sometimes, that is what I want and need and I love that.

I'm so glad that I tried the Lomography xpro chrome film in this camera - I expected it to look great and I wasn't let down. The colours and contrasts are so rich, especially in the Paris sunshine...

I sure do miss the Paris sunshine.

Film: Lomography Xpro Chrome 100
Camera: Superheadz Wide and Slim
Location: Paris, France

And the camera is...

A fair number of you got it right and I'm so glad about that. 
vintage chair full

 
This beautiful photo by JMK Photos is the main reason that I've decided to experiment more with my instax mini recently - when I first saw it I thought it was a polaroid film of some sort, its so soft and delicate yet the contrasts are strong, I loved it straight away. Imagine my surprise when I realised it was from a fuji instax camera!
The reason I had this little quiz was really a reminder to myself what great cameras and films the instax family are.  They can be considered a bit of a gimmick and normally get a unjust negative comparison to polaroids but I think every camera is what you make of it and if you're willing to experiment a bit and believe that you can produce the results you want then with effort, you can.

You can see the rest of my recent instax mini photos here...

p.s. I normally keep the frame on my instax minis when I scan them but I'm wondering if I should remove it from some, as sometimes it feels like it detracts from the beauty and the quality of the image.