For the easily distracted…

I can’t believe that I still have so many photos I haven’t shared here. These are some of my current favourites from last month. I often worry that I focus too much on one subject (I do like trees) but after a stint of not taking any photos at all, I’ve realised that I’d rather take the photos that I want rather than none at all.

We’ve got a week away coming up soon and I can’t wait to take my LC-A and some of this Kodak BW400CN film with me.
In fact I think a change of scenery for a little while and some time with my cameras is just what I need…

p.s. Thomas is unwillingly in one of these photos, can you spot him?

Location: Wells-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk
Camera: Refurb LC-A
Film: Kodak BW400CN

I’ve written before that I’ve always felt that in taking my photos that I’m searching for something… and I think that whatever part of me it is that drives me to take photos, probably knows what I actually need from my photos more than I do. Because once again, I spent a lot of my time on the beach last week embracing the quiet and beautiful scenes around me…

These were taken in both Cromer and Wells-Next-The-Sea and I love how peaceful both beaches look, especially in the black and white.

Location: Wells and Cromer, Norfolk
Camera: Refurbished LC-A
Film: Kodak BW400CN

I think I may have had too much fun taking these photos at the zoo… but I’m so happy with the results.

I’m totally starting to get black and white photography now too – there’s something so stunning about the simplicity of tones rather than the complexity of hues.

Location: Blackpool Zoo
Film: Kodak BW400CN
Camera: Zenit B

I love elephants, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t. My first real memory of liking them is doing a project on them when I was little – my Dad and I spent ages researching the different types and then I had to draw them… My Dad liked my drawings… I like my Dad, I liked drawing and I liked elephants, it was fun.

So I was pretty excited about seeing the elephants at Blackpool Zoo and I knew that I really wanted to get a photo of them on film…

We were actually really lucky to get photos of them outside in the end, as we only saw them outside the once out of the entire day and that one time involved them forming a queue and then pushing each other out of the door… so it was pretty reluctant, it was cold that day.

Still, I’m thrilled to have seen them, and so close too. But as much as I love elephants, I’m still pretty wary of them – they are huge and so strong – so we didn’t spend ages looking at them, but I enjoyed the time we did send with them.

Location: Blackpool Zoo
Cameras: Zenit B & LC-A
Film: Kodak BW400CN

Our original plan for visiting Blackpool was a music festival which was going to be held inside the Winter Gardens, and after looking around, I was a little bit disappointed that the festival was cancelled.
What a marvellous building!

Location: Blackpool
Camera: Refurb LC-A
Film: Kodak BW400CN

{We saw this guy practising golf on the beach everyday, so I had to get a photo of course…}

The more I look at these photos, the happier I am with them. I actually came away from Blackpool a bit disappointed with the number of photos that I took, but I think this may be a case of quality over quantity this time…

Its really snowed here in Leeds today (again… in Spring… yeah) so this weekend I’m going to hide away in our house with some crochet, lots of tea and good films.
Have a great weekend!

Location: Blackpool, England
Camera: Refurb LC-A
Film: Kodak BW400CN

This little roll of film was a little bit nerve-wracking for me – I’ve never taken film photos of animals in a zoo before, I hadn’t used this film in this camera before and overall, I was a little frightened about not having a light meter in the unpredictable Blackpool weather (its amazing how quickly you become dependant on that particular feature). But then when I got these back I felt a little silly at being so unsure of myself and what I’ve learnt over the past 4 years.

{This one was for Thomas, he likes guinea pigs…}

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{We also saw some small humans… they were fairly cute in their excitement I will admit,
though not as cute as the unpictured otters – sorry small humans}

Gosh this camera… it takes my breath away.
Also, the film with its odd green/blue tones… I love it.

Overall the Blackpool Zoo was probably our favourite thing about Blackpool (other than the looong beach) and it was a great day out, I would definitely recommend it.

Location: Blackpool Zoo
Camera: Zenit B
Film: Kodak BW400CN

A couple of weekends ago, Thomas and I went to Blackpool for a few days.  Blackpool is a weird place, I have to admit… it’s a mixture of what it used to be with what it is now -  which I guess most places are – but it doesn’t seem to have any joining areas – no progression from one stage to another. It used to be a thriving seaside resort in the Victorian age and though the remnants of that exist, they are mostly run down and left behind as Blackpool becomes more and more popular for the social aspect of the town (ie clubs and bars).

Still, it is pretty photogenic (in a run down kind of way) and I’m really pleased with these photos. I also love that unlike the Ilford XP2 film which has a purple tint to it, this C41 B&W kodak film has a blue/green tint to them.

Luckily it was sunny at the point of these photos, but boy was it cold, and I am wrapped up – I look almost smothered by my coat and hat don’t I? Still I was on the beach and I looooveee the beach!!

Location: Blackpool
Camera: Refurb LC-A
Film: Kodak BW400CN

Looking out of the window today, its hard to believe that we’ve had this much snow lately, the sun is shining and yesterday I saw crocuses which brightened my mood considerably.

I’m still surprised by how taken with this film I am, I’ve always loved colour, so I never thought I’d take to black and white photography, but the more I take, the more I love the results. I definitely need to get more of this film for the year I think.

I was a little bit worried about posting snow photos so long after it snowed here, but it actually looks exactly like this today now, its snowed here all morning and even though it looks lovely, I’m so over the snow!!

Although saying that, these are probably some of my favourite photos from this film, the last photo reminds me of Narnia. I’ve actually been waiting to take that photo for a while, so I was pretty pleased when the conditions were all perfect for it.

Anyway, at least we’re edging closer to Spring every day… right?

Camera: Refurbished LC-A
Film: Kodak BW400CN
Location: Walking to Work, Leeds

It’s odd how you can become quite fond of the things.
Especially those hidden amongst the everyday. But you do.
They all look a bit battered, but they still serve their purpose.

Camera: Refurbished LC-A
Film: Kodak BW400CN
Location: Walking to Work, Leeds

Snoooow!! So much snow. In fact, these photos I took before in the snow look quite pitiful in comparison don’t they. (I just realised that the first two photos are almost exactly from the same spot, I like that view…)

I’m not a huge fan of snow (mainly because it usually means ice…) but this walk to work was perfect… a real winter wonderland. In fact this roll was possibly the fastest film of photos that I’ve ever taken and I really love the results. Snow really does look great in black and white.

Camera: Refurbished LC-A
Film: Kodak BW400CN
Location: Walking to Work, Leeds

These are my last photos with this roll of film and I’m pretty sad about that. I never expected to really love black and white results as much as I love these (I am a huge fan of colour) but I really can’t get over these, I think its because there is so much black in them. I love the colour black (it was my teenage favourite for a long time, much to my Nanna’s despair) and the contrast in these is so appealing to me.This is definitely another film to add to my regular films to use (much to my purses despair, haha).

p.s. Did you spot Robin Hood amongst these? I was pretty chuffed that I managed to find him and get a photo.

Location: Robin Hood’s Bay, England
Film: Kodak BW400CN
Camera: Refurbished LC-A

I’m not really sure why its called Robin Hood’s Bay considering that it isn’t anywhere near Nottingham…
perhaps the smugglers that used it stole from the rich to give to the poor?

Anyway, this bay is kind of what I would imagine my quiet, safe place to look like and every time I look at these photos I feel the same as when we were there, calm and relaxed.

I was a bit worried about using a black and white film as the colours were so lovely but I think that I actually prefer the look of the black and white tones here, the contrast is perfect.

Location: Robin Hood’s Bay, Yorkshire
Camera: Refurb LC-A
Film: Kodak BW400CN

Sometimes I can be stubborn about things for no reason… It took me years to watch Moulin Rouge because I decided that I didn’t want to. Of course as soon as I saw it I completely loved it and kicked myself for not watching it sooner.

And, for some reason, when I started taking film photos again, I was reluctant to use black and white films, I’m not sure why, I think because I love colour so much. I eventually tried Ilford XP2 and adored it – especially with my Diana Mini – but I’ve been quite stubborn about trying other films. After some recommendations from friends, I decided to try the Kodak BW400CN film. Like the Ilford XP2 this is a C41 developed film, so not a true black and white technically, but wow… WOW!!!!

I’ve been looking at these photos since I got them developed and been wondering if I really took them… the results of this film – the contrasts and the tones – with my refurbished LC-A are truly gorgeous (I haven’t edited them at all) and I think now, I truly get the appeal of black and white film.

I can’t wait to use it again already!

Have a great weekend.