Bury – Dave Wilkinson

Local Gigs

Live music

This is something a little different for me, it’s a project I have been working on for a few years on and off. My partner and I love listening to live music. To go and watch the big bands costs far to much for entry and usually is in large arenas of outdoors with thousands of people attending. We like to smaller intimate venues were there are only 200 to 300 people there. We go to The Met in Bury or St Mary’s Chambers in Rawtenstall,
The bands we tend to watch are all tribute acts from mainly the 1970’s and 1980’s, as I said earlier the originals are expensive or no longer playing together.

Here are few images taken at these gigs over the last couple of years. All taken with my iPhone and processed in Lightroom.

A band called Malice. (The Jam tribute)

The Smiths Ltd (The Smiths tribute) along with a photo of my partner Jan outside Salford lads club, used for one of the bands album artwork.

Fleetwood Bac (Fleetwood Mac tribute)

Lastly Jean Genie, Total Clash, Yourythmics and Stax of Soul. (David Bowie, The Clash and the Eurythmics tribute) Stax of Soul just play soul classics.

Frugal Fim Project 2025

FFP25 August roll

Only one roll for the July FFP25, i’ve been busy with other things. I did manage to get out on a lovely walk last week to one of my happy places right on my doorstep. There are a group of three reservoirs less than 1/2 a mile from my house. On the way up to the top reservoir, you have to pass through an Alpaca farm so I stopped and took some images there.

When I got to the reservoir it was quite noticeable the level was dow by about 10 foot due to the incredibly warm and rain free summer we have had here in the UK. I walked back down past the middle reservoir but didn’t go to the bottom one as I knew it was almost empty.

Canonet QL17
Fomapan 200
Developed in HC110 for 4 minutes @ 20 degrees

Frugal Film Project 2025

FFP25 July roll

A walk up Holcome hill to Peel tower and over the moorland.

We took a walk up Holcombe Hill to Peel Tower, continuing over the stone pathway on the moorland. At the kissing gate, we dropped down onto the bridleway back to our starting point. I used my Canonet QL17 again for this project, loaded with Fomapan 200, which was developed in HC110 for 4 minutes.
I am starting to get used to this film now, the main problem is that it scratches very easily.

The steep uphill start to the walk.

Peel tower at the top.

Heading off over the moorland

Turning left at the kissing gate, dropping down to the bridleway and back to our starting point.

Frugal Film Project 2025

FFP25 May roll 2.

These images are taken at The East Lancs Railway, a heritage stream railway in my home town of Bury. They are all taken during the Vintage Vibes music festival over the bank holiday weekend 24th May. Almost the whole roll.

canonet QL17, Fomapan 200 and developed in Kodak HC110 1+31 Dill B for 4 minutes @20 deg

Frugal Film Project May 2025

The Kirklees Valley is a testament to nature’s resilience. a region steeped in industrial history, lies a remarkable story of transformation. Through my photographic explorations, I wanted to document the stunning juxtaposition of the valley’s industrial past and its lush, verdant present. Each click of the shutter revealed stories whispered by the overgrown remnants of factories and railway lines, now entwined with wildflowers, trees, and wildlife. All these images are being used for the Frugal Film Project 2025, The camera must cost less than $75 and must use film as cheaply has possible. For this I am using my Canonet QL17, loaded with Fomapan 200 film

These last 2 images are taken from the same spot, one in the late 1970’s and the other in 2024. It just shows what nature can achieve if left alone.

Frugal Film Project April 2025

This month’s film was captured with a Canonet QL17 camera using Fomapan 200, developed in Rodinal at a 1:50 dilution for 10 minutes.

Carrying on from last months film, these were taken in the Kirklees valley, Tottington, Bury on my morning dog walk. A small collection from around a disused bleaching and dye mill and amore modern carpet mill. This is a great walk in a morning, usually about 3 miles.

The shadows and the lines was the main focus for these images.

Frugal Film Project – March 2025

This month’s film was captured with a Canonet QL17 camera using Fomapan 200, developed in Rodinal at a 1:50 dilution for 10 minutes.

The photos were taken during my morning dog walks around the beautiful Kirklees Valley in Tottington, Bury. It’s fascinating to see how this once industrial area has been reclaimed by nature, transforming it into a serene landscape that I love to explore.