Tag: #filmisnotdead

Holga week 2025

Holga week 2025

These were all taken at Saltaire in West Yorkshire, we had a day out initially to look at the Ian Beesley exhibition in Salt mills, we then had a walk around the village and along the Leeds Liverpool canal. The village and Salt mill was commission by Titus Salt in the 1850’s. This is a wonderful place to just walk around taking photos.

Here is the full roll of film I took in the first week October for Holga week 2025. All taken using my trusty Holga 120N and a roll of Ilford HP5 film, developed in Rodinal @ 1+100 semi stand developed for 60 minutes. Starting with 30 seconds agitation at the start and 4 gentle agitations after 30 minutes. The film was then fixed and washed as per Ilfords instructions.
After dry the film, I scanned them using my Canon 5d Mk3 then processed them in lightroom.

These are the three images I chose from the roll to enter in this years Holga week photos (2025)

Walk this way

Salt mills by the canal

Canal barge Saltaire

Frugal Fim Project 2025

FFP25 September roll 1

I had a trip into Manchester last week, my partner was donating blood. Afterwards we had a wander around Ancoats and New Islington, so I decided to take the opportunity to take a couple of films for Septembers FFP. Here is the first film.

Anita street in Ancoats was formerly called Sanitary Street and this was a boast because around 1880, these were among the first houses to have running water and sanitation! Before this, living conditions were terrible and Manchester was one of the worst places to live in the country. Having sanitation, you were posh! It was renamed Anita Street in the 60’s.

The area is quite different now, there has been a massive investment in the area.

Canonet QL17
Fomapan 200
Developed in HC110 (Dil ‘B’) for 4 minutes @ 20 degrees

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

More Holga shots Exploring Harris & Lewis:

A Photographic Journey More Holga shots

In the summer of 2023, I had the joy of visiting Harris & Lewis, capturing the stunning landscapes and historical sites on film. Though I processed the films shortly after the holiday, it wasn’t until recently that I found the time to scan the images. Now that I am retired, I am delighted to start catching up on my film photography backlog.

The images presented here showcase a variety of places across the islands, with a focus on several remarkable sites. Notably, you’ll find images of the iconic standing stones at Callanish (images 1, 2, 3, and 8). These ancient stones date back nearly 5,000 years and stand as a breathtaking testament to the region’s rich archaeological heritage.

Additionally, I captured some photos of the Lewis Chessmen, also known as the Uig Chessmen, which are renowned for their intricate craftsmanship and historical significance.

Some othe images from around the island.

All the photographs were taken using my reliable Holga 120N camera and Ilford HP5 film, rated at 400 ISO. The development process involved Rodinal in a 1:100 dilution for a semi-stand time of 60 minutes.

I hope these images inspire you to explore the beauty and history of Harris & Lewis!

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.

Rediscovering Memories with the Holga

I recently unearthed my trusty Holga from the depths of my cupboard. It had been gathering dust for months, and I was excited to give it another go. To my surprise, there was still a film loaded with three frames waiting to be exposed. I had totally forgotten what I had shot prior—talk about a mystery!

So, I decided to make the most of my Yorkshire Dales trip and shot the last three frames there. Keep an eye out for a future post where I’ll be sharing the new film I loaded afterward!

I developed the roll of HP5 using Rodinal 1+100. I went for a semi-stand process—one minute of inversions right at the start and then another ten inversions halfway through at the 30-minute mark. The anticipation of seeing how the photos turned out was almost as exciting as taking them in the first place.

When I hung the film out to dry, it hit me—backtracking through the film. The first seven frames were captured in New Brighton, the next two at the stunning Menai Bridge on Anglesey, and those last three during our beautiful trek through the Yorkshire Dales. Talk about a mix and match roll.

Sea defences
New Brighton
Sea defences
Lifeguard station
Lifeguard station
Lifeguard station
Lifeguard station
Sea defences
Sand dunes
Menai bridge
Menai bridge
The Sun Inn Dent
Flower pot boots
The phone box Dent

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

Negatives

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.

Railway line late 1979's

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.