Low tech photography

As you know, I’m a fan of simple cameras - after all my pinhole cameras are about as simple as it gets! A couple of weeks ago I decided to use a different sort of machine, but almost as basic, when I made a couple of journeys west. My Holga camera is made of plastic (including the lens) and cost me the princely sum of £21 from eBay - undoubtedly one of my best photographic bargains! It has a single shutter speed and a fixed lens so the only setting you have to remember to adjust is the focus distance, although occasionally I forget to do that!

Holga photos have a recognisable look. If you get the focusing right the simple lens is remarkably sharp in the centre, but this clarity drops off at the edges, creating a dreamy effect. This simplicity makes you think about your compositions but it also brings the ability to make multiple exposures. During my wait at Paddington Station I had a play with this, creating multiple layers with the station’s architectural lines.

A few days later I found myself travelling through London again, with some time to kill before my train home from Liverpool Street. As I walked out of the tube station the sun emerged so I took a stroll with my Holga, seeking out interesting combinations of lines and light.

A shaft of sunlight on the pavement

Photos taken February 2023

Random acts of iPhoneography

As I learn how to make better photos with the camera on my iPhone I’ve been using it more on my travels, figuring out what works best. During February I’ve experimented with all sorts of subjects and I thought I’d share a selection of them on my blog.

My first few images come from a stroll along the River Thames when I was staying overnight in Cookham.

Click on any image to see it enlarged.

Next came my visit to Bristol and this photo comes from St Mary Redcliffe. I have a mini-tripod which magnetically attaches to the back of my phone, allowing me to capture this low angle and to control the settings better in such a dark building.

Another photo from my Bristol trip - this time one of the plants on the windowsill in the house where I stayed overnight.

A stroll around our village and some beautiful snowdrops by the church.

Naturally I went inside the church - another moment for my little phone tripod to come into its own!

My final photo comes from a long wait on the platform at Twyford Station. As I patiently waited for my train to Paddington to arrive a freight train came thundering through. I quickly opened the Lightroom Mobile app to grab this 1 second exposure of ghostly blur as the yellow engine whizzed past me.

Photos taken February 2023

A two church day - part two

Having explored St Mary Redcliffe fully I then wandered along the dockside to Bristol Cathedral, arriving as the light was just beginning to fade.

Rather than swapping lenses, here I chose to shoot with one lens which made me search for images which would work well at around 50mm. I may not have a comprehensive gallery of the Cathedral as a result, but I find this technique makes me look in a different way.

One of the interesting characters I found in the Elder Lady Chapel.

I’m fascinated by the animals I find at the feet of effigies on tombs. I’d love to know if there’s a reason why some have dogs, as here, while others have lions or other creatures.

Looking back into the choir.

The cloisters were particularly atmospheric, especially as the light began to fade.

A dramatically lit corner of the Norman Chapter House.

Photos taken 17 February 2023

A two church day - part one

After the destruction of Storm Eunice stopped me getting to Bristol last February, I had another try last week and succeeded. My visit was for work, but it seemed a waste not to spend some time on photography too, so I caught an early train which gave me a whole afternoon to explore. Once my host, Margaret, had kindly relieved me of my heavy suitcase I began my photographic explorations at the church of St Mary Redcliffe.

The ceiling is a striking feature in this church, which grabs you the moment you walk through the door. It features more than 1000 guided bosses and the temptation to lie on the floor to admire them was quite strong! I resisted, but I did at least sit down to take this photo.

In the choir I found these two handsome creatures. Click on any image to see it enlarged.

The largest organ pipes are on full display - some of them more than a foot wide. I can only imagine the vibrations you’d feel if you stood beside them as they were played!

Looking across the top of the box pews in the nave.

Photos taken 17 February 2023