Three derelict houses

Found some enrgy to do a little wet-printing today. Here's one from the Voigtlander 6x9 folder on FOMA400@800/LC29 on KentmereSelectVC. North Lochs area.

North Lochs

We took off on a drab looking day towards North Lochs area just to have a look. A lovely area even when its a dull old day. But the sun did decide to show itself a little and I took some snaps while it was there. Here's a couple from the Kiev60 HP5/ID-11.

Wind factory stalls

Great news on Burns night as word is coming through that the proposed huge wind factory on Lewis is likely to be refused. While not averse to wind farms in their entirety, this huge and ill-thought out development was always going to be disastrous for the islands.
The local council put it forward as great for local economic development; well, how about making the island a green place first - saving energy - enhancing the island and making it a place to show such things should be done whilst retaining the beauty of the isles.
Just my four pennyworth

"violent storm 11 later"

Such is the forecast for Hebrides today as the wind rages ouside. Yes, the ferries arn't running and luckily, I'm not working either but can sit looking at the fire.
Nothing new to show so here's my Mum when she came a visited in Lancashire where we used to live.

yep.

People seem to think all is fantastic with islands - and in the main it is. We have three beaches near our village with miles of clean golden sand and waves all year round for surfing on. The people here are lovely and welcoming, the roads are quiet and there is little need to lock ones doors.
However, the island does have its own issues to contend with and here you can see a recent story reagding drugs and the little drug-finding dog. And it rains. Not all the time mind you but when it does there are often high winds too to blow one away and drive you back to the fireside. The feries get cancelled and the electricity gets cut off - not to mention the broaband. And I love it!
Anyway, here's a cyanotype of a neg I took in Mossley Lancs. Enlarged neg on OHP injet film and printed art paper.

Argus C3

My very good friend the writer - Monty - kindly sent me up an old Argus C3 camera affectionately known at The Brick. I knew it didn't work as Monty had told me :-). Anyway, Monty also had also pointed me in the direction of some repair web-sites and since these cameras are not complicated I took it apart. And hey ho, managed to sort the thing- the shutter was staying open after firing.
Loaded up some expired colour film and took it out with me this morning. I had to go to the big smoke of Stornoway and took the dogs for a stroll along from cuddy point. The sun shone and the colours were amazing. Then I noticed the fault had reappeared!
So, when got home I developed the film in B&W chems and had three images only. Here's two. Ah well, you don't win them all.
I have since taken it apart again and found one of the components broken. Shall have to wait for a donor camera

Big is better

I took out the FED 35mm rangefinder the othwer day - its knackered so can't make it worse if it gets rained on. Only, the sun shone for a bit and I took this snap on the old road to our village. I went back yesterday with the Agfa Record 6x9 and some FP4 and took these;

Usual stuff

Safe surfing
Traigh Mhor
Flying
I have this FEd rangefinder that only works on one speed. And rthe dials for the meter fell off. Stil, it works using the aperture on the Industar 61 lens. So, here's a few from APX100/R09 @ 1:200 for 2.5 hours.

Trad Neg

Here's my first cyanotype using a traditional film neg. In this case its a 5x7 neg taken with the FKD plate camera- Forte 200 in ID-11 - printed on cartridge paper and toned in Fairtrade coffee. Kiev and FED rangefinders posing.

Cyanotype over pigment inks - experiment

Another Cyanotype

Not toaking too many photos at the moment but using what energy I have to make these alternative prints. Toned in Fairtrade coffee.

Stroll along Tolsta village

Before I had my stroll, the boys - Rocky and Frank took Eve & I for a walk on Traigh Mhor - one of the local beaches.

The sun was out so took off with the Kiev rangefinder and some apx400s. Here we are at the top of the road leading to the cemetry on the machair.
Down the cemetry road and looking back up to this part of the village across various crofts.
Bit of rural furniture here.
The road to the cemetry. A nice last journey - if the weather is kind.
Looking out over the crofts, decrepid farm machinery and the coast
Some 'locals'. Actually, they are 'white-settlers' since the locals are browny-black.

Back towards home and a croft overlooking the sea - as they all do!

Worries

Its been a worrying few days since at the moment we are looking after two older dogs while their pet - Victor - holidays in NZ. Firstly Frank the Lab had a turn and now walks wonkily and loses his way. Then Rocky the Terrible had a turn and we, Eve & I sat up half the night with him before taking him off to the Vets today. Turns out he had wind !!!! We are glad he is better and will get a few more walks on Traigh Mhor as the snap above shows.

Two fast boys - in the blue[ish]

I used to work in cycling - at the Manchester Velodrome for my sins. It did however, give some fine chances to snap some nice people. Here is a prime example of a fine chance - badly done. Still, the slightly off-focus image looks fine as a Cyanotype - or will do when I get a better print out. This particular one is toned wuth green tea and on cartridge paper.

Oh, and the boys are right- Graeme Obree - former World Hour Record holder and
Left- Michael Hutchinson, - multi GB national champion and author of The Hour; Immortality the hard way.

Severe weather warning ahead!

And the weather is already deteriorating. So, the fire is lit and I have just scanned a glass neg I shot with the FKD plate camera today - too much wind outside so an abstract of the wall will suffice! Exposed for 1min 30 secs @f16
I did a nice Cyanotype too. I seem to be getting the hang of these so bought some cartridge paper to continue the roll. Anything, yes anything to take me away from all the stuff on the radio about the USA electoins.

Frost

A wonderful morning on the island with a sharp frost and sun glaring through the window. We, the dogs and I, have been out onthe beach but Frank, the 15 years old Lab is not too well so we are home now and I'm scanning some snaps taken a few days ago with the Kiev rangefinder, 35mm Jupiter lens and out of date Efke 100. Nice combination though. Here's two of the nicest -I think - from Brevig and nearby.

Playing with Cyanotypes

I love cyanotypes. Lets get that straight. Not the bright blue ones you usually see but lovely toned ones like this .
So, armed with an enlarged digital negative from a 6x9 neg taken in Saddleworth with my very good chum Jon, I set to work. Now, I only have some Bockingford watercolur paper that Mum sent me in the vain hope I may paint - and, in the past I have not had good success with this stuff. Liam Lawless emailed me to say that one needs to soak the paper in acid. The only acid I had was stop bath. And it works.
I coated when the paer was still damp, exposed under UV lamp for two hours and 'developed' in water and peroxide.
Ok, it is blue. But I will print another and tone in coffee. Or tea, or herbs.

Salgado

The weather has been a little rough and so have I for some reason. Seem to have aches all over so no photoging at the moment. Still, my new copy of B&W [UK] mag came today and within there was an article about the wonderfully nspiring photographer - Salgado. Salgados images are legendary - gritty and dark. Only the images in the mag were terribly printed - all washed out. So dissappointing. However, if you do a quick search on Google images you'll soon have hundreds of Salgado images to gaze over - and it's well worth the time. Or else check out this site

Harris

Need I say more?
Kiev II Jupiter 35mm. APX400s ID-11

Obbe

Down the south of Lewis is the island of Harris - joined to Lewis actually. At the furthermost end there is a group of houses called Leverburgh - renamed such in December 1920 from the previous Obbe. Last timeI passed through the place the rain was lashing down and all looked grey. This time the sun shone so we took the dogs for a stroll round the harbour area before diving into The Anchorage cafe for luncheon.
Here is a snap I took with a Kiev Rangefinder. APx400s/R09

Good weather

The last few days have brought us great weather. So good that I have rather overdone the walking as I take the dogs to enjoy the sun. Living here, when the sun is up, the place is likeliving in paradise. When the wind is howling, the rain lashing; more like the other place!
For ease, I took the Retinette and finished off a roll of Era100 - Chinese film - and then soaked it in R09 1:200 for two hours or so.
Here's snaps of our local beach - and the track to another where there is some wonderful rock.
Oh, and a special hello and best wishes to my 'down under' friends & readers Max & Maureen .