Actor
This photograph was taken on IIlford Delta 400 film with a Nikon FE camera and Nikon 50mm f1.2 ais lens; processed with Foma chemicals; scanned with a Canon 6D and Nikon 105mm f2.8 ais lens on a PN11 extension tube; processed using Darktable on Ubuntu Linux.
It’s quite a process, from pushing the button to seeing the image, but deeply satisfying.
Finally got new chemicals to develop my Norfolk pics.
Some things went wrong: the exposure and weird vignetting is less problematic than the mottled effect down the sides of the negatives – not sure if this was a result of the expired film stock, bad chemicals, residues on my equipment, hard water, etc, etc…will take some figuring out as per usual. Still, I enjoyed these snaps.
We weren’t sure about visiting North Norfolk, had never been and wanted to see. We found a superb semi-wild campsite, Barley Fields, that was quite the perfect escape from bustling London. We also came across top-notch fish and chips shops, searched for fossils on the loooong beach at Runting, found scrumptious local honey, characterful towns like Sheringham, and every kind of weather. Something we also noticed – North Norfolk is an incredibly neat and tidy part of the country – the towns seem manicured, shops are spotless, public gardens are ship shape, lawns and verges are neatly mowed and there is no litter. Simple things make a big difference.
Anyway, the black-and-whites are Ilford Ortho Plus run through a battered Minolta Autocord and the colour is Fuji C200 through a Nikon FE with Ais lenses (processed at Aperture in London).
Pointed my camera at this intriguing pair of characters while out and about with Jo at Box Hill in Surrey, England – I love the surreal and dream-like quality of this photograph. It keeps reminding me of a short story, Leaf by Niggle, I came across on Jo’s bookshelf in a yellow-paged collection of work by J.R.R. Tolkien.
From wiki: ‘…the story is an allegory of Tolkien’s own creative process, and, to an extent, of his own life…It also expresses his philosophy of divine creation and human sub-creation.’
Leaf by Niggle is well worth a read, not only for Tolkien’s superb story telling, but also his probing ideas of creative purpose and value. I wonder what he would make of the renown his work has acquired since he put these ideas to paper in 1939 – I imagine the Mountains would ring with laughter.
As for my photos, I’m enjoying the slower, more considered tempo of the film process and the images I’m managing to capture. I recently returned from a short break in North Norfolk with a roll of Ilford Ortho Plus put through a Minolta Autocord. Unfortunately my film developing chemicals have expired, so as soon as I get a new supply I should have some fresh images to share.
Until then, onwards, ever further and further towards the Mountains, always uphill.
Took the Nikon FE last month while filming on Tin Hat Production’s latest project, Battle Over Britain, in which I play Intelligence Officer. I think it was a roll of Ilford 400 and I think I was swapping between a Nikkor 50mm f1.2 Ais and a Nikon 100mm f2.8 series E Ais lens…I think.
Jeffrey Mundell 