Monochrome Monday… Tin Tabernacle, February 2018

Tin Tabernacle, February 2018Tin Tabernacle, February 2018
Canon Sure Shot Sleek, – Kentmere 400

A shot from my first roll of Kentmere 400 film, one of three that was a Christmas present from my wife, the Canon Sure Shot Sleek was yet another charity shop find.

St Saviour’s Church dates from 1898 and was originally built with support from the Midland Railway in Westhouses, Derbyshire, a village that grew up around the company’s locomotive shed there.

Now relocated to Swanwick Junction station at the Midland Railway-Butterley in Derbyshire, the ‘Tin Tabernacle’ is now used for various events including the occasional wedding blessing.

Scan by AgLab with minimal cropping and tweaking in Lightroom Classic CC.

Single frame… Leawood Pumphouse

Leawood Pumphouse, January 2018Leawood Pumphouse, January 2018
Fujifilm X-T1, Fujinon XF 18-135mm f3.5~5.6 R LM OIS WR at 24mm, 1/105s, f8, ISO 400

Leawood Pumphouse was built in 1849 to supply water to the Cromford Canal in Derbyshire. A Watt-type beam engine draws water from the River Derwent through a 150 yard tunnel to a reservoir in the basement and then up 30 feet and into the canal.

The pump’s piston has a diameter of 50 inches, a stroke of 10 feet and works at seven strokes per minute and is capable of moving 39,000 tons of water in 24 hours! The immense size of the pump is due to the fact that there were restrictions on removing water from the river, doing so was only allowed between 8pm on Saturdays and 8pm on Sundays.

The pump house closed along with the canal in 1944 but it was restored in 1979 and is regularly steamed.

Monochrome Monday… Birmingham reflection, December 2017

Birmingham reflection, December 2017Birmingham reflection, December 2017
Nikon FM, Nikkor 50mm f/2 – 1/60s, f5.6, – Ilford FP4+

Another image from the roll I shot in December for Emulsive’s FP4 Party but that didn’t return from the lab in time for post week.

I was changing trains (and stations) in Birmingham, on my way to December’s Beer & Cameras event in Worcester and spotted the Odeon and the iconic Rotunda building mirrored in the reflective surface cladding the Grand Central shopping centre that sits atop New Street railway station.

Scan by AgLab with minimal cropping and tweaking in Lightroom Classic CC.

Monochrome Monday… The old Post Office, Ilkeston

The old Post Office, Ilkeston.The old Post Office, Ilkeston
Minolta Dynax 505si Super, Minolta AF 50mm f/1.7 – 1/45s, f4, – Ilford FP4+ rated at ISO 200

I have a fondness for what are known as ‘Ghost’ signs… that is to say old painted, carved or tiled signs advertising long defunct businesses and I photograph them whenever possible.

Hogarths Gin Palace now occupies the building that this particular sign adorns, while the Post Office resides in a tiny, nondescript location closer to the centre of town.

This is an image from the roll of film I shot for January’s Emulsive FP4 Party.

Scan by AgLab with minimal cropping and tweaking in Lightroom Classic CC.

Monochrome Monday… Don’t cross

Dont crossDont cross, December 2017
Nikon FM, Nikkor 50mm f/2 – 1/500s, f2, – Ilford FP4+

Another image from the roll I shot in December for Emulsive’s FP4 Party. The lights took an age to change (and I’m far too infirm these days to scamper across a busy road without the benefit of an ‘official’ crossing point) so I thought I’d take a pic or two while I waited…

Scan by AgLab with minimal cropping and tweaking in Lightroom Classic CC.

Monochrome Monday… Vintage ice skates

Vintage Ice Skates, Belper, December 2017Vintage Ice Skates, Belper, December 2017
Nikon FM, Nikkor 50mm f/2 – 1/60s, f2.8, – Ilford FP4+

I shot this in December for Emulsive’s FP4 Party but the scans didn’t return from the lab in time for post week. The skates and toboggan formed part of a festive decoration outside a local gift shop. That particular day the weather was bitterly cold and there was indeed some snow but not nearly enough for these vintage beauties to be needed…

Scan by AgLab with minimal cropping and tweaking in Lightroom Classic CC.

Classic vehicle – Renault 1000Kg light van

Like fellow blogger Jim Grey I photograph old cars whenever I spot one and although a beautifully restored example is wonderful to see, I do prefer those that have been allowed to age gracefully…

Renault 1000Kg light vanRenault 1000Kg light van
Pentax MZ-M, SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/2 – 1/90s, f8 – JCH Street Pan 400 rated at ISO 320

The Renault 1000Kg light van was introduced in 1947 but the 1400kg version introduced two years later soon became the more popular model.

This particular example was spotted in a small commune in the Nièvre department of France and is an example of the 1000Kg Voltigeur model manufactured between 1956 and 1963. As a diesel engine was only offered as an option from 1961 I’m assuming that this one has the 1996cc petrol engine.

Renault 1000Kg light van-20170801Renault 1000Kg light van
Fujifilm X-T1, Fujinon XF 18-135mm f3.5~5.6 R LM OIS WR at 93mm, 1/60s, f8, ISO 400

I’m not certain that those tiny wheels (that don’t even remotely fill out the wheel arches) are the originals and sadly the van doesn’t appear to have moved in quite a while even though the ’89’ part of the registration indicates that this vehicle is registered in the neighbouring Yonne department.