Getting Out and Doing Something!

Hello,

Today I want to speak about something that I feel is important in anyone's life. Getting out and doing something. I am a massive advocate for hobbies. I believe everyone should have a hobby, something outside of life and work. Something they can sink their teeth into, lose themselves in.

For me that hobby is Photography. I live and breath photography. My job is a camera sales person and I am studying an MA in Photography.

I do however have a confession to make. I have a habit of procrastinating. By this I mean sitting at home playing video-games as they day goes by. Though I do believe that every once and a while you need a day-off. Just do naff all and relax. This was becoming far too common for me.

So I decided to do something about it. I had a free day from work so I decided to do something with that free time.

Recently I had bought a Rolleiflex, 75mm f/3.5 in grey. I had some XP2 120 film loaded into it. So I hopped onto the train into Preston City near where I live. In Preston I visited for the first-time ever Avenham Park.

The weather was blue skies all around so I didn't need a light meter. I just walked and shot. I had 12 shots, and I made sure I was very conscious of these shots.

Once I had used the shots up I had a sit down and finished reading my current book of choice. 'Old Man by the Sea' by Earnest Hemingway. I then went to work to get my shots developed.

Below are a few of the shots:




















None of them are award winning. But they confirmed the camera was in perfect working order. And I got a good day out and stretched my legs. I have shot with ground glass before. My mamiya and an old Lubital 2 TLR. But I can now understand why people have such a special place in their hearts for TLR's.

Looking down at the ground glass and its smooth representation of the shot you are about to take is second to none. Better than an SLR which in hind-sight feels tunnel like, and more connecting than a rangefinder. I feel I have found two cameras that fit me. Now to get out and use them.

My next free day, weather permitted I shall be shooting in some woodland with my Mamiya RB67 and some Ektar. I hope to post between one to two times a week on this blog. Thank you for reading.