The Outside World

Most rhododendrons and their cultivars have quite shiny leaves but this hybrid has leaves that seem as if they are covered in felt! I bought a few of them some years ago as small plants, I think the variety is "Red Jack", but I really can't remember Getting to like the Retro 320 in PC-Glycol - tried this with the 1+50, but I can't see much difference, except for shorter time of development! 1983 Mamiya ZM Quartz, f1.7/50mm Sekor lens, x2 yellow filter. Foma Retro320 Soft at EI 320, 6ml PC-Glycol, 0.5% sodium carbonate solution to 300ml + 0.5g potassium bromide. 8 mins @ 23C. Scanned at 2400dpi on Epson V500.

Here's another frame of Foma Retro 320 Soft, exposed at box speed, and developed in PC-Glycol. I used the 1+100 dilution for 11 minutes because the temperature was almost 23C, but I think 12 mins @21C is about right. I am encouraged by these tests, the film and developer seem well matched, it's a pity the film isn't available in 120. I'll try some other films in PC-Glycol and see how it turns out, - I added 0.5g/litre of potassium bromide to the sodium carbonate this time, because the previous roll of Retro 320 had a bit of fog, but it's probably unecessary with most films. 1983 Mamiya ZM Quartz, f1.7/50mm Sekor lens, x2 yellow filter. Foma Retro320 Soft at EI 320, 3ml PC-Glycol, 0.5% sodium carbonate solution to 300ml + 0.5g potassium bromide. 11 mins @ 23C. Scanned at 2400dpi on Epson V500.

The flowers of Stargazer Lilies don't last long, but while they do they are always spectacular! I finally got round to mixing up some PC-Glycol, a two part developer made by dissolving phenidone and ascorbic acid in ethylene glycol for the first part, and a 0.5% solution of sodium carbonate for the second. The glycol needs to be warmed a little to completely dissolve the other chemicals, and smells a bit, but it's easy to do on an old hotplate in the workshop, not too sure about doing it in the kitchen! The idea behind this developer is that the developing agents are only activated when mixed with the alkaline second bath - in glycol they are inert, and have an almost indefinite shelf life, and most commonly used alkalis - sodium carbonate, Kodalk, and borax, last for ages also, so good for casual use. The nice thing is that it seems to give quite fine grain plus the usual ascorbic acid sharpness, very like Caffenol, but without the need to mix it up every time. I think I will explore this more! 1983 Mamiya ZM Quartz, f1.7/50mm Sekor lens, x2 yellow filter. Polypan F at EI 50, 3ml PC-Glycol, 0.5% sodium carbonate solution to 300ml. 10 mins @ 21C. Scanned at 2400dpi on Epson V500.

Away from the house, the larger hailstones were not broken up by hitting hard surfaces, so these monsters survived intact! My ancient Astley pipe gives a sense of scale! (I have not yet renewed my Club subscription to Ipernity, so these are a bit smaller than images I have posted previously) Canon Digital Ixus 960is. Photofinished in Gimp.

These were just outside the house when the storm ended! Canon Digital Ixus 960is. Photofinished in Gimp.

We live on the lower western slopes of the Massif Central, so the occasional heavy storm is not a big surprise, but I thought these pics of a storm this afternoon might be interesting! A small stream has developed by the side of the old Citroen!! Canon Digital Ixus 960is. Photofinished in Gimp.

Another outing for the old Kodak Reflex, this time with Foma 100 developed in Caffenol. We have had a fair bit of rain recently, and because the bedrock is quite near the surface and of impermeable granite, low lying fields quickly become water logged. 1948 Kodak Reflex II, f3.5/80mm Anaston lens, x2 yellow filter. Foma 100 in Caffenol 20-20-6-500. 10min @21C. Scanned @1200dpi on Epson V500

A mild autumn has left many trees in leaf far later than usual, and these oaks are an example. The terrain in this part of Creuse is not suitable for large scale cereal growing - it is mainly beef farming country, so most of the fields are quite small, and many are still separated by hedgerows that are often hundreds of years old. My first efforts with PC-Glycol and medium format, - I was careless about the exposures, and the film was also over developed, but worth going on with! 1942 Voigtlander Bessa 66, f3.5/75mm Heliar lens, X2 yellow filter. Foma Ultra 100 in PC-Glycol, 10 mins@21C Scanned@1200dpi on Epson500.

Almost the last days of November, and the air temperature was 19C when I took this near our house, and we still have a Castor Oil plant in flower in the garden! So much for the climate change deniers! From the first roll since I fitted a replacement bellows to the Ventura, my temporary repairs to the original had finally failed after five years. I used a bellows intended for a Kodak 66, which has a 75mm lens, so it is a little more extended on an 85mm lens, but they are otherwise identical and made from far better materials than the original Agfa, so make an ideal repair, which is quick and easy to do. 1953 Agfa Ventura 66 Deluxe. f4.5/85mm Solinar Lens, x2 Pictorial green filter. Foma Ultra100 in PC-Glycol, 8mins@21C Scanned on Epson V500 @1200dpi