Monday 10 October 2011

Rollfilm: A love story

A few months ago, I sold my Digital SLR and started shooting again on my Bronica. I found a good value 120 back at Clock Tower Cameras giving me an extra boost in using up all my expired film from the fridge. I hope this helped my camera to warm up. I am enjoying the slowed down working procedure of film and the quality of the large negs.

On the other hand, a little frustrating is the limited exposure range and the heavy weight of the camera and all it's needed gear (two backs, tripod, light meter etc). And of course there is the price. With predictions that the end of film is near and shops reducing the amount of stock and upping the price it feels like walking near the edge of the cliff.

However, film just has some excitement to it that digital does not compare with. Even new-comers to the medium can feel it- it's not just nostalgia. Furthermore, going back to my last blog entry and the importance of experimentation it is also rather enjoyable to mix and match different styles of image making and not stick to just one solution. Who knows best then photographer Chris Coekin (Knock Three Times, the Hitcher) who experiments with different styles and presents multi-dimensional projects.

In the process of shooting two new projects, I started to ask myself if it really matters what medium we take the images with and I am currently experimenting with mobile phone imagery to go alongside the 6x6 results. I am even thinking to use the recently bought Ilford Sporti for my other project, which would benefit from a vintage/amateur style, yet have 6x6 frames.

Will reveal the results once I have mastered the task of bulk colour shift/cast removal.

A little creative bargain: Ilford Sporty 6 (1963)

It's important to experiment and to break loose from conventions, norms and expectations. Some would argue this will lead to more creativity - and I need some!

On this note I am writing a blog entry purely hoping to illustrate the point. After all, we lecturers too often have our heads full of rules and regs and yearly CPD (Continuous Professional Development). (Ouch, if Graham ever reads this, I will have to pay up for the swear words!)

Hence, in an attempt to keep my own creative work going and blog once a month, I am writing about what keeps me engaged in the photographic universe.

An Ilford Sporty 6 (1963)


Initially I only bought it for a laugh and £1.50 at my local car boot sale and so far it cost me a few tears with the first film coming out blank. I don't even share much with the Lomo/ Diana fascination and yet something makes me smile when bantering over this little Ilford bargain.


I'm not sure if it's the fact that it's a 6x6 and the last sincere production of it's kind or perhaps that it was manufactured in Reutlingen by Dacora Kamerawerke, just 10 miles from where I was born, and that it has traveled around for almost 50 years, just to be found around the corner from where I live today? I suppose this may be it: a nostalgic moment and a reminder that photography is often oh so autobiographical.

To see the first test shots of this little bargain camera check back shortly...

Ref: http://www.thecamerasite.net/07_Viewfinder_Cameras/Pages/ilford-sporti.htm