Family time

I spent a lovely couple of days with Mum in the Scottish borders. She is having a short, well-earned break at a cottage we have visited a number of times over the past 35 years.

The weather was lovely and the lambs were jumping around full of energy. The real, baba lambs. Us “human” Lambs were all knackered!

I had a long and quite tiring walk on Sunday but it was a real pleasure. Especially when I came back to good food and wine. Thanks mum!! xx

The cottage is on the estate of the Polwarth family – I took a snap of their beautiful home as I went past one day.

Harden, Spring 2016
Harden, Ancestral and actual home of the Polwarth family who own the cottage. Spring 2016

Coming back from the walk I took this snap over the valley. The cottage is in the distance marked with a red dot above it on the horizon. A beautiful location.

Mabonlaw Cottage from Hardchesters
View toward Mabonlaw Cottage, Spring 2016

And a snap of the cottage from the foot of it’s hill, just as I arrived back.

Looking towards Mabonlaw cottage, Spring 2016
Looking towards Mabonlaw cottage, Spring 2016

First film processed…

I just processed my first Black and White film from my 120 camera. Actually, my second. The first film was completely blank and I still have no idea why. Which is a bit concerning.

Anyway – I took 10 snaps as soon as I realised it might be a camera issue and they were of nothing in particular. 5 were tests with numbers on them to check the camera was ok. So, really, these are the first real snaps taken using my new film camera. Ilford HP5+ processed in HC110 – dilution of 1:31 and process time is 5 minutes at 20C. Grainy images but pleasing to have started! I scanned them using an Epson V550 and only scanned at 2400 dpi to save disk space. Lots to re-learn and a lot to learn for the first time.

I would not do it the same next time but I have now tested the processing and made tentative steps to scanning the negs. Next – back into the darkroom with some images I actually want to print and keep :-)

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