{Looking down across Whitby – this was my favourite view – click on the photo to see it bigger}
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2
Everytime I looked through my photos trying to decide which photos to share next, I kept coming back to these four photos and looking at them it was pretty obvious the connection between them.
{Can you see it?}
I can’t even chose a favourite between them!
Location: WhitbyCameras: Refurb LC-A and Diana Mini
Films: Various.
This time last year we were flying to Paris. In some ways I can’t believe it’s been a year already and in others I feel like past year has possibly felt like one of the longest of my life and more time has passed than it has.
After we first left Paris I missed it terribly and I’m amazed to find that even though I don’t miss it as much as I did initially, I still miss Paris even now. It was a perfect getaway for us and part of me is already dreaming of the next time that we can go (as well as everywhere else in Europe!). So, I’ve decided to spend the rest of August Break celebrating Paris, I looked through all my photos on here and of the 634 that I took only 194 were on here. That needs rectifying I think… so here are some photos taken with my favourite film/camera combination.
I shared this quote about Paris before, but I think it really does suit it so well, so I’m sharing it again.
“Paris? No, not this city. It’s too real and too beautiful. It never lets you forget anything.
Location: Paris, France
It reaches in and opens you wide, and you stay that way.”
Jerry Mulligan, An American in Paris
Film: Ilford XP2
Camera: Diana Mini
I’m pretty sure that when people mention the ‘rolling hills of England’ that this is what people imagine! These were taken just outside Lancaster and I still absolutely love how many sheep there were haha. The barn we stayed at is somewhere to the right of the panoramic down the windy road.
I think taking panoramic pictures with my diana mini is my new favourite thing, they look so abstract with the overlapping lines… I definitely need to play with this idea more! I think it could look fascinating in colour too.
Click on the panoramic photo if you want to see it larger, I really like it!
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2
Location: Lancashire
p.s. This is also a perfect example of rolling hills. They are one of my favourite things about England, I have to say.
It’s a miserable day in Leeds… kind of like how you picture wet, rainy Yorkshire to be really.
So it seemed like the perfect day to share some gloomy photos from Heysham.
(yup, still catching up with photos from February, oops)
(yup, still catching up with photos from February, oops)
These photos were taken just after parts one and two, and as you can see, the weather really turned on us – though I don’t think that this really explains the darkness to the left of the photos… I’m not actually sure what that is. I did have a few problems with loading this film but these were the only photos on the roll with it, so perhaps it was the weather.
Location: Heysham, Lancashire
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
Camera: Diana Mini
I was hoping to have some colour photos to share with you today but my usual photo lab wouldn’t cross process my slide film for me yesterday (cue panic and sadness from me) but hopefully I should get that film developed soon and I’ll have some colour on here!
I did however get another diana mini, black and white roll developed yesterday, finally and I don’t think you’ll mind these photos so much. I’m completely smitten with them myself.
Honestly, I think that last photo may be my favourite that I’ve ever taken!
Funny story – I went to take that photo and Thomas moved his hand in to touch the blossom and I thought – urgh, he always gets in the way of my photos – then I realised that actually it was beautiful just as he moved his hand away, so I bullied him into doing again haha and managed to actually get a rather amazing photo… So there you go, sometimes it’s ok to restage photos and sometimes it’s ok to let your boyfriends into your photos.
Location: Leeds
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
p.s. Happy Birthday Grandad!!! I would have written you a whole post but its not your big birthday until next year and I might have something fun already planned for that :) I hope you have a great day, I love you x
I still have two rolls that I started in February to develop too… oops.
p.s. Please read today’s post by my friend Elle, you could change lives.
Location: Scarborough
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 iso 400
I’ve blogged before about the unexpected surprises that I’ve had from my Superheadz Slim and Wide… and now I know that this occurance has a name… the ‘Vivitar Ghost!’ isn’t that cool!(Thanks Adam)
I think I’ve finally figured out what causes this as well… the wrist strap!
Though of course not directly, but without the wrist strap, I wouldn’t carry this camera around the way that I do, it wouldn’t swing around all the time whilst I’m carrying it and that wouldn’t move the shutter just a little bit to expose the film with streaks…
It makes sense when you think about it.
The above photo was an experiment to see if swinging it around would actually cause this to happen and if anything I think the experiement went too well as I’ve managed to overexpose the frame rather than streak it… oops. But still, it’s so exciting!
I think I’m going to have to experiment further and see what happens…
I love film!!!
It is so sunny in England at the moment – I’m mostly confused by this if I’m honest, but glad too – we had our first meal in our garden last night and I’ve been wearing skirts and dresses (yup, me, Frocktober seems to have banished any previous worries I had about baring my legs lol) and generally enjoying the warmth and sun. I really, really hope it lasts over the weekend, or me and the weather are going to be having issues.
.
Anyway, with all the sunshine, it seemed right to share a bit of the winter sunshine we had in Scarborough last month… I frequently manage to over expose this film normally by accidently having it on the bulb setting but this time the overexposure is caused by having to open the back and give the film a little nudge to do as its told (the diana mini is famous for its winding on issues…) however, I actually quite like these results. It really was very bright that day and these photos definitely show that.
.
.
This last one isn’t really that overexposed in comparison to the others, but it fits well with them. I really loved seeing the snow on the castle, so I took a few photos of it.
The sunshine this week is really making me look forward to going back to Scarborough in the Summer, it doesn’t seem that long since I took my holga for its first ever visit there but I guess it has been a while since then now, lets hope its as sunny.
Location: Scarborough
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 iso 400
It seems a bit odd to be posting photos of snow on the first day of Spring – and even odder that these were from the first week of February but at least I’m starting to catch up with my photos on here.
These were taken in Scarborough, I posted some phone photos last month and I’ve finally got around to starting to post the Diana Mini photos I took there too. Unfortunately all my LC-A photos (apart from 2) were lost :(
I had a little bit of trouble with my diana mini at the start of this roll (ironically after talking to someone else about theirs giving them trouble…) but luckily all the photos turned out, even if some were overexposed and rippling a little.
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
Location: Scarborough
{That’s Thomas relaxing at the bottom, I love this photo}
I’m always amazed by the different feelings you can get from photos depending on your mood – after a sucessful stress-free weekend (hurray), I find these photos quite relaxing and calm in comparison to the photos that I posted last week, even though it’s the same camera, film and location.
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
Location: Heysham, Lancashire
I really wanted to write something about how I’m feeling today… get it out there, out of me. But the words feel clogged inside, like I’m scared to actually say anything, because then I’ll have to think of ways to resolve them… and I don’t know how or if I can. Luckily these photos seem to be quite suited to this feeling, so perhaps they’ll say the words that I can’t seem to say for me.
p.s. Heysham is a lovely little village (in spite of its Nuclear power plants…) just down the coast from Morcambe, I’m really glad we went, we had a great walk and I loved taking photos there.
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
Location: Heysham
Whilst most of the photos I took in Grasmere with my yashica were of the village, these photos were taken along a path that followed the river behind the village and back to the car park… a walk that turned out to be far better than any of us expected.
There is almost a feeling of serenity in the Fells (hills) of the Lake District – an indifference to the world around it and the constant changes happening that don’t seem to affect the area…. the sheep certainally didn’t care about us wandering through and neither did the clouds in the distance that softly covered the very tips of the Fells making them seem much larger than they were.
I’m a constant worrier and that feeling of letting those worries go and just enjoying my surroundings for those brief moments where I pressed the shutter button was exactly what I wanted that weekend…
and sometimes a moment is all you need.
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 iso 400
Location: Grasmere, The Lake District
Probably the best thing to come out of my LC-A having a little moment
(I’ll be testing the new batteries this weekend, cross all your fingers and toes…)
is that it gave me some time to dedicate to my little Diana Mini.
I know I gush about my cameras a lot, but gosh I love my Diana Mini, can you believe I actually missed not using it over the last couple of months… I think I’m going to have to work to balance my cameras out a bit better.
Also, I love this little dog’s face…and my parents matching coats… and that sneaky lens flare…
and that it’s the weekend. Woo.
Have a good weekend!
Yesterday I dropped off 6 films to be developed and I am EXCITED, so I thought now would be the best time to round off the photos from our little walk along the canal with my little yellow superheadz camera. I’m still amazed by how this Ilford film is capturing my analogue heart… I need more already!
Also, just a quick note to say thank you to everyone who left my Mum a birthday comment, I loved reading them. I actually have no idea if she’s seen them yet though lol, I’ll get on that.
{I was a little sad about this one, as it looked so thin… but I didn’t want to ignore it, it seemed worse somehow}
We saw quite a lot of horses on our walk along the canal and I couldn’t help but take photos of them.
I was really happy with the reflection in the last photo… especially as it didn’t start drinking until we were stood right in front of it.
Location: Leeds Liverpool Canal
Cameras: Refurbished LC-A & Superheadz Yellow Peace
Films: Kodak Elite Chrome 100 & Ilford XP2 400
{the smoke from the chimney in this picture just kills me…happy sigh}
{Populating my photos sucess! You like the man in the hat yes?}
I’m quite taken with the gritty quality of these photos… After trying the black and white film with the La Sardina and my refurbished LC-A, I was very very excited about using this film with my Superheadz Yellow Peace. I’m not really sure why I haven’t used it in it before…
After much thought, I’ve decided that this film is amazing. No matter what camera I’ve used it in, its produced lovely results. I still adore it in my Diana Mini but I couldn’t be happier with the results in other cameras too.
Location: Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
Camera: Superheadz Yellow Peace
Dear black and white film,
I’m sorry that I ever doubted you…
You are perfect for a cold winter’s walk.
And luckily, my Superheadz loves you too!
Yours,
Rhianne
Yours,
Rhianne
Location: Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
Camera: Superheadz Yellow Peace
It seems only fair to follow the last of 2011′s photos with the first of 2012′s don’t you think?
Last weekend we went for a wander around Leeds and I took some photos with my LC-A. I love the results with the Ilford XP2 film and I’m glad that I’ve started to use it more in different cameras – I think I will use it with my Superheadz next which is a very exciting thought!
I got so excited seeing this, amazingly on a road that I’ve walked down many times…
This camera is still a steep learning curve for me – at one point I had it on the wrong ISO setting, though that didn’t ruin anything luckily. Also, I’m a bit worried I’m covering the light meter with some photos as a couple of them turned out like this on both this roll and my last one… Needless to say, my mental checklist of things to check when taking a photo is a little longer now, but I’m happy with that if the results are like this.
I love Leeds, sometimes I forget how amazing it can look.
Camera: Refurbished LC-A
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
Location: Leeds, England.
More ATP.
Five deer on the way to work. Five!
And walking Harry on Christmas Day.
(I love the picture of him, even if it is blurry)
Camera: Refurbished LC-A
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
Location: Minehead, Leeds and Norfolk
It’s not very often I load a single photo on here…
but this photo alone has completely sold me on my refurbished LC-A.
Thomas and I go to a lot of gigs, this is going on our gallery wall!
Camera: Refurbished LC-A
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
Location: ATP, Minehead
“Paris? No, not this city. It’s too real and too beautiful. It never lets you forget anything.
It reaches in and opens you wide, and you stay that way.”
Jerry Mulligan, An American in Paris
You can see roll one and roll two of my diana mini Paris photos on my Flickr page.
You can see roll one and roll two of my diana mini Paris photos on my Flickr page.
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 Iso 400
Location: Paris, France
As well as exploring the city of Belfast, we also looked around the murals and learnt more about the area where one of my friends grew up. I spent most of my childhood living in the middle of no where, so I was intrigued by the contrasts of her city youth, as well as the history of The Troubles and what it was like to grow up during that time.
{a rainbow in black and white, I was intrigued to see if it would be gradient, can you just see it?}
We were also incredibly lucky to stay with my friends family and I have to say that they were just wonderful, the weekend was just what I needed, lots of laughing, chatting and wine.
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
Camera: La Sardina Sea Pride
p.s. there’s bikes on my skirt. its amazing.
I did something brave – I used the Ilford XP2 film in a camera that wasn’t my Diana Mini… what do you think?
After looking at these quite a lot, I think that I like them… I’m still not 100% sold on the La Sardina, the fuzzy edges are really fuzzy, but I think it took to the Ilford (or vice versa) really well and these photos do capture the feeling of the city whilst we were there pretty well (it rained lol).
I am quite taken with the photos that are taken close up though – the face and the fish in particular, I think I need to use it for close ups more…
Camera: La Sardina Sea Pride
Film: Ilford XP2
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland
“I learned that you do not need to be published in books or magazines, or belong to a certain association, or even earn money from your images, to call yourself a photographer. All you need do is hold a camera in your hands with the intention of creating. Recording beauty and decay. Capturing memories. Documenting a scene. Telling a story. Catching a likeness. Exploring your inner world in pixels and film.” ~ Susannah Conway.
This time next week I will be starting Susannah Conway’s Photo Meditations E-Course and I can not wait. I’ve been in a bit of a blog rut and I haven’t even felt like taking as many photos lately so I’m hoping that doing this will give me the little nudge I need to find my photo and blog mojo again. Hurray!!
p.s. This is my favourite diana mini photo from Paris, the statues were either side of the stairs and I thought they belonged together somewhere instead of being apart… I’m rather proud of it.
I can’t think of a roll of film where I’ve been so thrilled with the results that I’ve wanted to share almost every single photo on here – I’m that picky and these cameras are tricksy, sometimes things just don’t work out. But the Ilford films I took in Paris are still blowing my mind with how well they turned out.
As with my Holga, I may have got a bit carried away with the double and multiple exposures with my diana mini. I love them so…
Also I took my first ever attempt at a panoramic photo in Paris looking out across the city from the Sacre Couer… and it worked!! Hurray!!
{click here to see bigger}
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 iso 400
Location: Paris.
Have I told you that I love Ilford XP2 film with my diana mini? I’m sure I have…
In fact, it was the only film I used with this camera in Paris as I knew I would just love the results with it and I was not disappointed!
In fact, it was the only film I used with this camera in Paris as I knew I would just love the results with it and I was not disappointed!
These photos are around the streets of Paris, I wanted to capture as much of them as I could and I just love how they turned out.
Location: Paris
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 iso 400
This church in Stratford-upon-Avon is often simply refered to as ‘Shakespeare’s Church as he was baptized there, served as a lay rector of the church, and is buried in the chancel.
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
I honestly still can’t believe that Christina asked me to guest post for her – I’ve followed her blog for as long as I’ve blogged (so over two years) and her attitude towards blogging and her amazing blog has definitely made her a blog hero of mine…
Check out my post about my favourite film and diana mini combination here. Yeay!
I’m having a love/hate relationship with the second half of photos from my last roll of ilford xp2.
On the one hand I am so disappointed with myself for not checking one of the fundamental switches on my diana mini (N not B, N not B) which means they are blurry and so overexposed… and the gardens at Harlow Carr were so pretty I was looking forward to sharing some lovely photos.
Yet on the other, I like the tones of the overexposure and the extreme grainyness of these photos – its almost like they’ve been painted with light…
What do you think? I’m completely torn over them…
Camera: Diana mini
Film: Ilford XP2 iso 400
Location: Harlow Carr Gardens, Harrogate
I’m at an age where a lot of my friends are getting married and honestly, I don’t mind… I love attending weddings, even if I am the one sniffling to myself throughout the ceremony and speeches.
Last month I took my Diana Mini with my favourite Ilford XP2 film along to one of my university friend’s amazing wedding and I’m in love with the results!
Everything about the entire wedding was beautiful and if anything I’m a little bit sad I didn’t take more photos but I’m still very happy with the ones I did take.
It seems a little silly that I’m posting these now as our visit was over two months ago… but here we are.
I’m beginning to think that this day of sunshine (in April remember!) may have been the best weather that we’ve had this year which is hugely despressing. Summer has definitely not come to England and honestly its starting to bring me down a little. I’m fed up of wearing my coat and worrying about whether my feet will get wet everyday.
Looking at these little lambs faces is cheering me up though…
I’m also a fan of the lone sheep and the rabbits.
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 iso 400
Location: Meanwood Urban Farm, Leeds.
p.s. lack of sun = no photo taking = grumpy Rhianne.
I still can’t believe that my little fling with black and white film in my diana mini has developed into a full blown love affair… I’m so happy with how the film and camera work together that I don’t even want to try it in another camera. This combination has Paris written all over it, don’t you think? I’m going to need so many films for when we go!
Amazingly I still have some more posts about Stratford Upon Avon up my sleeve but these are the only black and white photos that I took there, I got a bit carried away with the yashica to be honest, it makes the best sounds.
However, even though they are so different from the yashica photos, they capture the atmosphere and the sunshine just as well just differently, I love it.
Location: Stratford Upon Avon
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 iso 400
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 iso 400
I actually have to share this here – I’ve tweeted about it all afternoon but if you read blogs and you’ve found that you’re bored of seeing posts in your google reader and that you don’t visit blogs or comment any where near as much as you you would like to, or perhaps used to – then visit Wendy’s blog and see how your blog life can be changed too.
Seriously, my little blog mind is happily blown and I’m a happy blog reader once again,
p.s. the photo isn’t at all relevant, I just like it :) silly kitty.
Today is the first day of my 11 days off work and already we’ve had breakfast outside, I’ve got two loads of washing out on the line (I love having a clothes line) and we’re about to go to town for vintage shopping and lunch, yeay!!Although looking through these photos, I could quite happily go back to York and walk along the river again with a mint choc chip ice cream!
I love that they all have a slightly purple shade to them – has anyone ever experienced that with Ilford XP2 film before? I don’t know if its because it was so sunny or if it would have happened during development…
We’re going away with family and visting friends next week so I have some amazing guest posts coming up to kep my blog company. I can’t wait to relax, take lots of photos, see the people I love and forget about work for the week.
Happy Easter and happy weekend!!
See you in 11 days!
As part of Adele’s weekend in Yorkshire, Thomas and I took her to York for the day. The weather was absolutely stunning so we both took our Diana Mini’s – it was so much fun to take photos with another lomographer and to see how differently we looked at things.
I really do like to look up when I visit places…
(to the point of where I just relabelled some of my posts upon realisation, haha)
I remember during one of my first lectures at university, one of the lecturers (guesses on who it was G and C) talked about how everyone walks around looking down and they miss so much of the world above them. I guess I really hate the idea of missing out on anything and I’ve been fascinated with the idea of looking up everywhere I’ve been ever since…
I’ve only been to York two times before this and neither of those times I had a film camera, so I loved every minute we were there!
p.s. Adele is actually the cutest thing ever! Here’s proof…
I seriously adore this whole roll of film. In fact I can’t think of any other time when I’ve been so happy with a roll of film. I’ve definitely been converted to black and white film in the diana mini… they just work so well together.
I love the last photo. In fact I love them all, I can’t actually believe just how excited I am about them.
I didn’t add all of the roll here (though it was tempting but I didn’t want to desaturate* my blog with so many photos) but it is on Flickr if you want to see them all together.
*haha, did you see what I did there…
Anyway, its the weekend, hurray and the sun is actually shining here in Leeds, I really hope it lasts! I might even wear a dress tomorrow…
Happy weekend!!
What can I say… I like looking up at buildings…
and the buildings in Liverpool were gorgeous!
I didn’t expect the Ilford XP2 film to be as sensitive as it was, in fact I’m not sure I had even used an ISO 400 film before, so this film has been a bit of a learning curve for me but I must admit, I love these!
Cameras: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 4oo
Location: Liverpool, England.
It’s Sunday and I’m posting, a rare occasion… however I saw some perfect opportunities to take part in Shadow Shot Sunday over on Hey Harriet whilst we were in Liverpool, so here we are! 
We were both taking this photo of our shadows at the ‘Peace and Harmony’ Memorial for John Lennon at the same time, I love it! Happy shadow shot Sunday :)
I can’t think of anything more fun than double exposures (the writing one was actually four…) in black and white right now.
Location: Liverpool, England
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2
I actually can’t believe it’s taken me this long to share these photos but I do tend to get over excited about new camera’s and film so I guess its ok…
Whilst we did spend most of our week off at home, we spent the Monday and Tuesday in Liverpool. It was so great to spend a couple of days together without worrying about anything other than where we were going to eat (which we like to talk about anyway…) and enjoying a new city.
These photos were taken around Albert Dock.
I’m completely smitten with black and white film!
Location: Albert Dock, Liverpool
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 400