I’ve almost exhausted my supply of Lake District photos (you’re probably glad to hear) – it was such a fantastic place to visit, a photographers dream!
Here’s a selection from the cross-processed roll of film I took with my little Olympus XA2.
I’m feeling wistful – I need to get planning my next mini-break!
All taken with my little Olympus XA2 + Fujifilm Velvia 100 film (cross-processed)
One of the (many) cameras I took away with me to The Lake District was my little Diana F+ (a 120 film toy camera).
I diligently ensured it didn’t get left out amongst its bigger, flashier cousins and that it got its fair share of snapping time. I’m nice like that.
There was a problem though. When I was gathering up all my film for a trip to the lab I knew things weren’t right with the film in my Diana – instead of being tightly wrapped like it was when it went in, it was all baggy and loose round the spool. Uh oh!
I was very close to binning the film there and then – chalking it up to experience; give yourself enough time to load up your film carefully in the future, don’t wait till you’re halfway up a mountain and wearing mittens.
As I was going to the photo lab anyway I thought I’d risk getting it developed, and I’m so glad I did!
The ones near the centre, the ones I took first were were almost perfect, but as the roll progressed there were more and more light leaks and, most excitingly, the numbers and print from the film backing paper became exposed onto the film.
I love the numbers! These photos look like I’ve gone crazy adding textures and colours in photoshop but it’s all ‘real’.
Have you had any happy accidents photographically speaking (not just with film)?
All taken with Lomo Diana F+ Edelweiss and FujiColor Pro 160NS film
One of the things you notice when you’re in the Lake District is that there are sheep EVERYWHERE!
Fluffy cloud-like blobs pepper every vista…
Mostly they are harmless and look a lot like cuddly teddy bears.
I snuck these two sweetie-pies into the boot of my car, they live in my back garden now…
However, it would seem that sheepingtons come in all shapes and sizes – look at THESE bully boys – especially the one on the right, he really scares me! I was glad they were behind a dry-stone wall (those are everywhere too) – they look like the badly-trained Rottweilers of the ovine world.
PS – You know I’m not really sheep-napper, don’t you?
These Polaroids demonstrate very well just how freakishly hot and sunny it was during our trip to the rain capital of the world aka The Lake District.
This is the Ullwater Steamer, which easn’t actually a steamer but a 100-year-old motor yacht – all the same, it was a very pleasant way to spend the afternoon – I got a little sun-burnt!
They aren’t brilliant photos – it became really hazy in the heat. I guess that’s bound to happen with so much moisture about.
All taken with my Polaroid SX-70 and 600 film with ND filter
OK, so when I visited the Lake District last month there weren’t exactly any daffodils, but there were plenty of lonely clouds, vales and hills so three out of four ain’t bad.
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
I took quite a few Polaroids whilst I was in the Lake District – it was only a little over a week ago but it almost seems like a dream now. I still have rolls of film waiting to be developed (I’ve been sick and housebound) so I’m pleased I have these to tide me over (plus the lovely digital ones, of course).
This first one is of a fast-moving stream – we stopped and drank water from it in our cupped hands. I’ve never done that before (such a city girl) it tasted amazing!
I love how the muted and painterly colours of Polaroid 600 film has captured the essence of the mountainous, watery landscape so well.
It occurred to me I’m not used to composing images where I have to look upwards – I’m more used to the flat horizon of the sea.
It was eerie too to think those lakes went as deep as their neighbouring hills went high – the water was inky blue/black and shone like a mirror most of the time, creating wonderful light. Still and very mysterious.
All taken with my Polaroid SX-70 using 600 film and ND filter
One of the places we visited in the Lake District was Grasmere, and I feel I need to dedicate a whole post to the delicacy that is Sarah Nelson’s Grasmere Gingerbread.
Oh. My. God. It is amazing – I’m not normally into things that are gingery tasting but everyone was having some so I tried some and… it blew me away; the taste haunted me for days.
Polaroid SX70 and 600 film (with ND filter)
It’s too cakey to be a biscuit but too biscuity to be a cake, it has a crumbly top and a dense and slightly chewy middle. There’s tones of ginger there (obviously) and all sorts of other flavours – I think possibly rum, maybe honey, black pepper even. I’ll never know for sure though as the recipe is a huge secret – I did find this recipe by Jamie Oliver though that I might try… either that or I have a long trip to get some more!
[Stop the presses! They deliver! Where's my credit card?]
PS – Here’s another sheepington. I miss their woolly bottoms.
Polaroid SX70 and 600 film (with ND filter)
OK, brace yourselves, if you scroll down you’re going to see a lot of photos, and this is just the tip of the iceberg really – I still have films to develop and Polaroids to scan.
These are all taken with a Canon 5D MkII and most are using my 17-40mm f/4 lens. It’s definitely a wide-angle sort of place!
I have stuck my mobile phone out on the windowsill of my hotel room and made it ‘do wi-fi’ and here I am; on my laptop, online in the middle of the Lake District! I’m in the rainiest county in England and England is the raniest nation in… probably the world, and yet the sun is shining, the skies are blue and it looks set to stay that way – amazing!
As well as the compact flash cards I am filling at a rate of knots, I have a whole stack of Polaroids (oh, they look amazing – Polaroid film was made for this landscape), rolls and rolls of film and eyeballs full of wonderful sights – the reason I wanted to get online so badly though was to share my latest piece of writing that has been published in the guardian today!
The Lake District; it’s very hilly, they make amazing gingerbread and there are sheep EVERYWHERE!
Wish you were here.
