Winter is Here...

It's already pretty freezing, but I know it's only going to get colder yet. I love being able to wrap up in loads of layers and big jumpers and scarves though so I'm looking forward to it (although mainly I'm just looking forward to snow!)

So in honour the approaching months of freezing temperatures and dark nights, I've been uploading some photos from last winter to my Flickr. Head on over there to view the full set, and to find out which camera each shot is from.

The ice sculpture ones were taken at last year's London Ice Sculpting Festival, which I went to on my birthday. Some of them were truly amazing.

 

Trying to be Deep and Meaningful.

You might remember a couple of weeks ago I asked for help with how to display the hundreds of photos I've had printed over the last couple of years. Well I've started the sketch/scrapbook idea I had. I've only done 2 so far and there are at least 10 categories to my photos (so I need to stock up on sketchbooks! They're from The Works and are currently on sale) but I thought I'd keep you updated on my progress.

The photos are stuck in with double sided tape (pretty permanent, but I've already scanned in all the good ones and I've got the negatives) with a caption underneath saying which camera they're from and if there's any additional information.


The photo on the cover gives an idea what the album is about. I've tried to pick ones with quotes on as I think this makes it clearer, although for some categories I don't have any text photos so I may have to fashion some.

Blue Ribbon.

This set of photos was taken with my SuperHeadz Blue Ribbon Camera. I think I've overused this camera bit because half the time it doesn't work, but the rest of the time I get great results like these!

I've got my eye on the SuperHeadz Black Slim Devil Camera next, but sadly I don't have any money to spare on cameras at the moment.

Anyway, you can view all the photos I've taken on this camera in the set on my Flickr.

Diana F+.

My friends bought me a Diana F+ for my birthday back in January, but I've only just had the first film back. Oops!

I did find it really difficult to use though which was perhaps why I wasn't more keen to use it. I don't like how when you wind it on it doesn't stop on the next exposure like 35mm film cameras do, you have to keep your eye on it to make sure you don't wind too far. This is perhaps why I only got 4 photos out of the whole roll (two the same), as opposed to the 12 I was supposed to get!

I really like the look of the photos though so perhaps with more practice I'll get the hang of it! I just loaded another film, using the youtube video below for help, so I'll get using it soon.  I made a bit of a rookie mistake of putting the film in the wrong side of the camera, then wondered why it wasn't winding on! Fail.

Oh and in case you're interested I used Lomography Color Negative 120 film :)

A Gift from a Friend.

What a busy weekend! Friday after work I went to my friend Lee's house. She always cooks amazing food and she didn't disappoint this time with a piri-piri chicken themed feast (with spicy rice, potato wedges, halloumi cheese, the works!) then we did the usual thing when we get together and played a board game, this time the Game of Life. Yes we're that cool.

Saturday we went to Norwich. I took a lot of photos, but all on film (I took 4 cameras with me!) so it'll be a while before I get them back unfortunately. I tried out my Diana F+ for the first time but I didn't feel very comfortable using it so I think I need to practice with that a bit more before trying to take decent photos!

And finally today me and my friend Jo went to Westfield Stratford City :) the trains were a nightmare (as usual) so I drove but it was actually a really good journey. And we got to drive through the Olympic Park, which was amazing!

So now onto the whole reason for this post....Jo's dad gave me a gift. I know I've mentioned sometime in the past that I have a Praktica L2. Well Jo was telling her dad about it and he remembered he also had a Praktica, so he dug it out and as he never uses it he gave it to me! Along with a whole load of other camera goodies, including numerous flashes and lenses (check out the amazing telephoto one, you could see to the moon with that beauty!) So it all needs a good clean because it's amazingly dusty (Jo's house is a bit of a worksite, her dad's a builder and he's been renovating the house for, oh, about eight years or so :S) and I need to ask my dad (he's full of camera knowledge) what half of it is, but I'm very excited to use it all!

My two Prakticas :) I love the strap on the [new] one.

I may have to rethink my "camera museum" (as my mum calls it!) to fit all this stuff in. But I might just sit the case on the floor in front of the shelf the rest of my cameras are on. Makes more sense.

A Kodak Flickr Upload.

These were all taken with a Kodak FunSaver disposable camera.

Bridge

Fading Roses

Just There

Light Rainbow

Party

Pastel Sky

Pink Flowers

New Cameras Coming My Way!

I mentioned in an earlier post that my dad bought me a camera for my birthday, a Praktica L2, and well, so did a few other people!

My brothers bought me this:

Split-Cam

It arrived this morning and I'm very excited to try it out, but with being at work during all the daylight hours of the week, I haven't even been able to test the Praktica out yet, so it may have to wait :(

Diana F+

My lovely, lovely friends bought me my first Diana camera (have a look at my wishlist on the right hand side, there's a lot more that I want!) Again it'll have to wait to be tried out, but mainly because this camera uses 120 film and I haven't got any.

I then went a little crazy on ebay, and bought three more cameras! My mum is starting to despair, asking why I need so many cameras, but I just keep telling her it's a hobby, I want to collect them and they all do different things anyway!

HOLGA 35mm Compact Camera K200N

This I bought from holga_universal on ebay, and I got it in black. This one was quite pricy for me, but I'm earning now and I'm excited to try out the filters!

Waterproof 35mm Film Underwater Camera

This camera I have no idea when I'm going to use, but I thought it was fun! I got it from this seller on ebay, and it also comes in a few other colours.

Carling Vive Le Football Spy Cam

Finally I bid on and won this novelty can shaped camera. Again just a bit of fun, I thought it was a bit different!

One of the ebay cameras came in the post today but we have a ridiculously small postbox and no one was in to answer the door so it's gone back to the Royal Mail depot. I hate that you have to wait 24 hours before collecting, because that means monday, everyone's at work all week so I'm not going to get it until next weekend now :(

My camera shelf is pretty full now, and this is before the arrival of the ebay cameras! I may have to get another shelf :S