FishyFish

Keeping on the Ektar theme... FILM - American classic by fishyfish_arcade, on Flickr FILM - Pennywise still lives by fishyfish_arcade, on Flickr

After missing the sunset every night so far this week because of other commitments, I finally managed to get out this evening. At sunset by fishyfish_arcade, on Flickr

Sticky shutters at longer exposures is quite a common problem on older cameras - especially if they've not been used regularly. Getting a service / CLA will likely fix the issue and allow you to use the full range of shutter speeds. I've used this guy on more than one occasion: http://www.mwcamerarepairs.co.uk/ If you email him and explain the issue, he'll give you a quote for the work.

No, it's handheld. I'm either super-fast on the shutter or have a robot-like ability to stand still.

I've managed to salvage quite a few of them. They're even blurrier than normal, but I think they just about still work. This one for instance, I quite like. It'd have been better had I not fecked it up, but still... FILM - Looking out to sea by fishyfish_arcade, on Flickr

Thanks Ste. I'll take a look at those shots of David Burnett's later. I've had a glance and they look great.

And guess what I did with the three rolls of film I shot on Friday... The cheapo bulb switch on the Holga must've got knocked when I put the camera in the bag or something. It's now taped in place! I might be able to rescue a few of them (and I've not had the colour roll back yet - although I don't expect anything better), but I'm well and trully fecked off at myself for not realising.

Tri-X is 400asa. It seems to work ok in sunshine or cloudy conditions with the Holga. Mine has a functional aperture switch so the exposure setting actually works. I think I might tape the bulb switch in place so I don’t accidentally activate it. I shot another three rolls through it on Friday.

I bought myself a Holga. These are all shot on Kodak Tri-X - an expired batch that, due to a production defect, shows the backing-paper markings on some frames. FILM - Public by fishyfish_arcade, on Flickr FILM - Reflections through a plastic lens by fishyfish_arcade, on Flickr FILM - Keep out by fishyfish_arcade, on Flickr FILM - South by fishyfish_arcade, on Flickr FILM - Farmed around by fishyfish_arcade, on Flickr FILM - Places we go to by fishyfish_arcade, on Flickr

Bottom one for me. You can see more of his face and I think that improves it. Both nice though.

@Scratchy Bollock I've not done much long exposure / night photography on film, but when I did, I took a digital camera with me too (it's micro-four-thirds, so not too much extra to carry!). I then took a shot on the digital using the aperture and ISO settings to match the film camera. This allowed me to see the shutter speed the camera had chosen (and whether I wanted to alter it) and then use the same setting on film. It works well, but is a bit of a faff. A suitable light meter (either an App like Ste_S used, or a dedicated meter that will work in low light) might be an easier option. Some films have better reciprocity than others and can get longer exposures before you have to start extending the time to avoid reciprocity failure (RF). I used Kodak Ektar, which I think allows up to about 14 seconds before RF kicks in, which was more than enough for what I needed. I think Fuji Acros is very good for long exposures too, and (although check this) Fuji Provia slide film. This one is on Ektar and was, I think, about 2 or 3 seconds. FILM - Chubbys by fishyfish_arcade, on Flickr

I watched the finale last night and, to be honest, it did nothing to redeem the fact that, for me, most of the season has been a boring load of crap. Any up-tick in the storyline came too late to save it - I just didn't care by the time it happened. I doubt I'll watch any more - or I'll at the very least wait to see what the feedback is before I do so. One thing I'm unclear about is how: If ever a show should have just ended with the events in the book, this is it. The original season was excellent. Everything since has been a downward spiral of boredom and misery.

Nikon F80 and some expired Fuji Superia 100. FILM - Chevy by fishyfish_arcade, on Flickr

Have you considered Micro Four Thirds? You have a full range of lenses at your disposal and the kit is generally smaller and lighter than crop or full-frame sensor cameras.

One of those songs where you wish the chorus would just keep going...