I first got interested in photography at school in the 1970s. I was hopeless at most forms of art; I couldn’t draw or paint or sculpt. But the school had a darkroom, and one of the art teachers brought in an old SLR for the small group of us who wanted to learn the entire process of shooting, developing, and printing. I was immediately hooked, loving the combination of art (visualising the picture) and science (in bringing it to fruition).
My first serious camera was a Zorki 4, a birthday present from my parents. A lot of saving from part-time jobs got me a used Pentax Spotmatic F. Then, while at university, I settled on a Canon A1 after reading a review by the late great Victor Blackman. He’d been invited to a press junket at Brands Hatch and wanted to know if an all-electronic camera could stand up to the treatment pros would give it. So he put it in the grass in the paddock and left it there for half an hour during a heavy downpour. The Canon PR person wasn’t too pleased, but Blackman explained that pros spent a lot of time standing around in the rain, and the camera had just passed its first test.
The Canon and a pair of Vivitar Series 1 zooms (the 28-105 and the 70-210) served me well for a long time until I went digital. My partner’s interest in shooting film rekindled the flame. I’ve got an EOS 5 now, so I can use my existing EF glass. But I recently got an EOS 650 as a potential second film body. It came with a Canon 28-105, and these five frames were the outcome of film testing that combination.
I’ve lived in London most of my adult life, and Oxford Street seems to have been in constant decline, with more and more shops peddling junk to tourists. But on the way to the Photographers’ Gallery to buy more film, it crossed my mind that a wander along Oxford Street with a camera might be an interesting idea.
This is the product of a Sunday afternoon stroll from Marble Arch to Bond Street. Fomapan 100 from a bulk roll in Bellini Duo Step (because I’ve also got back into processing my own film). They are possibly a little more contrasty than I’d care for, so I might return to my way-back-when favourite HC110. Last time around, Kodak Tri-X in the old-style HC110 was my combination of choice. For various reasons, I didn’t like ILFORD HP5 PLUS, but looking at today’s prices I’m not sure I can justify buying Tri-X anymore. Kentmere 400 in the new version of HC110 or Pyro 510 might be the next ones to try
Since I’d done no more than half of Oxford Street by the time I’d finished the roll, there might be a part two to be shot starting from the Tottenham Court Road end.
In the same way I don’t think photography is just art, I don’t subscribe to the idea that “street photography” is a special genre. There’s a little too much artifice in that approach for my liking. Rather than waiting for the “decisive moment” why not test yourself by going out somewhere and seeing what you can come back with?
~ Steve
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7 responses to “5 Frames… Walking from Marble Arch to Bond Street on Fomapan 100 Classic (35mm Format / EI 100 / Canon EOS 650 + Canon 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 EF USM II)”
“In the same way I don’t think photography is just art, I don’t subscribe to the idea that “street photography” is a special genre. There’s a little too much artifice in that approach for my liking. Rather than waiting for the “decisive moment” why not test yourself by going out somewhere and seeing what you can come back with?”
On board with you on that one, matey.
The Canon 28-105mm was one of my favorite lenses for film, not so much digital. This was my primary lens for years before I switched to digital and by then, could afford more expensive lenses. I still have that lens and recently purchased the ‘sister lens’ 20-35mm f3.5-4.5 to go with it. I use both lenses with my Canon Elan 7e.
I had real trouble parsing “Waling”, which appears so many times, but eventually decided it must be “walking”!
That was 100% on me, Chris. All fixed now!
Just so you know, that sort of typo so completely detracts from the content as to derail the entire article. I decided Waling must either be a destructive pro camera test regimen (tougher even than rain in the grass) or else an especially aggressive technique of street photography that raises welts on passersby. Glad to find it’s merely walking. Thanks, Chris, for a nice ramble.
I agree completely, thanks for keeping my on the straight and narrow 🙏
Should you need any future walling tips, please let me know. Your first is free: “Combine the weight of your camera with the sheer power of an arcing motion and put it in a sock or Christmas stocking before smashing it into a wall/consenting passer-by.”
Erm, my thanks go to ^Steve^ for the nice ramble. Sheesh.