Zaragoza

Yashica Mat, Ilford Delta 100

Yashica Mat, Ilford Delta 100

San Sebastian

Sunset view from our hotel balcony
(Rolleiflex, Ilford Delta 100)

I was very pleased to find that the lab made a mistake and in fact did not lose my films, but they simply have an internal disconnect between their customer service and accounts departments... Turns out the credit card I have on file with them was expired, but instead of telling me this when I contacted them on several occasions, they just told me it was sent out and presumably lost in the post.

This is one of the added bonuses you get with film, the joy of finally getting your shots back!

These shots are from our road trip to Mallorca. We spent a night in San Sebastian. It was a really beautiful place. So will be posting a selection from the trip.

Sea side in December (with swimmer!)
Yashica fx-3, 50mm, Illford Delta 100

It was just before Christmas, but we were shocked to find the locals comfortably swimming in the Atlantic water. (If you look closely you can see one confidently striding towards the water in the shot above). Old and young they went out every day in droves. The Basques are indeed a hardy race!!

We weaker mortals remained bundled in our winter coats on dry land.

Paula on the beach
Yashica fx3, 50mm, Illford Delta 100

Two thumbs up for San Sebastian: great food, beautiful views and a lively, vigorous people!

Hacked Off

I would have liked to have posted some photos over the past few weeks, but my last 6 rolls of film seem to have gone missing in the post.

Apparently my lab received them and return posted them to me on March 4, over a month ago. They said they can try to make a claim to the post office which might get me some money back, but can't get my images back!

The films included the Rollei shots from San Francisco and also the films I finally found from my trip to Zaragoza over Christmas. These shots were quite valuable to me and it was a double disappointment to have finally found the films only to lose them in the post.

The lab assured me that things only get lost in the post on extremely rare occasions and they think it will turn up sooner or later. Who knows....

If anybody out there received a package in error please send it back to me!

San Francisco I (Just playing around)

Spot the Kitesurfer
(Paula's D80)

I was in San Francisco a few weeks ago and managed to find some time when not working to head out with the camera. It's a fantastic city for photography. I didn't have the luxury of waiting around for the right light simply because there was no time. I took my Rollei with me and went through a few rolls. While waiting for them to be developed, I post a few shots taken playing around with Paula's D80. (Yes Paula came with me, it would not have been possible to prise away the D80 from her otherwise -- also my snooty attitudes towards digital would never have permitted me to bring the D80 myself! The fact that it just happened to be there makes it somehow more acceptable for me to use it. Note that I always refer to 'playing around' with the digital camera, and not implying that its 'serious' photography. I would not feel comfortable with that.

At the old docks
(Paula's D80)

Embarcadero
(Paula's D80)

As we didn't have a lot of time, we just cruised around the city in the rental car and stopped at the places we could both agree were worthwhile. Also as we were in America it felt appropriate to do some drive-by shootings. Sticking the lens out the car window and pushing the trigger at strangers just feels right when you are driving a Chevy Impala.

Drive-by shooting
(Paula's D80)

Views from the Ferry

Yashica fx-3, 50mm + polarising filter, Ilford Delta 100

We took the day ferry back from Mallorca to Barcelona. It was a perfect day, sunny and the water was calm. As we rounded the island we got some beautiful views of the north west corner of the island.

Yashica fx-3, 50mm + polarising filter, Ilford Delta 100

As we sailed away and the island gradually faded into the horizon I realised once again how special Mallorca is. With mountains, pains, beaches and marshes, it has a range of terrain that is uncommon for a relatively small island. The lush green winter vegetation and mild climate make it a great place to wait out the long northern winter.

Yashica fx-3, 50mm + polarising filter, Ilford Delta 100

Yashica fx-3, 50mm + polarising filter, Ilford Delta 100

Here are some of the colour images with my new Yashica Mat (kind gift from my Uncle in law). I have a not-so-good scanner so unfortunately the quality is not as good as I would like.

Yashica Mat 124g, Kodak Portra 160 VC



Yashica Mat 124g, Kodak Portra 160 VC

We felt sad to be leaving. As we drove North from Barcelona, the car thermometer showed the outside temperature steadily dropping, degree by degree from the high teens of Mallorca down to the near zero temperatures of northern France.