16 Comments
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Paul Jenkin's avatar

What a great present! My favourite 800 speed colour film, until now, has always been Portra 800 but that Lomo film looks excellent! Nice photos.

Ralph Turner's avatar

Much appreciated, Paul, thank you. I was surprised how good it is. This may seem a little unusual, but I don't think I've ever shot any Portra... 🤔☺️

Paul Jenkin's avatar

Portra 800 is, in my experience, quite different to the 160 and 400 versions. The 160 and 400 versions are, relatively speaking, neutral to cool, low grain and were (are?) popular with wedding / portrait photographers as they are great with skin tones.

The 800 version is, understandably, grainier but somehow softer and, when I've shot it, has a tendency towards a warmer rendering. It's also expensive. A 35mm roll of 36 is over £20. A box of 5 rolls of 120 is over £100. I have a bit in my fridge but it's going to be used gradually and very carefully as I don't imagine I'll be buying much more of it.

Ralph Turner's avatar

Oof…. not cheap. Mind you, even the Lomo is around £16 a roll. Not something to take lightly, it seems. For the most part, I think I’ll stick to shooting colour digitally. To be fair, that was my plan when I returned to shooting film, anyway. Having shot predominantly colour previously, even back before I went digital (slides), I’d decided to explore b+w much more and see where it went. Cheaper to ‘run’, less potentially harmful chemistry involved and a less frequented path to follow creatively. I’m glad I did, as I mostly tend to ‘seek in mono first theses days, particularly with film, if any of that makes any sense😊

KewtieBird’s Photo Journey's avatar

Such pretty nature!

Ralph Turner's avatar

Indeed. Many thanks KB!

Lin Gregory's avatar

The snowdrops look beautiful Ralph, what an amazing carpet of them! How kind of the owners to let you visit on a day they weren't open. The colours throughout are fabulous with this film - I've always been under the impression that Lomo films gave unreal colours but this proves me very wrong, it certainly brings out the gorgeous greens in nature and that fungi...wow! I can only imagine what autumn might look like!😊🌳

Ralph Turner's avatar

Many thanks, Lin, much appreciated. 🤍🙂 This was probably the biggest 'carpet' of them I've ever seenYes, I must admit, their more 'sober' emulsions can slip under the radar a little. If I ever need a high speed colour film again at any point, this will be the one I go for.🤓

Deborah Gregory's avatar

What a gorgeous wander through your year on film! The colours, the weather’s whims, the kindness of strangers ... it all reads here like a small, living season held in your hands. Maybe that's what photography is?!

My favourite images are those beautiful carpets of snowdrops ... because I've can't remember ever seeing such beauty in my life. What a vision they must've been! Many thanks for sharing them all with us, Ralph. 🙏🤍🌳

Ralph Turner's avatar

Many thanks, Deborah, I appreciate your words. These carpets of snowdrops are probably the most I've ever seen in one place, too.🤍😊

Shital Morjaria (she/her)'s avatar

Those tiny white flowers are lovely!!

Ralph Turner's avatar

Thanks, Shital! Snowdrops are such lovely little flowers. Seemingly delicate, yet tough enough to face the rigours of the unpredictable weather at that time of year.

Rachel Jeffrey's avatar

That tree in shot #3 is so cool! These gardens look lovely.

Ralph Turner's avatar

Many thanks, Rachel!🙂

søren k. harbel's avatar

Beautiful carpet of white! Fabulous. Early bird, and all that 😉

Ralph Turner's avatar

Many thanks, Søren! Indeed, we were lucky that day.