Winter's White Mantle

Hello again! Please join me for another little wander into the archive and a chilly stroll around Castle Hills, near where we lived in Northallerton, back in January 2021.

A little low sunshine picking out hoof prints in the snow.

These were taken on a roll of HP5+ with my (first) Ensign, a Selfix 16-20.

Looking over towards Castle Hills and two beautiful, ancient arboreal neighbours.

That first oak again.

Sadly, a short while after that time, this little camera threw in the towel and has essentially just sat on the shelf since..

Looking back down the land towards home and thoughts of a nice, warm cuppa when I get back..

The issue is that the shutter speed selector ring decided it wasn’t going to do it’s job and adjust shutter mechanism anymore. The ring still rotates freely and the shutter still works, though only at one speed, but that’s it, shtum, nada, nothing. A painful silence between the two parts*... Ah well, maybe I’ll get it looked at again sometime and give another new lease of life..

Further down the lane and a closer view of the second oak. Still glorious despite having suffered badly in a vicious storm some time previous.

This roll of HP5+ was lab-developed in Xtol by Peak Imaging, who were based in Sheffield. An excellent lab that, unfortunately, succumbed a little later that year to the economic climate of the time. When they departed, it gave me the final push to dig out my old developing tanks ‘go it alone’. This was also the point where I thought I’d give caffenol a go. In for a penny, in for a pound, as they say. I haven’t looked back since.

No so far from home, now, looking back at a line of elders further down the lane.

I hope you liked this rather chilly selection from a little while back. All being well, I’ll see you again soon. Take care.

The unlucky Ensign.

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*(It had been serviced not so long before, too, so I’m not really sure what went wrong. I’d already had issues with the servicing company by this stage, so was unwilling to send it back to them at that time.)

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Thanks, again, for being here. If you would like to show your appreciation, maybe you’d consider a small contribution to our collective future and help plant a tree. All proceeds go to:-