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.
These were taken on a roll of HP5+ with my (first) Ensign, a Selfix 16-20.
Sadly, a short while after that time, this little camera threw in the towel and has essentially just sat on the shelf since..
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..

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








Ralph, what comes through immediately in all these beautiful images is your deep love of trees ... it’s just everywhere. In the framing I feel their majesty, in the tones their quiet grandeur, and I love how my eye is drawn to them every time. Thank you so much for sharing them wrapped in winter’s white mantle; they’re a gift. 🙏🤍🌳
More great snaps, and once again, love the rendering of the vintage camera...Hope you get it sorted soon! Best,
Benjamin