For the easily distracted...

Already too excited...

2012-01-27T10:00:00.000Z

After the excitement of Paris and Krakow over the last two years and even more excitement coming up this year with my lickle sisters wedding (eep) Thomas and I decided that rather than a city break abroad, this year we really wanted a relaxing week by the beach. So later this year we are going to Whitby for a week and staying in a little cottage with beams. I already can't wait to go and I have months to wait!

We've only been to Whitby the once and that was back in 2009 where I took photos for my first ever photoswap with my little holga (and also some digital photos for my dear friend Nicole too). I don't think I've ever shared them all here though, so I thought now was the perfect time!

Some of you may recognise a couple of the photos from my shop (you know, back in the day, haha) I was really pleased with how these turned out and I can't wait to go back with more than one camera to take photos. Hurray! It's nice having things to look forward too.

Have a great weekend!

Location: Whitby, England
Camera: Holga 135bc
Film: Kodak ISO 200.

My favourite Diana Mini photos Part 2...

2012-01-25T15:56:00.001Z

Continuing on from Part 1, here are my favourite photos from rolls 9-15 with my Diana Mini.

Roll 9: Another tough decision but that lone sheeps with the blossom kills me everytime.

(I love sheep!)

Roll 10: The vignetting says it all really...
(also this one but I've already posted it so many times)

Roll 11: When I took this Thomas's Dad said 'Oh that will be a good one.' and it was :)

Roll 12: Sometimes I wonder how this would have looked if it wasn't accidently on the bulb setting. But most of the time, I just adore it because it was...

Roll 13: An unxpected favourite from this roll but the colours make my heart sing.

Roll 14: Sunny, sunny Paris!

Roll 15: More sunny, sunny Paris :)

Hurray for my Diana Mini!

My favourite Diana Mini photos Part 1...

2012-01-24T13:36:00.000Z

After the fun of looking through my Holga 135bc photos yesterday, I decided that it would be fun to go through the films that I've taken with my Diana Mini and pick my favourites of those too.

Roll 1 - I thought this roll was awful when I first saw it but with hindsight, the blur of the accidental bulb mode probably captured the weather and feeling of Cromer on the day we visited better than a clearer photo would have done...

Roll 2 - Edinburgh - I love the colours in this one.

Roll 3 - Edinburgh again. This photo has been one of my favourites since I took it.

Roll 4 - On the beach with Thomas - my favourite thing.

Roll 5 - Berwick Upon Tweed.

Roll 6 - Rescale - Another photo of Thomas

Roll 7 - More redscale and creepy Kirkstall Abbey.

Roll 8 - My first black and white film and a game changer with this camera.
It was a tough choice with this roll.

Can you tell I have no new photos to share? Haha, still looking through my photos is one of my favourite hobbies - with over 2000 photos in my Flickr now, I kind of forget all the ones I've taken, so it's nice to have little reminders like the photo above.

p.s. Anyone else loving the threaded comments too?

My favourite holga photos... Part 2!

2012-01-23T10:40:00.000Z

In 2010 as part of my Holga Week I posted my favourite photos from my little holga's first 14 rolls of film... and I only just remembered that I was going to keep continuing with this!

So here are my favourite holga photos from rolls 15 - 21.

Roll 15 - Breakfast in Krakow :)

Roll 16 - Winter Moon - one of my all time favourite photos that I've taken.

Roll 17 - This was one of those photos I just knew was going to look exactly as I wanted it too.

Roll 18 - The pop of red just makes this photo!

Roll 19 - This was a tough decision, but I took this spontaneously in the car and really it shouldn't have turned out this well... so I love it just because it did.
(And I love photos of horses... I need to take more.)

Roll 20 - J'adore Paris!

Roll 21 - I just love the colours...

Like in my last post, it was harder to choose just the one photo from a roll than I thought...
but gosh I still really love this camera!

ALSO
I finally figured out how to edit my template to incorporate the threaded comments (using this guide) and
I AM EXCITED!!!
I can't wait to reply to you all properly (finally!) through them, so please check back if you leave a comment, I will be replying to them!

A sunny Winter day at Kirkstall Abbey...

2012-01-20T10:47:00.000Z

Over Christmas I shot a little film of us taking Harry for a walk... but it didn't work, the film was completely blank and my heart was a little bit broken...

So, last weekend we took my little Lomokino out and shot a quick little film around Kirkstall Abbey to make sure it was working ok. And thankfully, it worked!! Hurray!

I'm so relieved... I'll just have to try and make a video of Harry another time!

Happy weekend!

p.s. finding the perfect music to match my videos is my new favourite hobby... getting the right is one is the best feeling.

Forgotten Holga photos... (again)

2012-01-19T15:07:00.000Z

I took these last April when my dear friend Adele came to visit (Can you believe that's nearly a year ago?!) and I completely forgot about them, in fact I've only just put them onto Flickr as I sorted through last years photos.

Looking at these, I'm starting to get really excited about Spring!

In fact, now that we're starting to make plans and the year is progressing,
I'm incredible excited about 2012 as a whole!

Camera: Holga 135bc
Film: Kodak ISO 200
Location: Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds.

Diana Mini or Holga 135bc..?

2012-01-18T15:35:00.000Z

I get a lot of Google searches finding my blog with this question and recently I've had a few people email to ask me which I would suggest so I've decided it's time I have somewhere that people can actually find some information on here to help them decide.

Although I'm not going to answer this question for you - just help you decide - I'm not actually sure I could decide between them if I had to pick. Luckily when I decided to get my Holga 135bc (way back in June 2009) that was the only 35mm camera option, the Diana Mini didn't exist, so I didn't need to choose.

The good news is that they are both great little cameras

so which ever decision you make, I don't think it will be the wrong one and to be honest, if you love them as much as I do, you'll probably end up getting both anyway...

So, how are these cameras similar?

~ Price ~

When I got my Holga 135bc, it was much cheaper but due to the popularity of Lomography recently, I can safely say that there isn't much difference in the price of these two cameras anymore, even on Ebay. I don't think that's a bad thing though as it makes having to decide on price alone irrelevant.

The Diana Mini can be a bit more expensive if you want the flash included, so if you do want a flash, that is worth considering however I don't think it's completely necessary for either camera to have one as they both work better in natural light anyway.

~ Mechanics ~

Essentially these cameras are very similar - they are both plastic, they can both do multiple exposures, they both have a bulb setting, distance focusing, two aperture settings (sunny or cloudy) and take 35mm film. So if you want to get experimental with your photos, both of these cameras are perfect for that.

What are the differences?

~ Size ~

Though I wouldn't say that this is a deciding factor - it's worth mentioning that the Diana Mini really is indeed mini and that it can be quite fiddly at times whilst the Holga 135 in comparison feels much chunkier and sturdier.

~ Formatting ~

The Diana Mini offers two formats - the half frame and the square format. Whilst the Holga just offers the one, the regular rectangular format to fit the 35mm negative.

This can be a deciding factor between these cameras and I can personally say that one of the reasons that I love my Diana Mini is the square format - it really suits the camera and it's results. So if you're looking for the square format in particular then the Diana Mini might be for you.

~ Ease of Use ~

I've written before that it took a lot longer for my Diana Mini to win me over than my Holga 135bc and the Diana Mini is temperamental, it has to be said - I've had issues with loading it, the bulb setting and the advance mechanism, especially in the half frame mode. However, I wouldn't let this put you off - all this requires is practice, patience and research - the Diana Mini micro site has lots of useful videos which I highly recommend looking at and once you've got used to your Diana Mini the results can be constant and glorious.

The Holga 135bc in comparison is much easier to pick up - the loading is quite simple, the buttons aren't as fiddly and the advance mechanism is study. If you're looking for a camera that you can pick up and learn quickly to get the results that you want, then perhaps the Holga 135bc is the camera for you.

~ The Results ~

If you're going to base your decision on anything, then it should really be on this.
Someone once said to me that each camera I use is like a different side of my personality and I think they were right. I use different cameras when I'm in different moods, when I want to share different things and despite being very similar cameras, the results are where these two cameras differ the most.

First we'll look at the Holga 135bc...

The Holga 135bc has an added mask inside the camera that creates the gorgeous vignetting (the 135 doesn't have this but I don't have that camera to compare). The colours and contrasts with the Holga 135bc I've always found to be strong and vibrant, even with softer films like Kodak Portra NC or expired film. The focus is sharper than the Diana Mini with clear lines which create great depth whether the subject is close or further away.

Now the Diana Mini...

In comparison to the Holga 135bc, the Diana Mini results are much softer and dreamier... with subtle contrasts and grain and less vignetting. Yet the Diana Mini is also capable of beautiful colours and focusing, everything just seems more subtle in comparison. With the half frame option you can take double the amount of photos per roll, but I think this camera produces it's best results with the square format.

~ To Summarise ~

The Holga 135bc is a sturdy, reliable camera that is easy to learn and produces images with strong contrasts, gorgeous colours, beautiful vignetting and clear focusing. I always think that this camera captures things almost exactly as I see them.

The Diana Mini is a small, delicate camera which is temperamental, yet with patience and practice can produce dreamy images with soft contrasts, lovely lighting and colours with an almost magical, vintage quality.

It's evident from all the photos above that both of these cameras can produce beautiful photos, especially in bright, natural light. Although the mechanics of the cameras are very similar the lenses in both cameras are different, and it's these differences that will influence your decision on which camera to get and how you take your photos.

~ Other 35mm Cameras to consider ~

Of course, if this is your first 35mm camera then there are other choices to consider as well as these two cameras....

The LC-A+

Lomography is very quick to suggest this as a first camera for Lomographers, and it is an amazing camera - it has extra features to the Diana and Holga including more aperture settings and a light meter which allows for the correct exposure in each photo (though no bulb setting). The contrasts and balance of it's photos are always spot on and the focus is clear - however, this camera is a hefty price. One that I do think is worth it but perhaps not for your first venture into 35mm cameras or if you have a limited budget.

Superheadz Wide and Slim

This camera is simple. It has one shutter button, a fixed wide angle lens and that is it.
The colours are vivid with great vignetting and the results can be fun as well are artistic.
If you're worried about all the settings on the Diana Mini or Holga 135bc then perhaps this is the camera for you, although you can't do multiple exposures. This camera is cheap and also comes in a fun variety of colours.

La Sardina

Again, similar to the Holga 135bc and Diana Mini in mechanics, it's plastic, it can take multiple exposures, it has a bulb setting, distance focusing, two aperture settings (sunny or cloudy) and takes 35mm film. However, this camera has a wide angle lens which produces great vignetting and interesting results. Another contender if you are looking for something a bit more artistic and varied.

~ See Also ~

This Flickr thread has a great description and more information on the cameras I've talked about above.

12 for 2012 - Camera 1

2012-01-17T15:26:00.000Z

As part of my 'take more photos' goal for this year - I decided that I wanted to use more of the cameras that I haven't actually used before in my collection.

So, first up is my little yellow plastic camera. One of my best friends bought me this in a box of cameras and I've only just got round to using it.. I didn't expect much from it to be honest and unfortunately the roll of film did get stuck in it, so it only produced 6 photos in the end.

I think that the film just stopped rolling on and thats why the two halfs of that film are white as they have been exposed so many times... which is such a shame as overall I really like the results - for a little point and click 35mm, it was fun, effortless and the results look great with an even contrast and a nice grain.

Perhaps I'll try another film in it before the month is out!

Camera: Yellow Focus Free 35mm Plastic Camera
Film: Kodak ISO 200
Location: Leeds.

p.s. Also, I think this project is going to be fun, don't you?

#janphotoaday 1-15

2012-01-16T14:24:00.000Z

Although I don't have instagram on my phone (darn you android) I have been taking part in Fat Mum Slim's January Photo-a-Day challenge anyway and it's been so fun. Here are my numbers 1-15.

p.s. we don't normally have burgers for breakfast, we overslept that weekend, haha.

also I realise there is a lot of chocolate and cameras on here...

Paris in film: Lomo X-Pro Part II

2012-01-13T15:30:00.000Z

In my last post about this film, I said that I didn't like it - and considering that I've been looking at these photos since September when we delevoped them, I can say that is still true. However I find myself in the same position with these photos as I was before... I love the composition and the content, but that green tint... ick.

I know I could Photoshop them and I might try on a few, but it seems silly to do that when I chose to use a cross-processed slide film, you expect colour shifts, I just didn't expect to not like it lol.

These photos are my favourite from the film I used in my Yashica Samurai.
You can see the entire roll here.

p.s. I still have some Paris photos to share, are you bored yet? I took so many...

Camera: Yashica Samurai
Film: Lomography X-Pro
Location: Paris (yeay)

The first photos of 2012...

2012-01-12T09:38:00.001Z

It seems only fair to follow the last of 2011's photos with the first of 2012's don't you think?

Last weekend we went for a wander around Leeds and I took some photos with my LC-A. I love the results with the Ilford XP2 film and I'm glad that I've started to use it more in different cameras - I think I will use it with my Superheadz next which is a very exciting thought!

I got so excited seeing this, amazingly on a road that I've walked down many times...

This camera is still a steep learning curve for me - at one point I had it on the wrong ISO setting, though that didn't ruin anything luckily. Also, I'm a bit worried I'm covering the light meter with some photos as a couple of them turned out like this on both this roll and my last one... Needless to say, my mental checklist of things to check when taking a photo is a little longer now, but I'm happy with that if the results are like this.

I love Leeds, sometimes I forget how amazing it can look.

Camera: Refurbished LC-A
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
Location: Leeds, England.

The last photos of 2011...

2012-01-11T11:42:00.001Z

More ATP.

Five deer on the way to work. Five!

And walking Harry on Christmas Day.
(I love the picture of him, even if it is blurry)

Camera: Refurbished LC-A
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
Location: Minehead, Leeds and Norfolk

The money shot...

2012-01-10T21:01:00.001Z

It's not very often I load a single photo on here...
but this photo alone has completely sold me on my refurbished LC-A.

Thomas and I go to a lot of gigs, this is going on our gallery wall!

Camera: Refurbished LC-A
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
Location: ATP, Minehead

A little blog update...

2012-01-09T16:53:00.000Z

Although it hasn't been very long since I updated my blog layout - I was never completely happy with how it looked, so this time I looked around a lot for a template that I liked which I thought had massive potential to overhaul to something that I loved... and here we are, woo.

(if you're using a reader, you should check out my new layout!!)

I've also finally taken a photo of all my cameras (again) - and instead of the 33 in my original image, I now have a huge collection of 47 cameras (plus one that isn't photographed and on loan lol)

So as well as a layout update, I've also updated my camera collection page.

It's all go here!

p.s. the comments are now at the side rather than the bottom of the post, I love that feature!

Guide to Toy Cameras on Shrimp Salad Circus!

2012-01-05T16:41:00.000Z

Today you can find me over at Lindsay's blog - Shrimp Salad Circus as part of her Photography Month with a short and simple

Guide to Toy Cameras

As I was writing this post it made me realise that I have so much more to say about using toy cameras and 35mm cameras in general, this is really a very simple introduction into it... but I hope you like it. I'm going to try and think of a way to share more with you soon, what do you think?

2011 on Flickr...

2012-01-04T17:00:00.001Z

2011 was my first year on Flickr with a Pro account and I'm so glad that I upgraded it, I love having my photos all together and organised.

And now you can see all my photos from 2011 together on there as well. Hurray!

p.s. the winner of the last Christmas giveaway is Harriet!! Well done.

The Word

2012-01-03T14:12:00.001Z

For the past few years, Susannah Conway (who I’m sure that you know that I love by now) has been choosing a word to define her year by and try as I might I haven’t been able to choose one.

But this year I have and I’m very excited about it!

For some reason, this word just popped into my head and it made sense… and the word is:

I'm not really sure why this word popped into my head, but it felt right and the more that I thought about it – the more that I liked it.

The definition is:

con•sid•er•ate [kuh n-sid-er-it] adj.

1. showing kindly awareness or regard for another’s feelings, circumstances, etc

2. carefully considered; deliberate.

3. marked by consideration or reflection; deliberate; prudent.

I feel that normally I am a considerate person – of other people feelings especially – but I think this year I want to be considerate of my feelings, my future and where I want to be in 5 – 10 years time. I want to be considerate when I’m taking my photos, considerate when I’m writing my blog posts and considerate especially of myself, through eating healthily, exercising, going for long walks, making a nice cup of tea, that kind of thing…

I’ve spent the past 3 years settling into a new life in Leeds, finalising the end of University, moving to new houses and a lot of that time worrying about other people but never truly deciding on where it is that I want to end up in my life. In fact, I’ve almost avoided thinking about it – partly because of disappointment in my career (or lack of, haha) and partly because, even though I’m 26 – I’ve never felt grown up enough to truly make those kind of decisions… isn’t that bizarre.

(I don't think anyone ever feels properly grown up btw, but thats a whole different post)

Of course, this doesn’t mean that I want to make all sorts of decisions right here and now or even in this year – I truly believe that things will happen in their own time whether I like it or now – but in choosing this word – I’m hoping that it opens me up to different possibilities and opportunities, as I’m no longer scared of things working out differently from how I thought that they might have done before…

p.s. Susannah has put together an amazing workbook for 2012, which I’m currently working through now and it’s really helping me feel grounded for the year ahead, I truly recommend it.

p.p.s. I hope that made sense lol

4 Simple Goals for 2012

2012-01-02T10:00:00.000Z

{Image from A Beautiful Mess}

I first saw about Elsie's 4 Simple Goals post over on Diana's blog and I first put my own together last August... so here are my 4 simple goals for 2012.

1. Get fitter and healthier and stay that way.

2. Stop worrying so much.

3. Take too many photos.
(inspired by my friend Anna)

4. Be happy.

Don't try and be happy, just be happy.

It really is a very simple list, lets hope I can do it!

Here's to 2012.

Goodbye 2011

2011-12-31T10:00:00.000Z

I love end of year recaps, it's so fun to remember the good things about a year I think and blogging definitely helps me with that!

This year has flown by, it has definitely had it's up and it's downs but overall, I think it was pretty good to me - it could have been an awful lot worse.

In January...

Thomas and I went on our first documented 'little photography' date.

...and I celebrated my Diana Mini for a week with some blog friends.

In February...

I dabbled a bit with the Lomography redscale film.

...and I talked about how I feel when I take a photo
(one of my favourite ever posts)

In March...

We went to Liverpool and I used my first ever black and white film.

...and I took my first ever fuji instax wide photos as well.

In April...

Adele came to visit!! Hurray!!

...and we went away with Thomas's parents and to visit friends. I particularly enjoyed April :)

In May...

I went to the Lomography meet up in Manchester where I met the Lomo Mum's
and caught the LC-A bug.

...and I caught up with photos from our visits April including Stratford Upon Avon, York, Henley in Arden and Bourton on the Water.

...and I used my Ricoh 500G for the first time and loved it.

In June...

My Grandparents came to visit, which I loved.

and I shared some pretty wedding photos.

In July...

We went to Knaresborough with our Mum's.

...and posted my favourite post ever of Harry (I just love him)

In August...

I mostly took part in the August Break and

We went to Paris!!!
(there are currently 30 posts labelled Paris and I still haven't finished...)

In September...

It was my dreaded 26th birthday, which wasn't actually that bad at all and...

We made a camera, woo.

In October...

I took part in Frocktober

...and finally organised the films and cameras that I use on my blog.

In November...

I took part in Susannah Conway's Photo Meditations and I'm so, so glad!
(you can see related posts here)

...and I shared my first Olympus Trip roll of film.

In December...

{Group photo by Claire aka Kneehigh785}

I went to another Lomography Meet Up in Leeds which was so fun.

and I finally bought an LC-A, woohoo!

Wow, I took a lot of photos in 2011

So here's the crazy part - I used 45 films! 45!!! But looking through my 2011 posts, I'm really glad to see that I've been using more cameras and learning more about myself through them.

I can't wait to take more photos in 2012!

p.s. although thinking about it, 45 isn't even a roll a week... perhaps I should do that for 2012...

Christmas at home...

2011-12-30T12:40:00.001Z

We were only home in Norfolk for 5 days... but it was amazing. I ate too much, laughed a lot and got lots of hugs. Perfect!

The last photo on my left is my favourite - my cheeky sister stuck out her tongue, Harry moved and I'm barely in the photo... haha, awesome!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

p.s. The last christmas giveaway is still open!

p.s. and its nearly 2012, have a calender :)

Merry Christmas!!!

2011-12-23T08:42:00.002Z

It's finally Friday! Which means I'm going home this evening!!

I am so excited!!!

Here's a little Christmas video for you all that I took at the German Christmas Market in Leeds :)

Merry Christmas

and a very Happy New Year!

Starting all over again...

2011-12-22T11:13:00.000Z

Sometimes I wonder why I keep getting new cameras - with each one, I feel like I take a massive step backwards as I have to relearn each camera - it's quirks, its manual settings and well, everything about it and then apply all that I've learnt into taking the photos that I want to take.

And my refurbished LC-A is proving to have a very steep learning curve... but here are some of the better results from Roll 2 - I think the one of me is probably the best and I didn't even take it, haha.

{theres that camera again, love it}

The first two photos are from the Lomography Xmas meet up and the rest were taken in Minehead.

The great thing about testing this camera is that as it has a light meter, I can try photos inside and also when its a bit grim or dark outside - the chandelier and the carousel in particular, I never would have taken with my other cameras, as I know their restrictions... but this camera has amazing potential for variety which I'm really looking forward to exploring more.

Camera: Refurbished LC-A (from 1992, I checked)
Film: Lomography Xpro Chrome
Location: Leeds and Minehead, England

12 for 2012 - a Christmas freebie!

2011-12-21T11:56:00.000Z

I was planning on doing a best of 2011 photos post, when I realised that I had a lot of favourite photos with different cameras, so instead of a long post of photos, I made a calender for you all!

You can download it here!

(It's quite big file so it may take a while)

I haven't really done anything free before, so I hope you love these photos as much as I do.

(This calendar is for personal use only, I retain all copyright of the images and content.)

On the fourth week of Christmas... a giveaway. Closed.

2011-12-20T10:10:00.003Z

This month has flown by but boy am I so glad that we're this close to Christmas now, I'm ready to see my family, eat a lot of food and generally be merry.

But first, the last giveaway of Christmas (and the year, crazy!) which comes from the lovely Zoe from Ladybird Likes.

As well as having a lovely blog of her thrifting, craft, photography and mixtape adventures, Zoe will soon be selling handmade items inspired by her thrifted finds, as well as photographic prints in her own shop which will be opening in January 2012.

Isn't that exciting? And even more exciting, not only do you get a sneak peak at some of the items she will be selling, you can win some too!

~~So, you can win:~~ a 5 x 7 print of Zoe's photo 'Columbia Road rooftops', a vintage ephemera pack (containing a mixture of different vintage papers, photos, wallpapers and magazine cuttings) and a wooden butterfly brooch.

To enter: Visit Zoe's blog - Ladybird Likes, have a look around and then leave a comment below

~~Merry Christmas!~~

~~p.s. the winner of the Rebekah Leigh print is Lou from Little Green Shed, hurray!~~

We love the beach video #1

2011-12-19T12:01:00.002Z

Oh gosh, I am completely smitten with my Lomokino, I can't wait to take it home for Christmas!

It's so fun to use and put together. I need more home movies!!

We were in Minehead a couple of weekends ago and even though it was raining, we (or mainly I haha) wanted to make a fun video on the beach... and here it is!

I was a little upset that the images didn't scan as evenly as the last couple of videos (I don't have a scanner to rescan it with, sigh) but when I mentioned it on twitter Dominique reminded me that 'messed up film reminds you that it's analogue'. So I stopped worrying... you can still see whats happening and perhaps when I eventually get a scanner I'll get around to rescanning it... maybe.

Though now I've watched it a few dozen times, I kind of like it the way it is :)

A Lomography Meet Up Video (plus nerd alert)

2011-12-16T15:46:00.001Z

So... I'm pretty sure to serious video makers that sliding titles and swishing video animations are considered to be a bit like Word Art in Word and the animations on Powerpoint... but I just don't care. I've never played with Windows Live Movie Maker before and sometimes you just have to have a bit of fun right?

So here's the video I shot for the Leeds Lomography Xmas Meet Up, complete with Star Wars soundtrack hahaha. So fun!

(you can always mute it if you want, I won't be offended)

Have a great weekend!!

This time next week I'll be getting ready to go home for Christmas, hurray!!

p.s. you can see another video from the meet up by Darren here...

it has his own music on it, which means....
he's much cooler than me.

Fireworks and Sparklers!!

2011-12-15T11:54:00.000Z

I'm normally very wary of the blub switch on my cameras - it usually causes frustrating results that feel like I've wasted the film.

However, after reading Lomo Lovers Vol 4, I decided that Bonfire night was the perfect reason to experiment with it more, especially in taking photos of the fireworks and sparklers!

Aren't they amazing?! I LOVE fireworks, so the whole thing was far too much fun for me!

I did originally plan to double expose the roll as in the Lomo Lover's guide but I was impatient to get it developed, so I didn't. Next year I think I will though now that I know the blub setting works wonderfully with the fireworks. I'm excited about it already.

Camera: Holga 135bc
Film: Lomography CN 800
Location: Leeds

More walking to work...

2011-12-14T13:06:00.003Z

I actually can't remember the last time that I had to finish off so many rolls of film on my way to work - I didn't realise that I had taken so many photos recently but I must have done... hurray!

These first two were taken with my refurbished LC-A and kodak 200 film, I love the definition...

But, the following photos were taken with my holga 135bc using Lomography's CN 800 film
... can you believe those colours?!I'm blown away!

It's funny as before Photo Meditations I used to be quite reluctant of taking photos of the same thing but now I could take photos on my walk to work everyday if I'm honest, it's mostly the one time of the day where I'm completely on my own and although its only 10 minutes tops, its just what I need to start my day, especially if I have a camera with me and the sky looks like these!

Cameras: Refurbished LC-A and holga 135bc
Film: Kodak ISO 200 and Lomography CN 800
Location: Leeds.

On the third week of Christmas... Closed!

2011-12-13T17:19:00.000Z

Can you believe we're already at week three of my christmas giveaways? I'm amazed myself, this month is flying by!!I hope you love this weeks etsy shop and giveaway as much as I do, in fact I'm envious of the winner already.

This week's giveaway is from the amazing UK based Rebekah Leigh who has a beautiful shop of illustrated prints and cards featuring some of my favourite things, cameras, teacups, birds and my new favourite, sewing machines... they are most definitely 'happy artwork to brighten your day' as Rebekah's suggests!

Are you excited? I am!!

:You can win: An art print of your choice from Rebekah's shop.

The winner for this giveaway has been announced, thank you to everyone who took part.

p.s. the winner of the Much Love Illy giveaway is Wendy from Red Boots!

p.p.s. Ilene is still offering an amazing 15% off her shop with the code RHIANNEROCKS,

just in time for Christmas :)

More Leeds Lomo meet up photos...

2011-12-12T10:00:00.000Z

Camera: Refurbished LC-A
Film: Kodak 200
Location: Leeds

Leeds Lomo Meet Up - My photos...

2011-12-09T08:55:00.001Z

Last week I finally treated myself to something I've been waiting to get for years!

An LC-A!!!!!

Unlike the one that I used in Manchester which was the Lomography LC-A+, I ordered the refurbished LC-A as it was a fair bit cheaper which also meant that I could get the Lomokino too, hurray!!

Side note - the majority of this was bought with Lomography piggie points, if you have a lomo/film camera and you enjoy writing, I highly recommend writing some articles and getting those piggies, it takes a while, I had to write about 20 articles to save enough, but it's possible and fun at the same time.

I decided that the Leeds Lomography Xmas Meet Up was the perfect place to try my newest camera and also to try and take more photos of people... it was a mixed result as I was a bit too experimental with the aperture but overall I love the results with this camera already!

{I completely forgot to ask what this camera actually was, its beautiful though!}

Happy weekend!!

Camera: Refurbished LC-AFilm:
Kodak ISO 200
Location: Leeds

My first Lomokino video!!

2011-12-08T13:45:00.001Z

Are you excited?! I am!

In fact, I'm also incredibly glad that I bought this camera, it's so fun!

As I wasn't able to get to Kirkstall Abbey in the daylight, I ended up filming one of my first Lomokino rolls walking to work... the sun has been beautiful in the morning lately creating gorgeous colours in the sky and I'm really glad that the Lomokino managed to capture that, even if the results are a little grainy.

Enjoy!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

2011-12-07T15:01:00.001Z

Christmas!!

I'm overexcited already :) are you?

Gingerbread hot drinks and biscuits. I loveeee gingerbread!

The same desktop (and now phone)background I use every year and our first (perfect!) christmas card!

Putting up the tree listening to our one christmas record - Fairytale of New York!! Also perfect!
(we are working on getting more...)

The tree and my favourite christmas decoration, stacking Santas!

Ornaments! A grumpy pug, an angel from NYC, a yellow camera (I still love it Micaela!) and a lovely tree from a even lovelier best friend.

Christmas food!

Warm hats, on cold, glorious winter mornings.

Counting down the days...

(and messing around with my phone haha)

p.s. how fun are tilt shift affects on these apps... they are my new favourite thing!

Leeds through their eyes: Darren aka Pancho Ballard

2011-12-06T09:54:00.001Z

Saturday was the Lomography Leeds Xmas Meet Up and I was very excited to go and catch up with a few people that I met in Manchester and also to meet new people. I love meeting people!

Especially people who don't think that I'm crazy for having as many cameras as I do, haha.

(although I did get ridiculed for my Christmas jumper)

Although I haven't had any of my films developed yet (gah!), some people already have and I'm excited to be sharing their photos on here. First up is Darren, aka Pancho Ballard.

{how amazing is that camera?!}

Aren't they great? I absolutely love Darren's photos of people, he captures the moment so well and of course I love his photos of Leeds as well. I think sometimes I forget that there is so much to take photos of in Leeds, so it was interesting watching what people were taking photos of on Saturday.

You can see Darren's album of photos on Lomography here.

Photographer: Darren aka Pancho Ballard.

Camera: Minolta XG-M

Film: Ilford HP5 (developed by Darren!)

These photos are used with Darren's permission so please do not reuse them.

On the second week of Christmas... giveaway closed!

2011-12-02T10:41:00.001Z

I'm 100% sure that you all know of pretty Ilene from Much Love, Illy - her lovely blog and shop, I've featured her here a number of times but I'm excited to have her here again in time for the holidays!

I'd be lying if I said that Ilene wasn't one of my blog crushes - she's cute, she's talented, she has her own personal style which I love, she isn't afraid to pull faces at the camera (which I also love) and she is an incredibly dedicated blogger whose persistance and enthusiasm constantly amazes me.

And as well as having her enthusiasic and fun blog, Ilene also has a gorgeous shop which I am completely smitten with - in fact I already own 4 of her pieces which I absolutely love (fyi, Ilene is amazing with custom orders, I just adore her)

~~So, you can win: $20 credit to spend in Much Love, Illy~~

The winner of this giveaway has been announced, thank you to everyone who took part!

p.s. the winner of last weeks giveaway from Hey Harriet is Dawn from Candidly Clyde - please email me!

Paris in Film: Kodak Portra Vivid Colour Part II

2011-12-02T09:36:00.001Z

See the whole set from this film here.

Camera: Yashica Samuria
Film: Kodak Portra VC 160
Location: Paris

p.s. have you seen my giveaway this week? I've extended it to Monday, you should take part!

p.p.s. The Winter registration for Susannah's Photo Meditations course opens on Sunday, it's amazing and I highly recommend it if you love photography!

p.p.s. I've updated my backgrounds to christmasy ones :) you should hit refresh!
(unless you're using a reader, then you're just missing out...)

Setting myself a little challenge...

2011-11-30T10:56:00.001Z

This week is the final week of Photo Meditations and honestly, I'm a little bit heartbroken about that, I feel like there is so much more I can learn from Susannah and more I can learn about myself and my photos.

I'm very glad to say that I've loved every minute and I feel like I've progressed throughout it.

I haven't taken many photos, but the ones I have taken... here, here, and here wow. I can barely believe that they are mine.

What I didn't expect from Photo Meditations is that I would change as a person, that I would push myself to do things I never would of imagined before, that I would actually want to do things I never saw myself doing... 5 weeks doesn't seem that long, and it flew by, but I feel different, in myself and I know my photos from now will be different too.

One thing I've noticed in my photos is that I don't take many photos of people (I had to search for the ones in this post haha) and over the past 5 weeks I've seen so many amazing photos, by Susannah and other photographers on the course that all of a sudden I want to take more. Not posed photos, more moments...

I remember being annoyed in the top photo actually that the people were behind those bikes, they were ruining the lines of the wheels and the path behind but today I'm loving the mans hat, the way hes leaning away to look at the bike properly... I love the lady behind who is watching both them and me taking my photo and the little leg on the bike on the left is killing me.

And I love this little boy, his enthusiasm to see the ducks better leading him to get in the water... he looks so determined. I love his Fathers arm reaching out for him but letting him go at the same time.

So instead of challenging myself to take more photos of people, I'm challenging myself to look at people differently, to let people into my photos, not to wait for them to walk past... to use them to enhance a photo and stop being scared that they might ruin it.

Challenging myself to capture their photo the way that I see them...

p.s. In writing this here, I have to do it - you've all seen it now.

p.p.s. Susannah just uploaded a video about Photo Meditations, you should watch it :)

Paris in film: Lomo Xpro

2011-11-29T10:55:00.001Z

The last time I blogged about Paris I gushed about the Lomography X-pro Chrome film because when I love something... I really love it. But when I don't... I really don't.

And I do not like this Lomography X-pro film (not to be confused with the X-pro Chrome). In fact I'm incredibly frustrated as I really do love the composition, angle and content of these photos, yet the choice of film has really spoilt them for me. It's taken me this long to upload them onto Flickr and on here just because of the disappointment. What do you think?

I love the cross processed distortion with the sunset photos because the colours were rich and gorgeous, and as with the chrome, the blues and turquoises are lovely, yet the overall green/yellow tone in these seems sickly and insipid in comparison to me. I really want to like them... but I just can't seem too.

On another note, these photos were taken at the Le Grande Arch de la Defence, which is outside the main city of Paris in the business district and it was a massive culture shock for us after spending the week in the city. It felt like we had travelled to the future haha.

Location: Le Grande Arch de la Defense, Paris
Film: Lomography X-Pro 200
Camera: Superheadz Yellow Peace

On the first week of Christmas... closed.

2011-11-28T10:00:00.000Z

Can you believe that its under a month until Christmas already? I can't!
Remember how for the last couple of years I've had giveaways to celebrate Christmas with everyone? Well, I'm doing it again!! HURRAY!!

I love Christmas and I love blogging and christmas blogging is always the most fun I have on here, so I've decided to share the love again - I hope you are as excited as I am!

First up is the amazing Hey Harriet!

You may know of Hey Harriet's blog for her Shadow Shot Sunday feature, but as well as having a great blog, Hey Harriet is also an amazing Etsy shop with so much choice! Whether you like the beach, flowers, birds, carnivals or still life... Hey Harriet has something for you.

:You could win: 4 prints of your choice from Hey Harriet.

Yes, I said 4.

:How to enter: Visit Hey Harriet's Etsy shop ~~and leave a comment with the 4 prints that you would want to win.~~

The winner has been announced, thank you to everyone who entered.

Experimenting with F Stops...

2011-11-25T12:18:00.001Z

I actually don't remember the last time I was this excited about my photos... squeeeeeeee!!

Although Photo Meditations isn't a technical photography course, I did learn something new about F stops and I realised that I had actually taken some photos with my Ricoh camera where I had changed this setting and not realised the effect it would have (here and here, being good examples) At the time of developing them I realised that they were the kind of photos that I wanted to be taking... but I didn't know how I'd even done it.

So armed with knowledge, my new to me Olympus Trip and more enthusiasm than I've ever had on a foggy day, Thomas and I went for a walk around Kirkstall Abbey (and also a delicious roast dinner...) last Sunday and here are some of my favourite results.

I was drawn to that yellow tree like a magpie to shiny things, it was a beacon in the mist and so pretty. I had to have a photo taken with it... I'm a bit sad that it's a little blurry but a lot of the photos were as I still have lots to learn.

I'm so glad that I learnt this though, most of my plastic cameras don't have this setting but two of my other film others do and it feels great to know now that I can take the type of photos that I want with a different camera and not feel limited by my equipment or knowledge.

In this one film of photos, I feel like I've pushed myself, my photos and what I can do. I've applied everything I'd already learnt combined it with new tricks and techniques and captured photos that I have been truly happy with. Although this does mean I'll be carrying even more cameras around with me now...

Location: Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds
Camera: Olympus Trip 35
Film: Expired Agfa Vista 200

This is what happens..

2011-11-24T13:22:00.001Z

...when I don't take the photos of my phone for a couple of months... I digitally burst on my blog :) hahaha.

I didn't realise I took so many photos with it to be honest - I do wish that Instagram was on Android photos though - I love Vignette but it would be great to have an easier way to share my photos with people.

Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating it - I'm not going to write a list, as right now I'm thankful for everything and thats a pretty big list...

p.s. I braved the self portrait on the end for Photo Meditations...
despite my feet it was the only photo of me on there. I was sleepy.

Paris in film: Xpro Chrome

2011-11-23T14:16:00.001Z

I know I say that I love things a lot, but that is because I genuinely do... and I love this film

(and this camera). In fact, it sometimes makes choosing which camera and film to use quite difficult to do... but I don't mind really.

Can you believe that I'm still uploading Paris photos? I guess I can, I did take a lot and 5 posts a week doesn't seem that many when there is so much to share... these photos are some of my favourites from the week. My superheadz slim and wide has relatively no pressure, you don't have to worry about focusing or the bulb setting, it takes no time to take a photo and sometimes, that is what I want and need and I love that.

I'm so glad that I tried the Lomography xpro chrome film in this camera - I expected it to look great and I wasn't let down. The colours and contrasts are so rich, especially in the Paris sunshine...

I sure do miss the Paris sunshine.

You can see the whole film set here.

Film: Lomography Xpro Chrome 100
Camera: Superheadz Wide and Slim
Location: Paris, France

And the camera is...

2011-11-22T13:32:00.001Z

The fuji instax mini!

A fair number of you got it right and I'm so glad about that.

{vintage chair by JMK Photos)

This beautiful photo by JMK Photos is the main reason that I've decided to experiment more with my instax mini recently - when I first saw it I thought it was a polaroid film of some sort, its so soft and delicate yet the contrasts are strong, I loved it straight away. Imagine my surprise when I realised it was from a fuji instax camera!

The reason I had this little quiz was really a reminder to myself what great cameras and films the instax family are. They can be considered a bit of a gimmick and normally get a unjust negative comparison to polaroids but I think every camera is what you make of it and if you're willing to experiment a bit and believe that you can produce the results you want then with effort, you can.

You can see the rest of my recent instax mini photos here...

p.s. I normally keep the frame on my instax minis when I scan them but I'm wondering if I should remove it from some, as sometimes it feels like it detracts from the beauty and the quality of the image.

Guess the camera...

2011-11-21T16:28:00.001Z

Another little quiz... though unplanned this time.

Last week, whilst taking part in Photo Meditations, I saw a photo with this camera that blew my mind. Seriously, blew it. The light was captured beautifully, the tones were so soft and the overall result was stunning. And I thought to myself... I have that camera, why haven't I experimented with it more in varying lights...

So I did, for a week, and here are the results.. I'm completely smitten.

Which camera do you think it is?

p.s. all will be revealed tomorrow... and the mind blowing photo too :)

My first Olympus Trip roll...

2011-11-18T10:00:00.000Z

I got my Olympus Trip way back in the Summer and I even used it once when we went home to Norfolk for a little bit and I haven't shared any of the photos on here, how crazy is that.

I seriously love this camera - it looks delightful for one and the results are so rich and warm, which I'm doubly impressed with considering that I used an expired film.

{Thomas took this one of me... I like it a lot.}

I can't wait to go home to Norfolk at Christmas now, I really can't.

Have a great weekend!

Location: Wells Next the Sea, Norfolk
Camera: Olympus Trip (woo)
Film: Expired Kodak 200 (I think)

It's that time of year again...

2011-11-17T16:00:00.000Z

{image by Ktelqueen}

Can you believe it? I can't quite to be honest... but here we are.

Around this time over the last two years, I've written posts about sending christmas cards and I have decided that I want to send cards out again this year (hurray)

So if anyone would like to receive a card from me then send an email to

rhiannelouise {at} gmail.com
before the 25th of November (a month before... see what I did there...) with your postal address,

and if you want my address as well, let me know!

Eep, I'm so excited, I love love love christmas
(I'm currently planning my christmas music as I type, woo)

p.s. If I've sent you a card before, its probably best to send me your address again, I'm unorganised...

Oh and if you don't celebrate christmas but still want a card from me then let me know as well!

Photo Meditation photos...

2011-11-17T10:00:00.000Z

I took these during week 1 of Photo Meditations. Every day I walk the same way to work and I have taken a lot of photos of the route but this time I tried to implement what we had been taught that week and see it a bit differently. I'm really happy with the results.

The colours and light this day were so lovely and I loved how the wire seemed to follow the line of the fields so well.

Camera: 35mm Panorama - more details to come.
Film: Kodak ISO 200
Location: Leeds

Paris in Film: Ilford XP2 Part 2

2011-11-16T10:00:00.000Z

"Paris? No, not this city. It's too real and too beautiful. It never lets you forget anything.

It reaches in and opens you wide, and you stay that way."

Jerry Mulligan, An American in Paris

You can see roll one and roll two of my diana mini Paris photos on my Flickr page.

Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 Iso 400
Location: Paris, France

Film vs Digital quiz answers...

2011-11-15T10:00:00.000Z

Looking through the answers I think 3 people got it right... well done to those 3 people, I'm very impressed. It was really interesting to see how people answered, especially as I think it sounded easier than it was.

So, here are the answers.

How did you do? Are you surprised by any of these in particular?

A little catch up...

2011-11-14T15:06:00.001Z

Last week was crazy busy... this morning was crazy busy.

In fact I've only just relaxed and finally had time to pull a blog post together.

I have so much to catch up on, argh!

I spent Saturday morning trying to relax and looking through Flickr and catching up with Photo Meditations.
and I am hooked.
So far I am loving this course, I even created a gallery of my favourite inspirations at the moment on Flickr. I've never used Flickr like that before, so it was very fun to do and so amazing to see photos that I really loved.

I just want to go out with my camera now... shame it's getting dark already.

p.s. this post is a bit messy but I just wanted to get something out there,

I have no idea what else to say haha. Hi?

p.p.s. I've fallen in love with this photo again, I remember thinking the sky was pretty when I took it against the silhouette of the person but I actually love the dramatic lines at the bottom of the photo now too.

Me and my photos...

2011-11-04T12:20:00.000Z

As part of Photo Meditations I have been looking through my photos, trying to analyse them, see where I can improve, notice any patterns...
and it's been much more emotional for me than I expected.

Lately I've been worrying about my blog, worrying that I don't share enough... there are so many amazing blogs I read which are so personal, so open and they write so well. Yet I can never seem to share myself in the same way. I try but I always end up deleting posts before I even publish them, it helps to write them out but I never seem to say what I want properly...

This week I've realised that I do share so much of myself on my blog, more than I realised, through my photos. I started Photo Meditations to learn how to capture my soul in my photos but what I've been surprised to realise this week is that I already do that. My photos are me. I love them, they are my therapy and looking through them this week and thinking about how I can improve them has made me so happy.

I've been incredibly nervous about sharing my photos on the Flickr group, which seems silly when I share them openly here, but this blog is my space, I ultimately have the control of what appears on here (though I've never had anything bad to really moderate as such if I'm honest, just one amazing anon chuck norris related comment haha). Putting them in the Flickr group in front of my peers and losing that sense of control has been very liberating (as well as scary) but I'm glad that I'm doing it and getting the feedback too.

My favourite thing that I've learnt so far is that I'm happy with how and where my photos are going, I can't wait to apply everything I've learnt and refine them further but I think that my starting point is a solid one.

I never planned for this blog to become a photo blog, but it has because since starting this blog, I've become a photographer, it is a true expression of me and I love it all. Hurray.

Have a great weekend!!
I'll be taking lots of photos :)

p.s. loving the results of the little quiz so far, keep the answers coming!

Film vs digital quiz...

2011-11-03T09:10:00.000Z

When I posted some of the photos that I took in Paris with my Yashica Samurai and the portra film, a few commenters were surprised by the quality of the photos that came from the SLR and professional film... so I thought I would have a little fun with you and put together a little quiz to see if people could really see the difference from quality film and digital photos..

So here goes, each set of photos has a digital photo Thomas and a film photo by Me from Paris but which side is the film and which side is the digital?

Set 1 - The Sacre Couer

Set 2 - Seine State along the river

Set 3 - Elephant outside the Musee D'Orsay

Set 4 - Arc de Triomphe detail

Set 5 - Inside the entrance of the Moulin Rouge.

If you click on the images it should show them bigger for more detail.

I would love to see your answers in the comments and I'm really intrigued to see how people will do, a couple of these look quite tough to me...

I'll post the answers next week, I want to try and get as many people to try this as possible so feel free to share the link with your friends :) and

good luck!!

p.s. Out of all our photos, these were the most similar that we took - 5 sets out of over 1500 photos. I still love seeing our photos next to each other, as even though they are the same subject they are still so different.

(apart from maybe the elephant one lol. I'm not even sure how that happened haha)

Belfast in Black and White... Part 2.

2011-11-02T14:32:00.001Z

As well as exploring the city of Belfast, we also looked around the murals and learnt more about the area where one of my friends grew up. I spent most of my childhood living in the middle of no where, so I was intrigued by the contrasts of her city youth, as well as the history of The Troubles and what it was like to grow up during that time.

{a rainbow in black and white, I was intrigued to see if it would be gradient, can you just see it?}

We were also incredibly lucky to stay with my friends family and I have to say that they were just wonderful, the weekend was just what I needed, lots of laughing, chatting and wine.

Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
Camera: La Sardina Sea Pride

p.s. there's bikes on my skirt. its amazing.

Belfast in black and white...

2011-11-01T14:38:00.001Z

I did something brave - I used the Ilford XP2 film in a camera that wasn't my Diana Mini... what do you think?

After looking at these quite a lot, I think that I like them... I'm still not 100% sold on the La Sardina, the fuzzy edges are really fuzzy, but I think it took to the Ilford (or vice versa) really well and these photos do capture the feeling of the city whilst we were there pretty well (it rained lol).

I am quite taken with the photos that are taken close up though - the face and the fish in particular, I think I need to use it for close ups more...

Camera: La Sardina Sea Pride
Film: Ilford XP2
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland

Frocktober concluded...

2011-10-31T11:51:00.001Z

When I last blogged about Frocktober, I had managed 11 days straight and I was pretty proud of myself...

Unfortunately, my run didn't last the whole month - however I did manage 20/31 days for Frocktober!! I'm so pleased with that! It was more than I expected to once it started getting cold and wet and I got sick (a few days were spent in PJ's...) and to begin with I never imagined I would even make the 11 days, let alone 20!! HURRAY

I'm so pleased to also announce that the AMAZING Anna, who inspired me to do this managed to wear a dress for the whole month(!) and she also raised her target of $500 AUD for her cause, isn't that wonderful.

Here are some outtakes of my dresses/outfits as well for your amusement, I believe you can still donate towards Anna's page, so if you are feeling generous, head on over.

p.s. A few things I learnt from Frocktober.... I love polka dots, especially brown ones, I am not willing to get wet feet for anything, I am not a fashion blogger or even anything near to one haha, I really like earthy colours and patterns and I am more than happy wearing jeans everyday!!

Happy Birthday to my lickle Sis...

2011-10-31T11:01:00.001Z

Happy birthday Mikela!!!

You complained that there wasn't enough photos of you, so here you are :)

I love you, even if you are taller than me now...

Have a wonderful day!

This photo cracks me up - I was obviously a confused witch or ghost...
and you can just see Mikela's face, hahaha.
We were cool.

Edit: Mikela insist's we are both still cool.
I think not quite as cool as this though :)

Cameras I use on my blog...

2011-10-28T15:28:00.003+01:00

When I first put this list together it was a lot shorter... so I've tried to break it down so it's not quite so much to take in.

All of the cameras that I used/have used take 35mm film
(other than the instant cameras)

~ ~ Cameras I love and use all the time ~ ~

~ Holga 135bc ~
This was my first lomography camera and really the camera that caused my love of photography and cameras again. You can read me gushing about it more here.

Pros: Great vignetting, clear results and its so versatile, it can take any film and its easy to use.
Cons: Other than forgetting to check its not on bulb mode (N not B) None. haha. I love it.

~ Diana Mini ~
It took me much longer to learn to love my Diana Mini than my Holga, but I do love it, especially in the square frame mode. You can read more about why I love it here.

Pros: Beautiful, dreamy results, square mode, compact.
Cons: Temperamental, need patience, needs higher iso films and lots of sunshine.
(Also same issue with the bulb mode - N not B!)

~ Superheadz Wide and Slim Yellow Peace ~
A simple point and click 35mm camera with a wide lens.
I had wanted one of these for such a long time before I got one and I haven't been disappointed by it, the colours and tones are beautiful, the results are consistantly great and its so simple to use.

In fact, if you're new to 35mm film and a little scared of the Lomography cameras buttons and unpredictable results, I would recommend one of these as your first plastic camera... no bulb mode, no focus, no mx button, just you and the shutter.

Pros: It's yellow! Simple to use, beautiful results, great for locations with the wide angle lens.
Cons: My only complaint is you can't do multiple exposures but thats a personal preference.

~ Yashica Samurai ~
The best camera Thomas has ever found for me!
Technically a SLR with an autofocus, this half frame camera is amazing. I love the zoom, it captures details perfectly and the results are always stunning. It's my go to camera on holiday.

Pro: It has a zoom! Also, you get double the photos, what you see through the viewfinder is what you take and it has beautiful grain.
Cons: Heavy, needs a battery which is quite hard to find.

~ Fuji Instax Mini 10 ~
This camera is fun! So so fun. I love it so...
I personally love the colours from these and its the perfect companion to any of my 35mm cameras whereever I go.

Pros: Beautiful colours, instant fun, perfect for a gift or your wallet.
Cons: The film is ISO 800 so can over expose in the sunshine but its rare.

~ ~ Cameras that I love and should use more ~ ~

~ Recesky Gakkenflex ~
My first TLR camera to take photos with. To be fair I haven't had this camera long but because I made it, I love it. I know how it works, I know that its missing a screw somewhere and its yellow! A fun experience to make and to shoot. I love it far more than I should perhaps.

Pros: It's yellow! Fun to make, really helps to explain how a camera works, light and great results.
Cons: Takes longer to make than it says and you have to really decipher the instructions but I'd say that is part of the fun!

~ Yashica Autofocus ~
Another wonderful Yashica autofocus camera. I'm always really pleased with the results from this camera, the grain is always lovely with great contrasts.

Pros: Easy to use, focus options, great results
Cons: Although great results, they have a similar look to the Samurai, which is why I don't use it as much.

~ Olympus OM-10 ~
This is my Daddy's camera, so I love it for that. But its also a very impressive SLR with great results. However it scares me a little as I don't really know enough about SLR's to use it properly, I need to learn more about this camera definitely.

Pros: It's an SLR, amazing lens and results.
Cons: It's an SLR, it's a bit more complicated than my other cameras.

~ Action Tracker ~
An amazing gift from one of my best friends which I still love. It's fun, provides great action shots and I love the results.

Pros: See above
Cons: This camera needs a lot of light, a high iso film and preferably action.

~ ~ Cameras I am learning to love ~ ~

~ La Sardina Sea Pride ~
My latest Lomography camera and my latest love/hate conquest.
A fun, pretty looking camera with unique fun results. I'm looking forward to using it more.

Pros: Great wide angle lens, looks amazing, fun to experiment with
Cons: Clunky and awkward.

~ Olympus Trip ~
I have wanted one of these for so long that I can't actually believe I have one. They are just as pretty in person. And Thomas found it for £10!!! Have I said before thats hes my camera finding hero? He is.Anyway, this is a gorgeous camera, but I've only used one film (which I haven't posted here yet?!) and quite a few were blurry so I'm going to have to put a bit of effort into using this camera. I'm really looking forward to it though.
(photos to follow, I can't believe I haven't posted them!)

Pros: Solid, compact, sturdy camera with great results when you get it right.
Cons: None yet, the mistakes were mine, not the cameras...

~ Ricoh 500G ~
I nearly didn't buy this camera, it was a little bit more than I was willing to pay but an amazing old man in the charity shop turned out to be quite a knowledgeable fellow and convinced me into buying it. I'm so glad he did as even though I've only used this camera once too - I can't wait to use it more and learn about it.

Pros: Like the Olympus Trip, a sturdy camera with great results when you get it right.
Cons: The light protection stuff inside mine is falling apart, its quite common with these cameras apparently. It's easily replaced but I actually like the light leaks for now.

~ ~ Cameras I wish I could use more ~ ~

~ Polaroid 600 ~
Like the OM-10, one of my polaroids (I have a few) is my parents camera and I really wish I could use it more but the Impossible Project film, right now, is too expensive and too unpredictable for my tastes. I love the consistantcy of my fuji instax mini's and they haven't faded whilst the only Impossible films that I've taken have. Hopefully the film will keep getting better and perhaps one day I'll use my polaroids again.

Pros: You can acheive some amazing results with polaroids, a lot of my favourite photographers take the most amazing polaroid photos and they are great cameras.
Cons: Film is expensive and unpredictable at the moment.

~ LC-A ~
This camera would be in the cameras that I love category apart from one massive hurdle... I don't actually have one - hence its in the cameras I wish I could use more category :) I am determined to get one though as the results I got the one that Lomography loaned me for the day are amazing, especially with the Xpro Chrome film... so one day it will be in the other category!

Pros: Amazing results, a great camera
Cons: I don't own one and Lomography made me give the borrowed one back. Sigh.

~ Cameras I've used but probably won't use much more ~

~ Instax Wide 100 ~
I'm kind of sad that this camera is on this list as I was very excited about it when I found it (for £4! ha!). However I just can't bring myself to like it... I've had mixed results with the photos, the camera is huge and heavy, the flash is massive, bright and annoying and honestly, I'd rather just use my instax mini camera. It's not a bad camera, don't get me wrong, other photographers have produced amazing results, but I just didn't click with it, so I never bought any more film for it.

Pros: Bigger photos than the mini.
Cons: Heavy, mixed results, annoying flash.

~ 35mm Panorama Wide Pix ~
This is a fun camera, but its not a true wide angle lens, just a standard lens with a cropped frame inside which just annoys me as it wastes film really. Fun for a few tries, but not really a keeper.

Pros: Fun and simple to use with good results.
Cons: Cropped frame rather than a wide lens.

~Yellow Lomolitos camera ~
This one was a hard camera to categorise as I do love the results I've had from it and the flash is also perfect for parties etc. However, I've used it twice since I've had it... so I think this will be a limited use camera as I have so many others that I would use before it.

Pros: It has a flash, its compact and easy to use. Also, it's yellow!
Cons: It's meant to be a disposable, so you have to wind the film fully onto it before you can use it - not a problem as such but a bit tricky and a worry when loading the camera.

~ ~ ~

So there is the round up of all the cameras I've used so far on here - I'm actually amazed that its as many as that. I'm sure the list will get bigger...

Paris in Film: Kodak Portra Vivid Colour

2011-10-27T16:42:00.003+01:00

As I mentioned yesterday, I love the Kodak Portra films and the Yashica Samurai is the perfect combination with them. Professional standard film in an SLR camera can not be beaten for quality really...

Location: Paris, France
Camera: Yashica Samurai
Film: Kodak Portra VC 160

Films I use on my blog...

2011-10-26T16:10:00.004+01:00

As I got more adventurous with my cameras, I got more adventurous with the films that I started to use. Here are the films that I've used on my blog so far...

~ Kodak ISO 200 ~
A simple colour negative film that I buy in bulk whenever I see it in Poundland. It's the first film I tend to use in my cameras, as its so cheap and I'm always happy with the results. My holga loves this film, whilst my Diana Mini, not so much...

~ Lomography Colour Negative 400 ~
It took me a little while to realise that colour negative is just colour film, but it does sound posh I guess. This film has an ISO rating of 400 so is more sensitive to light than the Kodak 200 film. I really like the results from this film in all the cameras I've tried it in, and my Diana Mini likes it too which I like. It also captures yellow extremely well, hurray.

~ Lomography Colour Negative 800 ~
I've only used this film a couple of times and both of those with my actiontracker but I think its the perfect film for multilens cameras due to the tiny aperture of the lenses and the sensitivity of the ISO 800 rating of this film.

~ Lomography Redscale 100 ~
I'm a little undecided about this film. I love how dramatic it is with the bright yellows and the deep reds... but it does look a little creepy at times.

~ Lomography Redscale 50-200 ~
I will admit that I love this redscale film more than the 100 redscale film. So much more.
The tones are just beautiful and it works well in all weather conditions and I have had the best results with it in my Superheadz Wide and Slim camera. Love it!!

~ Ilford XP2 ISO 400 ~
Another film that I completely love. This is the first black and white film that I've tried and although its developed with C41 chemicals rather than true black and white chemicals, I still think its fantastic. The tones are soft, yet there are strong contrasts when you need them and combined with my Diana Mini, this film is truly artistic.

~ Expired film ~
Expired film is a bit of a risk but I love using it and so far my results have been beautiful, very soft with subtle colours and tones.
I need to use expired film more.

~Lomography Xpro Chrome ~
This was the first ever cross processed slide film that I tried and in a word it is gorgeous. Seriously, just gorgeous. The colours are deep, the tones are dark and sultry and the colour shift is subtle with beautiful blues and richer reds. Another film that I really love.

~ Lomography Xpro ~
After trying the Xpro Chrome I was very excited about trying other cross processed film but I'm still not convinced with this film, its very green. However, the colour shift with sunsets is impressive and the distortions are much stronger in comparison to the Xpro Chrome... I think it may be a grower.

~ Kodak Portra Neutral Colour (NC) 160 ~
This film is a dream. I'd heard so many good things about it before I used it and it turns out they were all true. The grain is fine, the colours are soft and gentle and it is happy with a SLR or a toy camera which makes me happy. A wonderful film, yet a tad bit expensive for my budget, so its my little treat to myself.

~ Kodak Portra Vivid Colour (VC) 160 ~
Like the NC version of this film, it is a dream. The colours are definitely more vivid in comparison but the grain is still perfect and the quality of the results is wonderful. Another amazing film.
(photos and link to come)

So there is the round up of the films I've used so far. It was more than I thought but I can still think of others that I want to try. If you have any recommendations, definitely let me know.

p.s. I was going to make this a page but you can't comment on them and I like comments,
especially if we're discussing film.

Paris in Film: Lomo Redscale XR

2011-10-25T14:16:00.003+01:00

Once again I used my Lomography Redscale XR film in my superheadz camera - I love finding combinations that really work together and I was very excited about taking these two to Paris with me.

My favourite thing about this film is the variety of the results and how it is a true reflection of the light around you. It varies between soft and warm when there isn't as much light to bright and vivid when the sun is gleaming around you. As you can see, the weather on the days I used this film greatly improved, so the contrasts became much stronger.

You can see the entire roll of photos here - there were too many to post.

Camera: Superheadz Wide and Slim Yellow Peace
Film: Lomography Redscale XR
Location: Paris, France

Photo Meditations...

2011-10-24T13:54:00.008+01:00

"I learned that you do not need to be published in books or magazines, or belong to a certain association, or even earn money from your images, to call yourself a photographer. All you need do is hold a camera in your hands with the intention of creating. Recording beauty and decay. Capturing memories. Documenting a scene. Telling a story. Catching a likeness. Exploring your inner world in pixels and film." ~ Susannah Conway.

This time next week I will be starting Susannah Conway's Photo Meditations E-Course and I can not wait. I've been in a bit of a blog rut and I haven't even felt like taking as many photos lately so I'm hoping that doing this will give me the little nudge I need to find my photo and blog mojo again. Hurray!!

p.s. This is my favourite diana mini photo from Paris, the statues were either side of the stairs and I thought they belonged together somewhere instead of being apart... I'm rather proud of it.

Bloggers love Paris...

2011-10-21T09:58:00.005+01:00

So many bloggers seem to have been to Paris lately and I have loved seeing everyones different take on Paris in my reader, so I decided to gather them together so I can make everyone else miss/want to go Paris, as much as I do...

First some pretty videos, they capture Paris so well!

paris from Olivia Rae James on Vimeo.
{By Olivia from Everyday Musings}

paris honeymoon from rachelchew on Vimeo.
{By Rachel from Elephantine}

I really wish I'd made a film of our little Paris adventure... though I was busy taking photos and I didn't really have anything to film with...

And now for other bloggers photos, they are all amazing!

~ Olivia's beautiful Paris photos to go with the lovely video ~

~ Kate's first post on her trip to Paris, I can't wait to see more already ~

~ Kate's Boyfriend Thom is also an amazing photographer (they went on photography dates in Paris too, eep) you can see his photos on his blog too ~

~ Emma from Emmadine's 'I love Paris' post ~

~ Celeste's wonderful photos of Paris, we were nearly there at the same time! ~

~Kristina from Kris Atomic Paris posts ~

~ Rachel from Elephantine's photos to support her wonderful video ~

This post is to cheer myself up really, my blog mojo has disappeared this week and I have had a sore tooth/jaw for over a week now... and my Mum and bestie are in cahoots to get me to the doctor (they finally suceeded, boo) - so I'm sulking and this is my pick me up, I hope it picks you up too.

Have a great weekend!
(I'll be sleeping)

p.s. I also did a 'Which camera would you take to Paris' post featuring some of my favourite bloggers and their cameras a while ago... if you're not bored of Paris yet :)

2012 Calendars ...

2011-10-20T10:12:00.010+01:00

I've been planning these for a while but I'll be honest, my blog/selling photos confidence is pretty low at the moment, I sold one calender last year, but you never know right... someone might want one again and making them has kept me busy and out of trouble which is good.

I've put together one Paris b&w diana mini calender but I'm planning other Paris options, holga favourites, diana mini favourites - in fact you could always make requests if you want - I'm happy with anything and I have lots of photos... and I'm thinking I'll make them available for PDF download and printed this year too - as I always worry the post will suck. (It took a month for my last parcel to get to the US, not cool)

I've also decided to make these by request this year as I hate listing items on Etsy and then they just sit there and expire - it wastes my money and time. So if you're interested in one then please let me know either in a comment here or my email is rhiannelouise@gmail.com and I'll let you know the options that are available.

The calenders will be 5x7 size - 12 pages available in matt or glossy prints and cost £12 (about $20) plus postage. Or the PDF option, which I can email to you, will be £9 (about $15).

I hope that at least one person is as excited about these as I am and hopefully I might even hear from someone :)

My other happy place...

2011-10-19T16:21:00.005+01:00

This weekend we had visitors and a free morning, so we went for a visit to the National Media Museum in Bradford... although I do love the entire museum, especially the gallerys, one floor in particular is exactly what I imagine my happy place to look like.

The Kodak Gallery...

So many cameras!!

I can happily spend ages walking around ohh and ahhing at cameras. And I get especially excited when I realise that I have another one thats in the museum that I didn't have the last time I went (two this time, woop!!)

Memories of sunshine on the beach...

2011-10-18T14:30:00.005+01:00

Now thats its cold, windy and freezing outside, memories of sunshine and Summer (and warm hands, I miss having warm hands) seem so far away...

I've been carrying these photos in my bag since my birthday weekend away and I've only just got around to scanning them.

I think memories of sunshine on the beach with my family are my favourite.

A Paris sunset in X-Pro

2011-10-17T11:06:00.003+01:00

After experimenting happily with Lomography's X-Pro Chrome film (see here for blog posts), I decided to order some of the Lomography X-Pro film to take to Paris as well (I mentioned it briefly here)

I was still undecided with this film at first, it is very green, and generally I'm not a massive fan of green. However, these photos of the sunset completely changed my mind, pretty much because, the sunset looked nothing like these photos! Haha.

I knew that cross processing films (developing slide film with c-41 chemicals and vice versa) could create a massive colour shift in the results, but the X-Pro Chrome results are very subtle and these results are not subtle at all in comparison. I'm still amazed by how different that the colours are and also that I could never have predicted that this is how they would have turned out.

I'm so glad that I've started to experiment with different films in my cameras, it adds a new level and challenge to my photography and I'm really enjoying the results.

Camera: Superheadz Yellow Peace
Film: Lomography X-Pro 200
Location: River Seine, Paris.

p.s. If you're wondering what the colours actually look like, you can see Thomas's photos here.

Top Bloggers Who Use Analogue Cameras... Part 2

2011-10-13T10:25:00.002+01:00

This list was originally put together as part of a two part Lomography article (which you may have already seen here and here) but I love all of these blogs so I think it's only fair I share them here too!

So here you are, in no particular order, is the second part of my favourite bloggers that use analogue cameras list...

Mocking Bird is a beautiful blog by Amanda devoted to film photography (and occasionally digital), seeking inspiration in the unexpected, unearthing creativity within the everyday and finding the joy in taking things a little slower. As well as sharing her amazing analogue photography, Amanda also has fantastic tips on how to buy a camera and improve your photography skills.

Although relatively new to the blogging scene,
A Chocolate Moose is already wonderfully photo heavy, featuring many cameras and displaying a strong passion for something that the writer loves, which is always a delight to see and read.

That Kate is a stunning blog about the photographs that Kate takes, the films that Kate watches, the crafting Kate does and everything else in between. Kate’s cameras seem permanently attached to her, and her photos reflect the simple beauty of her everyday life wonderfully.

Eadaoin’s blog is a delicate balance of both digital and film photography, with a focus on capturing beauty and light concentrating on nature, cupcakes and everything in between.

Our City Lights is the virtual home of the ever inspiring Diana who shares her love of photography, clothes, libraries, her cats, crafts and tattoos through stunning photos on her constantly evolving and dynamic blog.

Red Boots is a fun, happy blog where Wendy shares her inspirations and her life in Edinburgh through her beautiful iPhone and Holga photos.

Sending Postcards is the travel diary of Alex and Mina who sold their house, quit their jobs, got married in the sun and then travelled the world taking both their digital and analogue cameras with them. With an amazing back catalogue of destinations, photos and experiences, this blog is the perfect one to live vicariously through.

Combining everything listed in the blog header, Adeline’s blog is fun, colourful and happy, which makes the fact that she uses analogue cameras even better, especially as her photos are as amazing as she is.

Poptart is Adele’s fun diary documenting her life, loves and food in a enjoyable and positive way. Through her various cameras, she explores and conquers the world.

Combining vintage clothes, beautiful photos and fun adventures, Lauren’s blog is both funny and captivating.

~~~~~~~
Other blogs that use analogue cameras you shouldn’t miss include:

Rockstar Diaries
Daydream Lily
R’s Adventures
The Anthology
Down and Out Chic
All Things Ami
Annette Pehrsson
From Me To You

See part one of this series here.

Random Paris Photos...

2011-10-12T11:19:00.004+01:00

I have so many Paris photos still to share but today I can't be bothered to stick with a theme, so here are some of my favourite random photos from Paris taken with my Yashica Samurai.

I took two rolls of Kodak Portra NC film with me to Paris where I used one in my holga and one in my yashica samurai and I must say, I am so impressed with this film. The grain is so fine and combined with the Yashica SLR and the soft Paris sun, the photos turned out beautifully.

Camera: Yashica Samurai
Film: Kodak Portra NC 160
Location: Paris

Frocktober continued...

2011-10-11T11:19:00.008+01:00

Hurray! I have reached 11 days straight of wearing skirts and dresses. Can you believe that? I still can't... and I'll say right now - I do miss my jeans. A lot.

Wearing skirts and dresses, has had some interesting reactions from people and honestly, I'm not appreciating the extra attention I seem to be getting. Althought it has been nice getting the occasional compliment, I'm struggling to deal with the odd statements that are meant to be observatory but don't really seem that nice... 'Oh Rhianne, you look like a girl...' and 'Rhianne, you do look weird in skirts' being my favourites at the moment. Especially as I never felt that I didn't look like a girl before... or that I look weird in skirts. Perhaps I'm over thinking it too much.

Anyway, I knew that this month would be a challenge for me - both physically in what I will actually wear and mentally, in that I'm having to change how I look at my clothes and how I present myself and also accept that other people perhaps see me in a different way to how I thought.

Luckily, I am enjoying what I've been wearing (despite the UK's weather) and it's encouraging me to think that like Anna, I'm doing this for a good reason.

So, to support Anna and to encourage me, pop over to Anna's blog, read about her cause and perhaps even donate.

p.s. Can you believe the ridiculous difference between the first and last photo weather wise?

p.p.s. Anna has featured me, in my newest skirt, on her blog if you want to look.
I feel a bit out of place but its for a good cause right...

Autumn for Adele...

2011-10-07T13:58:00.006+01:00

I have so many photos of my walk to work (see here, here, here and here for a few) but I can honestly say I never get bored of taking photos of it - it changes with each day and I love seeing how the seasons affect it. Isn't the Autumn light just beautiful in these too?

Happy weekend!
I'm off to Belfast with my girls, frock and cameras, which should be great fun!
See you next week.

p.s. I have no idea why the shadow looks so huge in the bottom left photo, or even what was next to me? I like to pretend its because I'm standing with Hagrid though, haha. Nerd.

Paris in Film: Ilford XP2 Part 2

2011-10-06T10:40:00.003+01:00

I can't think of a roll of film where I've been so thrilled with the results that I've wanted to share almost every single photo on here - I'm that picky and these cameras are tricksy, sometimes things just don't work out. But the Ilford films I took in Paris are still blowing my mind with how well they turned out.

As with my Holga, I may have got a bit carried away with the double and multiple exposures with my diana mini. I love them so...

Also I took my first ever attempt at a panoramic photo in Paris looking out across the city from the Sacre Couer... and it worked!! Hurray!!

{click here to see bigger}

Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 iso 400
Location: Paris.

Paris in Film: my little Helga the Holga...

2011-10-05T15:41:00.003+01:00

Today has been hectic and I miss Paris, especially as we were both so relaxed there...

I only used one film in my little holga whilst we were in Paris, I'm pretty sure she is feeling unloved right now, but the photos I did take I'm thrilled with.

I even tried a new film: Kodak Portra 160... these were taken with the Natural Colour (NC) film and I'm kind of smitten with it. It's a shame it's so expensive but from what I've seen with these its definitely worth the cost.

You can see the entire film on Flickr here.

Camera: Holga 135bc
Film: Kodak Portra 160 NC
Location: Paris :)

p.s. After using my yashica samurai so much in Paris, I may have got a bit carried away with the fact I could do multiple exposures with both my holga and diana - I don't think that's a bad thing though...

Paris in film: fuji instax mini's

2011-10-04T12:30:00.000+01:00

I haven't used my fuji as much this year, mainly because I was saving up my film for Paris and here are the results. I love this camera and film!

{the sacre couer and the moulin rouge}

{my faves: we found a photobooth and the tour eiffel}

Click here to see the all the mini's that I took in Paris.

It's Frocktober...

2011-10-03T13:30:00.000+01:00

{polka dots in the sunshine for the 1st, a yellow dress for the 2nd and black tights with a vintage skirt for the 3rd}

So here we are - a photo of me, in a dress, on my blog... haha. Those of you who know me well know that I am incredibly reluctant to wear dresses and skirts - I have no idea why and well, I just love my Gap jeans... (as seen here in what I normally wear...).

But this month is different.
This month is Frocktober in Australia.
And my dear friend Anna from Much Love is raising funds for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation by wearing a dress every day throughout October.

Isn't that such a great idea? And it's the kick up the bottom that I need to start breaking out of my usual, boring 'personal uniforms'. So to raise awareness for Anna and to encourage you all to pop over and support her cause, I'm going to try and wear a skirt or dress everyday through out this month too.

I realise that this probably doesn't sound like a big deal to most people but this is a huge step for me. It's a massive leap out of my comfort zone and honestly, sat here at work(!) in my skirt I'm terrified lol but I'm going to try and make it through, even if I am wearing the same few skirts and dresses for a month.

So, to support Anna and to encourage me, pop over to Anna's blog, read about her cause and perhaps even donate a few pennies...

p.s. G and C - this shakes things up for the weekend doesn't it ;)

p.p.s. Cue awkward hands and feet photos for a month, hahaha. sorry about that.

Photos from the camera I built...

2011-09-30T08:51:00.010+01:00

The title for this post alone makes me happy... a camera I built. I'm still amazed about that... anyway, here are the photos. I love Leeds in the Autumn, especially around Kirkstall Abbey, its the perfect place to test cameras.

{one of my favourite photos of the abbey yet...}

I have a great feeling about this camera - it's everything a plastic toy camera should be - it's fun, it's experimental, it's unique and it gives some interesting effects. It's easy to do multiple exposures and I love the lens flare. It's light, compact and it feels even better in your hands for knowing how it's constructed and also for the knowledge that it has a missing screw somewhere
(haha, oops, the instructions are fun to decipher...)

You can see the entire set of photos on Flickr here.
(Dad, click there! When you finally read this :p )

Have a great weekend!!

p.s. I think I'm blinking in the girls photos, oops. The perils of analogue photography :)

We made a camera!

2011-09-29T12:30:00.003+01:00

Introducing my YELLOW gakkenflex camera, made by myself and my friends over the weekend. (And I have photos taken with it too for tomorrow's post, which means it worked and I am excited!)

I'd seen photos taken with this camera by my fellow camera enthusiast friends Unai and Cesar and they both used it for their photoswap photos too (see here and here.) I was totally captivated by the idea that it was a camera that you built yourself from a kit and I knew that I had to have one and luckily I got one for my birthday from these lovely ladies (they spoil me).

So here are some photos of us putting it together for your amusement.

{the shutter, just 4 bits of plastic and 3 springs, so clever!}

Ta da!! And to finish off, some fun (kind of) TTV photos...

This camera was so fun to put together, especially as some of the instructions weren't translated correctly (right was left, left was right etc) so we had to guess a lot from the photos but I highly recommend it if you want to try it.

Also the yellow is amazing... I love it so much!

p.s. I'm totally rocking the sock bun and also I have new red boots which I love.

p.p.s. the shutter sounds amazing, especially as I know how it works now.

Forgotten Film...

2011-09-28T09:11:00.002+01:00

Way back in April 2010 we went on a long weekend away with our parents (both sets, they get on, its awesome) and on the way back, we stopped at Castle Howard which I blogged about at the time. However I completely forgot that as well as taking my fuji instax mini, we also took my Dad's Olympus OM-10 and we never finished the roll... and then, we completely forgot that it was still in the camera. For well over a year... disaster.

However, I accidently finished it over the weekend (playing with the camera, like you do) and here are the photos from that lovely day at Castle Howard... though neither Thomas or I can actually remember who took the photos.

{I remember taking the photo on the right, how beautiful is the light! Shame we still haven't figured out the shutter speeds lol}

Aren't the daffodils just amazing? I forgot how many that there were.

I always find the OM-10 quite intimidating compared to my little plastic cameras as there are so many settings but I always love the results from it. Perhaps we should use it more.

Painting with light...

2011-09-27T13:30:00.001+01:00

After seeing Laura and Tom's photos about experimenting with the camera settings on her digital camera, Thomas and I decided to see if we could figure out light painting on his Sony H7 camera on the beach.

{an attempt at writing my name!}

The good news is that we figured out how to do it, the bad news is that we're not that great at making it look good yet lol. I can't wait to experiment further with it, perhaps we'll get photos as lovely as Laura's next time!

Paris in film: Ilford XP2 Part 1 (of many I expect...)

2011-09-26T08:48:00.006+01:00

Have I told you that I love Ilford XP2 film with my diana mini? I'm sure I have...
In fact, it was the only film I used with this camera in Paris as I knew I would just love the results with it and I was not disappointed!

These photos are around the streets of Paris, I wanted to capture as much of them as I could and I just love how they turned out.

Location: Paris
Camera: Diana Mini
Film: Ilford XP2 iso 400

Thomas's Favourite Paris Photos

2011-09-23T14:06:00.003+01:00

Hello readers, It's Thomas here sharing my final favourite photos from Paris. I hope you are enjoyed looking at the photos that myself and Rhianne took, it was really a wonderful holiday, and one that I don’t think I will ever forget.

There were so many highlights that I cannot even think to list them all, Paris is such an amazing, vibrant city. It was impossible to not be inspired by the beautiful architecture and just the general ‘feel’ of the place. We both mentioned during the week how it was no wonder that some of the worlds most creative people came from and lived in Paris. It had this vibe that was almost electric, there was something in the air all the time (apart from the great smell of food) that was indescribable and I hope that both myself and Rhianne captured that in our photos.

{the crowds, Anna Calvi and Lykke Li at Rock en Seine}

I love taking photos (maybe not quite as much as Rhianne) but more than anything I love sharing them, looking through them and reliving all the wonderful memories and im sure we will be doing that for years to come and it has been a real privilege to share some of these photos with you. I can imagine Rhianne will share many more photos and stories of our trips to Paris (and our future travels as well I can expect).

Also, before I go, I would just like to say a big big thank you to all the amazing people that Rhianne has met on For the easily distracted. I have also been so lucky to meet Adele and Wendy who were both lovely people. It is so fantastic to hear Rhianne talk about you, she is always showing me your wonderful posts and photos on different blogs. I really hope that you enjoy reading it as much as she does writing it and taking hundreds and hundreds of photos for it.

Have a great weekend!
Thomas

His and Mine, He and Her... something like that: Paris Edition

2011-09-22T13:01:00.003+01:00

This post had been far too much fun for me to put together it has to be said, but here are our 'his and hers' photos of Paris's various monuments and details. As we were always together there are a lot of photos of the same thing but they still give such a different perspective of how we both look at things.

Thomas's photos are on the left and mine are on the right.

A mandatory action shot to start...

"How rude..."

The Arc de Triomphe

A space invader...

The beautiful lamps around the city.

The amazing Metropolitain signs

The Autumn leaves...

and just the once - we took almost exactly the same photo... I actually thought we would have had more similar ones but I think we both tried very hard not to take the same photos as each other.

Thank you Paris for being the best location for a week long photography date!

Along the River Seine...

2011-09-21T13:35:00.005+01:00

Both Thomas and I thought that our evening up the Eiffel Tower would be pretty hard to beat... we were wrong.

The next evening we decided to take a boat journey along the River Seine to relax and take in Paris from a different point of view. What we didn't expect was one of the most beautiful sunsets either of us have ever seen.

Isn't it dramatic how much the sky changed over the space of an hour! I love the contrast between the first and last photo of the Eiffel Tower.

Unfortunately it wasn't really light enough for my cameras to capture the sunset for long but the digital camera was perfect and Thomas caught the light so well (these are unedited btw). I also got to sit and enjoy the ride for the hour which I can't really complain about can I?

Photographer: Thomas
Camera: Sony H7
Location: Paris

p.s. Thomas actually managed to take over 200 photos in that hour, narrowing it down to these was pretty hard!

p.s. the eiffel tower sparkles... did you know?

2011-09-20T12:54:00.002+01:00

It's possibly the most beautiful thing I've ever seen...

Up the Eiffel Tower...

2011-09-20T12:30:00.002+01:00

Eeeeeeeee! We went up the Eiffel Tower! At night! To the top!

Needless to say, I was very excited about this and I still am. We hadn't planned to climb the tower on the Monday night, just visit it and have a look around the river, but there were hardly any queues to go up so we rather impulsively decided to just do it even though the top floor was closed. We queued for about 10-15 minutes I would say and then, as we got to the window to buy our tickets, the top was opened! HUZZAH!
(The nice French man said it was just for me... I believed him.)

It has to be said, Thomas was my hero that night - he doesn't like heights and he was rather uncertain at the top, but he went all the way up, he looked around and he even took photos. I'm not bothered by heights so I was practically bouncing around everywhere being generally over excited and he put up with that too.
(in fact he puts up with that most of the time, haha)

The first time I looked at these once we got back to England, I cried. I couldn't believe we'd really been there, looking at the most amazing views and taking in every that Paris at night had to offer. The photos don't really do it justice, it was stunning and a massive highlight of our visit. I want to go back.

Photographer: Thomas
Camera: Sony H7
Location: Eiffel Tower, Paris

Much Love Monday: Paris

2011-09-19T09:30:00.001+01:00

This week is going to be dedicated to Thomas's photos in Paris here on For the easily distracted... I've said it before but he does take amazing photos and he managed to take over 1000 in Paris (which is about 300 more than me I might add...)

I love our little photography dates - Thomas with his digital camera and me with (one of my) film cameras and Paris was like a giant week long photography date. It was so much fun!

I actually got a bit carried away watching Thomas take photos this time - he sees the world differently to how I do (for one he's a lot taller than me) and a lot of the time he captured things that I didn't even see or things that I didn't want to photograph but kind of wish I had after seeing his photos... a lot of the things he noticed that I didn't was the amazing and varied grafitti around the city.

We could both see how so many amazing artists have been inspired by Paris in the past, there was creativity and art everywhere (and hearts!) and it was so easy to take photos all day long...

So today I love Thomas, I love his photos, I love Paris, I love how different cameras suit different people, I love seeing things from different points of view and I love art and inspiration being everywhere around us.

Photographer: Thomas
Camera: Sony H7
Location: Paris, France

p.s. this post is for Anna's Much Love Monday series, read more about it here to take part.

Along the canal with my Sardina...

2011-09-16T13:39:00.004+01:00

Our apartment was just a short walk away from the St Martin Canal in Paris... the area was perfect - exciting, bustling and it offered a different side of the city away from the tourism and the distractions of the centre.

On the Sunday morning we decided to walk along the canal and I'm so glad we did - there was so much happening around it in comparison to the canal here in Leeds... people playing ping pong, working out, walking their dogs... It was active yet strangely relaxing at the same time.

Although I had been to Paris before when I was 14, this trip was completely different and although I knew I would love our visit, I didn't expect to love Paris as much as I did... especially the area around the apartment. I'm so glad I took so many photos because everytime I start to feel like I'm forgetting what it felt like to be there, I just look at them (which is fairly often) and I remember so much more.

Location: St Martin Canal, Paris
Camera: La Sardina Sea Pride
Film: Lomography Colour Negative iso 400

p.s. you can see a few of my favourite photos from along the canal on Everything Reminds Me of You as part of Elle's La Sardina review posts - theres even pink in one photo and I like it a lot!

p.p.s. I had a little layout upgrade, what do you think?

Rock en Seine...

2011-09-15T12:02:00.003+01:00

One of the reasons we chose to go to Paris over the August Bank holiday was due to the music festival Rock en Seine, held just outside Paris. (We also went to a music festival whilst we were in Krakow, we are well travelled music lovers! Barcelona next I believe... haha) Neither of us took many photos but I managed to get some with my yashica samuria with my first try of Lomography Xpro film.

I'm still undecided on this film, its very green, though some others from the two rolls I used did turn out quite well, so I guess this is a limited selection to judge it on.

I also took some photos with my Sardina too and I love the results, the wide lens is perfect for the setting...
Highlights from the festival include the Foo Fighters - Dave Grohl is amazing, the Artic Monkeys, Anna Calvi, Lykke Li and Austra, who I just love!

Cameras: Yashica Samurai and Sea Pride Sardina
Films: Lomo Xpro and Colour Negative 400
Location: Rock en Seine, Paris.

A birthday weekend...

2011-09-14T12:00:00.003+01:00

I've been a bit anxious about my birthday this year, it's been hard celebrating my life for the last ten years on a date when so many people lost theirs and I knew this year would be particularly poignant and upsetting. Luckily my parents and Thomas were amazing, they took me away for the weekend to the beach and I got lots of hugs and licks from Harry* (in fact he came and sat next to me that birthday morning just to lick my face, I couldn't believe it) so here are a few of my phone photos from the weekend.

I took a few fuji's on the beach too but it was kind of nice to be camera free for the weekend after carrying around 6 in Paris.

Every year on my birthday for the past ten years, I've taken a moment to remember the terrible events that happened in 2001 and then another moment to appreciate everything and everyone in my life, I am truly glad to be alive and to have such amazing people in my life (friends included, how wonderful was yesterday's post?) and all I really wanted this year was to be with the people that I love and to go on the beach... and that's what I got.

*Harry is the dog btw, its totally acceptable for him to lick my face, haha, I thought I better clarify that...

With a little help from my friends...

2011-09-13T15:00:00.004+01:00

Hey, its GeeGee and C here, we know this is a little late but it’s never too late to wish your best friend Happy Birthday!!! We decided to put this post together because Rhianne did one for each of us on our birthdays. We have been friends for 7 amazing years and we have shared so many experiences with each other.
We first met at the University back in 2004. Uni was an amazing time and one of the best bits was our trip to Berlin in 2006 (we look so young!)We loved our nights out and getting dolled up. This photo is from a Masquerade Ball that we were invited to in 2006. Then we went off on our placement year. C and Rhianne saw each other once over this time (C was in Leeds and Rhianne was in London) but we didn’t see G for almost a year because she decided to take herself off to South Africa! We made up for it in Final Year with lots of nights out, random get togethers and fancy dress!
Before we knew it, it was time to graduate. C and Rhianne stayed in Leeds but G moved back down south (150 miles away sob!) but we were determined to stay in touch. There were lots of events planned from graduation to Disney on Ice, birthdays and a trip to Ireland next month.Rhianne, you are one of the best. You pick us up when we are down, educate us on cameras (she’s obsessed, didn’t you know?), make us laugh, give us advice and overall you are one of the best friends we could ever had. (You are blubbing now, aren’t you?).
We 3 are one strong unit and nothing will ever break this bond.

We will have a proper celebration when G comes up on the 23rd.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

p.s. Rhianne's birthday was Sunday so its only a little late...

Around Paris with my Sardina camera...

2011-09-09T12:00:00.002+01:00

Our first three days in Paris were mainly spent at Rock en Seine (photos to come) but we were ambitious on Friday morning and we decided to go explore some of the city before heading to the festival.

We walked down the Rue de St Martin and across the river to the Notre Dame and then across the river again to the Palais du Luxemboug and I tested out my first roll of film in my Sardina Sea Pride.

For a first go, I found this camera awkward... its undeniably pretty however I didn't realise you had to pull the lens out and twist it to be ready to shoot - this action felt extremely clunky. I just left mine out in the end, probably not the right thing to do but oh well. Then winding the film back on I managed to catch my knuckle on the edge of the 'can' and cut out a chunk of skin (please tell me someone else has done this as well, was I doing it wrong?) and honestly - the shutter on this camera is pathetic, it sounds so tiny, I wasn't even sure it was working at first. So after using my first roll, I wasn't expecting much as I wasn't blown away by the photo taking experience...

However, I think I actually really quite like these photos - I was expecting the results to be similar to the Superheads Slim and Wide, yet these photos have quite a different quality to them. I think the lens is a little wider and I like how the edges are fuzzy in comparison to the middle and I think if the day had been sunnier (it was nicer when we left or I'd have used a higher iso film definitely) then the colour would have been much more vivid. So despite my original misgivings I am actually quite intrigued by what else this camera can do...

Do you have a Sardina? I'd love to hear what you think of it too.

Location: Ile de la cite and Palais du Luxembourg, Paris
Camera: Lomograpy Sardina Sea Pride
Film: Lomography iso 400 (I think)

That first evening continued...

2011-09-08T13:33:00.009+01:00

After finding the river and enjoying the amazing view, we decided to continue walking around the area on our side of the river before having dinner... we managed to find the Louvre, the Centre Pomidou and some other gems which I just loved.
{can you see me? This one was taken by Thomas with his Sony H7}

We then went for our first French meal - we both had Steak Tartare which was delicious, like a really amazing pate and then desserts.
Thomas had rum baba and I had the nicest creme brulee I've ever tried. As you can see, I was very excited, I seriously love creme brulee.

I also love my yashica samurai, I took 50 photos that first night with a 24 film, you can see the rest that I haven't shared in the films Flickr set here (3 posts on one film is enough lol)

p.s. It's possible I may have taken too many photos in Paris...
I'm kidding (of course)
However, we could be here for a couple of months people... this is 1 film out of 12
I'm just saying.