Welcome to the new Year.

What a great start to the New Year for some with all that snow turning the landscape into a photographs paradise! Unfortunately, this part of the country is in the middle of a monsoon, in fact we have had that much rain I'm surprised we have not floated off into the North sea! Dull, dark and uninspiring, I am pleased to have a darkroom when the weather is like this.

A bit late I know, Welcome New Year! I had told some of my regulars that I would be posting a number of articles over the Christmas period. It did not happen and you have my apologies. December was so busy and passed by so quickly I feel I have lost a month from last year.

In case you did not know, this blog has always been a collaboration - so I need to say a big thank you to the editor for keeping it legible and concise. With that in mind we are looking for contributors and it does not matter if you blog or not. Maybe you have had an inkling to blog but do not want the hassle of doing the whole thing yourself or you would like to try it out before you get stuck in. Needless to say it should be photograph related. If you would like to contribute your thoughts and pictures please do. We have no set length, a few hundred words will do but definitely no more than a 1000. You will get full credit and links to your web site, blog if you have them.

 As you will have noticed I have refreshed the header for the new year. Something that has become a bit of a tradition. We may refresh the whole site in line with our mobile offering. Along with other subtle changes when we get the time.

I am not one for New Years resolutions it is just something I don't do. But I am going to try and use my Multi format pinhole camera even more than last year now that I have found a film, developer combination that gives the images a certain style that I like. I'm just not sure which of the 120 format family to use or what paper to print them on. I have some ideas as to what I will make pictures of and already know some of them will be double exposures whether I like it or not.

All I need to do now is thank you all for reading the articles from the year just passed and wish you all the best for the Year ahead. Keep well and creative.

Accompanying images:

Were all made using 35 mm Kodak  gold colour negative. A number of different cameras were used I know one of them was a Nikon FM. Locations of the images are not remembered apart from the first one which is Yosemite valley looking towards the falls.

Welcome to the New Year

 On a grey and dull day I am going to say a big, bright THANK YOU to all my follows, subscribers and supports for visiting the blog over this last year. Views are up big time even though it has been a bad year personally.

As is the custom for this time of year I have a new header picture that shows a hand picking up or putting down an Agfa Isolette I will leave it up to you how you interpret my intent. If any of you have any suggestion please share your thoughts.

As I sit here writing this, it is peeing down with rain, which has inspired me to set up my pinhole camera to make an image that will take eighteen minutes to expose. Not the longest exposure I have made but getting there. This is  the start of my rediscovery of the wonders of  pinhole photography and the Zero camera in   articular which I hope to use more this year  instead of leaving it in the camera bag. A new   years resolution of sorts!

Talking of new year resolutions photograph wise -  have you set any? I don't as a rule but this  year is  going to be different I have two things I  could like  to achieve one I have already  mentioned the  other is to spend more time in the darkroom  printing, something that I can neglect. I find it  difficult to spend anytime at all during the  summer months in the darkroom I  o not like  wasting time inside if the weather is  bright and  warm, even in the evenings. I  suspect I'm not the  only one. What are your thoughts? 

I'm looking forward to seeing you all again this year. Don't be shy if you drop by - have a chat (leave a comment) - always interested in what you get up to. I shall leave you now as my mistress the darkroom is calling! I will chat with you all again later. Before I leave I would like to wish you all the best for the year ahead. 

Welcome to 2016

Seeing as this is the first post of the year I would like to say a big thank you to our subscribers and follows for dropping by over the past year and anyone else who happens to stumble across us. I would also like to thank the back office for all there help with editing etc. I have to admit if it was not for their over site some of what you have read would have been incomprehensible rambling in jigsaw puzzle.

I have changed the header picture for 2016 . It is the back of an Agfa Isolette that was given to me. I would use it more but it has a light leak that I have not had time to repair. Something I may get round to this year but I will not hold my breath. Also I'm going to mix it up with some different types of post, for instance - all picture. Not sure exactly what else I am going to do but I'm sure you will let me know if they are any good. 

The blog ended the year with a bit of a flourish adding a number articles for the festive period to keep you amused. If you missed them here is a list:

• Tetenal Eukobrom AC
• Oh but for the grain.
• RO9s six months on.
• Is it coffee or multigrade.

I also released a book of drawings on blurb - not what you would expect but that is the point, here is a link if you are interested in having a look.

I have been reading an online Photography magazine from New Zealand called F11 (current issue) it features three photographers each month with an in depth look at their work. They have featured over the months some stunning images made by digital and analogue practitioners.

You can only get the magazine online by subscribing for the free app! Yes that's right free! - to read live or download for later. It has a host of live links in among the articles that take you to more pictures and or related info. It is well produced and a bit of a gem seeing the amount of work that must go in to producing each issue. There is also a list of back issues you can read or download to read off line as well. Here's the link if you are interested.

Before I go I'm going to leave you with this from Henry Carter Bresson.

The photograph is to hold one's breath, when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality.

It is that precise moment that mastering the image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy.