FIRST ROLL FROM MY NIKON FM2
The new to me Nikon FM2 from 1985 I think. Totally mint condition, might black out the logos once I’ve worn it in a bit.
My eldest child is a talented photographer and is really, really keen on black and white photography. Currently they are using my first proper DSLR a Canon 550d from 2005 that my Mother bought me. It’s an excellent camera and has weathered some heavy abuse, from sweaty gigs to the top of frozen mountains, that camera has seen it all and was the camera that documented the early life of the child that now owns it. As good and trustworthy as it is, digital cameras just cannot compete in the world of black and white, for me there is nothing more timeless than monochrome 35mm film. Illford HP5 and Kodak Tri-X are just better, the grain the tonality, the ability to push and pull the film. If you can be bothered you can develop it easily in your bathroom and the look of it is just peerless.
Digital photography is data, analogue photography is a chemical miracle.
Point is I’ve given my child my current 35mm SLR, an Asahi Spotmatic and I need something to replace it. So I have bought this mint condition Nikon FM2 from Beauly of all places. This is a fully mechanical camera and should last me the rest of my life. These things are known to be incredibly robust, surviving wars, floods and drops from great heights. Internet idiots that say there’s nothing cool about Nikon just do not understand the companies illustrious history and the technical prowess and innovation that have reshaped photography for over 108 years. This is a bench mark of mechanical excellence, pure and simple.
Here’s the highlights from my first roll put through it… FUJI 400H (expired 2006, I rated it at iso 320)
The multi-story of the Silverburn Shopping Centre in Pollok. I thought this carpark was the only remaining part of the Pollok shopping centre opened in 1979. But it turns out all of the old centre was demolished in three phases, although this carpark retains all the hallmarks of the original centre, same amount of floors, similar pillar spacing it is in-fact totally modern. I found this video which shows aerial photos of the site from 2002 - 2022. Need to go back and photograph the beautiful plastic boulders that are at the entrance, they’re so ‘special’.
Locally it is believed the new shopping centre is called Silverburn after the high volume of shopping trolleys in the Brock burn which runs along its south west flank.
I love the staggering, jakeyness of this arrangement. The broken tree with tipped over trolley in the background is totally chef’s kiss.
Silverburn interior, I got told off by a security guard for this one. I totally thought my new camera was totally stealth, strange I’ve never been told off for using the medium format camera which is bigger than my head.
Nitshill shopping arcade, built 1967. There was a hotel here called the Leven Water it’s claim to fame was that Dr Feelgood played there once. Found a blog here with a photo and loads of other info about the area.
The colour harmony between the bins and the tower is special isn’t it? It’s the toilet that makes it.
The Silverburn entrance - Pollok side… You can see the brock burn in the foreground. I found a fantastic blog called ‘Alex and Bob’s Bluesky Scotland’ it’s full of interesting info and where I’ve gleaned most of the local knowledge that I will recycle in this article.
A grainy, long exposure close up of my friend Wakka Whakka. Such a great Guy!
I used to have my studio round the corner from here (Keppochhill road) for years, this whole area has become quite the jakey, dumping ground, loads of fly tip spots, this being one of them, The petrol garage here used to be open 24hrs and I’d often come here to get noodles and mccoys.
The forecourt of the old petrol station I used to frequent is now used as car storage for the crash repair place round the corner. I used to really fancy the woman who worked nights here often, she was so weedgie, so flirtatious, she had her sternum pierced in two places and had all kind of ornate jewellery threaded in to the bone of her chest. Folk from Possil are just built differently, this documentary from the 90’s will give you some insight Possil Girls. « content warning obviously !!!
There’s a quadrant of South street where industry and traveller camps intertwine, this used to be very common in Glasgow in the past but was changed considerably by the Equality Act 2010 and the planning act 2019 that the Scottish government passed. These acts require local planning authorities to engage with Gypsy/Traveller communities when developing Local Development Plans and allocate land for accommodation.
This caravan has a good face on it does it not? Looks like a battle weary and defeated Pokemon.
This showman’s caravan has a fifth wheel and can be towed by a truck. I have found an online repository of Scottish Fairground lorries here. It is stuffed full of trees mattresses, white goods and football training equipment.
This fly tip is of monumental scale, I believe the building / machine on the other side is an aggregate crusher.
The Clydesdale bank in Killmarnock , built by Hay, Steel & Partners in 1975. A woman who works here was so perplexed as to why I would be interested in it. She thought it was a pretty awful building but said it was fine to work in, warm enough.
The Janitors office in my studio building. I’ve used a heavy handed diffusion filter here, the colour of the fluorescent strip lights in this building are my fckng nemesis.
I think this building is a total success personally. Could of set this up straighter but it was dark and cold, just wanted to finish my roll. Heavy handed diffusion filter again. Plus Ross was cold and hungry… so I did it pure slap dash.
And here is cold and hungry Ross having a snout outside Gibson & Sons opposite the Clydesdale. The business operated in the area during the 1980s, offering a range of gents' apparel. It’s long defunct, earliest entry on google maps is from 2017 and it’s well derelict then; cool font though. The heavy diffusion filter totally works here , the negative of this is so lush.
And here’s Ross taking one of me, he’s so tall and clever, please buy all his albums.
MY SECOND ROLL THROUGH THE NIKON FM2 IS A FRESH ROLL OF KODAK VISION 3, 500T, CINEMA FILM
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THE RESULTS, SHOULD BE CLEANER AND SHARPER THAN THIS JANKY EXPIRED GRAIN FESTIVAL.
BIG THANKS TO THOSE WHO ARE DONATING, THIS HELPS SO MUCH WITH THE COSTS OF FUEL AND FILM.
✴With Gratitude
