FRESH ROLL - CINESTILL 400D
I've been getting faster and more confident with the medium format camera, been shooting handheld a lot more. Which is actually quite comical; such an oversized camera and such an undersized man (I am short, that’s why the call me Shortly) … This Roll of film has gone very well, probably 8 out of 10 are portfolio - laird of fucking nowhere - gold.
Documenting Scotland’s slide into dystopia has really got a lot easier lately, so many town centres are deteriorating fast. The effects of online-shopping, super market deliveries and private capital are plain to see. Small shop based business’s seem to be increasingly inviable across the country. Sure some places are thriving but it’s rare and becoming rarer. In fairness there is a lot of regeneration in the works, I’ve never known of so many buildings scheduled to be demolished. Looking at a lot of the plans for these re-developments, it seems - by the mythical landmark of 2030 - that we will have newly planned town centres which better suit peoples lives and the economy we find ourselves in. I’ll keep my fingers crossed, at least something is being done and of course documenting all these happenings is going to add some brevity to my collection. I live in hope and will continue. Shooting film means there will be artefacts of this time that will last 100’s of years, the thought of doing this work and it’s legacy being .jpegs is abhorrent to me. :)
18 West High Street - Crieff - Perthshire
We had a weekend away in Perthshire and spent one night in Crieff. My perception of this place throughout my whole life was that Crieff is a posh place, with affluent land owners and booming tourism. Crieff is not that now, my perception was absolutely smashed. There are so many derelict buildings and vacant shops and structurally a lot of the victorian, sandstone buildings look on the edge of collapse. There was even a couple of Jakies in the square, maybe my perception of this place was always wrong. One thing is for sure, it hosts the best pastry shop I’ve ever been to. I got one with Rabbit in it, a pastry with Rabbit in it. Obviously the posh has not worn off completely. We spent £40 on pastry.
Film Notes: Mamiya RB67 - Sekor K/L 90mm - Cinestill 400
I must concede that I moved that plastic bag digitally, I saw it come up as I was framing and metering the scene and just missed it by a micro second. The halation on the film has lit up the Pizza sign with a neon red glow. This is caused by the light reflecting onto the back of the film from pressure plate and being absorbed by the red layer of the film for a second time. This film is cinema film with it’s remjet layer removed, remjet usually absorbs this second reflection. I believe this film is Kodak Vision 3 250d motion picture film with the remjet removed to allow it to be processed in C41 chemicals.
This Garage in Lochearnhead has become a bit of a photography hotspot since popular YouTube, Film Hipster - Kyle McDougall visited last year. You might notice a small black speed boat in the middle right of this image. Someone stores speed boats here and there is a big white one with flames on it. Does anyone know who the speedboat guy in Lochearnhead might be? Because I would love to retake this photo with that big white speed boat, with flames on it in the frame.
Film Notes: Mamiya RB67 - Sekor K/L 90mm - Cinestill 400
This is an unedited film scan from the lab.
QuinGo Vitesse and Pride Ranger mobility scooters are stowed in a quality lean to, in Weems. (Weems or Wemyss is a Pictish derivative meaning Caves). I must say I was baffled as to why there are so many Creels on the roof, being as inland as this place is. I read that folk use them to live store a catch of fresh fish in the loch. So that is likely the answer…
Film Notes: Mamiya RB67 - Sekor K/L 90mm - Cinestill 400
I toned the green down a bit on this one a little bit, and turned the red up to bring out the berries and the glowing orange Buoy on the roof. Halation has totally enhanced this photo.
We found this derelict croft house when visiting the Wood of Weem above Aberfeldy. It has Cup and Ring marked stones and a spiritual well where one of the Menzies Clan became a hermit in the 1400’s. The Menzies clan were supporters of Robert The Bruce & Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed in the Castle in 1746. It is a magical wood for sure. This Croft House had it’s entire back wall missing and was held up on cut to length spruce pillars. Try as I might I could not get a good picture of the collapsed wall and the interior within. But I’m happy with this. This is calendar fodder for 2027.
Film Notes: Mamiya RB67 - Sekor C 50mm - Cinestill 400
This is an unedited film scan from the lab.
St. Brides R.C. Church - East Kilbride.
This is just an architectural gem, so cool, so well done. One of Andy Macmillan’s (of Gillespie, Kidd and Coia) masterpieces. Built in 1964 from reclaimed victorian sewer bricks.
Film Notes: Mamiya RB67 - Sekor K/L 90mm - Cinestill 400
This is perspective corrected digitally and I have enhanced the turquoise of the Bronze cladding.
The Thistle CarPark - Kirkaldy - Fife. (also known at The Esplanade)
Anyone who knows me will know that I’ve been into the Thistle CarPark for a while, we had a great day here a couple of years ago, kids were cycling around it and we met the attendant whilst exploring (he was a character). I find the design of this thing so insane, I wouldn’t say it’s successful but it is amazing. I describe it’s architect as a ‘Mine Craft Idiot’ - Built in the 1980’s I have been unable to find who is responsible for it’s unique and imposing aesthetics. They were either a genius or a despot. This carpark along with Mercat Shopping Centre are marked for demolition, the locals call them ‘The Ugly Sisters’ and it certainly seems like everyone wants them gone. Universally derided! I’m glad we ventured out here as the demolition has already started. The rubble at the base used to be the planters where the most depressing and neglected garden resided. I’m gonna try and go back soon, as it is going to look so brutal when the wrecking claws are ripping it apart. Although it’s design is awful at least it has been designed with some sort of flare and imagination, I have no doubt that what replaces it will be big metal sheds, no design, no character. Convenient and efficient shopping seems to be the only ideal that the council are striving for.
Plans on the redevelopment can be seen here. https://www.investfife.co.uk/land-property/key-investment-opportunities/kirkcaldy-waterfront-development/
Basically the plan is to demolish and then find investors…
Film Notes: Mamiya RB67 - Sekor K/L 90mm - Cinestill 400
This is perspective corrected digitally. The site is flanked by a hefty steel fence right now, so I had to poke my lens through the gate where the shackle moves. I perspective correct photos so often that I should really move up to 4×5 large format so I can use the tilt and shift movements to correct perspective in camera, but it’s too much of a commitment of money and time, the tilt shift adapter for my camera is super rare and super expensive. I will include the lab contact sheet below and you can see how the original looked. Both are good but I’m just addicted to this straight line weirdness. So I’ll just keep doing it.
This is the view just 10 footsteps away from the previous photo. I call this one ‘BAM FLAG’. Kirkcaldy has a high BAM ratio, there’s a facebook group called Fife Jammers, it started out as a way to spot police speed traps but has become the defacto local news channel for Fife. Kirkcaldy often features with police raids, dildos on the beach and even small riots.
Film Notes: Mamiya RB67 - Sekor K/L 90mm - Cinestill 400
Not sure about the halation on the flag, it’s either not enough or too much. I’d have liked it if it was more as that would be more bammy wouldn’t it? The colours here are perfect, the charred fire damage adds a layer of brutality. Fair play to BAM they have made a really solid high quality perimeter fence. Not sure what business was in the purple store front but the shutter on the left used to be the Pound Stretchers load in.
South Parish Church - Bairdhill - East Kilbride.
Due for demolition, it has a sister church with a similar design in St Leonards which is in great condition and well looked after.
Lundin Links - Standing Stones.
Fucking Awesome standing stones, so big. The one in the front looks like a woman doesn’t it? This is a bit of a throwaway shot to finish my film, though I like the composition the light was flat and we missed the best of it as we walked up to them. Waited ages for the the clouds but they just kept obscuring the sun. I’ll be back in more atmosphere, I’m building up a hit list of Pictish and Bronze Age stuff I want to photograph, hope the fog comes soon, been precious little of it.
Tried a still life in the studio for the last shot of the roll, didn’t really work out, so I’ve mollicated it digitally by mirroring it. The original can be seen in the contact sheet below.
Cinestill 400D - 6×7 - Contact Sheet.
Love this film, good detail, nice flat contrast, good latitude. I love the Halation effect but it doesn’t always work out. It is very expensive £3.30 per frame. These scans lean towards green a lot and as expected it is a warm film. I’m also working my way through a spool of FUJI VELVIA 50, so looking forward to see how they come out. This roll took under a month to complete, though two of the shots are pretty throw away filler. I take a lot more care with the VELVIA but it does mean progress is slow. I get some dopamine hit out of the film, it’s so exciting it’s like a little present to yourself and putting them in context on here and having people actually read about them gives me hope for a better tomorrow. So please, if you know anyone who would be interested in the photos or the local history please ping it on; this feels much better than sharing them on social media.
