Images and musings

Welcome to Aspirational Photos. You will find some of my latest musings on photos, film and all things to do with analogue photography.

Making a test strip
Making a test strip

When printing an image in the darkroom, how do you determine the correct exposure time? The answer is simple if you have a basic darkroom set up and involves making a test strip.
The Stop Bath Culprits

Arrested Development

TO USE STOP BATH OR TO USE WATER

It sounds like it is a plot from a technocrat revenge movie if you read how Stop Bath is killing film. So I went out to find the truth about the maligned interloper and it is not crystal clear.

Can blurred images be as interesting?

Cappuccino Girl

A SINGLE SHOT REVIEW

Recently, I have had had discussions with my digital photographer friends around image sharpness and considered if a photo that is not pin sharp be a perfect image or does it need to be?

The Lab Box

Exposed to daylight

TROUBLE WITH MY LAB-BOX

Ars-imago launched their Kickstarter campaign for the Lab-Box. They had no trouble reaching their target, and I, too, went along for the ride. So how did it go?

Ruined shot

Film Panic

ADVICE FOR FILM LOVERS

Shooting film can be a tricky thing. Can we still buy a reliable camera and lens? Can we still buty the chemicals to developers and print you own, but I was not ready for when the film broke in the camera.

Raw and processed

Fujifilm Film Simulation

A PERSONAL OPTION

A Flickr friends was curious to know if a photo I had posted was actually straight from camera or not. As he asked, I thought it would be a good talking point.

Ophelia with Horatio

Five photos with Pan F

SHOOTING THE MYSTICAL PAN F

Ilford Pan F Plus is a film that seems to have an internet reputation of been a difficult film to use. Some have stated that it is a hard film to shoot with, but I have found it to be a joy to use.

Fork in the road

Fork in the road image review

SINGLE SHOT CRITIQUE

When we are out taking photos, we see a lot of opportunities that we know will make the perfect shot. Sometimes we can get the image in that instance, and sometimes we need to revisit the place a few times to get the shot spot on.

HP5, a classic black and wire film

Ilford HP5

MY WORK GO-TO FILM

We find ourselves trying different films until we find that special one. HP5 is a go-to film for many analogue photgraphers, but is it any good?

Thor Compared

Making the Grade

Subtle changes to the contrast

When printing in the darkroom we have many choices to allow us to effect the outcome. One of the first techniques we learn is to use different grades. In this article I discuss the effect of printing at different grades.

Pleasure and Sadness Final Image

Plesure and Sadness

A STREET PHOTO ON FILM

Getting a photo thet meets that us to experience some form of emotion towards subject is not always easy. In the image, s he is having her cake and eating it too, and letting him know it.

Taking Fomapan 200 to ISO 800

When I Push Film

A MODERN IDEA

To some, if you set the camera to the box speed you don't know what you are doing. So, is pushing film the only way to go, and why would you do it? In this opinion article I give you a starting point to explore pushing film.

Camera compared to 35mm film

Portraits With Film

Same but different

A lot of people have asked me about my work with film. It is the medium I now exclusively work in and yes, it is considered Hipster by many, so why do I love to the medium and why is it now the only choice for me?

Retropan Film, a modern classic film

Fomapan Retropan

A New Classic Soft

Retropan 320 Soft, the film Foma released in 2015, is a modern film and one that film shooters need to explore; after all, if we want more films to come to the market. (Sadly, Foma has paused its manufacturing.)

Rodinal Developer

Rodinal and I

A journey with an old friend

Rodinal has been helping professional and amateur photographers for over 130 years. While there are many modern developers on the market, I decided that I would see just how good Rodinal was in developing a variety of film types. I have to say 'Yes', i like it.

A teststrip done correctly

Darkroom Basics - Teststrips

Making it perfect

When printing an image in the darkroom, how do you determine the correct exposure time? The answer is simple if you have a basic darkroom set up and involves making a test strip to get the timing spot on.

Analogue Beauty

Thoughts about my Olympus OM-1

My Work Horse

Since 2015, I have owned a beautiful Olympus OM-1 in black. It is absolutely gorgeous, and I have ever since put a few rolls of film through it a month. It has worked flawlessly and it is always at hand, ready to do my bidding.

Another way of telling

Another way of telling

by John Berger and Jean Mohr a book review

There are many books that are full of beautiful photos. These books are great for the coffee table, but a lot of them lack the 'raison d'être.' Not so Another Way of Telling by John Berger and Jean Mohr.

Agfa Optima Sensor Electronic

Agfa Optima

SENSOR ELECTRONIC

I recently decided to take a look at my Grandmother’s old Agfa Optima Sensor Electronic camera. It was the one she on trips to the continent. As it still works, I decided to put some film through it.

The madness of Rose

Portrait of Rose

One Shot Review

How should we work with our models? It sounds so obvious, but I have been asked by those just starting out. To help, I have put down so thoughts and my approach on the subject of photographing your subject.

My black Yashica Electro 35

The Yashica Electro 35

A Classic Rangefinder with Attitude

The Yashica Electro 35 looks like an ugly duckling, but as we know from the fairytail, it really is a beautiful swan of camera. Here is my quick review of a mostly ignored, very capable rangefinder.

A teststrip done correctly

Darkroom Basics - Teststrips

Making it perfect

When printing an image in the darkroom, how do you determine the correct exposure time? The answer is simple if you have a basic darkroom set up and involves making a test strip to get the timing spot on.

Arthur Brown singing Fire

Pyromania

Discovering Pyro Developers

I've become a Pyromanic! OK, it is in my search of the best film developers that I stumbled upon Bergger PMK, a pyro developer that has become a life-changing discovery for me. With its ability to produce images with exceptional sharpness, detail, and improved tonal separation, PMK offers a level of control and aesthetic quality that is unmatched.