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Over the last year or so, I have been increasingly drawn to exploring film or analogue photography. Not, I hasten to add,  instead of digital – but in addition to – I tire of the arguments from the closed minded  among us that one is ‘better’, more ‘real’, has more ‘character’ and on and on. I think film and digital – and for that matter, smart phones – with all their various apps and holgas and lomos – are just different – there is room for all, and no real need to create some artificial hierarchy or photographic class structure.

Looking through my image library the other day, I thought it might be fun to pull together a number of the street images I have shot on film.

I am the first to admit that I am just starting out – still learning – not yet achieving too many ‘keepers’ – but I love the different approach – the slowing down – the different way images are rendered – the anticipation and waiting while the film is developed. I have had the good fortune to experiment with a number of film cameras including:

• Nikon EM;
• Olympus Pen F;
• Nikon F90x;
• Nikon FE2;
• Voigtlander Bessa 4a;
• Voigtlander Vito B;
• Voigtlander Vito Automatic;
• Hasselblad X-Pan ii; and
• Leica M6 TTL

Some of these I have found at camera markets and secondhand shops, some have been loaned to me by great – and trusting – friends, some given to me, some I have wanted and hunted for, and some I have chased down for sentimental value – my father used a Voigtlander.  Some I have used once, put aside and  then come back to for the pure simple joy of using them like the Nikon EM – small and simple and quite acceptable image quality. Most are still working – a couple aren’t – I just found a replacement Nikon EM after my first – given to be my my photography mentor/friend – reached the end of its life, I bought a broken F90x to replace parts on my old, worn and down and out original version.

A number have been returned to their owners and some sold or traded on again, and of course, some I still have and continue to use and a couple I will never part with.

I find myself drifting towards the older, more basic cameras – manual focus, aperture, shutter speed and perhaps exposure compensation.

I really love the M6, but I am not a good enough photographer to do it justice yet. But that’s really what its all about isn’t it? Constantly working to improve your skills and capture moments and images that you witness or that are important to you.

So here they are – street images largely – no particular order – although it might be close to chronological.

Click on the image for a larger view.

Shoe Repairs
Ridgeway Lane Melbourne
Nikon EM
Nikkor 50/f1.8D
Kodak GC 400

Grid
Spring Street Melbourne
Voigtlander Bessa 4A
Kodak TMax 400

Almost Abstract
Near Malthouse Theatre, Southbank Melbourne – public sculpture known as Yellow Peril
Voigtlander Bessa 4A
Kodak TMax 400

Collonade at GPO Melbourne
Voigtlander Bessa 4A
Kodak TMax 400

3in a lane
Melbourne Laneway
Leica M6 TTL
Kodak 400 TriX

Old taking New taking Melbourne
Federation Square looking across to Flinders Street Station
Leica M6 TTL
Kodak 400 TriX

Stairs – RMIT University Melbourne
Leica M6 TTLKodak 400 T-Max

La Belle Miette
Nikon FE2
Nikkor 50/f1.4 AI-s
Ilford Delta 100 Pro

Spring Sttreet Melbourne
Nikon FE 2Nikkor 50/f1.4 AI-s
Ilford Delta 100 Pro

South Yarra Station
Leica M6 TTLKodak 400 TriX

Unmissable
Swanston and Collins Street, Melbourne
Leica M6 TTLLeica Emar-M 24 f/3.8Kodak 400 T-Max

Flinders Lane Evening
Leica M6 TTLLeica Emar-M 24 f/3.8Kodak 400 T-Max

27 DeLacy 31
NikonEMNikkor 50/f1.8DKodak GC400

2 into 1
Nikon F90XNikkor 50/f1.8DIlford Delta 100 Pro

Southbank
Nikon F90XNikkor 50/f1.8DIlford Delta 100 Pro

Federation Bells
Nikon F90XNikkor 50/f1.8DIlford Delta 100 Pro

Lanecoffee
Nikon FE2Nikkor 50/f1.4 AisKodak Tri X 400

Don’t let go
Nikon FE2Nikkor 50/f1.4 AisKodak Tri X 400

Analogue music
Nikon FE2Nikkor 50/f1.4 AisKodak Tri X 400

WARS
Nikon FE2 Nikkor 50/f1.4 AI-s
Ilford Delta 100 Pro

Spring Street Shadow
Nikon FE 2Nikkor 50/f1.4 AI-s
Ilford Delta 100 Pro

Exhibition Street Delivery
Voigtlander Bessa 4A
Kodak TMax 400

So there you – a little look at my early journey into film on the streets of Melbourne. Perhaps my next project should be to bring together some of the people shots and portraits.

That’s a task for another time.

…until next time….

b