Biiiiiig lens! (And mirror)

I've also recovered my T adapter to OM so I will be able to try the absolute nightmare which is planetary imagining on film again.

Re familiarizing myself with the weirdest camera in my possession. Glad it still works and can be put on my new telescope.

Photo contest email also read like workm since it included detailed instructions and specified 'deliverables'. As the Scots would say (I think) Get Tae Fuck'

This week at work we have been invited to involve ourselves in a company wide photo contest of 'The view beyond our desk' (which fo us is a car park and cafe). Then we have all been invited to a swanky summer party...at that very cafe. Way to make us all feel wanted

Welp. Partner has talked me out of the easy route for astro work. So an 8 inch SCT it is. Expect lots of swearing and bad pictures of Jupiter.

Any other analogue types ever struggle when thinking of taking the easy route? I don't have a lot of time at the moment, nor a lot of space and I'm thinking of scratching the astro itch with a smart telescope. Imagining they can do now is amazing but part of me thinks it's cheating

I am utterly drained by having to work with subcontractors at either end of my product's process (both devs and the data entry people). Quality is crap and all for a few bucks scrimped by not having experts in house you can lose easily with and who do not have different financial interests to yours.

Fine weather for allotmenting!

I'd like to get back into gazing at the night sky and do astrophotography but the barriers to doing it properly are approaching wet plate levels of intimidating. I've done a bit on a basic reflector telescope but only the moon. Id really love to do more planetary imaging.

I just watched a thing about prediction markets and amongst *serious* competition I think they must be the most singularly depressing thing. Fuckheads making large amounts of money from other fuckheads betting on peoples lives.

I'm not saying the person I am married to is like the Major but I am also not, not saying that. They are less angry & terroristy though.

Grass palette cleanser.

How's the allotment doing? Well ok despite everything. Had to re-start toms after a frost and now trying to get things through a heatwave. Curcubits seem to cope fine but still small.

The damage today's weather has done to young spring growth already set back by the cold snap 2 weeks ago is very dispiriting.

My SX-70 could ln't cope with the light yesterday, even with an ND filter. No matter high key awesomeness...#BelieveInFilm

Punkt. Firle Beacon, Sussex. #BelieveInFilm

The same Harlan Ellison who wrote the most grim depiction of AI ever.

Re Abarth 595. 3 month impressions. It looks brilliant. I am sure an UP GTI is potentially better handling but this is great fun when you want it to be and largely docile when you don't. Did I mention it looks brilliant!? It doesn't handle as well as my smart Roadster but

Hot walk on the South Downs today. Polaroids and IT brownie in action. Visited Virginia Woolfes house. Do not regret getting a blue Abarth whatsoever. It looked great in the sun drenched car park when we got back.

lost & found this wall 💫

Struggling to enjoy anything at the moment. Everything I usually enjoy finds a way to make me feel stressed or negative about something or other. Garden is shit because...car is crap because...photography is crap...etc etc.

When the world insists you wear yourself out swimming in pursuit of raging whitewater. Become your own silent pool. Known only to the quiet cold blooded animals that thrive in the void.

Went to an open gardens event yesterday. A quite posh but of London and yet the best garden was a suburban garden in an ex council house. Clever use of borrowed scape and obscuring parts made this garden feel like a huge, mysterious and tranquil place. 10/10

There is just something about round frame polaroid I find enchanting. #BelieveInFilm

Gorgeous Austin 10 on Ham Common today.

Looks like I won't be getting a Kodak jiffy. All the sellers are like this seemingly.

Half looking at something fun for shitty challenge but I really do need to stress I won't be giving anyone any money who can't be arsed to write the description.

Watching figures using years of trust built up in old media forms going full 'Be Afraid' 'Panic' 'by this VPN' in the vomit worthy podcast sphere is maddening.

Lost my tomatoes last night. Really late to get a cold snap here. Kinda down. I know this stuff happens but I'm not exactly thinking positively at the moment and it's got me down.

I thought today about things I am serious about and it's funny but although I do take gardening and photography seriously. I wish I didn't. My job is aviation safety. That's serious. But in order to destress from that I do other things seriously that I shouldn't.

I see bluesky has got to the 'well poisoning for attention' stage of existence. I only unblocked it on my phone a few days ago. Might have been a bad decision.

New to me watch. I believe possibly 20s-30s. I like how older watches for men are small. Not really a fan of having a binnacle strapped to my wrist.

Best time of the year!

This spring I seem to have developed a longing to just be in the middle of the most abundant, florid rose garden and lose myself. I like roses normally but for some reason the longing is palpable this year. Off to Chertwell tomorrow I think.

Because I'm feeling kinda down despite it all let me just say I hope I never meet fuckwit teacher who thought that clever but clearly shy kid should be moved up a year (v rare in the UK). I am still dealing with the anxiety which I was first aware of on day 1 of that new school year.

Capturing Spring - Lake District Observations Photograph printed onto mulberry paper taken with Leica MA using Ilford HP5 and developed with DD-X. #believeinfilm #printyourwork

Partner 'enbrittified'

Denbies wine state near Dorking. Box Brownie and Ilford SFX. #BelieveInFilm

Have an assignment to investigate balance and proportion in garden composition so I used this as an excuse to draw the most sublime bit of garden composition I have ever seen. A stone 'river' in a temple garden in Kyoto.

Kings Cross. Box Brownie, Ilford SFX. #BelieveInFilm.

Parham House walled orchard. Kodak Brownie, Ilford SFX

I saw two Kingfishers today. I'm pretty sure this is a record.

'The Thames at twilight' by Roy Perry (1935-1993) (Private collection)

Quite jealous of all the people out in their classics today for drive it day. Not with the bug this weekend so had to make do with my ersatz classic out for a lovely drive to Parham House near Pulborough. Also forgot about wppd so had to make with a box brownie.

Right plant right place. Last year I had a vision of an area of the allotment covered in daffs by the heavy moist soil had other ideas. But there are compensations. The camassias have worked. Only issue is I have about 20 and I want more!! #Allotment

The Goddess of lumen printing saw I was tired of being awake at the moment and decided to remind me there is still wonderful, random, natural beauty to stay awake for. #BelieveInFilm

Nearly finished his looong assignment. A fern glade inspired back garden. Done in CAD and then Krita to give it more of a homespun drawn by hand look.

Food for my modded Brownie. SFX is absolutely one of my favourites for near IR work. Even a milder red filter just makes everything look rather ethereal.