The images on this page have been taken with a number of cameras. They could be from either of my Brownie 127 cameras, one of which I have had since the age of 11 or 12. Other than that they may have been exposed on one of two Bencini cameras that I have used, A Koroll 24 or a Koroll ‘S’. The subtle difference here is that the Brownies use 127 film whereas the Koroll cameras expose on to 120 film.
Brownie 127 images: The images below have all been exposed by Kodak Brownie 127. The exposure is fixed for this camera at about 1/50 sec at f/11 so I will not repeat that information for each individual image.
The subject of these two images should not need any introduction. I visited Wethersfield Air Show (in Essex, UK) in 1961. I will explain that year later. At the time of that visit these were the only two airworthy aircraft of these particular models. As you can see both of these were taxiing for take off in a mock air battle. As a youngster having just entered or about to enter my teenage years this was quite an event. Had the camera had automatic wind on maybe I could have caught the profile of both aircraft. Both printed on Ilford1 MGIV pearl paper (14s, f/8).
The first of these two aircraft is another of those that should need no introduction. I was debating with myself whether my visit had been in 1960 or 1961 but his aircraft confirms the date as 1961. Why? It entered service in May 1961. For those who don’t recognise it it is an Avro Vulcan V bomber mark B2. There were only 136 of Vulcans ever made and you can find details on Wikipedia. It was sent to Duxford in 1982. Don’t know if it is still there. Apparently it is but in camouflage colours. Photo printed on Ilford MGIV pearl (14s, f/8).
The picture on the right is an F-100 Super Sabre. I was researching this aircraft and contacted Mr Henk Scharringa who was kind enough to let me have the history of this aircraft. It seems it entered service in 1957 and was based as a member of the 77th TFS (part of the 20th TFW). The final mention is dated 3rd October 1968 when it was reported crashed in Turkey. If you search Google for ‘Super Sabre 56-2984’ you will find a few other images of this aircraft. Photo printed on Ilford MGIV pearl (18s, f/8).
For the life of me I cannot think where I was when I took this photo. I have to admit that in my youthful inexperience I did not too bad a job of framing the image. The tree is not dead centre which is always a tendency for beginners. Not much else to say about it really. Printed on Ilford MGIV peal (14s, f/8).
Koroll images:
Nothing to show here yet
Using old Kodak film: October 2018. Search the internet for 127 film and you will find varying stories. Look to buy a camera able to expose onto 127 film most guides will say 127 film is no longer available. Well I am here to tell you that whilst 127 film is rare it is available. One of my suppliers offers to respool any film you like onto 127 reels providing that a) you provide the spool and b) you provide the backing paper. Browsing the internet I found someone in the USA offering 7 rolls of Kodakchrome Pan 127 film. It was not cheap. There was the film, then the postage and at final delivery some customs charges. However I had only two rolls of 127 film in stock so I bought the Kodak film. Total cost just shy of £12 per roll. I bought it for the spools and the backing paper and with an expiry date of 09/1984 (ie 34 years ago) I thought I would buy it and then load a roll or two into a camera and see what happens. All the images in this section have been exposed on 34 year out of date 127 film. I expected nothing, I expected poor contrast, I expected disappointment. Look at the images below and see how disappointed I was in the end.
The first four pictures below were taken on a Brownie 127 model 1 and the other five on a Brownie 127 model 2. The exposure settings are the same for both of these at 1/50 second and f/11 (or f/14 depending where you read about it). I won’t repeat exposure settings for each picture.
On the left as proof (as if you needed it) (and anyway it proves nothing) is a picture of my car just to show that on a 35 year old film this picture has to have been taken in this year (2018), or certainly it could not have been taken when the film was in date. The darkness of the image is more to do with the photographer than the film!.
On the right is a picture taken up through some trees. In taking these pictures I am also trying to show that you are not limited by the camera you hold but that you can be imaginative in composing your shot.
Printing details: left (14s, f/11), right (18s, f/11), both on Ilford MGIV Pearl.
On the left is a picture of Juniper House, which was the office block associated with the Gin Distillery that once occupied this site. I took this to add to my collection on Glass (see here). The attempt here was to include as much of the overhanging branches as could possible add to the picture again trying not to create a snap shot type of picture. I have tried to show in all these photos that using a Brownie 127 is not a limitation on using the camera as an art form. Printed on Ilford MGIV pearl.
On the right is a picture of some trees. Between the trees on the left and the trees in the background on the right is a road. Quite a busy road as it happens. You can also make out that there were some interesting clouds in the sky at the time of taking the shot. Printed on Ilford MGIV pearl (14s, f/8).
Two pictures of St Mary’s Church , Langdon Hills. There is a 6×9 image here. Apologies for the transmission line in the left-hand picture. The bane of a photographers life could not be avoided and yet have a good shot of the tower. Printed on Ilford MGIV pearl (14s, f/8).
The picture on the right is better in as much as it was taken with the foliage in front of the camera no more than 2 feet away. A Brownie 127 has no focus adjustment so normally what is in focus is beyond about 5 feet. This shot was therefore framed to give a depth of field apparent by deliberately having the foreground features out of focus. The manual for this camera tells you about this and advises you to keep your distance. That is of course unless you want to deliberately do something different. Printed on Ilford MGIV pearl (144, f/8). Oh, by the way, the dark area top left in the picture is probably because I had a finger over the lens. A problem with these cameras.
Whilst taking the picture on the left I managed to brush my foot against a stinging nettle and two days later my foot was still complaining. But as all photographers know you have to suffer to get the right shot. This picture is on some sheep’s parsley seed heads. These are only about 4 feet high so I had to crouch down to take the shot. I also wanted to have the seed heads out of focus so they were no more than 2 feet from the camera. You can see the clouds in the sky but you have to look for them. I think I will go back and take another shot holding a yellow filter in front of the lens. Printed on Ilford MGIV pearl (f18s, f/8).
Now the picture on the right did not go quite according to plan. It is in fact a double exposure. I will point out later. However for the first exposure I stuck the camera in a hedgerow and fired a shot. Then I took the second exposure of my car which was standing in strong sunlight. I think the taxi driver that was watching thought I had lost the plot. The most noticeable double hit is on the front wheel to the top and in the wheel arch above where you might otherwise think this was a mark on a poorly stored negative. You can notice other patches in the trees in the background which look out of focus but of course cannot be with this camera. Next time I will no be so lilly livered with my first exposure. Printed on Ilford MGIV pearl (16s, f/8).
Finally, for the moment, a picture of more trees. This was taken on 24th October when the autumn colours were strong in the trees. I wanted to see if I could capture this on black and white. For the most part these leaves were a nice deep red. It is not too bad if you like this sort of thing. Not got much more to say about this one really. Printed on Ilford MGIV pearl (14s, f/8).
