I often wonder at the constant motion our world is forever in, not only the rotating aspect of the planet or the cyclical phase of the moon and stars but of those people who work tirelessly through the night to ensure our expectations are met. That could be anyone from the emergency services through to our postal system.
The sad demise of the service supplied by Redwood in Colchester meant that I had to find another C41 processing laboratory and I chose Peak Imaging based on hearsay evidence. I have not been disappointed.
If the Post office at Shotley had not had a change of policy I would not have found myself the other side of the scary wood (Rence Park) sticking stamps on RPS Contemporary Journals last Thursday and thence taking an opportunity to record an agridustrial scene that has awaited me for many months.
I had been out and about with large, medium and digital formats in a quest for some new large format subjects but winds where gusting and the light was horrid. I activated Plan B – a bacon butty served from a van at the end of Shotley Pier and waited for the call from Great Uncle Peter to say he had the stamps. I’m glad I was already on the peninsula as we got started two hours earlier than planned so it was with itching eagerness that I wanted to escape the office work and take advantage of the woodland, an ancient woodland that he lives on the edge of. The forecast rain was upon us but the light was perfect so after a guided walk I launched myself into making images as fast as I could garner. I have never had an assistant on a large format shoot before but I was certainly glad of his Sherpa skills on Thursday. No sooner had I packed the cameras, ladders and tripod into the car that it chucked it down. It was then a scurry back to Ipswich, a quick unpacking of the dark slides and ordering development on-line at Peak. I literally hoofed it down to the Post Office where I was lucky enough to catch the last special delivery posting of the day to get my precious undeveloped images off to the lab.
Such is the surety of the process, that I then began the 36 hours of heightening frisson of getting the package back through the door. The seamless delivery overnight to Sheffield, followed by the Swiss-like clockwork process employed by Peak and the similar overnight delivery back to Suffolk highlights my dependency on the professionalism of other people and their processes. My package dropped through the letterbox early this morning. I was not disappointed.
These two images were the result of my early start last Sunday. I am quite pleased but could have had higher light levels. This was in the hour after sunrise, and cloud cover was thick.
The following images were made very quickly with the aid of my assistant of the day last Thursday.
And my favourite of them all;
This last image was 1 second at F38. I never normally stop down beyond F22 but as conditions were perfect – no chocolate box sunshine I am over the moon with the results. I now rate Portra 160 at 100. If I could improve on this shot it would be to include a fraction more on the left side.
I have yet to remove dust marks.
Thank you Royal Mail for the change in policy that put me in the woods and delivering to and from the lab in Sheffield. Thank you Peak Imaging for your dependable service and to Peter for being a Sherpa.
Excellent – glad to see all my (!) hard work paid off!
You carrying some of the heavy gear around enabled me to get done and dusted before the real rain set in. The light was perfect for the tranquillity of the woods and the blue of the bluebells even though there were ominous creaks and groans from the bare canopy
Good to read the full story, as I had only heard the saga of the stamps from Peter. It almost tempts me to get out my 5×4 woodie after several years growing lazy.
I find the whole process of using the 5×4 very calming indeed Brian. I don’t know how many times I have driven up the track to Peter’s place telling myself to drag out the 5×4. Normally I go up there in Mrs O’s 4×4 Panda but that is too small for my stepladders and paraphernalia. I don’t think I have ever made so many images so quickly as I did on Thursday as it was drizzling so I worked much quicker than normal. The walk through the woods first without the camera was a good thing as I prepared the images and framing as I walked. The first fallen chestnut was a mystery. It looked as if it had been placed across the track. It almost emphasised the fact that the wood is private. We could hear shooting and Peter was concerned the gamekeeper was not firing in our direction. All in all this is a very old and until recently unmanaged chestnut coppice that will change relentlessly as the inner circles are cut down over the next few years. I’m already planning more visits with the 5x4s. Dig it out Brian and dust it down. I’d love to see some new 5×4 work from you.