anthony galvin

Nikon F2AS

Next weekend my cousin Ian is getting married and my wife is going to be taking some pictures during ceremony. So over the last few days we’ve been pulling together our camera kit, making sure it’s all working nicely and is ready for action. Whilst doing this I decided to pick out one of my vintage 35mm cameras to take along and shoot some photos as well.

Most of my film cameras used to be belong to my paternal grandfather, in fact although he passed away over 20 years ago I still think of them as his cameras. Carefully wrapped up in bubble wrap there’s a couple of wonderful pieces of Nikon engineering from the late 70s and early 80s, including this Nikon F2.

Over the years my grandfather documented lots of family weddings, my grandmother left standing next to a heavy bag of kit whilst he snapped away. I’m fortunate to have his collection of cameras and lenses which date back to the 1950s, most of which are in fantastic condition. 

So this morning I nipped out and picked up a couple of new batteries and some Ilford black and white film. I’m going to run a roll through to test that it’s still working - though I’m pretty sure it is. It’s a joy to use, the metering is clean and simple and there’s a box full on lenses to choose from. I’m sure they won’t let me down. 

It’s not about the camera (or the medium). Maybe.

This feature on the BBC website about a news photographer who was forced to shoot reportage pictures from the London riots with his mobile phone (to avoid getting lynched) got me thinking about the changing nature of the camera.

My wife takes some amazing pictures, sometimes with a digital SLR and at other times with her iPhone. We have lots of cameras in the house, from a medium format AgiFlex, that dates from the early 1950s to the achingly high tech Nikon D200 that I use for most of my pictures. 

All these cameras are different to use, with advantages and drawbacks. The analogue film cameras don’t get much use, but that’s more financial than aesthetic. Probably the best pictures I’ve ever taken were with my enormous Nikon F5 and a manual focus 55mm prime lens. I’d use it much more if it didn’t cost so much to develop the pictures

And yet the medium continues to matter, to some. Tacita Dean’s call to arms at the Tate, a pean to the fading age of 35mm movie film and even my experiments with ‘new’ polaroid style film show that analogue photography continues to be part of the photographic conversation.

Yet, for most people these days camera is synonymous with phone. Maybe this debate about the format doesn’t matter so much as the fact that people continue to be passionate about photography - both the process and the pictures.

So it feels like summer is over. The cricket season has come to an end, rain and wind harry across the hills of north Bucks and the nights are drawing in. It has been a great summer, culminating (for us) in our wedding. But it feels like autumn is an exciting time, a beginning. Of what I’m not sure, but there’s bound to be some digging in at the allotment, more changes round the house and hopefully the planning of a jaunt to Norway. The harvest is in, time to plan the next one I suppose.

Rhyd Fudr

Peace. Quiet. Solitude. We arrive up the track in the borrowed 4x4, surrounded by sheep. Nestled into the hillside, hunkered down against the elements is Rhyd Fudr. It has no TV, almost no phone signal, and due to mist and clouds rolling in almost no view. It is our home for the next few days. From here we explore the rain soaked Welsh hills and villages, dance a jig in the spacious lounge and plan our excursions to coast, slate mine and coffee stops. Perfect. 

Down at the allotment early this morning, digging up some Shetland Blacks & Lady Christl potatoes. 

At Lords. 

Once in a while there’s something special about taking some time out just for yourself and settling down for an afternoon at Lords. Thanks to everyone who came down for making it a great day out. 

Nature or nurture.

The view from the commute, yesterday evening, somewhere between Soulbury and Stewkley.