Adding a new camera to the collection
Two recent books have stirred my interest in exploring the variety of affordable vintage cameras that can still be used. The books are: ...
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Simon Williams
Jun 13, 20192 min read
Refurbishing Antique Bellows Cameras
The Blog writing has been on the back burner whilst I spent time refurbishing my two 1900s, mahogany and brass bellows camera. The Boots...
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Simon Williams
May 11, 20191 min read
North Somerset Artsweek 2019
It has been a very busy April/May – preparing 75 pieces for North Somerset Artsweek #nsaw2019 – but so worth it! We have had a great...
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Simon Williams
Apr 14, 20191 min read
Take, process, learn, adjust, repeat
Captured a few images today with the 1900s Hora half-plate camera on X-ray film – scanned and inverted. Just learning what iso this film...
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Simon Williams
Apr 5, 20191 min read
Antique camera at Hartland Quay
It has been a busy few weeks preparing for North Somerset ArtsWeek in May. I am exhibiting at The Theatre Shop, Clevedon BS21 6HX. ...
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Simon Williams
Mar 16, 20192 min read
Yorkshire Trip & a Half-Plate Camera
Taking the opportunity to stay a few days at Skipton this week, I packed the VW Camper with my “new” 1900s Hora bellows camera and basic...
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Simon Williams
Feb 21, 20191 min read
Repairing a Thornton Pickard Shutter
I added a second plate camera (By Hora & Co – Wandsworth London 1902-1930) to my collection recently and it came with a Thornton Pickard...
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Simon Williams
Feb 17, 20191 min read
Pre-Flashing the Paper Negative
Another useful tip from an online forum – to reduce the contrast of a photo paper negative, the advice is to “pre-flash” it with a short...
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Simon Williams
Feb 7, 20191 min read
Vintage Photography with X-ray Film
With 5×7 sheet film being expensive, at over £1 a sheet, I have been looking for alternatives. I love the look paper negatives give to...
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Simon Williams
Feb 4, 20191 min read
Now to get things in focus
Having learned how to set the exposure on the 100 year-old Thornton Pickard I have been working on getting everything well-focussed. The...
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Simon Williams
Feb 2, 20191 min read
Bellows Camera in the Snow
With the sun out and the roads passable, I ventured up onto the top of the Mendip Hills with the Thornton Pickard and some film...
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Simon Williams
Jan 31, 20191 min read
6 out of 6! – 6 Good exposures
On the frosty Mendip Hills this morning, I used the vintage Thornton Pickard camera to take some silhouette images of trees. Building on...
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Simon Williams
Jan 5, 20191 min read
Success with the antique camera and shutter
Well, some success and still some failures(learning opportuntites). Saggy bellows have caused a shadow on the negative and one or two...
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Simon Williams
Jan 5, 20191 min read
How to measure the speed of my antique shutter
My Boots branded 100 year old Thornton Pickard camera has a new addition – a mechanical shutter. This allows me to shoot at speeds under...
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Simon Williams
Jan 5, 20191 min read
Adding a shutter to my antique camera
In order to access shutter speeds of less than 1s I need a mechanical shutter. I found one on eBay for a bargain price – and it is in...
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Simon Williams
Dec 19, 20182 min read
Sheet film experiments
I now have some 7″x5″ sheet film for the antique Thornton Pickard (Boots) bellows camera. Unfortunately the film/plate holders are...
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Simon Williams
Dec 10, 20181 min read
Still life indoors – a metering challenge
The iphone Lux app reading indicated F2.8 Iso 6 for 15s. In fact 2.25 mins was needed. This needs investigation. Interesting that since...
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