Ancoats

[Major Bloodnok]

I was going to post these in the random thread, but someone else pointed out somewhere that that's becoming a bit of a dumping ground, so I thought I'd indulge myself with a new thread.

I went out on a photowalk round Ancoats in Manchester last Thursday. The walk was very good and the guide was very knowledgeable. We were supposed to be photographing all the Georgian and Victorian buildings in the place, but somehow, my attention kept getting drawn by other things. I dunno if it's just me, but I'm becoming increasingly fascinated by recording the way we interact with the environments that we create, rather than just documenting elements of those environments.

Full set is here. Everything shot with a 28mm prime on my D200.


Pipe and ciggie by Cap'n Maj Bloodnok, on Flickr


Dorsey Street fats by Cap'n Maj Bloodnok, on Flickr


Homer by Cap'n Maj Bloodnok, on Flickr


Pepsi and orange by Cap'n Maj Bloodnok, on Flickr


I hate... by Cap'n Maj Bloodnok, on Flickr

[dibbly dobbler]

Interesting set Major - always good to see something a bit different

How do you find the 28mm as a walkabout lens ? I spent quite a lot on a 15-85 but I've found that I don't use it much and am pondering a wide-ish prime as a replacement...

[Toyowner]

Love the Pepsi one !

[Major Bloodnok]

The 28's been pretty much glued to the camera for the last 3 or 4 months because of the project I've been doing on the Bridgewater canal. I knew from the start that I was going to do the final images for that with my Graflex 5x4 and, somewhat fortuitously, the 127mm on the Graflex and the 28mm on the D200 have about the same field of view (about 42mm 135-equivalent), so I did all my reconnaissance pictures with the 28. This meant that I got quite used to it, and I found that I liked the slightly-wider-than-standard FoV.

In fact, I've rediscovered a distinct preference for fixed focal length over zoom, although you do have to go out with a distinct shooting plan in mind. In this case, I knew that I was going to ignore the architecture in favour of this sort of urban detail stuff, so the zoom wasn't necessary, and the nifty fifty was too long. I also like that it forces to use the old "foot zoom" - by having to move around to get the framing, you start to explore different angles, whereas I found that with a zoom lens, I would just stand in one spot and just twist the ring. Actually, I noticed quite a few people on the walk doing just that (I was the only one without a zoom on the camera) - taking maybe five or six shots rapidly from one position, then moving on, whereas I found that I was moving around a lot just looking through the viewfinder before taking one or two shots (but never two from the same position).

I don't want to give the impression that I'm decrying zooms or being anti-anything-new - they have their place and I use them when appropriate, but I do feel that the "art" of using a fixed focal length is getting a bit lost with the increasing quality of zooms. Sometimes it's good to limit your options and so force yourself to think a bit more about what you're shooting.

[Major Bloodnok]

Thanks, Toyowner. It's amazing how much stuff gets left on windowsills, like this from the same set:


Scotch and Sammie's by Cap'n Maj Bloodnok, on Flickr

[dibbly dobbler]

Major Bloodnok said:

The 28's been pretty much glued to the camera for the last 3 or 4 months because of the project I've been doing on the Bridgewater canal. I knew from the start that I was going to do the final images for that with my Graflex 5x4 and, somewhat fortuitously, the 127mm on the Graflex and the 28mm on the D200 have about the same field of view (about 42mm 135-equivalent), so I did all my reconnaissance pictures with the 28. This meant that I got quite used to it, and I found that I liked the slightly-wider-than-standard FoV.

In fact, I've rediscovered a distinct preference for fixed focal length over zoom, although you do have to go out with a distinct shooting plan in mind. In this case, I knew that I was going to ignore the architecture in favour of this sort of urban detail stuff, so the zoom wasn't necessary, and the nifty fifty was too long. I also like that it forces to use the old "foot zoom" - by having to move around to get the framing, you start to explore different angles, whereas I found that with a zoom lens, I would just stand in one spot and just twist the ring. Actually, I noticed quite a few people on the walk doing just that (I was the only one without a zoom on the camera) - taking maybe five or six shots rapidly from one position, then moving on, whereas I found that I was moving around a lot just looking through the viewfinder before taking one or two shots (but never two from the same position).

I don't want to give the impression that I'm decrying zooms or being anti-anything-new - they have their place and I use them when appropriate, but I do feel that the "art" of using a fixed focal length is getting a bit lost with the increasing quality of zooms. Sometimes it's good to limit your options and so force yourself to think a bit more about what you're shooting.

Interesting, thanks Major. I can see myself chopping in my 15-85 for a prime it's just a question of whether I go for a 28 or a 35 ... More pondering required!

[Major Bloodnok]

dibbly dobbler said:

Interesting, thanks Major. I can see myself chopping in my 15-85 for a prime it's just a question of whether I go for a 28 or a 35 ... More pondering required!

I wouldn't necessarily get rid of the zoom, though. Like I said, if you're going out with a prime you really need to have a project in mind, rather than just looking for anything that catches your eye. Zooms suit the latter better, IMO, unless you want to practice the discipline of a single focal length (although you can do that with a zoom - just don't twist the zoom ring).

If you're on a crop sensor, remember that the 35 will be a tad narrower than 'standard' and the 28 somewhat wider. Your preference, but I like the somewhat wider FoV.

[dibbly dobbler]

Major Bloodnok said:

I wouldn't necessarily get rid of the zoom, though. Like I said, if you're going out with a prime you really need to have a project in mind, rather than just looking for anything that catches your eye. Zooms suit the latter better, IMO, unless you want to practice the discipline of a single focal length (although you can do that with a zoom - just don't twist the zoom ring).

If you're on a crop sensor, remember that the 35 will be a tad narrower than 'standard' and the 28 somewhat wider. Your preference, but I like the somewhat wider FoV.

Yes I am indeed on a crop and would probably lean towards a 28mm if anything. The 15-85 is grand but I'm just not getting the use out of it and it's quite a heavy beast so a nice compact prime appeals.

Thanks again for the advice and sorry for hijacking your thread!

[Major Bloodnok]

It's definitely worth looking for a second-hand 28mm. I got mine from London Camera Exchange for less than £100.

[Skodaku]

Excellent, and really interesting, shots. A real reminder that lots of times the real interest is in the details rather than the more obvious big picture. But.....................you need to have the eye for that detail; and you do.

[Major Bloodnok]

Thanks, Skodaku. I think the main thing is, as I said above, to keep moving around, trying different positions. My style is definitely gravitating toward the deadpan, objective school of photography and one of the tenets of that is that there's always something worth viewing and photographing (just think of Irving Penn's cigarette butts, for example). That's why I like doing 5-5 walks (walk for five minutes, stop and take a picture within 5 metres of where you are. Repeat.). It makes you look for these sorts of things, since it takes away that element of stopping just because "that looks nice". You are where you are, now look for something; and that discipline of looking carries over into more normal walking around.

[Skodaku]

Major Bloodnok said:

Thanks, Skodaku. I think the main thing is, as I said above, to keep moving around, trying different positions. My style is definitely gravitating toward the deadpan, objective school of photography and one of the tenets of that is that there's always something worth viewing and photographing (just think of Irving Penn's cigarette butts, for example). That's why I like doing 5-5 walks (walk for five minutes, stop and take a picture within 5 metres of where you are. Repeat.). It makes you look for these sorts of things, since it takes away that element of stopping just because "that looks nice". You are where you are, now look for something; and that discipline of looking carries over into more normal walking around.

I do like the 5-5 idea. So simple - like most great ideas. If that was all I learned to-day, (it wasn't), I would count it a worthwhile day. Thank you.