I haven’t submitted anything for a while: I’m six months into a medical condition that largely effects my upper limbs, in particular so-called ‘clumsy hands’. This has greatly reduced my ability to write and type, and some cameras are just too heavy and fiddly for me now. I haven’t actually dropped any cameras or lenses yet (plenty of cups and dishes, mind!). Anyway, I have had a rethink about how I go about doing my photography.
Lightweight point ‘n’ shoots seem best at the moment. And my favourite film cameras in this category are to be found in the cartridge based, mainly pocket 110 format. It’s not difficult to source these cameras as they are plenty abound, and cheap. Needless to say my 110 output has recently seen a surge.
I fondly remember using basic cameras as a child in the the 1970s and into the 80s (even disc cameras). And I love all things retro (except disc cameras!). However, shooting 110 in the 21st century does have its obstacles and frustrations. Apart from Lomography new stock, all the cartridges are out of date, some 20, 30 even 40 years ago.
Experience has taught that expired film appreciates a fair amount of light – sunny days are better than dull ones. So on the warmest day of the year so far, why not a countryside walk from my village in Cuxton to the next parish of Cobham to see the Darnley Mausoleum? With some 2003 Fujicolor 200 in a 1970s Agfamatic 2000 Pocket Sensor, of course. I’m so chuffed with the results, I’m showcasing all the frames here…..
start of the walk, left or right?
blue skies, although colours have come out a bit murky on this frame
managed woodland, recent coppicing
the hamlet of Bush, as seen from Mill Hill
lesser celandine, these yellow ‘sun’ flowers are abundant this time of the year
Brockles Field, this will be a meadow full of wild flowers by summertime
looking left and south, fantastic views across the valley
exit Brockles, towards Kitchen Field and Birch Wood
Kitchen Field does come alive with poppies, but just flint and chalk for now
up through Birch Wood, primroses and woodland violets also in bloom
near to the top, remains of a WW2 pillbox still concealed within the woods
entering Cobham Park, a former wood pasture of the Darnley estate
archaeology, this was the former gamekeeper’s cottage
nearly there, the Darnley Mausoleum
built in 1786 for £9000, restored by 2010 for £6 000 000
cultivated daffodils, reminder of a past managed parkland and wood pasture
The walk to the Mausoleum and back home again was an enjoyable one and a half hours. It was good to see the Gamekeepers Cottage re-buried again as I helped to excavate it a few years ago. All-round uplifting and meaningful photo shoot for me personally, in spite of (maybe because of?) such a lo-fi film format and lo-spec camera. I hope you get a sense of that with this whole roll. I did arrive home with a blister on my big toe, but no matter. Inspired enough to do more of this for the time being.
Thanks for reading, some of my stuff at my website but I also have an Instagram account where I put my 110, 126 stuff.
Cheers, Rock
12 Comments
Dana Brigham
May 7, 2021 at 4:29 pmGreat results for 110 — especially with expired film (how expired was this film)! And yep — the best camera you have is the one that you have with you — capture pictures is better than not. You chronicled a decent hike. Thanks for sharing!
Rock
May 8, 2021 at 2:02 amDana, the film was dated 2003. Most 110 cartridges I get hold of are generally 15 to 20 years out of date, and usually yield acceptable results. I’m quite hooked on 110 at the moment, with a handful of cameras and a fridge full of film. Just finished off another Fuji cartridge today. Cheers, Rock
Soloman khan
May 7, 2021 at 8:25 pmThanks for the upload, no doubt you’re truly chuffed with the results,considering the limited spec on camera/film, and outdated emulsion, which naturally degrade over time. Hope your blister is healing?🤔..the mausoleom looks in pretty bad shape, considering it was just over a decade ago, with what appears an outrageous cost of £6million squids, crikey😏..i could have got a few polish/afghan builders in to restore that splendidly at a steal !! It appears..Someone somewhere has “pocketed” rather a large sum of serious ££££’s away for an early retirement in sunnier climes with wonderful views 🙄..anyway..asides from my offbeat social comment on misspent public coffers, please come back and post more nice pictures..sooooon 🙄📷.. take care, and wish you a speedy recovery to good health..
BLESS 🙄
Rock
May 8, 2021 at 2:05 amBlister healed okay! I’m gonna be shooting quite a lot point n shoot stuff in the foreseeable future, including 110, and definitely will post some of it.
Peter Roberts
May 7, 2021 at 9:16 pmAn inspiring post, Rock.
Such impressive images out of seemingly humble equipment. A lesson to us all.
A very different Cuxton from my railway days of cement works!
Rock
May 8, 2021 at 2:08 amGlad you are inspired, Peter. No more cement these days!Plenty of beautiful countryside including a plant nature reserve at Ranscombe.
Alex Vye
May 8, 2021 at 10:47 pmReally inspiring article. Never tried 110 🙂
Rock
May 8, 2021 at 11:03 pmPlease try it, need to keep the format alive (well I think so anyway). Maybe one day Kodak will see the light and start making 110 film again!😋
Scott Gitlin
May 10, 2021 at 2:10 amThat’s really an eye-opener to me. I didn’t think 110 format could deliver such quality captures. Are you scanning the negatives?
Rock
May 10, 2021 at 9:10 amI scan the negs with a very basic portable scanner directly to a SD card, one at a time. Back in the day photo labs would have printed them to something like 5, 6 maybe 7 inch photos.
Chris
July 29, 2021 at 1:49 pmI just came across this site and your story. Nicely Done! Lots of fun to read. Like you, I well remember using the 110 format as a teen. Later I actually worked briefly at Kodak manufacturing the much maligned disc cameras. Yes, the film was grainy but the cameras were well engineered. I still have one and its 35+ year old lithium battery still powers up the camera!
Stay Well,
CDC
Rock
July 29, 2021 at 8:38 pmThanks for your comments Chris. I recommend you get yourself a 110 camera and give it a go! Disc film comes up from time to time on eBay but no idea how you would process it. Cheers, Rock