Merrimayhem

@merrimayhem.bsky.social

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Fumbling my way through the world of photography. #BelieveInFilm #thedailyholga #polaroid

A boat ramp cross the beach at Sheringham. There are 2 fishing boats sitting at the top of it on the right. Behind this part of the promenade can be seen along with assorted buildings. The beach is pebbly. The are clouds in the blue sky but the sun is out.
A Polaroid photo of Sheringham beach taken with a Polaroid Landcamera 250 and expired Polaroid 125i film. Rocks and pebbles are visible on the bottom left while small waves wash the beach on the right. In the middle distance several grounds can be seen. The sky is filled with large fluffy clouds.
A Polaroid photo of gulls on the beach at Sheringham. In the foreground large rocks can be seen. Beyond this pebbles can be seen on the right gradually changing to sand on the left. A few small waves are washing up on the beach. Part of a boat slipway and a groyne can be seen in the mid distance on the right. This image was taken with a Polaroid Landcamera 250 and expired Polaroid 125i film.
Geological rock formations known as whalebacks can be found at Sanna. Runoff from the hills behind the beach also makes its way to the sea via channels on the beach. The sky is cloud filled and some of these are reflected in the water in the foreground.
A lone lifeguard sits on duty at Sheringham. There is a red and yellow flag on the right of the image. A groyne extends into the sea on his left. A couple of people had braved the cold to swim. About 20 minutes later the heavens opened and it poured! Hope he managed to get out of the wet by then. The batteries in my camera also started to die so this ended up a bit darker than I had with other packs from the same vintage.
A sandy beach stretches towards rocks in the distance. Water winds its way from the foreground around to the left and follows channels in the sand into the distance. In the distance mountains from one of the islands are visible. They are mostly in shade but patches of sun light up parts of the headland and slopes. The sky is filled with clouds that hang low over the distant landscape. It looks like some are rain filled.
Geological rock forms known as whalebacks spread along the beach at Sanna. Water runs down from the hills behind over the sand and around the rocks. The sky is filled with clouds and it looks as though rain may not be far away.
A collage of two Polaroid images showing a chair in front of a window with glass bottles on the sill. In the central part of the collage, the chair is in relatively bright sunshine. You can see part of a bookcase with two candlesticks on top. The background image is the more shadowy version. The chair is less visible and you can see the colour of the glass bottles on the far left.
Light spills through a window on the right, falling across a chair and footstool, a wicker basket and onto the brick surround of a fireplace. There is an unlit lamp beside the chair and this too catches the light. It looks quiet and is the perfect spot to rest and read, or perhaps daydream. This is a Polaroid photograph.
The white sail of a tiny boat can be seen against the backdrop of a heavily clouded sky and dark sea. A storm appears to be approaching which gives a sense of urgency to the image. This is a black and white photograph taken using Adox Silvermax film with a Canon 300V film camera. The negative was scanned and the resulting image has been processed in LR and PS.
My second attempt to create a kintsugi effect on a print of a tea toned cyanotype of some cornflowers. I’ve never used gold leaf before. It’s very fiddly but I’ve enjoyed giving it a go.
Black and white photo of a dog standing on a path in woodland. Light is filtering through the trees as she/he pauses, perhaps listening out for her/his owner’s voice. It’s cool and quite under the shade of the trees.
Late afternoon sunlight filters through the leaves of several trees and silhouettes their trunks. There is a gap in the middle and you can see sky with a hint of cloud and more trees. Low lying shrubs fill the foreground. These are both sunlight and shaded.
A selection of flowers I’ve collected and dried and then used for cyanotypes. Exposed on pre-treated paper for 1hr and then toned in a combination of fruit/peppermint tea. This gives the cyanotype a slightly cooler, lighter tone than black tea.
A cyanotype print of cornflowers toned with black tea. This changes the usually rich blue and white print to a deep black/brown and tan. The paper was exposed in full sun for around 10mins and then toned in the tea for 15mins.
Collage of two lumens prints. The top half shows flowers and a hand holding a butterfly. The bottom half shows the stems and bubbles created from bubble wrap.
Yesterday’s lumen print of found flowers with additional layers added (bubble wrap and a couple of the found flowers added again to fill some gaps). The print was then scanned again and edited in PS/LR.
A lumen print made on Kodak paper with collected flowers. Scanned and edited in PS/LR. A BNW Polaroid image of a hand holding a butterfly was then added as a layer using PS.
A black and white image of a lake. The image is a little grainy and blurry giving it a dreamlike quality. There are a few trees in the water in the mid distance that provide roosting and nesting places for the water birds that live here. In the foreground a reed bed can be seen on the left and some low shrubs and branches can be seen on the right. The distant shore is hazy with trees. The mood is quiet and reflective.
A black and white photo of a statue of Jesus atop a family grave on Isla Mujeres. It’s been decorated with sunflowers. Other grave sites can be seen behind it.
Photo of the transformed shallow waterfall at Achateny. The fall is in full flow having been swollen by heavy rain the night before. The water is creamy white & frothy at the foot of the falls changing to darker caramel brown caused by tannins. Behind you can see a steep hill with cloudy skies above that tell of more rain to come. On the left, Ben Hiant is visible in the distance. On the left foreground a couple of small gorse bushes can be seen on the bank.
View towards Ben Hiant. The sky is cloudy and looks like it is about to rain. The foreground is rocky and grassy, stretching back towards a dip in the landscape. Ben Hiant can be seen in the distance.
A rainbow extends from the left side of the image over one of the ruined Croft houses in Bourblaige. There is the hint of a seconding one to the right of it. The Croft house and grassy ground before it are bathed in afternoon sunlight. In contrast, the sky above looks dark with the threat of more rain.
A steep, grassy slope runs down to the sea at Bourblaige. A small beach can be seen in the bottom left corner. There is a rocky ridge that looks like a profile of a Giant’s brow and nose in the middle. A deep gully which channels water from the hill and mountain above can be seen on the right. It's not hard to believe that this could be the profile of a sleeping giant. Scottish folklore is full of tales of giants who roamed the land. There was said to be a Morvern Giant, who sat on a hilltop catching whales with a rod made from tree branches and rope stolen from Ardnamurchan fisherman (from Giant Lore of Scotland by Donald MacKenzie, 1935). Perhaps this was the Giant of Bourblaige.
Two wispy white clouds shoot up into the blue sky from the ridge above the ruined village of Bourblaige. They look like smoke signals or perhaps the spirits of the long gone villagers, turfed off their land to make way for sheep. The land below the sky is steep and folded. A deep channel carved by water can be seen in the left. A small waterfall can be glimpsed in the shadows near the top.
Clouds rising like smoke signals from the top of the ridge above Bourblaige. The land folded and creased like a discarded shawl, draped around the edge of the basin where the village lies. The top of a grassy hill lies in the foreground. Others are layered behind it. Rocky outcrops can be seen on the left and in the distance on the right. The sun is lighting up the furthest summit, casting a golden glow.
Rain clouds fill the sky and rain can be seen falling on the islands of Morven and Mull in the distance. The blue grey sea echoes the colours of the clouds. A narrow strip of land runs across the bottom of the image. There is a patch of green grass in the centre. A few black rocks edge out into the water.
A lumen print of common garden “weeds”made with Kodak paper. At some point it looks as though I've laid other paper over parts of the image which has added additional layers (I genuinely don't know). I view these images as a license to play. Once scanned, this was then processed in PS & LR.
Looking towards Ben Hiant from Achateny. The sky is overcast with one little patch of blue over near the mountain. The darkness of the clouds suggests more rain is to come. The mountain is nestled in a little dip in the landscape. Rocky outcrops litter the landscape along with short hardy grasses. This is farmland and there are sheep doted about in the middle distance.
Black and white film photo of the view looking inland from the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse. A single track raised road winds in around the hillside on the left. White pillars mark the entrance to the lighthouse. Below it and in the foreground is an area fenced off by stone walls. There is a narrow entrance in the furthest wall, about a third in from the right hand side. Beyond this hill and road, the land opens out behind but you can see it is hilly and rugged. There is a definite sense of how remote this place is.
Black and white film photo of the rocky headland near the Lighthouse in Ardnamurchan. The sky is filled with dark clouds but there is some sunlight breaking through in the distance. The foreground is rocky and darkly shadowed. Rain is not far away.
View of the wooden jetty at Culross, Scotland. There is a concrete platform edged with large stone blocks in the foreground. A wooden ramp leads up from this to access the walkway. The tide is out and the light is somewhat overcast. Hills on the far shore appear blue in colour.
Fishing boats in the harbour at Oban, Scotland. The small one on its own caught my eye. There’s a sandy, pebbly beach in the foreground, wet and littered with seaweed in places. Houses can be seen on the far shore. White clouds cover most of the otherwise blue sky and are reflected in the water.
2 drawer Nordli chest of drawers from Ikea. Harder to put together than it would first appear 😂
A solitary bird sits on the branch of a leafless tree at the edge of a lake. It’s winter and the sky is cloudy. The water is still and the clouds are reflected in it. Dried grasses can be seen in the foreground and trees line the distant shore.
Yellow irises line the bank of the River Coln. Their bright colour is perfectly offset by the lush green vegetation that surrounds them. Even the water has taken on the green hues of the trees and plants that are reflected in it.
My image for The Glasgow Gallery of Photography Seascape exhibition during May. Remnants of the sea defences at Happisburgh, Norfolk.
A bench sits in the sunshine by the side of Bury Lake and looks out over the water. There are 2 buoys in the water and the chemistry from the peel apart film has created a “wake” that leads to one of them. The branches of a nearby tree arc over the sky above it, though these don’t shade the bench itself. Trees and shrubs line the far shore and are reflected in the water. Black and white instant photo taken on expired Fuji 3000b film with a Polaroid Landcamera 440.
Stockers Lake on Fuji 100c pack film. A few trees grow in the water providing nesting and roosting sites for various water birds. Reeds line bank the foreground and trees and shrubs line the far shore. These are reflected in the water along with clouds.
A swan and some geese float calmly on a mirror-still lake, under an overcast sky. Small sail boats can be seen behind them. It’s the calm moment before the wind turns and the rain begins. This BNW image has artefacts caused by the expired chemistry of the Fuji 3000b instant film reacting strangely with the film and what are likely dirty roller marks down the right hand side.
A double-sided make-up mirror stands in a shaft of late afternoon light. Its shadow stands out against a patch of light on the wall behind with a tiny heart shaped reflection appearing in the centre of the shadow. Taken on expired Polaroid Spectra film that gives the image a purple blue tone.
A snake plant in a woven pot is lit up by late afternoon light. The pot & stand are reflected in the glass balusters. Taken with a Polaroid SX70 camera and black & white Polaroid film.
Branches arching over the water at Batchworth Lake in the late afternoon sun. Some of the trees here are fully in leaf. Others, like this one are just starting to bud. Taken with a Polaroid Landcamera 440 & my final pack of 1996 dated Polacolor film.
2 black headed gulls rest on the branches of a fallen tree at Bury Lake. Branches of other trees form a frame around the image which gives it the feel of looking through a tunnel. 2 buoys float in the water just beyond the gulls. Taken on expired Polacolor film from 1996 with a Polaroid Landcamera 440.
A Canada goose basks in the late afternoon sun on a fishing jetty by Bury Lake. Buoys float in the water behind it and a nearby tree arches over the water. It’s a calm and reflective scene.
Geese and swans gather on the edge of Bury Lake, hoping for food. Thrown somewhat into silhouette by the spring sunshine. Taken on One Instant film with a Landcamera 440.
A single birch tree stands out against its surroundings. Sometimes the foibles of expired film make something better than if fresh film was used. The gift of imperfection. A new way of seeing.
Three ducks bask in the sunshine on a lovely sunny Spring afternoon. Their backdrop is a man-made lake edged by trees. Taken on expired Polaroid SX70 film which accounts for the soft and dreamy blue tones.
View of a manmade lake-made lake taken on expired Polaroid SX70 film. Trees crowd the edge of the water and the small beach. The remnants of old trees that have been removed are visible on the water’s edge and in the water. Though this was originally a colour film, the tones are predominantly blue/cyan due to its expired nature.
Remains of a tree trunk lying at the edge of a man-made lake. From this angle, it looks like the skull of some long-deceased creature. The image was taken on expired Polaroid SX70 film, which accounts for the cyan tones and softness. It gives it a dreamy quality.
A shaded seating area sits atop a rocky cliff top overlooking the sea in Barbados. Waves froth and foam over the rocks below and the bluest sky is dotted with fluffy white clouds
A Polaroid spectra photo of an evening sky. Tree branches are silhouetted against a sky that is coloured amethyst purple. High up clouds are a darker shade and the branches of one tree seem to have captured the last bit of the Sun.
A fence zigzags over the dunes on the edge of the beach at Sanna. Marram grass grows thickly here keeping the dunes tethered and softening the manmade boundary.
Taken at Sanna Beg in Ardnamurchan in 2023. Instant film image of a small part of the beach at Little Sanna. The sky is overcast and matches the steely grey of the rocks on the foreground. The water is crystal clear, washing the white sands of the beach.
View of Loch Leven taken from the Glencoe Boat Club. Under a cloudy sky you can see the snow capped hills and mountains in the distance. Bright spots of colour are provided by the trees edging the loch in the middle distance. The clouds and patches of blue sky are reflected in the water.
A wooden fence stretches across the image. Bits of seaweed and marram grass are caught in it and sand is visible both in front and behind. The roof and chimneys of the houses behind peek above the fence. The sky is cloudy but there are hints of blue and pale rose in amongst the shades of grey.
During Lockdown in 2020, I tried various photography challenges to keep the creative mojo flowing and combat the boredom of being confined to home. One of the challenges involved recreating a famous image. I chose Steichen’s portrait of Gloria Swanson (image on left). It’s a photo I’ve always loved and is a face framing black & White image of Swanson gazing intensely through a patterned piece of black net material. As luck would have it, I happened to have a black net tablecloth left over from Halloween. I wrapped my head in a dark towel to mimic her turban and chose a dark lipstick, some black eyeliner (inexpertly applied) and set about attempting my version. I used a large format camera (Intrepid 5x4 with a Nikkor-W 180mm lens) and some experimental New55PN BNW Instant film. It took me 4 or 5 attempts, using my rapidly dwindling (and expensive) stock of this film. Not the wisest choice perhaps but it was what I had to hand. I rarely take portraits, much less selfies and I underestimated how hard it would be to get the focus right. It’s definitely not a perfect image but I am really glad I tried it.
A black and white photo of a rounded and beach washed stone on a beach in Largs. There are tiny limpets clinging to it, running in a ring around its circumference. The top is largely bare of them. Other smaller pebbles and seaweed surround it forming a dark background and giving it prominence.
View of Loch Ainort on the Isle of Skye. A cloud filled blue sky sits above the loch. There is a cluster of houses in the distance and a light mist shrouds the hills behind. A pebbly beach sits in the foreground. It curves away to the left, leading your eye to the houses and hills beyond.