FED Shredding (inc. Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail Pt.2)

Modern film developing and scanning technology is what makes my return to film photography possible. I haven't got the time, space, or inclination to develop and scan my own film, relying on a very reliable local-ish business that almost certainly does the job cheaper than I could do it myself. The slight drawback is that whilst the developing and scanning machines I rely on do their job exceedingly well, they may not be flexible enough to deal with occasional idiots like myself who fail to do their job properly.

I knew there was something wrong with this film because the wind-on kept slipping a little on the FED. Not to the point I felt it needed investigating, just unmistakably not quite right to the point I was slightly worried the camera may have developed a fault. I'm delighted to say that the most recent film I put through the FED has wound-on and rewound without a problem, no slippage. So once again we're talking about user mis-op, doh!

There's a lot to like about these old Barnack style cameras, but the way that film loads through the removable bottom plate is probably not high on anyone's list of favourite things. The standard film leader needs to be trimmed for the job, the spool and film cartridge both require a pair of pliers to remove on many of the Soviet examples, and you can't see what's going on when it comes to the film engaging with the all important sprocket mechanism.

So a fiddly job that requires an element of care and concentration to get right, because if you don't get it right... shredded film at best, damaged shutter curtains a distinct possibility. The trick is to wind on a couple of shots before you replace the back, and make sure it feels right. Worth losing a frame or two to be sure.

So these scans are c/o an inexpensive family scanner, quality unknown. They include some of the 'detail' shots from my trip to the Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Trail, some of which I'm pleased with, plus some architectural highlights from Corby, a town much maligned but ripe with interesting photographic possibilities.