Photography – Nikon NIKKOR-S.C Auto 50mm f1.4

I shot this in my garden. I pulled the Danbo out of retirement for a bit of foreground interest but what I was really trying to do was create some round, soap bubble, bokeh balls. That worked well with the sun creating nice bokeh ball highlights off the leaves on a bush in the background.

I bought, yet another, vintage lens from Ebay last week. I’d read a favourable review of the Nikon NIKKOR-S.C Auto 50mm f1.4, a 1970’s classic and decided I’d like one. It’s still widely available and I bought a copy, in mint condition, for £100. I’ve never owned, or used, a Nikon lens before but I’m suitably impressed. The build quality is superb and it’s a dream to use.

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Lens Artists Photo Challenge #381- Minimalism in B&W Photography

I shot this a couple of weeks ago. It’s a statue called ‘Still’ in our local marina. It was a test shot with a new ‘vintage lens’ but I really liked it once I got back and processed it.

Ritva has set this weeks challenge – Minimalism in Black & White Photography. You can read Ritva’s original challenge post here. It’s a great theme for a challenge and one of those that makes you think about your own photography. I’ll confess that I never shoot in black and white or even with a black and white image in mind.

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Lens Artists Challenge #380: What’s Around the Corner

John Ateyo. A 1950’s Bristol City FC legend. We walked through the soccer stadium grounds on route to the harbour and the view of the suspension bridge.

Well this is really spooky. This week Anne challenges us to post images from photo opportunities we’ve stumbled across on one particular walk. I’ve done exactly that today, before I knew what was coming with this weeks challenge! Here’s the story of that walk.

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Lens-Artists Challenge #379 – Favourite Images of 2025

The Lens Artist Team are asking followers to select their favorite images of 2025 – whether they’ve been included in previous posts or not.

So, I’ve organised a few of this years images into these categories.

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Photography – New Vintage Lens Additions

Canon FD 55mm f1.2 – A photography book Christmas present I was given this year.

Following on from the success and enjoyment I had using my vintage lenses in Marrakesh (blogged here) I decided to invest in a few more old lenses. I’ve spent hours researching on YouTube channels, blogs and Flickr and came up with a short list of lenses that might compliment those I already owned.

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Tyntesfield at Christmas

We live very close to Tyntesfield, A National Trust property in North Somerset. Here’s a brief description lifted straight from Wikipedia – ‘Tyntesfield is a Victorian Gothic Revival country house and estate near Wraxall, North Somerset, England. The house is a Grade I listed building named after the Tynte baronets, who had owned estates in the area since about 1500.’

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Photography – Converting Kodachrome film slides

A digital conversion from a Kodachrome slide shot in 1958

I sadly lost my mum on November 1st this year (I lost my dad sixteen years ago). She was 90yrs old and had been diagnosed with a lymphatic cancer. The cancer didn’t help but her death certificate states she died from frailty and old age. She didn’t suffer, she wasn’t on any medication at all, and spent her last few weeks, quite content, in a local care home following a fall at home.

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Vintage Lenses – Auto Takumar 50mm F1.4 (8 Element Version)

Auto Takumar 50mm f1.4 – Shot at F5.6 earlier today.

I’ve been shooting on and off with vintage lenses for a couple of years now. I always enjoyed using them but I didn’t really stick with it. I think it’s probably because I was prioritising shooting stock images, which need to be tack sharp. To that end using my modern Fujifilm lenses, with auto focus and coatings that have superb flare and glare control made more sense. There’s more on my drift into using vintage lenses in a previous blog – Vintage lenses and Flickr

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Street Art – ‘Wonder’ by Sophi Odling

The ‘Wonder’ Mural by Sophi Odling

Three weeks ago, whilst we were on a walk about in Bristol, we wandered into the Upfest Street Art shop in Bedminster. We’d been drawn in by a framed print in the shop window. The artwork was called ‘Wonder’ by Australian artist, Sophi Odling. Linda, my wife was particularly drawn to it and after a very brief discussion we bought the framed limited edition print and it’s now hanging proudly on a wall in our lounge.

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