ChrisRCottage after rain. (Missed yesterday; too much going on!)
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax-M 35mm f/2 lens, red filter, #StreetCandyATM400 film at EI 250, lab devved by The Darkroom UK (in XTOL).
Virgins and Castle sign. It's a pub in the nearby High Street, claims Shakespeare might have drunk there!
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax-M 35mm f/2 lens, red filter, #StreetCandyATM400 film at EI 250, lab devved by The Darkroom UK (in XTOL).
Misty evening. (Hand held, though propped against a tree or a post, at around 1/8 second, IIRC.)
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax-M 35mm f/2 lens, #StreetCandyATM400 film at EI 250, lab devved by The Darkroom UK (in XTOL).
Cottage windows reflect the sun. #FensterFreitag #WindowFriday
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax-M 35mm f/2 lens, #StreetCandyATM400 film at EI 250, lab devved by The Darkroom UK (in XTOL).
Hollis Lane after rain. I rarely use my 24 mm lens, but I really enjoyed it this time. And we've jumped into 2026 at last, fast forward to March!
Zine permission granted. #MonochromeMarch
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax-A 24mm f/2.8 lens, #Kentmere200 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Two views of Abbey Lake reed beds.
Zine permission granted. #MonochromeMarch
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax-A 24mm f/2.8 lens, #Kentmere200 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
The Castle, framed.
[Ooops]
#MonochromeMarch Zine permission granted.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax-A 24mm f/2.8 lens, #Kentmere200 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Path in Crackley Woods.
#MonochromeMarch Zine permission granted.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax-A 24mm f/2.8 lens, #Kentmere200 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Water Tower House. This started out as a windmill, then was converted to a water tower, then finally to a residential building with one room on each floor!
#MonochromeMarch Zine permission granted.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax-A 24mm f/2.8 lens, #Kentmere200 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Purlieu Cottage, beside the Castle Walls, for #WindowFriday #FensterFreitag #MonochromeMarch (Zine permission granted).
#Pentax MX, Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 17mm f/3.5 lens With the built-in Y2 filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Contre jour.
#MonochromeMarch (Zine permission granted).
#Pentax MX, Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 17mm f/3.5 lens With the built-in Y2 filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
The Common, a local wood (getting some more photos in before the end of #MonochromeMarch #ZineOK ).
#Pentax MX, Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 17mm f/3.5 lens With the built-in Y2 filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Broken?
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax (K) 55mm f/1.8 lens, orange filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
The Collegiate Church of St Mary's, Warwick, through an alley. Founded in 1123, partly destroyed in the Great Fire of Warwick in 1693 but rebuilt soon afterwards.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax (K) 55mm f/1.8 lens, orange filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Abbey Lake reed beds. The riven oak in the first should qualify for #ThickTrunkTuesday. Final day of #MonochromeMarch #ZineOK .
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax (K) 55mm f/1.8 lens, orange filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Last image for #MonochromeMarch #ZineOK . Family walking in the park.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax (K) 55mm f/1.8 lens, orange filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
So, after the Mono March excellence, back to the first film I finished this year. These photos were actually taken shortly before Christmas 2025, during one of our periodic floods, when the "ford was up". This is quite often entertainment for locals when vehicles get stuck. Flood starting, and a day or so later.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 35mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Flooded field behind the Castle, from the same weather event. Only about 200 metres from the last photos.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 35mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Sixteenth century windows in a house built for the first Elizabeth. EDIT: #FensterFreitag #WindowFriday
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 35mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Castle open morning (Boxing Day 2025... December 26).
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 35mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Silhouette in the doorway. Looking through a 900 year-old doorway. #MonochromeMonday
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 35mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Steps up to the castle. Built on a mound, attackers who broke through the outer defences would have had to run up this steep slope before facing the inner walls.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 35mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
The unfrozen section; the birds (mainly the swans I think) seem to keep this section of the lake open in frosts.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 35mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Stable doors. #DoorsDay
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 35mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Windows in the keep. This 900 year old building has 12 foot thick walls: the reason you can see through these windows is that the far wall was demolished ("slighted") by Parliament after the 17th century Civil War., so that it could no longer be used as a stronghold. #FensterFreitag #WindowFriday
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 35mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Ducks on the icy lake.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 35mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Flood behind the Castle, again.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 35mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Metal stairs inside the Castle. Used for visitors to reach higher elevations.
#MinoltaAutocord #Fomapan100 (I don't remember anything about the development of this film, possibly one of the only rolls I have ever used.)
#TLRTuesday
Two views from a seasonal pond in front of the castle.
#Pentax LX, Carl Zeiss #Distagon 35mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Two trees and a dark cloud.
#Pentax LX, Carl Zeiss #Distagon 35mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Flooded field behind the castle again, no reflection this time.Bit hard to see, but the windows on the stair tower in the right hand building (Elizabeth's mansion) are fake, so that movements were private. #FensterFreitag
#Pentax LX, Carl Zeiss #Distagon 35mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Flooded field again, no castle this time (just a bit of outer wall).
#Pentax LX, Carl Zeiss #Distagon 35mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
The brook in flood. That car is risking the drive through the ford.
#Pentax LX, Carl Zeiss #Distagon 35mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5 film, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Cottages in "New Street". The street is at least 640 years old!
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 28mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, 2019-expired #KodakTriX film at EI 320, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Parliament Piece, a small patch of public space, where legend has it that Henry III held the "second oldest parliament" (https://www.oss.org.uk/new-notice-board-to-celebrate-ancient-warwickshire-meadow/). Probably not true, but still... Plenty of mistletoe in this late winter scene.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 28mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, 2019-expired #KodakTriX film at EI 320, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
The River Avon, near Stratford.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 28mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, 2019-expired #KodakTriX film at EI 320, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
The Harvard House [EDIT: in Stratford on Avon]. John Harvard's mother lived in the building on the right. #FensterFreitag #WindowFriday
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 28mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, 2019-expired #KodakTriX film at EI 320, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Three shadows (at Stratford's Recreation Ground).
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 28mm f/2 lens, yellow filter, 2019-expired #KodakTriX film at EI 320, home devved in HC-110 dilution E.
Magnolia 1.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 50mm f/1.7 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordFP4 film at EI 125, home devved in Adox HC-110 dilution B.
#FP4Party #MissedTheFP4Party
#BelieveInFilm
#FilmPhotography
Magnolia 2.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 50mm f/1.7 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordFP4 film at EI 125, home devved in Adox HC-110 dilution B.
#FP4Party #MissedTheFP4Party
#BelieveInFilm
#FilmPhotography
Cottage on High Street. Commerce (and the town centre) moved away from this area once the railway came through. #FensterFreitag #WindowFriday
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 50mm f/1.7 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordFP4 film at EI 125, home devved in Adox HC-110 dilution B.
#FP4Party #MissedTheFP4Party
#BelieveInFilm
#FilmPhotography
The Stone House. A rambling building, the front part allegedly built in the 1750s for a retired sea captain, hence the boat-shaped roof. The courtyard was the site of a thriving horn comb industry. Used to be the home of Dudley Taylor, who built a national pharmacy chain from here.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 50mm f/1.7 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordFP4 film at EI 125, home devved in Adox HC-110 dilution B.
#FP4Party #MissedTheFP4Party
#BelieveInFilm
#FilmPhotography
Robsart Cottage. That medallion on the end is an "R" for Amy Robsart, wife of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, who was given Kenilworth Castle by Elizabeth. Amy died from a fall down steps at Cumnor, near Oxford.
#Pentax MX, SMC Pentax M 50mm f/1.7 lens, yellow filter, #IlfordFP4 film at EI 125, home devved in Adox HC-110 dilution B.
#FP4Party #MissedTheFP4Party
#BelieveInFilm
#FilmPhotography
Sun on a winter oak.
#Pentax LX, Carl Zeiss #Distagon 35mm f/2 lens, Fuji #SuperiaXTRA400, dev/scan by #FilmDev
Abbey Lake in the evening.
#Pentax LX, Carl Zeiss #Distagon 35mm f/2 lens, Fuji #SuperiaXTRA400, dev/scan by #FilmDev
Magnolias. Someone said, nothing like magnolia flowers against a blue sky!
#Pentax LX, Carl Zeiss #Distagon 35mm f/2 lens, Fuji #SuperiaXTRA400, dev/scan by #FilmDev
Two houses opposite each other could hardly be more different! #WindowFriday #FensterFreitag
#Pentax LX, Carl Zeiss #Distagon 35mm f/2 lens, Fuji #SuperiaXTRA400, dev/scan by #FilmDev
Silver birch.
#Pentax LX, Carl Zeiss #Distagon 35mm f/2 lens, Fuji #SuperiaXTRA400, dev/scan by #FilmDev
Crackley woods path.
#Pentax LX, Carl Zeiss #Distagon 35mm f/2 lens, Fuji #SuperiaXTRA400, dev/scan by #FilmDev
Emerging horse chestnut leaves.
#Pentax LX, Carl Zeiss #Distagon 35mm f/2 lens, Fuji #SuperiaXTRA400, dev/scan by #FilmDev
Two views on the Grand Union Canal.
#Pentax MX, Pentax M 50mm f/1.7, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5, #AdoxHC110 dilution E (1+47).
After moaning about this film being grainy, I've managed to find a few frames that worked!
Fisherrow harbour in April.
#Pentax MX, Pentax M 50mm f/1.7, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5, #AdoxHC110 dilution E (1+47).
By North Berwick harbour. We'd just been sitting enjoying our lunch on those benches.
#Pentax MX, Pentax M 50mm f/1.7, yellow filter, #IlfordHP5, #AdoxHC110 dilution E (1+47).
Kaiser 
📷 🎞️ 💿 
@carusb The reflections in the water really make these work!
@kaiser_franz Thanks Franz (;-) EDIT: Reflections are a bg part of why I love photographing by the canals. They can also be a nightmare, as what looks good IRL (like a branch emerging from the water, say) sometimes just looks plain weird in a photo!
Tom Northenscold@carusb Somebody likes birds an awful lot.
@tomnorthfilm YBH I suspect it's fake. There are few pigeon lofts round here, but I've certainly never seen a pigeon there. Don't think I'd want one on my roof; there are problems of infection, sadly.
@carusb Wow, that’s elaborate if just for looks.
@carusb Hmm, suspicious death?
@tomnorthfilm Very suspicious, lots of rumours at the time that Dudley had done away with her. The suspicion was such that he lost any chance of marrying the Queen. There are suggestions Amy had breast cancer; she sent all her servants away to the fair and when they came back she'd fallen (& died) so suicide was definitely a possibility. The 15 jurors at the inquest decided "by misfortune [she] came to her death and not otherwise". You can read the Coroner's report: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/elizabeth-monarchy/coroners-report/
Coroner’s report - The National Archives
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/audio/coroners-report.mp3 Coroner’s report into the death of Amy Robsart, August 1561 (KB 9/1073/f.80) For all that she liked to keep foreign suitors in play, Elizabeth was already deeply in love with her Master of Horse, Robert Dudley. Ironically, though, the sudden death of Dudley’s wife in September 1560 removed any hope that the queen might […]
@carusb That’s fascinating. I had no idea. It’s just that I’ve watched too many BBC whodunits in which someone died by being pushed down stairs.
John Wilson@carusb that does not look real
@carusb I mean, I’m sure it is! Not in the “I think this is so” sense, more like, I’m surprised three houses of that age are all sitting next to each other in a modern city
@crazybutable Built 1597 after a bad fire destroyed much of Stratford in, I think, 1594. All 3 houses belonged to Katherine Rogers' father. But remember, this is Stratford on Avon, home to Shakespeare's birthplace and a dozen or more other buildings of that sort of age. I reckon Shakespeare-related tourism probably became important some time in the 17th century, motivation to preserve. That building is owned by Harvard and managed by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.