My First Bessa Photos

It’s always a bit of a gamble buying cameras from eBay, you’re never sure what hidden faults quirks the camera might have, especially if the camera from 1937.  I’ve recently bought another old Voigtlander folding camera, like the Baby Bessa but larger. This one takes 9cm by 6cm negatives (with an optional film plate to enable you to take 4.5cm by 6cm photos).

The first roll would tell me if the camera worked, if there were any light leaks in the bellows, and if the shutter speeds were anything like they were designed for.

Kingsland Bridge

As you can see, it all works fine! The one disadvantage with taking 9×6 photos, is you only get 8 shots on a roll.

Welsh Bridge

Porthill Bridge, Boathouse

These photos shot with Fujifilm Neopan 100 Acros.

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Running: Rising Damp

It is all very well having a nice running route that goes along the river through an avenue of lime trees. Except the problem with rivers is, they flood. So my normal route is partly submerged at the moment, as the river has risen by a couple of metres.

I can use most of the route – maybe 90% – but it goes into the town more than I’d like, and my route normally avoids busy traffic.

Assuming the river doesn’t rise any further, i have modified the route (and run it this afternoon). It is now slightly longer and it doesn’t go so near the traffic except the first 50 metres. It is not a there-and-back path, although I prefer a circular route, but beggars can’t be choosers, etc

If the river rises by another metre or two, there will be a problem: I will need to completely re-think the whole thing.

 

Another 2Metres and this will be underwater!