Further East on film
Photographing the race on 35mm film
I’ve written previously about how I like trying to consider a contact sheet when shooting a roll of film. Can it be a piece of work on its own? Can that keep me in check and not waste loads of frames (and money)?
No hiding place for misfires and mistakes. (There are always misfires and mistakes).
In total I shot 2 (and a bit) rolls of Portra and most of one roll of TriX.
I’d photographed Further East twice before, and really wanted a different challenge. Doing it on film seemed like a good idea…
I tried to revive my dad’s Nikon F5 over the summer. It hadn’t been turned on since 1999, and having batteries left in it for over 20 years had done it no favours. I really wanted to use it. But I had given up. Someone gave me a tip of using white vinegar on the battery ports, and the week before Further I gave it one last go. Miraculously it came to life. I hurried a roll of film through it (that was 20 years expired), to check it worked, and then committed to trying to shoot Further East with it. Alongside my Leica M6.
These images were all shot with an 85mm lens (Nikon) or a 50mm on my Leica.
My friend and colleague Charlie was riding, and finished first. That added something personal to the images, which I’m more happy with I think. Getting to capture your friend doing something special adds an element of joy.
A portrait I made of Charlie soon after he finished. I felt bad asking him to hobble over to an open doorway.
Race director and photographer Camille McMillan. The event HQ is based in the idyllic meadow in his parents garden. The riders camp the night before the race. You must arrive by bike.
I’ve always loved the gentle pastel tones you get in the sky as the seasons change. A storm passed through as the light was fading the night before the race, and I enjoyed watching it move across the farmland behind the HQ.
The substack limit means I can’t add more. Perhaps I’ll do a second post. To be continued…
Films were developed and scanned at Take it Easy.