charles_escott_new

A friend has formed a new band and they have their first paid job in a local pub. Hearing that I would be going and would bring a camera he asked me to use film as he loves the look and would appreciate prints. Now with a digital set up I would be confident of capturing some decent shots but it is a couple of years since I used film for other than personal use. Increasing disability and recent events have led to a loss of confidence when stepping outside my comfort zone and I don't want to let him down and honestly there is a bit of pride at stake. I have several good film cameras and a range of fast lenses but I do not want you to advise on what I have or what the ultimate gear would be, but on what you would select from your gear and film if you were asked to do this.Later I will tell you what I went with. Also although I have been taking photos for seven decades I would appreciate hints and tips as you would give to a beginner. Any help would be very much appreciated, Charles.

I am lucky enough to live on the edge of a former Norman hunting estate, seven miles of broadleaf woodland. I have photographed sunlight through branches, secret pathways, hidden streams, early morning mist, sylvan autumn colour, although not as stupendous as New England in the fall, and ,err, trees. All very pleasant but images seen so many times before. This photograph leads me to think that less chocolate box and more edgy could be interesting. Street woodland perhaps.

The juxtaposition of the often seen glory of autumn colour with the gothic menace of that remarkable tree. I am going mad, I see an eye, a hand , the head of a goose and as for the rocket launcher I won't go there. I like how the tree leans in to the photo. Great fun. An excellent spot by you, well done.

Cool it is. Love the colour of the clock face highlighted against the more muted colours of the window. Since you have shared the secret of how you shot this I am tempted to try to replicate this in my local church. No idea why but I love the name Hoboken. All the best, Charles.

Restricting the list to those I own. Nikon F6 Nikon F2AS Canon F1 Leica M6TTL Pentax LX. Fine and dandy for me owning these cameras, bought at sensible prices over many years. What if I were starting today? What would give me the experience at much less cost? Again selected from cameras I own. Nikon F90s Nikon FT2 Canon EF Canon P Pentax MX. Then it is down to lenses, I would buy the best 50mm glass I could afford. Same applies to 120 cameras, Rolleiflex 3.5 or Ensign 820.

It's different, I like it. Then I'm a film noir kind of guy.

In a long lifetime of owning and using every Nikon film and digital camera from the top half of their ranges I have to say they have done me proud. Other brands have sometimes failed me but never Nikon. From the F to the F6, the FE, FM, 100, 90,etc, what a range of excellence ! I can not name a weak camera from these, the F80 is a great starter choice and certainly the F100 is a classic. Now I take 95% of my film photos with one body and one lens, an F6 with 24mm 1.4 G lens, I have found the best for me. All the best to all Nikon users, whatever the model.

I bought a support bag filled with polystyrene beads but it is the shape I find so useful. It is made like a miniature set of panniers that I can place over the top rail of a fence or over a rolled down car window or just use flat to support camera and long lens. Much prefer this to fiddling about with a tripod.

I like the light against the dark. Could you try a shot with the rose in focus? My old eyesight is not good and I have difficulty looking at the picture as it is. The shot has drama and is worth further effort, I could see it framed on a wall. Others here who know much more than I about technical aspects will offer better advice but well done for the experiment.

I use a Tokina macro 100mm f2.8 ATXPro.Quick shift between af and mf with slight push pull movement to select, 1:1, really solid build, the Tokina lenses work well for film and digital. I bought it mint for £200 mainly for my F6, mf for macro and af as a really nice portrait lens. On my old aps-c Nikon it gives me that longer length I like for macro. It is good enough for my work and is such a versatile lens.

Like NHSN I have tried to move towards user Nikons rather than a collection and have sold F,F2,F3, F5 ,FT3, FE, FM2 and have settled on a trio that get regular use with only 6 lenses, that is Nikkormat FT2, F90x, and my F6. On the digital side the 800e and the D4 have departed leaving one mirrorless and again two lenses. Lenses are often switched between the four cameras. Wish I had done this years ago, the lack of choice is a relief.

This photo stirs emotions, I looked before reading and saw sadness and isolation. The hand is eloquent and the she is looking down not through. You tell me it is a holy site and the sense of exclusion reminds me of the medieval church with the congregation kept back from the alter and the miraculous. It says something to me about the position of women in this society but I make this point with hesitation. Shot from the back it doesn't intrude on the grief and that is to be welcomed. The crop is the better photo but I prefer the first which gives the context. A photo of real worth, thank you, Charles.

Wow! Feeling a tiny bit self-satisfied that I bought the last new X113 in the UK even if I had to go for a rather unusual colour. As a cheapskate Leica user my M8 is my £800 version of the Monochrom.

Mr. Herbert, great that you mention the Leica X113. For a thousand pounds you can buy a superb modern lens giving my favoured 35mm at a bargain price and get a free camera thrown in. No wonder Leica pulled this camera before it hit Q sales.