This was another Ian and Kate day. Similar in concept to the Ian and Killian day, but a day where I can dedicate myself solely to Kate. She’s fifteen now of course, but I should spend more time with her. If she’ll let me of course. At the time she was only seven—simpler times where I could make her happy with just a nice tea, a boat trip across the river, and just wandering around exploring the intricate streets of an old fishing village on the “bords de Loire.” There are no cars in the narrow streets, and the children can run wild.
This day was one spent in Trentemoult, that rather colourful village that you can see here. The colours are intense and provide a great backdrop for portrait photography. So of course I went in with a film camera and black and white film. Which only goes to show that when you photograph a location, however colourful, and take away the distraction of that colour, you have to really concentrate on composition, texture, and forms. I couldn’t rely on colour for my photos today. But I was sure that I could reveal some good photos despite that.
So what do you do? You just try and capture some moments of your daughter messing around and being a perfectly normal seven year old. I tried to capture her exploring the streets and being absorbed by the whole ambiance of the place. She became part of the scenery, and blended in perfectly.
I was just there purely to observe and record the day on film, with one eye in my camera and the other on Kate. It was a good day.
Looking back at those moments reminds me of how quickly time seems to slip by without me realising that I am getting older. She of course is slightly older, and possibly slightly less “insouciante” or carefree, but my love for that girl is still as strong as ever.
Welcome back to another look at the film archives. This time, I’m sharing a few black-and-white street shots from an October Saturday in Nantes, likely taken with the Praktica MTL3 and HP5 Plus film. These outings with my son Killian, which we called ‘Ian and Killian days,’ became a cherished routine, a time for us to reconnect amidst the busyness of life.
He was 17 then, a weekly boarder at his lycée in La Roche sur Yon. On the weekends, we’d often head into Nantes, following the same familiar programme: a visit to the barbershop, a meal at the Sugar Blue café, and finally, a drink at the John Mc Byrne Irish Pub. In the photo, that handsome chap in the barber’s seat is Killian—a little reminder that it wasn’t always Kate joining me on these trips. These outings were a way to stay connected, despite his growing independence. Even with him being only 17, I still felt that sense of responsibility. Once a Dad, always a Dad.
As we went through our usual routine, I found myself facing the familiar challenge of capturing these moments on film. The low light inside the barbershop always made me second-guess whether I could get a decent shot without using a flash. But over time, I learned to trust the Praktica and the HP5 Plus film. There’s a rawness to film photography, especially with Ilford’s HP5. It adds a certain grit and texture to the image, something that digital just can’t replicate.
That’s what I love about film—the imperfections. The grain gives it character, a certain honesty that smooth, polished digital photos lack. It’s not about creating something flawless but about preserving the authenticity of the moment. This shot of Killian in the barbershop, for example, may not be technically perfect, but it’s real. It’s us, it’s Nantes, it’s one of those ‘Ian and Killian days.’
Looking back at these photos, I’m reminded that sometimes, it’s the imperfections that make an image truly memorable. Quite the day, right?
New from the film archives – On va Marcher sur la Lune, captured on a warm October day in 2016. Could this be a nod to Jules Verne, one of Nantes’ famous sons? Possibly. As I look through these photos now, I’m transported back 8 years—to a time when my daughter still saw me as her hero, and we spent afternoons exploring with our cameras.
That day, she had her Olympus Trip 35, and I was carrying the equally iconic Canon AE-1 with some 400ASA Kentmere black and white film. Both cameras, steeped in history, were very much a part of our lives at the time. And when I say the Olympus is so simple a seven-year-old could use it, I’m not exaggerating—she handled it with ease, maybe even with a bit more flair than I did.
We parked near the Grue Titan and wandered towards the Elephant, a landmark almost as famous as Jules Verne himself. It was one of those days that would just lead its own way along the Loire, and I was completely fine with that. My only concern was Kate remembering to change the dial on the Olympus to the right focus zone. In hindsight, I should’ve let her take the lead and placed more confidence in her. Hindsight—that luxury of later life. Her photos? They turned out better than just fine.
Later, we explored the “On va Marcher sur la Lune” exhibit, which featured a lunar landscape with trampolines in each crater—a hit with children of all ages. The area was bustling with people enjoying the Indian Summer, including a mix of families and those embracing the trendy atmosphere. As we walked towards the Elephant, we noticed how it had revitalized this once rundown shipbuilding area. The remnants of the old shipyards still linger, but the new architecture is resolutely modern.
Do you have a place, be it real or imaginary, that just haunts your mind? You think of it, and you are transported there instantly. The smells of the grass, the sounds of the river, and the odd car driving past you wondering what the heck you are doing? Hepple is my special place. It is a place where I feel at peace and that all is right with the world.
I’m thinking back to an article I wrote a couple of years ago called Hepple for Photos, Not Gin. I was with my father and had my Canon 6D Mark II with the 16-35mm F4.0 lens and the 70-300mm zoom lens. This year, however, I had my X100F with just the 35mm f2.0 equivalent lens, and I was with Killian, who, surprisingly, was a little tired and decided to curl up on the back seat for a snooze. His loss…
This is the place, this stretch of road, that I have been looking forward to for 2 years. The weather was clement, and I can assure you that the place is still as beautiful as ever. I wasn’t going to have the choice of lenses this time; I would have to see the scene in 35mm and make do with it. No zooming, no switching lenses—just a little constraint. And you know what? I was fine with that!
The lack of zooming and my sleeping son allowed me to walk around the area a little more, exploring under the tree at the end of the road and at the bottom of the hill. These were views that I had not seen before. It only goes to show that we might think we know a place, even in our memories, but it still has so much more to offer us.
I parked just before the bridge, as I usually do. Everything was still in place: the stiles, the trees, the river—just as I had pictured it in my mind. It’s when looking at the countryside like this that I am convinced there is a creator behind all this creation. The beauty of it didn’t just happen by chance.
The noises were made by the flowing of the river and the breeze in the trees. I had this feeling of calm. I could take photos of that place every day and not get tired of it all. I might even go so far as to say I could have died here and died a happy death. I had found my peace.
Killian had found his peace too and was still asleep in the car. A micro sieste, he said. He might be 25, but he reminded me of the small boy who was once my son.
I can’t be the only person on this earth to feel this?
The Scenic Drive: A Journey Through the Northumberland Moors
The road from Alnwick to Rothbury takes you over the Northumberland moors and through steep valleys, giving you real taste of the British countryside. It is not only magnificent in the early morning light, but it has this way of taking your breath away at each bend in the road.
You might just have gathered by now that I was in the UK this summer, visiting my Parents in Northumberland. You may also have gathered that I wasn’t having the best of sleeps and was thus up a little earlier than most. You may also have gathered that I decided to go light on photography equipment this trip compared to last year, only taking my X100F with me to take photos. You may also have gathered that this trip was not just about photography but spending some quality time with the children, especially my son, who hadn’t been to the UK for a while. You may also have gathered that my son joined me on a couple of these photography jaunts. Right! I think we may have set the scene.
Photography on the Go: Minimalist Gear and Techniques
We were both in the car by 6am, having breakfasted and taken our collagen in yorkshire tea to make it at least a little palatable. This is an epic drive that I try to do at least once when I’m over. When you see the photographs, you’ll understand why. Like Bamburgh, I had to meter for the highlights knowing that I would be able to get back details in the shadows back home in Lightroom. The 35mm F2.0 equivalent lens of the X100F was fine to capture enough of the scene, and if I wanted to zoom, then it would mean zooming with my feet.
Capturing the Landscape: Heather in Bloom and Morning Light
Fortunately, there are plenty of places to stop by the side of the road on this route, which is a good job because at each turn everything changes. The sun was coming up on our left and filling the valley with light, and the top of the hill cast a shadow that I would have to compensate for later.
The road continues with views of the heather, which was in bloom and the pink added a wonderful contrast to the warm colours of the morning reflected on the landscape. It certainly felt a real privilege to be there and take it all in. We passed Cragside but decided to continue on to Rothbury.
A Taste of Rothbury: Discovering the Local Flavours
We managed to find a space to park in Rothbury, and out of the corner of our eye, we saw a bakery. An English bakery, but a proper bakery. No pain au chocolat or croissants, but sausage rolls, meat pies, even a haggis pie. We settled on sandwiches in proper bread cakes and millionaire’s shortbread as a sweet treat. Next, we just had to find a bench to sit on and eat our picnic. There’s just something about eating a sandwich in an English village in the sun. I daren’t imagine what the winters are like! Possibly a bit nippy…
Looking Ahead: Plans for Otterburn and Beyond
But there we sat, the two of us, munching away, deciding to go to Otterburn for more photos and possibly a rug, but that, Dear Reader, is a story for another day…
I’ve been going to Bamborourgh since I was a little boy. Fifty years later, it still affects me in a way that not many places do. Growing up, there was a painting of the castle in my mother’s bathroom, and ever since I learned photography, I’ve wanted to capture my own photo of the place. Patience, my dear boy, patience…
The last time I was there, I was with my wife and daughter. We explored the castle—a gurt big affair that overlooks the coast and the Farne Islands. This time, I was with my son. It’s all about passing on the experiences we’ve had to future generations. To be honest, this whole trip was about creating memories for the children and spending quality time with them. Ever wary of spending too much, we decided to visit just the village and the beach.
Exploring the Beach: A Walk through the Dunes
To get to the beach, you have to go through the dunes, following the paths, because wandering around the dunes willy-nilly is not the done thing—conservation of the local flora and fauna and all that. The castle towers above the beach, giving a sense of protection. By the time we got there, the beach was fairly full of people, dog walkers, and their dogs, all just enjoying the summer. A British, Northumbrian summer, but summer nonetheless.
I don’t know if you know, but I have a gammy knee and arthritis. I’ve also been taking collagen every day, and although it seems to be doing me good, it’s a bit early to see real effects. Killian was very kind, looking after me and making sure I was keeping up. He’s a good man, and it’s nice spending time with him. After walking on the beach for a while and letting me take my pictures, we found a log to sit on before heading back into the village.
A Stroll Back to the Village: Nostalgia and New Discoveries
As we headed back to the car, we came up the side of the castle and walked along the cricket ground. Dogs and their walkers were still out in force, with the owners throwing balls for the aforementioned dogs. All of a sudden, I missed Molly, our dog, and thought how much she would have loved coming with us, but she’s an old girl, and it wouldn’t have been feasible.
I thought about going up to the church to pay my respects to the local heroine, Grace Darling, who was the Lighthouse Keeper’s daughter in the 19th century. During an epic storm in 1838, a ship was wrecked on the Farne Islands, and Grace and her father went out in a rowing boat to pick up the survivors, as it was considered too rough a sea for the Seahouses lifeboat. They saved 9 out of the 62 passengers and had to shelter in the lighthouse for a further 3 days until the storm calmed down.
A Pub Lunch at The Lord Crewe: A Culinary Interlude
I didn’t manage to get that far. Killian, much like myself, has a weakness for pub lunches. And look, a pub! The Lord Crewe! One of those posh pubs that tries to hit above its station… We went straight to the bar and tried to order two pints of Guinness, while letting them know that we wanted to eat too. “Oh, in that case, just go up to the restaurant, and they’ll deal with you…” I was ready to leave the place and go somewhere else, but Killian was hungry, so we didn’t. However, we did enjoy being rude about the two barmen in French.
Killian decided on fish and chips, or “cod fillet with a beer batter”, and I went for the prawn cocktail. As you can see in the picture, even as Frenchmen, we couldn’t fault the presentation of the dishes. The taste was pretty good too! Eating a meal like that just takes you back to a place of joy and nostalgia. It takes you back to a place of calm and reflection. It takes you back to a place where everything is just the way it should be. It almost helped us forget the two barmen. Almost…
A rather delicious and impeccably presented prawn cocktail..
Continuing the Adventure: More Pints and Ice Cream
We paid and left, still joking at the barmen’s expense. We continued up the road and found the other pub. Ah well, another pint of Guinness. We never got to the church, but that was fine, as I already had the photos I wanted. The beach, the castle, and the dog walkers. We headed back towards the car and had that ice cream that we had noticed while walking up to pub number two. What a sound decision. It was very good ice cream and helped us forget the two rude barmen from the other place… Almost…
Capturing Bamburgh: A Photographer’s Reflections
Anyway, back to the car, and back to Lesbury to go and see the girls. I had the photograph I wanted. I wanted the castle, on top of its hill overlooking the beach and the dunes. The other photos were just a bonus. Yes, I went to a place for just one photo, but it was a photo I had been eager to get for some time. The next time I might just have to go at sunset to get the good light…
Photography Insights: Challenges and Techniques
Let’s conclude by talking about the photography from the day. The main technical difficulty was my camera’s metering of the scenes. I had to really expose for my highlights to compensate for the bright sky and the reflection of this light on the sand. I was actually worried about not being able to retrieve the information in the shadows. Luckily, Lightroom was a champion with photo editing and showed itself to be a top-notch app. For me, Bamburgh is all about the castle. It’s about the castle and the sea. It’s about the castle, the sea, the sand, and the dunes. If you can capture all that, then you’re well on your way to getting some pretty good photos.
IJM Photography 