Report - Holme Bank Chert Mine - Bakewell, on 35mm Film [Dec 16 & Mar 17]

[elhomer12]

I won't bore you too much with the history as I'm sure every man and has dog have been down here by now... but here's a brief one from my first report from august 2016:

Holme Bank was the last of two operational chert mines in Derbyshire the other being the Pretoria Mine, both at Bakewell. The chert bed lies on a 1 in 3.7 gradient and the mine was subject to flooding in severe winters. Illumination was by mains electricity in addition to carbide lamps carried by the miners.

As I've been down the mine twice with film cameras so far and I've built up a nice little collection of shots I decided it'd be worth making a new report specially for these.
On the first trip (Pics 1-5) I used a Fujica ST605N & Pentacon 29mm 2.8, which turned out to be a bit crap really so I got rid of it, and the second time (Pics 6-11) around I used a Nikon FE & 28mm 3.5. Both times I used Agfa Vista 200, aka poundland film... it really isn't that bad, but getting harder to find now

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Thanks for looking! #filmisnotdead​

 

[JohnnyBoy]

Great photos matey. I might check this site out for myself. Looks good fun,

 

[Rainey]

Picture 9... That looks... Safe.

 

[elhomer12]

Picture 9... That looks... Safe.

Had to go under it to get that shot

 

[Rainey]

Had to go under it to get that shot

Very courageous. I'd have avoided that.

 

[Wevsky]

Nice selection mate the film shots really do it justice

 

[Mobutu]

Lovely set, what were these taken on?

 

[elhomer12]

Lovely set, what were these taken on?

I mentioned in the post, but the first 5 were taken on a earlier visit with a Fujica ST605N & Pentacon 29mm lens, and the rest were taken on my last visit with a Nikon FE & 28mm f/3.5. I'm really liking the FE so there will be more reports to come (which reminds me I do actually have more to post from that camera)

 

[Mobutu]

I mentioned in the post, but the first 5 were taken on a earlier visit with a Fujica ST605N & Pentacon 29mm lens, and the rest were taken on my last visit with a Nikon FE & 28mm f/3.5. I'm really liking the FE so there will be more reports to come (which reminds me I do actually have more to post from that camera)

oh yeah, not sure how I missed that. I've been looking into an FE for a while now but they just seem really expensive, especially since an F90X body is only about £50

 

[elhomer12]

oh yeah, not sure how I missed that. I've been looking into an FE for a while now but they just seem really expensive, especially since an F90X body is only about £50

It's a nice camera, way more satisfying to use than a DSLR. They can get pricey but you can find them cheapish still if you look, thankfully the price hasn't gone crazy like the FMs. I got this one for £35, not in mint condition by any means but I got it to use, not to sit on a shelf.

 

[Mobutu]

It's a nice camera, way more satisfying to use than a DSLR. They can get pricey but you can find them cheapish still if you look, thankfully the price hasn't gone crazy like the FMs. I got this one for £35, not in mint condition by any means but I got it to use, not to sit on a shelf.

That sounds decent, I've got an F90X and a couple of moniltas among other cameras so I've probably got a lens that'll fit. As for what you were saying in the report about film being hard to get hold of, Kodak still do some great 35mm colour stuff (mostly portra in 5 packs) and Lomography has some great colour film in loads of different speeds online

 

[thelocksmithman]

Nice wander this place, always pop by when I'm in that neck of the woods. Good to see film shots too

 

[EOA]

Nice report chap and it looks like a cracking location. I was just wondering around the locations map looking for stuff and found this - and it has the added bonus of being opposite my favorite brewery!

 

[The Kwan]

Nice photos, I was in Bakewell a few weeks ago but just couldnt convince my Mrs that a mine visit was a good idea, we didnt get past the ice cream van and pasty shop in the end

 

[myke]

Nice looks a cracking place and you captured it well.