Film in Taunton, shooting on a Hasselblad.

A Photographic Mini Series.

Film in Taunton, shooting on a Hasselblad.

Just abaout 3 years ago I picked up a Hasselblad 500 c/m for the first time. This was a camera that I had been wanting to try for many years. For those who dont know the 500 c/m is a film camera known for capturing images in a distinctive square format. Its unique shooting experience is enhanced by a waist-level viewfinder that requires the photographer to look down into the top of the camera instead of through it, enabling shooting from an unconventional angle.

I recently came across the negatives from the first time I used the Hasselblad and thought I would share them with you.

When I captured these images, I was immersed in a series of photo books by urban and documentary photographers who focused on urban development. Among these photographers were  Robert Adams and John Myers. Moreover, I drew inspiration from the artist George Shaw.

These photos where taken in Taunton, Somerset. I moved to Taunton in 2017 and lived there for many years. These photos where taken in the area I lived.

All of these photos where taken on Ilford HP5, a lovely black and white film stock that has been my go to for many years. Its slightly higher light sensitivity makes it a versatile stock for shooting in bright sunlight and overcast lighting. HP5 also has very pleasing contrast, great overall balance between sharpness and grain, and is able to take on many looks depending on how its shot. As for these photos, most where overexposed by +1 stop.

Several of these photos I find very reminiscent of John Myers work. John Myers photographed mundane aspects of middle class life within the UK around the area he lived. My intentionality with these photographs was similar. I wanted to photograph the middle class areas around where I lived and contrast those images with some of the landscapes around Somerset to establish the county as a tourist location to bring more money to the area to benefit the people who live there every day.

This photo captures more of the same, middle class housing, but if you look closely you can also see an older couple having a discussion in their frount garden. There is a human element here that makes this photo stand out from the rest.

And finally, a tree. Who doesn't like trees?