Norwegian Fjords on HP5…
These are are handful of images from a recent trip to stunningly beautiful Norway. As with most of my travels I took the Kodak 66, and a small SLR - in this case, the Canon EOS 500.
There is no way of predicting the exact conditions a week in advance, but I was hoping for HP5 conditions for the boat trip into the Fjords - and the weather gods were smiling upon me this particular day in October. The forecast in the morning was showing as dark clouds and rain, and as we departed Bergen that is exactly what we got.
Canon EOS 500 - Ilford HP5
I was happy with these conditions, as I wanted moody black & white images, but nearing the fjords the conditions became magical with low clouds hugging the steep slopes falling away into the relatively calm waters.
Canon EOS 500 - Ilford HP5
By the time the boat reached the narrow channel into Mostraumenfjord, my DSLR was struggling to focus in the fog and rain, but the trusty old Canon had no issues. Time to break out the 66. The scenery was absolutely breath-taking, and as long as the Kodak lasted the 12 shots I didn’t care how wet the bellows got or if it ever worked again afterwards! As it turned out, the Kodak performed faultlessly as always.
Kodak 66 - Ilford HP5
I was metering for the fastest shutter speed of 1/200 due to shooting from a moving boat, and fluctuating between f5.6 and f8 depending on the thickness of the fog, and the Canon was on P mode. One thing I did notice is the difference in grain between the 35mm and 120 - the 120 being so much cleaner images due to the bigger negative.
Kodak 66 - Ilford HP5
This is Bergsåafossen - a waterfall near the village of Mo. I just love how black the water is in this image, it gives so much depth - a good thing considering the physical depth of the water! I can’t find any info on actually how deep it is, but the fjord we sailed through to get here is over 600 meters deep!
Canon EOS 500 - Iford HP5
There are definitely some images for my wall from these two films, I don’t mind the scratch on the one above as it is a raw analogue photograph.
I was using the Canon EF 28-90mm f4-5.6 II lens, as I was expecting some wide shots that the 50mm couldn’t get.
Canon EOS 500 - Ilford HP5
Although it may not look like it in the images, it was WET! I was in full waterproofs, and the cameras were dripping and needed drying every few minutes, but against all odds they survived and I am over the moon with my images. They really convey the mood and beauty of the day - I would have been so disappointed if it was bright and sunny as it was a day earlier in Bergen.
Canon EOS 500 - Ilford HP5