The Diana F+ is a box camera made entirely from plastic. Results from this basic tool are often erratic as the camera only has two shutter speeds - (approx) 1/60th of a second and bulb (this allows the user to determine the length of time light is allowed to fall on the film). There are four apertures again approx f11, f16 and f22 with a “pinhole” aperture which is said to be about f128 It is constructed primarily of low-quality phenolic plastics of the type commonly found in toys imported from Asia during the 1960s. Because of wide variances in production quality, combined with a poorly-designed camera body latching mechanism, Diana cameras are predisposed to light leaks onto the exposed film. However these “happy mistakes” are what has made the camera the cult classic it is today. I have had my Diana+ for the last two years and (eventually) I’m a big fan. It “stimulates creative vision without undue reliance upon camera features and technology” Previously I used a 35mm film back with the camera as this film is easy to obtain, develop and even exposes the sprocket holes above and below the main frame. So recently I decided to try 120mm film with it. I’ve always loved the square format which measures 6×6cm. Here are some of those results. All images are straight from scan. The film used was Kodak Ektar 100.

Last week I travelled to Bantry House in Co. Cork for a location shoot for Pearl & Godiva -a vintage china hire company. Accompanied by the sleepy make-up artist Kate Rose Crean, we had a two fold approach to the day - product and a seperate model shoot. The latter would be used to establish mood on the Pearl & Godiva website and it proved to be an excellent idea. Lockdown provided the models Maedbh & Ronan.

The shoot itself was almost entirely captured with the amazing natural light in Bantry House. I brought along the Polaroid 600SE and fired off some of the last batch of the legendary Type 100 669 bought from The Impossible Project. The surroundings were very conducive to the film, even if some exposures were 20 seconds+

Others involved in the shoot were:

Hair www.sobebrown.com

Flowers www.hanako.yolasite.com

Clothes and Accessories by www.dirtyfabulous.com

Beaded Bridal hair jewellery by www.staceyhannandesigns.com

Cupcakes by www.be-mycupcake.com

Macaroons by www.petitsfours.ie/

A big well done to Sarah from Pearl & Godiva from bringing it all together.

Here are some images:

(above - Polaroid Type 100 - 669 film - 20 second exposure @ f8)

(above - shot with a Camera Diana+ lens and Nikon adapter)

The legendary “Bard of Salford” was in town on Thursday to perform as part of the Imagine Arts Festival. I made a call on the off chance that he was free for a few shots in the afternoon. He was and kindly agreed. What was supposed to be a quick 30 minute shoot turned into 3hrs! John was as generous with his stories as he was with his time. He talked about everything from Ian Curtis & his favourite band The New York Dolls to his gratitude to Alex Turner, whom he attributes to his current popularity. Throw in a few random poems and curious onlookers who thought I was photographing Ronnie Wood - it’s an afternoon I won’t forget in a hurry. Big thanks to Sinead Flynn and Ollie Breslin for organising it all.

UPDATE: nice to see I made the FWA One Photo a Day with one of the above shots http://www.fwaphoto.com/#/2009-11-16/