This was my find while walking the dog yesterday morning. As you know, I can't resist a found strip of film negatives, and when I saw this lying in the gutter I had to pick it up. Unfortunately, just as I did so, Olga stooped to pee on it. I grabbed it but not before she got a few drops on it.
It's Kodak GT800-5 film, which I believe is the type generally used in Kodak FunSaver disposable cameras. I think those cameras are still available, so these may not be old negatives. They could be from last week, or from ten years ago. It's all part of the mystery!
Back home, I put the film in my negative scanner to see what's what.
Ah, someone's trip to Brighton! That's definitely the Pavilion in the background.
(See that ghostly patch to the right? Thanks, Olga.)
A picnic on the grass. I love it when photographers manage to get their shadows into the shot.
Are we still in Brighton? Who knows. A few of these may be the same people, like that guy in the navy blue shirt in the foreground of the middle picture, who also seems to be at the rear of the last one.
Speaking of cameras, I've decided to not take my big camera to Pevensey Bay when we go today. I'm just taking my phone. We're already going to be juggling luggage and the dog, so one less bag is better for everyone.
When I told Dave, he said, "You don't want your long lens, to focus on Olga as she's swimming out into the English channel?"
"Like Shannon!" I exclaimed. Dave looked perplexed. "You know, Shannon. That '70s song about the dog who swims out to sea and dies."
"That is not something I was listening to when I was four," he replied.
(For the record, he would have been eight, but whatever.)
Speaking of getting one's shadow into a picture, I took this very haphazard video yesterday when I saw the first comma butterfly of the season. (My long lens would have come in handy!) You can see how weedy our patio is at this time of year -- but hey, I am all about embracing our weediness.
Only you could turn a soggy strip of film from a dog walk into a miniature mystery and a trip down musical memory lane
ReplyDeleteWell done for capturing that comma video, butterflies always close their wings and hide their lovely pattern when I try to take a picture! Did you know that at Saltdean Lido, Brighton for four weeks in September you can swim with your dog? It's called Dogtember, I think you might be near there judging by the places you mention in your blog. If I had a dog I would go - might even borrow one! I think its good you embrace your weeds btw, many have medicinal properties and you are helping the insect population which has to be good. Betty.
ReplyDeleteI don't see weeds, I see greenery.
ReplyDeleteLucky you spotting the Comma - a Big butterfly shortage in my small Mid Suffolk garden
ReplyDeleteand with the disease that's hit all Buddleias this year - with fewer flowers - don't think I will see many at all.
I like the way the butterfly flaps its wings in greeting at the end.
ReplyDeleteLuckily Olga didn't wee on the butterfly! My boy would have been chasing it!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to some sea photos tomorrow. Hope the journey goes well.
I agree with you about the guy you mentioned in the photo. It even appears to be wearing the same tee.
ReplyDeleteThere's something about the last found photo that suggests to me a university setting but why are there no drinks on the tables and very little sign of bags or rucksacks? Anyway, they all seem pretty happy. Perhaps they were studying psychedelic mushrooms. It doesn't appear to be too long ago.
ReplyDeleteA mystery never to be solved in your found film.
ReplyDeleteCommas are very obliging, hanging around for quite a while to have their photographs or video taken.
Olga sure made me smile this morning when you told of her dropping a pit of pee on the negatives! From their outfits and the pink hair, it doesn't seem like these photos were taken too long ago.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I had forgotten that song. And to be honest, I hope I forget it again. Sorry! Why am I not surprised you scanned Olga’s pee? I enjoyed the haphazard video and your shadow.
ReplyDeleteOlga's contribution gives an eerie ghost vibe to the photo!
ReplyDeleteI am always accidentally getting my shadow into shot when I take photos for my blog ... and occasionally, if it's an indoor low level, shot my slippers too, I had never thought of it as a good thing. At least my general photos have improved slightly these days after a few choice comments from my brother who used to be a photography club judge.
ReplyDeleteOnly a true archivist would not let a few drops of dog pee stop them from satisfying their curiosity as to a strip of negatives.
ReplyDeleteHave a fantastic trip! It'll be so different than what it's like in winter.
Oh- I do not remember that song AT ALL. Perhaps I blocked it.
My Mom often got her thumb in the photo or movie when she was in charge of the camera. That was usually my Dad's job! It's a happy memory now to see her thumb when watching the old movies!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the color is faded or was like that to start with
ReplyDelete