Happy New Year! 
Yes, 2007 is already upon us. They say time flies when you’re having fun. I think it flies by regardless – at least when you look back.
I have a couple of rolls back. First up is Ilford XP2 400, which is C41 b&w film (so basically it can be developed as a colour film would be developed, but the results are in b&w – this means it can be developed faster, and cheaper). I’d heard weird things about this film, mainly that prints turn out with a gold or blue tint. After my Snappy Snaps (oh how I hate that name) fiasco, I decided to go to Metro Imaging to get them done – OK so you pay more, but they do a good job.
I’m really impressed with the quality of the prints – I’m definitely using XP2 again, and definitely going back to Metro.
Click on them to get a bigger version and see how great this film is
I stupidly forgot to click the roll a few times after it was loaded, so I lost the first couple of pictures, which were of this man’s dog.
The train was more or less empty when I got on. Usually it’s completely packed at rush hour, but the Tube was practically deserted over the Christmas period – it was great!
Vandals got into Camden Tube station while it was shut over Christmas, and covered the entire station in graffiti. To see what I mean, check this out. Look – there was even a giant pig! I couldn’t NOT see this, so I went the next day, but they’d cleared everything up : (
I took this shot outside the station, thinking of pigs, and sulking to myself.
Pete Doherty’s twin perhaps? 
I went to the New Year’s Parade in London which was great fun. It helped that there were cloudless blue skies and lots of sunshine. Beautiful day. There were a lot of people so to get a good view we walked back down the parade and saw acts that were still preparing.
This little boy was so tiny and cute
Some American band kids
Some more
Little steam engines – I love the texture of the smoke
You could tell just by looking at these cheerleaders that they were American; all the Americans were so meticulous and well-presented compared to everyone else in the parade.
Switched to colour – my scanner isn’t great for colour prints, but here are some nevertheless.
This lot saw me taking a picture and got into a group pose – yep, they were American. Only the Americans are so enthusiastic!
These cheerleaders were fab – one of their trainers saw me taking pictures and started talking to me about them and how we don’t seem to have an equivalent sport in UK schools, which is very true. They were from California and had so much energy, it was great. This was just while they practiced.
That’s about it for parade pictures for now. I might upload some more later.
One last shot off the colour roll..
Yes, it’s a pig. The cutest pig ever 
Hope a good Christmas was had by all. 
I passed this house in Tooting the other day. It is, without a doubt, the most decorated house I’ve seen.
The family happened to be leaving the house and I spoke to the dad about his intricately detailed decorations. He said it took 2 weeks to put the whole thing up. I mean, seriously – there was a snowman with fake snow, and a mechanical Father Christmas, as well as reindeers and a train. It was better than any Santa’s grotto I’ve seen! Gotta love the dedication.
I went to watch Merchants of Bollywood, at the Hammersmith Apollo on Boxing Day. Bipin, who’s a good friend in India, designed the costumes, so we got given tickets to the show.
I went backstage to see the crew and cast. I also spoke to the producer, Mark Brady, who was very friendly.
Carol Furtado – the main actress.
She’s such a lovely person, and a great performer too.
It was a good show – the dancers were great, and of course the costumes!
Now onto the evilness that is Snappy Snaps. I took a roll of Tri-X to the Bishopsgate branch of Snappy Snaps where they do a three-hour black and white service for £12.99. I thought that was pretty good considering the place I normally go to charges the same for a 24-hour service – the difference is, while the latter is a pro-lab that develops high-quality stuff, Snappy Snaps uses some cheap-arse method to develop pictures that even the worst film/camera/settings couldn’t have produced.
Yes, they fucked up my pictures 
They were developed with hardly any contrast whatsoever – completely washed out. I know this isn’t a result of my camera, or exposure, or film.
I went back to ask them wtf they’ve done (in more polite terms, of course 
). They took a look and claimed they hadn’t noticed the first time around, but offered to reprint them with more contrast.
“Some people like a lot of contrast, others don’t”, Miss Snappy Snaps told me. Er, but who likes dull, washed-out, ugly grey prints?
So, they told me to return a couple of hours later. I did, and the pictures were now too dark.
“Our machine is being weird”, Miss Snappy said. Well, that’s not really my problem now is it? You’re clearly a bunch of amateurs who have no idea what you’re doing!
They agreed to edit the negs and print a third time – I’m not holding my breath; I’m pretty certain they’ll come out just as bad. I get them back on Friday.
In the meantime, here we have an example of these wonderful shots, from the hell-hole that is Snappy Snaps. What kind of name is Snappy Snaps anyway? I shouldn’t have gone there based on the name alone.
Notice the tones..this is a straight scan with only levels adjusted.
Now I’ve edited using the channel mixer and converted to monochrome..
Notice the difference? What they gave me had some kind of horrid blue/green tint. This is not what b&w film is meant to look like!
Paul playing Line Rider at work – we’re a busy bunch.
Again I’ve had to edit the levels and convert to mono..
There’s probably not much point showing any other pictures. I’ll wait until the negs have been edited and see what kind of job they do.
This is the second time I’ve had issues with developers – the first time was with Jessops who took 6 weeks to get a b&w film back to me. I think I should give up on these high street stores. I don’t think it’s worth me spending £18 at Metro, so I guess it’s back to my usual little lab tucked away behind Old Street. If anyone knows of any good b&w developers in the vicinity of Central London (preferably in the City), that charges less than £15 and does a 24 hour service, please let me know! And no, “develop them yourself” is not a solution!
