A Time Machine... Out of a Delorean?

By now this will have been sitting in my drafts folder for quite some time.

I was already a little naughty and snuck my phone in with me for the main event but I couldn't ruin it further by insta-sharing the 35mm photographs I was able to take too. With today marking the end of Secret Cinema's Back to the Future, I'm finally setting these photos free into the universe.

Hidden away in one of the bars was a stall selling these disposable 35mm cameras, after seeing others with disposables and asking them where they were from only to be told they were from Boots, I was so happy to find it. I guess it's the photographer in me and yes, I'll agree that it's nice to switch off but seriously, there were so many good things to photograph and shamefully, I get a little tetchy in situations like that.




I think the main reason there were no cameras allowed was down to spoiling the secret but given that there was so much press prior to the day we went due to all the mishaps, I can't say I feel too guilty about it.

We visited on the 2nd August and had wonderful weather for it. It was such a great event and despite early criticism, Secret Cinema totally pulled this off. It was so nice to see so many people made so much effort too, sometimes it was difficult to tell the cast members from us normals.



After my previous immersive experience with The Drowned Man, I wasn't sure what to expect but was more than impressed to see that a mini construction of Hill Valley was right in front of me when we entered. From the McFly house to the Clock Tower, so much attention to detail had been put in, it's understandable as to why there was so much faff before the opening night. If nothing else, looking around all the houses, shops and even the high school, was a neat way to kill some time before the sun set and we could watch the film.















Not quite Doc..


It was such a fun movie-going experience, I loved that everyone cheered the first time we saw Marty on screen, that we booed Biff and mostly, that we laughed together. The live-action performances that went along with the film were really well done especially the clock tower abseiling finale (and seeing the Delorean for the first time). I'm sure there are things I've missed out but it was just a really good night out, my highlight was dancing along to Johnny B. Goode, and actually just dancing a lot throughout the whole evening.

Yes, it was pricey and paying for extras once we got in was quite a big ask, but you can forget about that when you've had a really, all-out great time full of references for one of your favourite films.

#PhotoSwap2012 - Amelie Obscura

You might remember way back at the beginning of October that I mentioned that I was taking park in a photo swap. Thanks to the amazingly organised Rhianne from For The Easily Distracted, I was able to swap with the lovely Alejandrina from Texas. I'm quite nosey by nature so it was really interesting to see the way she shot images and the different techniques she used, as well as where she was taking them.

Texas looks warm and full of character, certainly from the photos she sent me anyway definitely a part of the USA I'd like to see in real life as I've not really 'seen' America yet. It's certainly a stark contrast to the rainy photos from my trip to Cornwall I took for her.

You can find out more about #PhotoSwap2012 over at Rhianne's blog and take a look at the great selection of #PhotoSwap2012 images from other participants on the Flickr group. Here are some of my favourites from Alejandrina's 35mm film she sent me.

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I sure hope that Alejandrina stays in touch and now that I've finally got around to sharing these with you - down to my own laziness sadly more than anything else - I'd definitely be interested in carrying on photo swapping both with Alejandrina and other people.

The whole experience has actually had me really inspired to shoot more 35mm and I currently have two rolls waiting to be developed at home. I don't know why I don't do it more, especially since I totally adore my 35mm SLR and it might just be my favourite camera.

My Reading Festival on 35mm, almost.

I've really not had much luck with 35mm recently, from fake-shooting a roll of film when borrowing Charlotte's Sardinia, to having two out of five of my Reading films ruined by Boots' processing machine; leaving me with none of The Maccabees or The Foo Fighters! The latter part isn't my fault, but it still makes me angry because it's not like I can get them back, even if I know what a great time I had, it's nice to have photographs.


I managed to snag a free disposable camera, get £10 added to my Boots Card and grab the remainder of my films for free as compensation but I'm still a bit gutted despite this. These photos came out a helluva lot better than I thought they were going to, even the ones in tents, I can only dream of what may have been on the ones I lost. Really not a bad job at all for some expired disposable cameras I picked up from Snappy Snaps for £1.99 each - good job too as they were selling non-branded ones in the festival from £5.99 a pop!

Anyway, with Bestival officially marking the end of the festival season, I figured this would be the perfect time to share a few of my photos from Reading Festival with you. It would have been way sooner, but as I mentioned there was a whole problem meaning I only really have time to show you now. I'm in the third week of my new job this week, how time is flying by...

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We went over to Mission Burrito in The Oracle for a last taste of real, 'not a rip off' food and to use a real toilet.


The Mission Burrito balloon that was meant to mark our camp, but ended up deflated and just hanging there.





Bad camping spots.



Simon lost his tent within the first five minutes of our arrival, so he had to buy one when we got in. They were actually quite reasonable and he got this one for £30, £30 more than he would have liked to have spent, but it leaked less than our tent.


The first band we saw on Friday were 'Future of the Left', really not my cup of tea.


I wish this had scanned in better, it's probably my favourite.



This annoys me a little because there are people I don't know in it, it's all Moon's fault for 'getting in the festival spirit'.


Alt-J were crazy busy.


Being little in the crowd for Alt-J / The Maccabees.


Foster the People.

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The stampede for Green Day was like that scene from Jurassic Park when all the tinyy dinosaurs are running from the T-Rex.


Green Day.





Moon's swollen fingers.


Getting psyched for Dry the River.


The furthest away I've ever been for Dry the River, it was absolutely amazing seeing them on such a huge stage though. ♥



Everything bad that happens at Reading in one photo, there's even poo in there somewhere, this poor 'tent' owner.


Florence & the Machine in the pouring rain.



Seeing Moon's ears in one of these ponchos really cracks me up.




I wish I didn't look so sleepy in the left-hand photo. Wearing a kigu was definitely where it was at, both in terms of overall festival fashion and in terms of keeping cosy.



Long during Florence / A four-man totem pole for The Joy Formidable, mental.


The Joy Formidable.


Kaiser Chiefs, amazing!

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Another gripe I perhaps have, although it's mainly down to my laziness in terms of not being bothered to scan these in again, but they seem to be ridiculously high contrast for some reason. It must be the settings on my scanner, as they look normal in real life. I've tried to make it look like everyone has a less burnt face than they did in the original scans and I think it's come out okay.

So that was Reading, I love a good festival, I don't know about going back to Reading again, but I had a great time anyway. I really wish I had The Black Keys lighting, The Maccabees' lasers and Sunday's sunset but I think I've still got a lovely little set here.