Settings:
Film Sim – Astia
Grain - Off (Applied in post)
Colour Chrome Effect – Weak
Dynamic Range – Auto
White Balance – Auto / R: -3 B: 3
Highlight: -1
Shadow: +1
Colour: +2
Sharpness: +3
Noise Reduction: +3
After nearly a year of testing and tweaking, (I’ll still probably tweak in the future) I have a recipe I am reasonably happy with!
I’ll say before we begin that I don’t know how people are able to buss out recipes with such consistency. Even in this post I can see inconsistencies from one day to the other.
One day the recipes shines with the blue tint that I’m looking for whilst also being vibrant overall. Other days it’s not quite hitting in the way I would like.
Overall: This is a daytime recipe. The better the weather, the better the results. Indoors & in inclement weather, the blue will look very strong so maybe trim the colour balance to -2/+2 instead of the 3 that I have.
Alright! Enough talk, let’s take a look at the finished article, spanning from early May to late September…
23rd May
Tottenham/Stratford
We begin on a half successful day that actually turned out to provide one of the most memorable vibes I will ever have in my life.
We begin in the heart of Tottenham where an event I was trying to hit was in a building that needed to be opened via intercom. After spending 30 minutes trying to get in, I gave up, copped a meal deal and kicked it in Bruce Castle Park. (One of my mate George's old stomping grounds!)
What transpired was a vibe I can't explain how nice it was. Great weather, banging meal deal, half of some hrrb (not a typo) from the night before and some Dancehall being boomed on speakers in the distance. A perfect distance mind you! Not too far to not hear it properly, but not too close to overstimulate. Immaculate vibes.
But I unfortunately had to make a move to Stratford to meet Sade, one of the subjects for my Past, Present, Future series!
These next photos are from before and after that link up, with some pictures as I was walking home.
Truly wonderful day.
20th June
Richmond Park/Deptford
Another great day of doubling up!
We begin taking the trek to Richmond for the first time, the furthest out west I have been in London!
The 1st event was a CityDaze walk! I've been hitting these wonderful link ups/walks since late last year and really enjoy them. If you're ever in London or Bristol, I recommend it. Great way to spend an afternoon/evening.
The 2nd event was Eat The Rich, an intimate listening session hosted by singer, songwriter & #FriendOf5E Joel Culpepper. Located in a studio in Deptford, we spun Samm Henshaw's It Could Be Worse front-to-back with the man himself present!
I didn't want to take too many photos in fear of messing up the vibe but I got a couple bangers in during and after.
27th June
Camden/Dalston
Of course we have to visit two of my favourite places in LDN: Camden & Dalston.
Starting in the borough of my birth, I intended to go to the newly minted Museum of Youth Culture for an exhibition that was starting a month before I attended this day! Go me for not reading…
As you can see with the Self Portrait, if the lighting is warm, say goodbye to any of this recipe's character. I'm fine with that though because most recipes lean red and exacerbates the warm lights.
Anyways! We take a train over to Gillett Square for the yearly "People's Festival" by The Silhouettes Project. You may have seen me hit this over the years in my Ilford HP5 Plus recipe test and in one of my "2 Days in LDN" posts.
19th July
Beach & Woods
An eventful day with D and his extended family who came down for the weekend. So, as you would do on a mid-July day, we headed to the beach and then to a local park for a nice walk.
25th July
ROM Skate Park
We now head to Romford, specifically the nearly abandoned ROM Skate Park, the only Grade II listed skatepark in the UK!
The history of the skatepark is so fascinating to me after spending this day with Pops as he was supporting a mentee through his volunteer work at the skatepark. In fact, everyone that works there is on a voluntary basis.
And if you know the significance of Grade II listing, you know that this skatepark is basically a time capsule. Because of its listing, it cannot be improved. So all the cracks and chips in the deep bowls can’t be filled in at all.
I talked to some people that used to hit the skatepark in it’s heyday and it was so cool knowing this place exists in a hard-to-see spot off a main road in Romford.
Come for the DeLorean, (the 2nd one I’ve seen this year in the wild after never seeing one in person before this year) stay for pops' childish grin as he posed in the bowls.
1st August
Camden/Barbican/Brixton
This was a very busy day! And I’ll give all three stints some shine.
We begun in Camden to peep the exhibition that I was referencing before. I didn’t shoot any of it but I did shoot the walk over to King’s Cross so we could hit Barbican for another exhibition!
From one favourite to another favourite in Barbican and the “Project a Black Planet” exhibition. So amazing I was compelled to leave with the book.
And then lastly to Brixton to hit a soiree hosted by Friend of 5E Joel Culpepper’s Eat The Rich.
In tow throughout this whole day was friend of the journey Ryan and at the rooftop party, a friend I made during listening party that I hit in June! His name is An.
Was a very cool moment capturing him meeting one of his music heroes in Tom Misch.
6th September
Southbank
The last chunk was a visit to Southbank to meet a friend over some food. Unfortunately I was ill and had to cut my day short after the link up. I was supposed to also hit a block party but due to me being ill and Sunday public transport doing it’s very best to piss me off, I went straight home.
I did take pictures of my friend but they asked to not appear in my post so I have omitted them.
Lastly, some miscellaneous shots with the test in mind. Including the back of my sister’s head, Wisterias, my nephew Damian on his birthday and of course, the dog.
And that’s my 1st recipe!
If you haven’t peeped Part One or Part Two, feel free to see how this journey has unfurled. I seek to continue using this in the near future, including for shows! So expect future looks.
Maybe I’ll try to make a Monochrome recipe next…?
Charlie Taylor
chillicharlie.taylor@gmail.com
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