prescottspie

I agree that Lightroom is very powerful and an essential tool for workflow - but it still doesn't beat the joy I get when I lock myself away for a session of lovingly creating a print - it's like taking the photo all over again. And finishes with a print I can hold in my hands, whereas I find I rarely bother to print my digital work or scanned slides. As you say, each to their own, but as the OP is dipping their toe into the chemical bath of film photography, I would suggest they have a go at the silver gelatine process, as they may well enjoy it, not to mention the good grounding of education it gives.

Already been down the physio route, and been told that other than keeping up with my regular stretches, nothing can be done on the NHS - there are operations for my condition but not that you can get on NHS. I do break up journeys as much as poss, but if driving to the south of France, for example, it's still gonna hurt.

Then junk the digital because it isn't as fun No amount of hours sat in front of Photoshop compares to the joy (and quality) of a lovingly produced print in a darkroom.

Another professional choice is Peak Imaging near Crystal Peaks. A serious, professional choice, so you pay accordingly.

I've tried several, and all the cheap dedicated film scanners are junk. Eventually I splooged on an Epson V500 (been superceded by several models now) and it blows the little things I used before out the water. Film holds so much detail and dynamic range, do it justice with a decent scanner. PS, if you have medium format negs, as I do, you need a scanner with a 120/220 module, if not you can save a bit of money by getting one without this - mine cost £80 more than the next model down just for this bit of plastic.

Also worth noting that it *totally* depends on the camera sensor and processor, no two cameras are the same - furthermore everyone's opinion on what is "acceptable" noise differs too. My old DSLR (a Sony a500) has, in my opinion, acceptable levels of noise up to about ISO 1600, but is terrible at ISO 3200. However, my friend's DSLR sucks at ISO 800 and above. Take some sample shots in low light, preferably with a range of colours and luminosity in the scene, at different ISO settings and see what *you* think on *your* camera.

I've got a Kia Ceed, and the driving position, no matter what I do, makes my bad back a heck of a lot worse. My wife doesn't drive, so long journeys are a real bind, and can ruin holidays for me. I have three torn vertebrae in my lower back. I've tried all sorts of positions, seat back raised, lowered, seat itself up high, down low, seat forward and seat back. I notice a difference with each position but each one seems to get me in a different way - for example, having the seat higher, in a sit-up-and-beg position, is better on the pain in my back, but quickly sets on sciatic pain down my thighs due to the way the seat puts pressure on my legs when up high. Setting it back down low eases that, but I soon get the the pain in my lower back again. A rolled up towel often gets put to work but it's not comfortable and it doesn't help all that much. I don't get this in other cars, so there really is something about this damned seat that causes me some real grief. Unfortunately, I am stuck with this car - it's depreciated in value too much since I bought it to consider selling it (I hate the damn thing it rattles from every part possible, and Kia warranty isn't worth the paper it's written on). My question is, are there other bad back sufferers out there who have found a solution to an awkward car seat? Wedge cushions? Particular seat set-ups? Any advice would be appreciated!

I perhaps should have done! It will be myself, the other half and the bin lids, so car parking sounds like the cheaper option. Thanks for all the helpful replies folks!

That's very helpful, thank you Graham. Very comprehensive answer! Sounds like driving and paying for parking is the most economical, not to mention the most convenient. Thanks again for the quick, helpful reply!

I get frustrated when looking to book a holiday that I have to state my departure airport quite specifically. So my question is this - which is the easiest / cheapest airport to get to from Sheffield? And am I better driving and paying for parking, or taking public transport? Thanks!

I really enjoy a lot of hip hop, but have a rather limited collection. I get on well with hip hop with a catchy sample or tune behind it. A great example is (if the intro bores you skip to 30 seconds to see what I mean). I quite like RUN-DMC, The Roots too, espcially Things Fall Apart, that sorta thing. Stuff that is generally upbeat, with a heavy funk influence. I'm *really* not into "gangster" rap, as it just doesn't appeal to me. Aggression in music should be expressed with things like noise rock, not misogynistic, bigoted claptrap (sorry to any gangster rap fans, just my view on it) So, with that rambling and ambiguous descritpion of my hip hop tastes, any suggestions for what to browser for in the record shop? Oh and one last thing, anything that's not strictly hip hop, but along those lines, like Fun Lovin' Criminals, that would be ace too. Cheers!

Doesn't require bravery that recipe, it doesnt look taxing or outlandish in taste / spice, and it does indeed sound delicious! Only problem is - where the heck can you buy tapioca leaves?

I jointed it, skinned the breasts, and slathered american mustard all over all the pieces. I wrapped the skinless, mustard slathered breasts in streaky bacon, then salt and peppered everything. Finally I dumped a generous dollop of honey all over everything to give it a good glaze. Set the kettle up two-zone style and put the meat on the other side from the coals for 40 minutes before finishing them on the hot side to crisp up. Once the chicken was done and resting, I blasted two racks of baby back ribs that I had already cooked sous-vide so they just wanted saucing and hot-grilling. All this cooked over apple wood smoke. Beautiful stuff, probably second only to hickory for its effect on chicken. Crusty bread and caesar salad on the side. ---------- Post added 13-06-2014 at 07:47 ---------- PS, If anyone out there is going "ewwww, mustard! I hate mustard!"..... It took my US barbecue nut friends a long time to convince me to try using mustard in this way. I hated the stuff, couldn't even smell it. But seriously, slather some on your chicken (the American stuff) and you will be blown away. You don't taste mustard, you just taste TASTY.

Have a good looking free range chicken for dinner tonight, and wondering what to do with it. I'd rather not roast it, because my oven is rather uneven throughout, so ideally something that involves jointing the chicken. I have a hot smoker so any recipes that might benefit from woodsmoke and give me an excuse to fire it up would be good I have a plethora of herbs, spices and condiments to use so no boundaries really. Any suggestions?

Any car is great until it goes wrong :S Don't get me wrong, in so many ways I love my car. It's really spacious for the kids in the back (though they complain that the ride is too firm, which I tend to agree on), but the annoyances are, well, downright annoying, and moreover the customer service I've experienced has been pretty poor.

I thought I'd update this thread, a little over a year after having bought one. We bought a 59 plate Kia Ceed 1.6 CRDI (the 89 bhp model). It is very economical (around 58mpg) if you drive ridiculously slow (55 mph) on motorways, does about 40 mpg round town if you are doing long journeys with no traffic, but in traffic for short journeys it drops to about 35. But - the RATTLES, oh my GOD! After a few months, the dashboard started rattling - almost a farting like noise, from where the passenger side pillar meets the dash. It stops - sometimes, just about - if you radge a piece of card in there - not the look I want for my otherwise tasteful interior (we got the GS version, it's got a nice looking trim). Took it to Kia in Barnsley where I bought it, they said it was a loose clip that they'd replaced, and gave it me back. A few months later, the rattle returned. And then some. More rattles started happening, all over the trim. I could see that where they had put the dash back, the silencer strip is mis-shapen where it meets the windscreen. Then the rear view mirror started to rattle. SO ANNOYING. If you hold it while you drive, it shuts up. As soon as you let go, it starts again. The tweeters *occasionally* start to rattle, and there is nothing you can do to stop them. I take it back to Kia in Sheffield, who tell me that the trim warranty has run out anyway! Apparently that only lasts three years, and the car was at this point about 3 years 2 months. What goodwill they showed! To make matters worse, recently the screw fell out of my key. I have no idea where or when, as the first I knew of this was when the fob started to fall apart. I went back to Kia Sheffield and was told that they could not provide me with a replacement screw, and that all they could do was order me a new fob and reprogram it - for TWO HUNDRED POUNDS. This makes a mockery of their warranty and after sales service. I would warn anyone against buying a Kia on the basis of their supposedly good after sales service and 7 year warranty.

I could be wrong, but I believe it is illegal to carry out non-essential roadworks at night in a residential area. Just like it would be illegal for me to start using noisy power tools at that time of night unless I had a major household emergency!

Heh, no, I'm wanting to make a timeslice camera, to make "frozen in time" motion film like in the Matrix etc (aka "bullet time")

Ronseal - what it says on the tin. ie, "I need an engineer to help me make pinholes!"

Ronseal - I'm trying to make a special kind of pinhole camera, for which I need a long, thin strip of metal with a series of identically sized, perfectly round pin-sized holes equally spaced along its length. I know it's a bit of a long shot, but i thought as this *is* the city of steel and packed full of savvy engineers and surely enough factories that somewhere will have the kit and kaboodle to do this, that it might be worth an ask! If anyone could advise me, or help me, please post here or drop me a pm. Thanks!

Probably too late now, but head to Harrison Cameras. They at the very least sell instant film, and are best placed to advise you on making a purchase in a sadly declining market (instant prints are so much more fun than peering at a pixellated screen!)

Whole pork shoulder, smoked over cherry / hickory for 20 hours, shredded and served with vinegar sauce and home made slaw

I've been trying to ring Kitchen on Eccy Rd (next to Food and Fine Wine) all week to book for tonight, but noone has been answering. Does anyone know if it is still open? I hope so, that place is awesome!

I'm thinking of buying a KIa Cee'd (1.6 diesel), perhaps a 09 / 10 model, and wondered if anyone has one and has any comments, good or bad, about them? For reference, we are a family of four, so any comments about comfort / boot size etc welcome!

Thanks for the advice! It is certainly something I have to try. I have the enlarger, just not the drum.