Kendal, Cumbria, Winter
Winter has arrived rather abruptly.
Winter has arrived rather abruptly.
After a week of near- and sub-zero temperatures, the weekend arrived and the snow fell. In Kendal, conditions didn’t seem too bad so we decided to hop int’ car and head into the Lake District proper for some lovely snowy mountain photography.
At Ambleside, we quickly decided we should turn back.
The further we drove into the Lake District, the heavier the snow was. We decided the sensible thing was to turn back and return home. Ultimately, this turned out to be the correct decision. The central and southern Lake District area was buried in snow. 5,000 people have been left without power, and cars have been dumped where they stand, with people seeking temporary shelter.
Today we woke up to a snow covered Kendal. So, we donned our winter gear and some sturdy boots to have a waltz around town whilst we got some errands done.
All photos taken on my Sony α7ii using my Pentax SMC 28mm F3.5 and Pentax SMC 55mm f2.0 prime lenses. RAWs developed in Lightroom using RNI Films’ Kodachrome film profiles. Finalised in Photoshop.
Kendal, Cumbria, Winter by Ian Cylkowski is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
My Lisabet, immediately digs in and cleans up for the good of the neighbourhood.
Virgin snow in the courtyard.
Looking back down the cobbled yard to our place. An almost timeless scene.
Families were out in full, making snowmen, throwing snowballs, and sledding on hills.
Abbott Hall, its grounds covered in snow. I love the symmetry of this composition.
The sky attempted to brighten up, but to no avail.
Pleasing shapes and lines created by fresh snow on a winding garden fence.
The picturesque Nether Bridge. I love how timeless this scene is.
Heading back home via Kirkland, the old part of Kendal town. The main road’s been cleared, but I’m sure lots of the minor country roads are still suffering.
Did you enjoy these photos?
Cunswick Scar, Lake District, Summer
After a wet week, it was nice to get up on the fells above Kendal.
After a wet week, it was nice to get up on the fells above Kendal.
On the Sunday, Lisabet had a series of obligations to attend to, so I took the opportunity for a solo hike. As Kendal sits in a valley (Kent + Dale, that is, “the valley of the river Kent”), it is flanked east and west by small fells. On the western side of the valley the ground gently rises up before terminating in a series of limestone cliffs plunging down to the Lyth Valley. The main fell here is Scout Scar, a local favourite, but a smaller sibling can be found further north: Cunswick Scar.
On this occasion my route to the summit was a fairly standard one: head up through the winding paths and roads through Kendal to the Helsfell Nab path. Follow the path all the way up and around Helsfell Nab, cross the bridge over the A591, and continue on the gently rising trail all the way to the summit cairn of Cunswick Scar.
A beautiful summer’s day.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105mm f2.8–f3.8 lens. RAWs converted in Capture One for iPad, developed in RNI Films, finished in Affinity Photo for iPad.
Cunswick Scar, Lake District, Summer by Ian Cylkowski is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
A glorious day in Kendal, full of promise.
Up on Queen’s Road. The views over Kendal here are already beautiful.
On the Helsfell Nab path you round an allotment above Windermere Road. Gardening here must be lovely with views like this.
I can never resist these two compositions when walking the Helsfell Nab path.
It all just lines up in such a pleasing way.
Even the local sheep like to pause from grazing to enjoy the views every now and then.
At these disused barns the path rounds Helsfell Nab and climbs sharply up. You’re then above the A591, where you cross the bridge over the road to continue on towards Cunswick Scar.
The route is clear all the way up to the summit. Sheep peacefully graze and wander the fell.
The summit cairn and the crackin’ views all the way towards the Kentmere fells.
A zoomed in composition shows off the Kentmere fells with light and shadow dancing across their features.
Directly west from the summit, the rolling Lyth Valley is capped by the distance Lake District fells.
Time to navigate off Cunswick Scar’s shoulder. Like Scout Scar, the fell is primarily composed of limestone, so different flora flourishes on the fell compared to the Kendal valley.
The views heading back east ain’t too bad either. Nearest, to the right, is Benson Knott, and in the distance are the beautiful Howgills.
Oh! A winding drystone wall? Time for a photo then.
For the returning route, I chose the path over Kendal Fell Golf Course. Across the field is the back of Helsfell Nab.
A herd of cows rest in the afternoon sun.
Not a bad place for a golf course, eh?
Back down Beast Banks into town.
Did you like these photos?
Scout Scar, Lake District, Summer
My poor Lisabet is still fighting COVID-19.
My poor Lisabet is still fighting COVID-19.
So, after being a dutiful boyfriend and sorting out brews/shopping/whatnot, I took the opportunity for a solid hike up to Scout Scar.
The weather is really starting to pick up in the UK now. Whilst we haven’t seen temperatures that the likes of France are currently experiencing (pushing 42°C), parts of the southeast England and London have been hitting 30°C.
Up here in Cumbria, temperatures have been hanging around the low 20s, but with a pleasant breeze. This made the hike up to and around Scout Scar all the more glorious.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105mm ƒ/2.8–3.8 zoom lens and Laowa 9mm ƒ/2.8 prime lens. Images made 90% in-camera using the Velvia film simulation, finished off in Affinity Photo.
Up Beast Banks we go. I can never resist looking back down the road and admiring the views.
Everywhere is looking so lush and impossibly pretty.
The path below Brigsteer Road winds it way to Underbarrow estate.
Crossing over the A591.
Past Bradleyfield Farm and heading up the back of Scout Scar, I spot some Swaledales chilling in the adjacent fields.
As I climb up the views looking back open up and you can start to make out the Howgills and their rolling forms.
And onto Scout Scar edge! Crackin’ light all around and still loads of wildflowers along the scar.
In the distance you can see all the way across the Kent Estuary towards Arnside Knott.
All the way across the Lyth Valley to the Kentmere and Kirkstone fells.
One of the Lyth Valley’s little villages gets illuminated by the sun as it breaks through the clouds. The Lake District fells rise above.
A lone white cottage in the Lyth Valley, with the unmistakeable shape of the Langdale Pikes above.
Approaching Hunter’s Leap and the sheer drop down to the valley floor.
Time to equip the 9mm ultra-wide lens for some near-far compositions.
Getting as close as I dared to the edge so I can nab some striking shots along the limestone edge near Hunter’s Leap.
Wonderful shelves of limestone near Hunter’s Leap. Just don’t look down.
At Hunter’s Leap flowers galore decorate the limestone karst landscape.
Looking all the way back along the edge of Scout Scar towards the Kent Estuary.
This is the nick on Scout Scar known as Hunter’s Leap.
Daisies populate Scout Scar edge near the Mushroom. In the distance are the Kentmere fells.
This part of Scout Scar marks the point where I move away from the edge and back over the hump of the fell towards Kendal.
The Coniston fells catch the scanning rays of the sun like the Lyth Valley below.
Another precipitous drop that I edged closer to for this composition.
One last look along Scout Scar edge all the way to the Eastern Lake District fells before I venture down the back of the fell again.
Sheep happily chilling in the fields near Bradleyfield Farm.
Did you like these photos?
Hawes Bridge, Kendal, Cumbria, Summer
COVID-19 is in da house.
COVID-19 is in da house.
2 years and 3 months after the initial UK-wide Lockdown announcement, my poor Lisabet has contracted the virus.
She’s being quarantined in the bedroom, door shut, windows open, and donning a mask whenever I need to go in to deliver brews or food.
She’s coping well but the coughing does not sound nice.
As I’m transitioning between jobs at the moment, I actually have a bit of free time before I start at my new position. Thankfully this means I’m able to be useful in the house and help look after her.
Today, Lisabet insisted I make use of this week’s mini-heatwave and head out for a nice waltz in nature. So I did. A good 7-mile circular jaunt from Kendal town centre to a local favourite and back, Hawes Bridge.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105mm ƒ/2.8–ƒ/3.8 and a Laowa 9mm ƒ/2.8 prime. Images made 90% in-camera using Øyvind Nordhagen’s OWH Daylight Fujifilm recipe, gently finished off in Affinity Photo.
A grey heron (Ardea cinerea) standing in the middle of the River Kent, waiting for lunch. I love when they adopt this more “hunched” stance; sort of makes them look like a grumpy old man in the rain.
Looking back at the heavily overgrown path I was following all the way to Scroggs Wood.
Beyond Scroggs Wood the trail heads through the open fields alongside the River Kent. It’s at this point that pollen from all the grass really starts to wreak havoc with my sinuses.
Like a beautiful bonsai tree, but bigger.
The clear way to the falls at Hawes Bridge.
Above Hawes Bridge falls lots of teeny falls trickle into the river from the fields above.
The gorge around Hawes Bridge is proper lush with flowers and vegetation. And insects. And pollen.
Hawes Bridge falls, looking a lot tamer and smaller with the lack of rain in recent months.
Thousands of years of erosion because of this waterfall have carved overhangs above the river. Be careful near the edge.
Bumble bees happily lapping up the pollen on all the flowers in the gorge. My sinuses and eyeballs were not has happy with all the pollen.
The gorge is lush and verdant, framed nicely underneath Hawes Bridge.
On goes the ultra-wide lens to really feature some of the shapes in the limestone carved by the waterfall.
Through the bridge I zoomed in deeper into the gorge, looking almost jungle-esque.
I hopped on top of Hawes Bridge for some compositions looking down into the deep dark gorge.
The other side of the gorge towards the falls. You can see how the waterfall has carved shelves and ledges.
Spider webs? No. These are probably from ermine moth caterpillars, created as a form of protection. Creepy-looking, eh?
Back out of the gorge, I elected to follow the footpath along the A591 all the way back into Kendal. I knew this route would be windier and keep the bugs away. And help cool me down.
This beautiful cottage at Prizet sits just alongside the A591.
As I near Kendal, this scene reminds me that—in Cumbria—you’re never far away from the countryside.
The ruins of Kendal Castle sitting above Lound Road.
Did you like these photos?
Paddy’s Lane, Cumbria, Summer
2022 has got more twists and turns than a goat’s intestines.
2022 has got more twists and turns than a goat’s intestines.
This isn’t the place to rant. Suffice it to say, it’s been a super frustrating year. Thankfully, I have had a small nugget of personal positive news, which I’ll clutch tightly to my chest and use as a shield for whatever 2022 has next for me.
As it’s summer in Cumbria that means it’s sunny as well as rainy. Over the weekend I had some time to enjoy a local hike from Kendal up to Paddy’s Lane via Old Sedbergh Road. The clouds and conditions were pretty epic on the way up; unfortunately I got caught out on the way down and got pretty soaked.
Managed to keep the new lens dry, though. And thankfully, the Fujifilm X-T2 is weather sealed.
All photos taken on my Fujifilm X-T2 using a Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105 mm f/2.8–3.8 lens. Developed in Lightroom, finished off in Affinity Photo.
Now that the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are over, Kendal Town Hall has re-erected the Ukrainian flag above the town.
These houses along Thorny Hill always put me in mind of Harrogate.
Underneath the railway line and onwards to Old Sedbergh Road.
With all the intermittent periods of rain + sun + rain + sun, I imagine this fella’s got his work cut out on his allotment.
Heading up Old Sedbergh Road, I spy three alpacas happily grazing in the fields.
Looking back at the route I took, the light still good. This wouldn’t last long. Look at those clouds above Kendal Fell…
As I climb the Lake District fells reveal themselves. It’s all looking a bit brooding and foreboding.
A final blast of sun before the storm clouds really close in.
The distant fells start to get hazy as the approaching rain saturates them.
Hoo boy, that’s the direction I’m heading in, too. Looks like I’m gunna get drenched…
Other people had timed it well and were already on their back down into the town.
I took the opportunity to nab some proper stormy images before the rain blew across the Kendal valley towards my position.
The dog walkers ahead quickly donned their hoodies as the gentle pitter-patter of rain started to fall.
As the rain got heavier I took shelter underneath a thick pair of trees and decided to wait things out. Whilst I did, I snagged this composition of the road onwards.
Eventually I made it back to town and the rain let up for long enough that I could snap a pic of this magnificent and ancient building.
Did you like these photos?
Testing the Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105 mm f/2.8–3.8 lens on a Fujifilm X-T2
To start, I need to make a few disclaimers.
To start, I need to make a few disclaimers.
Firstly, this isn’t a technical review, involving test cards, colour charts, and other rigorous methods of optical testing. I don’t know how to do any of that, and I’m sure plenty on the internet have already done so.
Secondly, these images are unapologetically edited/stylised.
Rather, this post describes more of my experience using the lens, what it enables me to do, what I have to adjust to use it, and what I’ve had to learn.
Does that make sense? Good.
Finding the Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105 mm f/2.8–3.8
Heading up one of the steepest roads in Kendal, Beast Banks, a beautiful and almost timeless scene emerges that I can rarely ignore.
Regular readers of my blog may have noticed in my previous post that I alluded to having acquired a new lens after a good hike up and down Scout Scar. I spotted the lens in the shop window of Oxfam. A Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105 mm f/2.8–3.8 Macro, for Pentax K mount.
This immediately piqued my curiosity. A “walk about” travel lens with a handy zoom capability had been at the back of mind for a while. Until recently, my lens set up involved three prime lenses: a Fujinon 23 mm f/2.0, a Laowa 9 mm f/2.8 ultra-wide, and an adapted Pentax SMC 55 mm f/2.0.
The 23 mm has served me well. It’s a good standard lens, but in my opinion and experience a little too wide for my tastes. I’ve been feeling that somewhere between a 28 or a 35 would be a good standard wide for me. The nice thing about the 23 mm though is that it’s weather sealed, giving me more confidence when out and about in the somewhat unpredictable weather of Britain.
Smaller scenes that had previously eluded me, such as this simple composition at Greenside, are now possible thanks to the maximum focal length of 105 mm.
The Laowa 9 mm ultra-wide is definitely more niche. It’s not a lens I’ll use all the time, especially in open vistas, because at 9 mm (13.5 mm equivalent on full-frame) you capture so much of a scene that it starts to become meaningless. Where the 9 mm has proved useful is in near-far compositions and scenes where everything is very close to you. The 9 mm has an ability to push everything away from you that is nearly incomparable.
The Pentax 55 mm is definitely useful, especially for situations where the subject or scene that I want to shoot is a good distance ahead of me. At a full-frame equivalent of 82–83 mm, that’s a good bit of zoom and scene compression. This lens is a Pentax K mount, but happily there are many adaptors available on the market that will allow you to attach retro/vintage lenses onto modern mirrorless cameras, such as my Fujifilm X-T2.
This brings me onto the Vivitar discovery.
At close to 105 mm, I’m able to compress elements of a composition, bringing the distance closer. Until now compositions like this, shot from the limestone kiln towards the top of Greenside, were not possible for me.
A 28–105 mm focal length would be very handy, a full-frame equivalent of 42–157.5 mm. It’s fairly fast too, opening up to f/2.8 at 28 mm to f/3.8 at 105 mm. It also features a macro focal feature, allowing a tighter minimal focal distance than many other lenses.
I entered the Oxfam shop and asked to inspect the lens. Its condition was practically flawless. No visible markings, clean elements, beautifully damped zoom and focal grip, and a nice clicky aperture ring.
Additionally, the lens came complete with its original packaging, sturdy leather carrying case, and a manual. Seemingly missed by the staff at Oxfam, attached to the lens was also a Hoya Skylight filter.
As we had just come down from Scout Scar, I already had my camera gear with me, which included the Pentax 55 mm f/2.0 with its Fujifilm adaptor. I asked to try out the lens on my camera body. A satisfying clunk and click later, the Vivitar seated beautifully onto my Fujifilm adaptor and mounted onto my camera perfectly.
And all for £30.
I had to have it.
Testing and getting used to the Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105 mm f/2.8–3.8
Macro photography has never really been my thing, but the advertised capabilities of this Vivitar lens made me curious. As I headed up Kendal Fell through the golf course I tried my hand at snapping some Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris). Not bad at all.
With the advent of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and the additional two days public holiday, an opportunity arose for me to get out and about on a beautiful summer’s day and really see what I could achieve with this lens.
I almost immediately found myself using the full 105 mm focal length a lot. Compositions that had previously alluded me were now totally possible at this focal length.
A focal length of somewhere around 28–35 mm. Looking at these images in detail, I’ve noticed that the lens provides sharp images, excellent contrast and tonal rendition, and nice colour.
I had to learn how to use the zoom and focus ring too. This Vivitar lens utilises a “one-touch” zoom and focus mechanism. My previous experience of zoom lenses were nearly all autofocusing, so I only had to think zooming by turning the zoom ring.
But this lens is built differently. It’s a manual focus, or at least it is mounted to by Fujifilm. So the mechanism of use was totally alien to me. You zoom in by pushing the zoom ring away from you, and zoom out by pulling back in. You then focus by turning the same ring. Push, pull, and turn. Definitely something I needed to get used to.
More macro opportunities present themselves to me by zooming in to 105 mm.
Thankfully, many mirrorless camera systems utilise focus peaking, making focusing on manual lenses a doddle.
The zoom and focus ring on the lens is beautifully dampened. A good bit of effort is needed to zoom the lens in and out, and the focus turns cleanly. Happily, this also largely stops the lens slowly zooming in or out when you’re pointing steeply down or up.
Adapting my shooting style
From the top of Kendal Fell, I’m really able to bring in the distant Lake District fells into the composition, even resolving the individual peaks and fells.
Something else I noticed with my early test shots was that I was getting a fair bit of camera shake.
Ah.
This is something I’m not used to.
Zooming into 105 mm means I really must pay attention to my shutter speed and make sure it’s fast enough to reduce the chances of shutter speed. With this lens, I’m now altering my aperture and ISO more to ensure my shutter speed is fast enough. I’m also utilising the Fujifilm’s Continuous Low shooting mode, enabling me to shoot 3–4 images quickly to try and minimise any camera shake from pressing the shutter button.
Such is life with a 6-year old camera with no image stabilisation.
The weight of the lens is an additional factor I’m getting used to. My three prime lenses are all quite short and light. The Fujinon 23 mm is about 180 g, the Laowa 9 mm is about 215 g, and the Pentax 55 mm is about 221 g.
The Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105 mm weighs about 620 g, three times heavier than most of my primes.
As you can tell, I was having lots of fun zooming into 105 mm and picking out individual scenes available from the expansive panorama from the top of Kendal Fell. Here, the Kentmere valley and its fells are clearly defined.
This adds extra strain and camera shake at the longer end of the lens that I need to compensate with a fast enough shutter speed. Thankfully, the dynamic range of Fujifilm X-T2 is excellent, and I can push the camera to ISO 1600 with little decrease in image quality.
The history of the lens
Vivitar is a manufacturer, distributor, and marketer of photographic and optical equipment, originally from California, USA. They were founded in 1938 as Ponder & Best, but introduced the “Vivitar” branding in the early 1960s.
By the 1970s Vivitar introduced their “Series 1” lens range, partnering with experienced lens manufacturers to produce optically excellent lenses at lower prices than their competitors. The range were also computer-designed.
The Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105 mm f/2.8–3.8 VMC Macro zoom lens was made for Vivitar by Cosina, and marketed from 1985 onwards.
Extra sample images
From the top of Kendal Golf Course, views are extensive. On this beautiful day, it was enough to see Benson Knott and the Howgills beyond.
Using the landscaping features of the golf course as leading lines towards the distant Kentmere fells.
Cunswick Scar and the distant Lake District fells.
Not a bad place for a rest on a bench.
Heading back down into Kendal.
Zooming in on some purple rock cress, utilising the Vivitar’s macro-focussing capabilities.
Conclusion
I love it. Can’t you tell?
The focal range is so useful, the lens is sturdy in construction, optically sharp and produces some gorgeous images. It’s resulted in rethinking how I shoot, but it’s always good to adjust and evolve your shooting style and knowledge.
Hopefully, this baby will be with me for a long time.