Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 2h

Rural power line, southwest #Scotland.

#photography #bw #bwphotography #monochrome #geometric #disorienting #Rodchenko #perspective #upward #fineartphotography #grayscale

Upward-looking view of power pole, with a crossbar supporting three wires via insulators.

(c) 2017 Sean F. Johnston

2 10

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 1d

I used one for years - a wonderful camera. However, it has various mechanical interlocks which can prevent the shutter triggering, or prevent removal of the lens. The best information available on every detail of operation was collected by Graham Patterson dotinthelandscape.org/mfaq/mfaq/mf...

Mamiya TLR System Summary - Chapter 1 - Graham's Photography

Mamiya TLR System Summary - Models

dotinthelandscape.org

1 2

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 1d

Victorian gravestone iconography, St Mary's Greyfriars church, Dumfries, home to some of the largest memorials in the region.

#photography #history #taphophile #southern #Scotland #church #cemetery #ouroboros #angel #tombstone #burial #graveyard #gravestone

Young man lying in a Roman-style bed, with a woman kneeling before him and an angel standing at the side, both of them gazing at him: attending death.

Interwoven hexagram (typically a Masonic symbol), with square cross in centre and surrounded by a snake biting its own tail (an ouroboros), which represents eternal life / rebirth.

Two cherub-angels holding an ornate scroll, with a hand in its centre pointing two fingers upwards: this gesture depicted by artists since at least the mediaeval period has represented Jesus and the Trinity, and is commonly associated with blessings by Catholic clergy.

Gravestone with angel positioned at the top, holding wide a scroll: BLESSED ARE THE DEAD THAT DIE IN THE LORD

1 10

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 1d

#photography #film #mediumformat #bwphotography #filmphotography #fineartphotography #contrast #monochrome #bw #reflection #chrome #engine #motorbike #motorcycle #southwest #scotland

Detail of a chromed motorcycle engine.
(c) 2011 Sean F. Johnston

1 22

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 2d

#photography #bw #bwphotography #film #35mm #grain #barbedwire #monochrome #fineartphotography #farm #agriculture #composition #rural #sheep #closeup

Three rows of barbed wire, attached to fasteners allowing tightening.

(c) 2008 Sean F. Johnston

16

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 3d

Close.

#photography #bwphotography #Scotland #Dumfries #urban #passageway #bw #monochrome #artphotography #filmphotography #filmphoto #35mm

A pedestrian-sized passageway between buildings and often leading to a wider open area, known in Scotland as a 'close'.

9

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 4d

Birkhall barns.

#photography #bwphotography #bw #monochrome #filmphotography #film #mediumformat #rural #farm #southwest #Scotland

View of four connected farm buildings built of concrete breeze blocks and painted white.

1 15

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 6d

Marine Building, Vancouver dirigible: 1980 and 2012.

#photography #filmphotography #bwphotography #bw #monochrome #stone #film #processing #artdeco #1930s #relief #sculpture #architecture #1930s #BC #Canada #modernity #transportation

Window stonework with a relief carving of a dirigible in front of skyscrapers and streaming sunlight.
(c) 1980 Sean F. Johnston

Dirigible carving on another stone on the same wall of the Marine Building. Reversed direction.
(c) 2012 Sean F. Johnston

1 16

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 7d

#Edinburgh #Scotland #streetphotography #photography #film #mediumformat #Mamiya #Calton #classicphotography #filmphotography #toned #monochrome #bw #bwphotography

Edinburgh street passing under Calton Bridge. Pedestrians and cars visible, with the city buildings beyond.
(c) Sean F. Johnston 2010

31

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 8d

#bwphotography #classicphotography #filmphotography #photography #shadow #sunlight #resolution #mediumformat #exposure #Mamiya #fineartphotography #artphotography #chair #texture #fabric #bw #monochrome

Close-up view of rocking chair with sunlight streaming from the side, illuminating and shadowing the seat and back.

19

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 9d

Farm machine detail.

#photography #film #35mm #filmphotography #developing #classicphotography #rural #agriculture #machinery #tools #plowing #farming #southwest #Scotland

Three cutting fingers of a plowing machine in the foreground, with a blurry field and trees in the background.
(c) 2009 Sean F. Johnston

21

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 10d

Geese landing, southwest Scotland, 2017

#photography #film #mediumformat #monochrome #bwphotography #filmphotography #migration #migrating #geese #wind #turbines #Southwest #Scotland

View of dozens of geese in a large flock landing in a grassy field, with wind turbines in the background.

1 15

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 11d

30x4

#photography #film #mediumformat #classicphotography #filmphotography #bwphotography #bw #monochrome #water #reflection #rural #acuity #greyscale

Winding rural road, with large puddles of water on either side reflecting two 30mph signs.

1 21

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 12d

#photography #filmphotography #classicphotography #film #monochrome #bw #tree #ivy #branches #contrast #artphotography

Ivy branches growing up a large tree.
(c) 202 Sean F. Johnston

13

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 14d

Self-portrait with clover, 2009.

#photography #film #mediumformat #bw #monochrome #bwphotography #shadow #selfie #heiligenschein #tlr #twinlensreflex #grass #clover

Shadow of man, hand and camera on grass, which has clover flowers randomly growing from it.

5

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 15d

#photography #film #mediumformat #bw #bwphotography #monochrome #texture #wood #shadow

Two-man crosscut saw, dating from about 1920, leaning against the wood wall of a garage.
(c) 2009 Sean F. Johnston

1 1 14

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 16d

Bridge arch and farm wall, 2019.

#photography #bw #bwphotography #artphotography #bridge #water #stone #wall #shapes #shades #greyscale #optical #illusion #interface #boundary #oblong #square #triangle #Fuji

Arch of bridge reflected in river water, creating an oval-shaped ring framing the water.
(c) 2019 Sean F. Johnston

End-on view of a stone barn with a weighing scale in front. The wall is white-washed about to about 2 m, and thereafter is faded - emulating the look of the bridge arch in the adjacent picture.
(c) 2019 Sean F. Johnston

6

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 18d

Graveyard gate, southern Scotland.

#photography #mediumformat #film #bwphotography #ironwork #iron #ornementation #gate #silhouette #churchyard #cemetery

Vertical bars of iron, some with curled tops, ball-shaped tops or crescent shaped tops, against a leaden sky, and gravestones near the bottom.
(c) 2019 Sean F. Johnston

2 9

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 18d

Thanks!

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 19d

Glass wall, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2009.

#photography #film #monochrome #bw #bwphotography #artphotography #abstract #artdeco #1930s #pattern #glass

Nine blocks of a larger glass wall, showing blurry reflected patterns of the street.
(c) 2009 Sean F. Johnston

1 10

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 20d

Water tower, Rantoul, Illinois, 2008.

#photography #bwphotography #bw #film #mediumformat #monochrome #greyscale #architecture #viewpoint #Rodchenko

Upward-facing view of a water tower, showing the structure of one of the legs and the round water-filled dome on top.
(c) 2008 Sean F. Johnston

11

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 22d

Vielen Dank / thanks very much

1

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 22d

Memorial to 'The Second Great War 1939-1945', Keir Mill, southwest Scotland.

#war #memorial #Scotland #photography #commemoration #history #local #rural

Commemorative stone added at base of First World War memorial, reading 'AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SECOND GREAT WAR 1939-1945
SGT AIR GNR. ROBERT MILLAR, R.A.F.
F.O. WILLIAM YOUNG R.A.F.
DRIVER DONALD CARROLL, R.A.S.C.

Memorial cross in village of Keir Mill, Scotland, reading 'TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF KEIR PARISH WHO GAVE UP THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919'

2 12

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 22d

Local hero: #gravestone of Kirkpatrick Macmillan (1813-1878) and family, reputed inventor of the pedal #bicycle. #Keir Mill, #Dumfries & #Galloway, #Scotland. One of the more hidden-away #cemeteries in the region, but a pleasant find on a sunny early-autumn day.

#invention #technology #history

Gravestone of the MacMillan family, with final line reading 'Inventor of the Bicycle'.
(c) 2025 Sean F. Johnston

Commemorative plaque beside the gravestone, describing Kirkpatrick Macmillan as a blacksmithe who invented the first pedal bicycle.
(c) 2025 Sean F. Johnston

2 4

Sean Johnston @seanfjohnston.bsky.social · 22d

Bellfield farm outbuilding, southwest #Scotland.

#photography #monochrome #bwphotography #film #mediumformat #contrast #rural #farm #clear #sunshine #yellowfilter #agriculture

Monochrome image of side of a farm outbuilding, with a large harvest storage vat alongside. The building is sandstone painted white, with a single window in the apex.

(c) 2017 Sean F. Johnston

1 3 23