Frugal Film Project 2024 - wrapping up the project

Wrapping up the project 

It is now Sunday afternoon, January 5th, 2025. It is two degrees C outside, raining and the snow that fell last night is slowly disappearing. A good time to reflect on the Frugal Film Project. Wait, I hear you thinking. Wrapping up the project? The last episode we saw was September 2024. Where are the final months of 2024? As it turned out, the September session of the Frugal Film Project was the last I would shoot in 2024 due to other commitments. 

For me the big plus of this project has been to just get out and shoot even when I wouldn't otherwise. I didn't always manage that but looking back I feel that I have shot some nice images and that was fun when out and about with my Canon. The camera I used was a very affordable Canon EOS 1000N but don't let the low price fool you, this is a fine camera and it does the job perfectly. The film I used was Agfaphoto APX 100/36. A fine film, just not always as full with contrast as, say, Fomapan. It worked well for the project and I think I've gotten some good results with it. I also got to know the Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 lens quite well along the way. What I found was that the extra reach (24-85mm instead of 28-80mm) was nice to have. However I feel that it was holding me back sometimes too. The 24-85 is a good lens, don't get me wrong, but I have other good lenses too and it was sometimes frustrating not being able to use them because they fell outside of the budget rules set by the project.

My favorites

As I said I've had a lot of fun shooting images for the project. These are my favorite photos of each month:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

The future

Moving forward I see myself using the EOS 1000N a lot in 2025 and beyond, just like the APX film. I don't think I will be using the 24-85 as much as I did this year. So what does this mean for the project in 2025? I've been thinking a lot about that lately. I could always switch to another camera/lens setup. However, that would still restrict me to one lens and as I stated earlier it is frustrating to shoot a certain image with a given lens knowing that you have a more fitting lens in your collection that would capture the image better. I have therefore decided to take a break from the project in 2025.

Frugal Film Project 2024 - September

The September edition of the Frugal Film Project saw me go abroad. I took my trusty Canon EOS 1000N plus the 24-85mm to the small town of Unterzeil near Leutkirch im Allgäu, Germany. Close to the town of Unterzeil lies Schloss Zeil, the subject of today's outing. 

Schloss Zeil is the home of the descendants of the Fürsten von Waldburg-Zeil and was built in 1599-1614 by Froben von Waldburg-Zeil. In recent history (1945) the Schloss shortly housed the Vichy-French government in exile after it was driven from France.

This last image was shot at the Mindelburg, 49 km to the northeast.

As usual, the film is Agfaphoto APX 100 which was developed at home with Adonal.

Frugal Film Project 2024 - August

My August shots for the Frugal Film Project were taken at the annual photography fair in Doesburg. More than 100 dealers and sellers offer all kinds of cameras, lenses and related gear. A true heaven for gearheads like me :-)

It is always great to browse through all that is on offer. This time I found nothing to add to my collection but I had a fun day out nonetheless.

As usual, all photos were shot with my Canon EOS 1000N fitted with a 24-85mm lens and loaded with a roll of Agfaphoto APX 100. I've developed the roll at home using Adonal developer and scanned the negatives with an Epson V850.

Frugal Film Project 2024 - July

For the July episode of the Frugal Film Project I went to my 'local' airport to catch some of the action there. I made a small change to my setup, the lens I would use today was another frugal lens, an EF 70-210mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens that cost me € 20. The camera remained the same, my Canon EOS 1000N. Reviewing the photos I found that most are quite the same so I opted to show you just two.

Choice number one is a former Royal flight Dakota, C-47A PH-PBA. The 'PB' in the registration points to HRH Prince Bernhard, an accomplished pilot. This Dakota was delivered to the US Army Air Force with serial number 42-100971. After World War Two it was transferred to the Netherlands for government use. It was later transferred to a museum, restored and is now in use with DDA Classic Airlines with the markings it had when flown by the prince.

Choice number two is an Army Air Corps (AAC) Wildcat AH.1 helicopter with serial number ZZ384. The Wildcat is the current troop transport helicopter of the AAC, replacing the similar Lynx helicopter. In this shot, the overall vignetting of the 70-210mm lens is quite visible.

Frugal Film Project 2024 - June

The June edition of the Frugal Film Project takes place in my back yard - sort of. For those new to the project, the aim is to show that you don't need fancy photo gear to get great photos so in order to participate you select a camera-lens combo under $ 75, some cheap, well, make that less expensive film and shoot a roll every month for a year. I've opted for a Canon EOS 1000N with a 24-85mm lens and Agfaphoto APX 100/36. I also develop the film at home using Adonal developer.

This month I went walkabout on an early misty Monday morning, just as the sun was rising. Enjoy!

Frugal Film Project 2024 - May

The Frugal Film Project - you know, that project where you use a film camera and lens that cost you less than $ 75 and shoot a roll of affordable film each month just to show that you don't need expensive stuff to get great photo's - sadly hasn't seen enough attention on this blog in the last months. We last visited the project in April, so let's turn our attention to May.

Now May was a bit of a busy month for me with no photographs taken for the project so I'm switching to a second roll I shot in April. This saw me taking photos at the Muiderslot or Muiden Castle in Muiden, the Netherlands. Built in 1280 by Count Floris V at the mouth of the river Vecht its primary goal was to facilitate the collecting of toll from traders using the trade route along the river. It was destroyed in 1297 after being conquered by the Archbishop of Utrecht, Willem van Mechelen. It was rebuilt around 100 years later on the orders of Albecht I, Duke of Bavaria and Count of Holland and Zeeland.

The Muiderslot is perhaps most famous as the summer home of P.C. Hooft (1581-1647). Hooft, being the sheriff and bailiff of het Gooiland for 39 years (hence his use of the castle) was a well known writer, poet and historian who established the Muiderkring or Muider society which had members like Vondel, Huygens, Bredero, Barlaeus and father and daughter Visscher.

After the time of Hooft the castle was used as barracks for the French army occupying the Netherlands. It was later used as a prison and ammunition depot. After that, the castle fell into disuse and disrepair. So much so that in 1825 it was for sale with the purpose of it being demolished. King Willem I interfered and the building was saved. It took another 70 years before reconstruction began. These days the castle is a national museum.

I brought my Canon EOS 1000N fitted with a 24-85mm lens and loaded a roll of Agfaphoto APX 100. As usual, I've developed the roll at home using Adonal developer and scanned the negatives with an Epson V850.

Frugal Film Project 2024 - April

For this chapter of the Frugal Film Project I've travelled across the border. The Frugal Film Project - you know, that project where you use a film camera and lens that cost you less than $ 75 and shoot a roll of affordable film each month just to show that you don't need expensive stuff to get great photo's - has seen a rise in participants in the last few months, the community is now 556 photographers strong. It is really fun to participate and to see the photo's other participants have taken.

Il-14P of the Polish Air Force, built in Dresden

April saw me taking photo's at the Flugausstellung Peter Junior located at the Haberberg 1 in Hermeskeil, Germany. This aviation museum, established in 1973, has a collection of more than 100 aircraft and is well worth a visit. I brought my Canon EOS 1000N fitted with a 25-85mm lens and loaded a roll of Agfaphoto APX 100. As usual, I've developed the roll at home using Adonal developer and scanned the negatives with an Epson V850.

Former Aeroflot Mi-6A

Former Interflug Tu-134AK

An ex Fleet Air Arm Sea Hawk FGA.4

Ex French Air Force Super Mystere

A former USAF F-105F

An ex Luftwaffe Pembroke C.54

A MiG-21US trainer version

A former East German AF An-26

The F-104 Starfighter, a rocket with wings

Another shot of the Il-14

Frugal Film Project 2024 - February

I found myself in the Bavarian city of Memmingen in the last week of February, a perfect opportunity to shoot some film for the Frugal Film Project. For those new to the project, the aim is to show that you don't need fancy photo gear to get great photos so in order to participate you select a camera-lens combo under $ 75, some cheap, well, make that less expensive film and shoot a roll every month for a year. I've opted for a Canon EOS 1000N with a 24-85mm lens and Agfaphoto APX 100/36. I also develop the film at home using Adonal developer.

The Memminger City Hall dates from the 1500s

The city

Memmingen can trace its roots to Roman times and has been a Free Imperial City (Reichsstadt) since 1286. It remained so until the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in 1803-1806 and the city was annexed by Bavaria in 1803. The Memminger old town (Altstadt) has been beautifully preserved and is a joy to behold.

The images

Below you'll find a small impression of Memmingen. Enjoy!

House Zum Widder was the seat of the Stubert family in the 1600s-1700s

Fellow photographer Pedro Stubert at the Memminger Train Station

The Old Cemetery

The tower of the Kreuzherren monestary

Storks nesting at Zum Storchennest

A memorial to the Franco-German war of 1870-1871

Detail of a facade

The Seven-roof house (Siebendächerhaus)