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)

Last call! A tribute to the Memminger Brewery (1886-2024)

If I were ever asked to organize a Beers and Cameras event I would probably have chosen the brewery of the historic city of Memmingen, Bavaria, to host the event. This Privatbrauerei (Private brewery as opposed to a Ltd.) can trace its roots back to 1886 when brewer Josef Herz bought the brewery and gaststätte zum Schwarzer Ochsen in Memmingen and expanded it. 

A glass of Memminger Lager Schwarz. Canon EOS 90D with a Meyer-Optik Görlitz Oreston 50mm f/1.8 at f/1.8.

In 1911 Herz owned the third largest brewery in Memmingen (out of 21) and fused his brewery with the breweries of zum Schwarzen Adler and Weisses Ross to create the Bürgerliches Brauhaus. In 1920 the two biggest breweries in Memmingen joined forming the Bürger- und Engelbräu brewery. This was shortened to B & E and this remained the brand name until 1998. From 1998 onwards this became Memminger. In the 2000s I was introduced to the brand and although all their beers were good I quickly developed a taste for their excellent Memminger Lager Schwarz dark beer. In fact, their Memminger Lager Schwarz is still my benchmark when sampling dunkelbiere from other German breweries. 

The brewery struggled heavily in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, having trouble to regain their former market share and went into bankruptcy in the summer of 2023. In January of 2024, the brewery and grounds on the Dr.-Karl-Lenz-Strasse 68 were sold, ending 138 years of beer brewing by the company.

Having learned of the bankruptcy in September 2023 I shot the following as a tribute to the Memminger Brauerei.

All photos shot with my Canon EOS 1000N fitted with a Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 on Agfaphoto APX 100 film.

Fellow photographer Pedro Stubert lamenting the loss of the brewery.

All photos shot with my Canon EOS 90D fitted with a Meyer-Optik Görlitz Oreston 50mm f/1.8.