Leading pylons to old building at Orford Ness

I have visited Orford Ness several times and have written about it in this journal, both here and here. To recap, Orford Ness stretches around nine miles along Suffolk's eastern coastline and is a captivating blend of shingle and marshland. At first glance, this tranquil landscape may seem serene, but it holds a hidden past. From 1916 onwards, this secretive corner of the coast served as a military testing ground, where covert experiments in aerial combat tactics and airborne bombs were conducted. The work done here undeniably shaped the course of the Second World War, with advances in bomb ballistics, homing beacons, and radar all stemming from these clandestine trials.

Amidst the remnants of military activity, Orford Ness harbors a wealth of flora and fauna. As you step onto this enigmatic land, you'll be captivated by the diverse ecosystems and the mysteries that lie hidden within.

It is a landscape that can feel like another world, and it often feels quite eerie. On my most recent visit, I decided to take a different approach and shoot with Lomochrome Purple film. So what is Lomochrome Purple?

Lomochrome Purple is a color negative film from Lomography, that, in many respects, mimics infrared film by rendering green and blues as purple and red, giving images a unique, sometimes dreamlike look that is similar to the effect.

However, Lomochrome Purple does not require a special filter to be used, unlike infrared film, and it can be developed in standard C41 colour negative chemistry, making it much easier to use and work with.

This was only my second time shooting Lomochrome Purple, and I can totally appreciate that many will either love or hate the effect it gives. Whilst it’s not a stock that I’d look to use all of the time, I can’t help but bet taken in by the effect that it’s given to this unusual landscape.

On the same day, I also shot a number of frames on Kodak Tri-X using my 500cm. These will follow in a later journal, so stay tuned!