The Neptune Fountain and Main Town Hall / Długi Targ / 5 July 2009

These black and white photographs were made in and around the city of Gdansk in Poland, between the 3rd and the 10th of July 2009, using a home made pinhole camera (DIM f.225), the short focal length of which accounts for the wide-angle look of the images.

By employing a large, double-lined changing bag, it was possible for me to safely load and unload the wooden camera with 7"x5" sheets of Ilford Multigrade photographic paper, wherever I happened to be.

Most of the resulting exposures were developed over two evenings during that week, in the flat where I was staying, and thanks to the generosity of my hosts, I was able to temporarily convert their bathroom into an effective darkroom. The negatives I developed then were later digitally scanned and carefully retouched using Photoshop Elements.

The positive image of the Neptune Fountain in Długi Targ (below), which is preceded by its original photo paper negative, shows the results of its having been flipped and inverted but not retouched. The numerous finger marks, specks of dust and small scratches, reveal the unavoidable consequences of my having chosen to work in this way.

Original negative image

Unrestored positive image

Gdansk and its environs

From a fourth floor balcony / Zwiecka, Gdansk

Photo by Sean Halligan

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Wały Jagielloṇskie

Photo by Sean Halligan

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Sobieszewo beach

Sobieszewo beach

Sobieszewo beach

Sobieszewo beach

Waterline driftwood / Sobieszewo beach

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Heavy traffic / Błędnik

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The Golden Gate

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The Green Gate from the Green Bridge

Photo by Sean Halligan

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The Neptune Fountain / Długi Targ

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A café in Piwna Street

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Piwna Street and the tower of St Mary's Basilica

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Stonework, The Main Town Hall and Artus Court / Długi Targ

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The Golden Gate from Przedbramie

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Love Chapel and Theatre / Targ Węglowy

Photo by Sean Halligan

The Great Armoury and Love Chapel / Targ Węglowy

Photo by Sean Halligan

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Hans Düringer's astronomical clock / St Mary's Basilica

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Archaeological site / Krowia Street

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Długi Pobrzeże and Wyspa Spichrzów (right) by the Motlawa

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Breakdancers / Długi Targ

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A view from a bridge / Błędnik

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Gdańsk Shipyard Zone

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Psalm inscription / Solidarity Square

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Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers / Solidarity Square

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Gdańsk Shipyard Zone

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Abandoned anchor / Gdańsk Shipyard Zone

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Sand sculptures / Przymorze beach

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A girl who wanted her photograph taken / Dluga Street

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Young Polish people visiting Gdańsk / Dluga Street

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Dluga Street, Old Town

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Woman with an umbrella and budgerigars / Dluga Street

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The Green Gate and Długi Pobrzeże