This is probably the last post for the Voigtlander month, and you get two for one: two Brillants. I always want to write brilliant, but it is Brillant. Apparently, Brillant was for the German market, but there are some cameras embossed with Brilliant for the UK market. I have never seen one, but I found this photo online.

I have previously written about the two featured cameras, so I will link to the original posts later.

The first camera is a Brillant from the 1930s that I got out of a junk box for free. I reread my first post, so I knew to use the counter numbers and not the red window paper numbers. I loaded it with a roll of HP5 and took it on a trip to Blackpool. I stopped along the way at Sutton Manor as I wanted to see the ‘Dream‘ sculpture. There was a park run on at the time, so I made sure to stay out of the way of the runners. As for the dream, I loved it and the woodland. I have never heard so many birds in one area. I will go back another day to spend more time there.

The last photo shows one of six sculptures based on the former motto of St Helens and Sutton Manor, which was ex terra lucem – ‘from the earth comes light‘. The poem on this statue is:

There is wisdom in our bones,
In our aching backs and blistered feet.
We blink the dust from our eyes
Every time we awake
And because we remember, we remain.

You can read more about the history of these and the other poems at this website. I recommend reading it as the sculptures are a memorial to miners and were designed by a local school in collaboration with a local artist.

I then headed on my way to see a friend in Blackpool, where I finished the film with some street art and furniture images.

The second Brillant used for this month was the focusing S version. I had given this camera away to a friend, but it was intercepted by another. He kept it for a year, and by the time I got it back, the original friend had bought a 6×6 camera and didn’t need it anymore. I was really glad, as I had forgotten how much I liked using it. I have even sourced some filters to fill the side compartment. I am sure I will use it again in the near future to make use of these.

I loaded the S with a roll of FP4 on a beautiful day and went for a walk in my local area. Here are some of the results.

I was quite surprised to stumble across the burnt-out car, as it is nowhere near a road. It must have taken some effort to get it there. I think it will stay there a while, as it will be difficult to recover.

Brillants are great little cameras and can be found quite cheaply, apart from the focusing version, though. Personally, I think they are a step above a box camera for not much more money. They are history in your hands and are quite reliable…or they are for me.

I do have one more Voigty with a film inside, but I am not sure I will have a chance to use and develop it before the month is up. You never know, though, I have been using film quite prolifically the past two weeks.