I was chatting with a few female friends about how many events and competitions were aimed at students, young students. Even groups seemed to be attended by a younger crowd. And there is nothing wrong with that, but where were the events for middle-aged women? So we decided to make our own group called “Hot Flash And Focus”. I made a logo, started an Instagram account and thought about the first event. After a few male friends also said some things they were interested in had an upper age limit that wasn’t even close to their age, too. We all had a general chat or lament about how many of us had only started being more ‘creative’ after we hit our 40s or more.

Anyway, International Women’s Day was just around the corner, and I thought that would be a perfect date to host something. I looked online for anything that might be appropriate to combine with a walk, and ‘Being Woman’ in Norwich was opening on the same day. So that was it, HFAFocus would start in Norwich.

I intended to drive down, 3.5 hours, do the walk, then drive back. Then I thought better of it and looked for a cheap hotel, luckily I found one for around £50. So I got to wander the Sainsbury Centre before checking in. It was stunning, look through the website and check out the photos. I took a few with a Pentax ME and a gifted film. Unfortunately or fortunately, my friend muddled up her films, and the one she gave me had previously been exposed. The resultant photos were accidentally double and even triple-exposed. The film was a Psych Blues one with pre-exposed sections. I found some of the results stunning.

The last shot was double exposed by me, switching the film from another camera and forgetting to move past the one exposed shot.

After that, I headed to the hotel next to The Plantation Garden and the Cathedral of St. John, the less well-known of the two in Norwich. I wandered both locations and added them to the walk the next day.

We met in a coffee shop, a small group of us, which is just how I like it. I was recently interviewed by the Photowalk.me podcast, in which I explained about preferring smaller groups. I also talked about some of my favourite photographers, like Ralph Eugene Meatyard. I mistakenly said that he committed suicide, but he died of cancer. I want to put the record straight here. Anyway, back to the walk. The first person who turned up seemed nervous. It was her first photowalk, and being an all-female one put her at ease. Next was my friend, who in turn, put me at ease. There were two other people, one of whom hadn’t signed up via the website, but that was fine.

As it was the first HFAFocus event, I decided to give away a few things. Each participant got something.

I gave away two of the cameras I was recently given and had repaired, some experimental film and a book of places to photograph in East Anglia. I found the latter in a little library, so that didn’t cost me anything. I thought it was a fantastic book and own the North Wales version. This won’t happen at every event though 🙂

After this, we set off for the gallery, which was just about to open, with free wine for us all.

During the event, I used the Rolleicord I had previously sold to a friend. Unfortunately, her house suffers from damp, which has affected the camera, especially the outside. I borrowed it for this walk with the intention of giving it a good clean beforehand. The first two photos below show the damage, and the others show it after cleaning.

I loaded it with a roll of Fuji Acros II and used it while wandering in Norwich.

Here are the results.

I didn’t take any shots inside the galleries, as it was just a 100ASA film. One of the participants made an Instagram reel which shows some of the exhibits. Of course, I love the shout-out at the end.

The walk was lovely, and we ended up visiting a few other galleries that were open on the same day. The other participants lived close to Norwich and helped with directions, but I introduced them to the other cathedral and garden. Sometimes it takes a stranger to a city to find new places to visit.

All in all, a great walk and a lovely weekend away.

The next walk is already scheduled for the Ilkley Bluebell Woods. Though I don’t think there will be many, if any, participants, as it is a little out of the way for most people. I am fine with that 🙂