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'I used beer and vitamin C to reveal forgotten family photos' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Photographer Wayne Large believes the photos were taken in the 1970s | Photographer Wayne Large believes the photos were taken in the 1970s |
When photographer Wayne Large bought his dream camera at auction, he found a roll of expired film inside. | When photographer Wayne Large bought his dream camera at auction, he found a roll of expired film inside. |
On it were photos of two men taken decades ago. | On it were photos of two men taken decades ago. |
After an unusual developing process involving beer and vitamin C powder, Wayne has now reunited the forgotten photos with the family of the two men. | After an unusual developing process involving beer and vitamin C powder, Wayne has now reunited the forgotten photos with the family of the two men. |
The camera is a vintage Rolleiflex, an "iconic" design that Wayne says "every photographer wants". | The camera is a vintage Rolleiflex, an "iconic" design that Wayne says "every photographer wants". |
The former regimental photographer with the Army bought it from Churchgate Auctions in Leicester. | The former regimental photographer with the Army bought it from Churchgate Auctions in Leicester. |
Inside the camera, Wayne found film that he believes could be 50 years old. | |
He says that particular type was "only available between the mid-60s and the early-70s". | He says that particular type was "only available between the mid-60s and the early-70s". |
It was so old that the process for developing the film is now obsolete, and Wayne needed to get creative with some unusual ingredients. | It was so old that the process for developing the film is now obsolete, and Wayne needed to get creative with some unusual ingredients. |
Developing film with beer is also known as the Beerenol or Beernol process. | |
The acidity of the beer, combined with the added ingredients, creates a solution that can reveal the latent image on the film. | |
Wayne is a documentary photographer from Leicester who focuses on UK subcultures | Wayne is a documentary photographer from Leicester who focuses on UK subcultures |
After researching online, Wayne found that "there was one developer that you could mix up yourself with coffee, and then there was a really great recipe out of beer". | After researching online, Wayne found that "there was one developer that you could mix up yourself with coffee, and then there was a really great recipe out of beer". |
He mixed lager with washing soda and iodised salt before adding vitamin C powder last to avoid a foam explosion. | He mixed lager with washing soda and iodised salt before adding vitamin C powder last to avoid a foam explosion. |
Wayne then needed to wait for 20 minutes while the developing process happened in his home lab. | Wayne then needed to wait for 20 minutes while the developing process happened in his home lab. |
"I didn't expect anything, and then out came two photos of two gentlemen, and I was just amazed," he said. | |
"That film had sat in that camera from the 70s and never been touched." | "That film had sat in that camera from the 70s and never been touched." |
Curious to find out more, Wayne shared the photos on social media. He also contacted the auctioneers, who emailed the seller. | Curious to find out more, Wayne shared the photos on social media. He also contacted the auctioneers, who emailed the seller. |
Within an hour, Wayne says he received a phone call from the daughter of one of the men in the photos. | Within an hour, Wayne says he received a phone call from the daughter of one of the men in the photos. |
Shusheel's daughter believes this photo of him may have been taken on a business trip, possibly somewhere in Africa | Shusheel's daughter believes this photo of him may have been taken on a business trip, possibly somewhere in Africa |
The caller's name was Nisha, and she had immediately recognised her father Shusheel, who has since died. The other man was her uncle Anil. | The caller's name was Nisha, and she had immediately recognised her father Shusheel, who has since died. The other man was her uncle Anil. |
The pair often travelled abroad for business and may have taken the photos on one of these trips. | The pair often travelled abroad for business and may have taken the photos on one of these trips. |
She told Wayne that the camera had belonged to her great-uncle and that she remembers playing with it as a child. | She told Wayne that the camera had belonged to her great-uncle and that she remembers playing with it as a child. |
"How amazing that you managed to develop the film," Nisha said. "I'm so happy it's gone to a new home where it will be looked after." | "How amazing that you managed to develop the film," Nisha said. "I'm so happy it's gone to a new home where it will be looked after." |
For Wayne, sharing the photos with the family was "very emotional". | For Wayne, sharing the photos with the family was "very emotional". |
"I'm the first person to have seen those images," said Wayne. | "I'm the first person to have seen those images," said Wayne. |
"Even the people that took them never saw them. | "Even the people that took them never saw them. |
"It's a great responsibility with that to get them back to the family." | "It's a great responsibility with that to get them back to the family." |
Nisha's uncle, Anil, now lives in London | Nisha's uncle, Anil, now lives in London |
Wayne is part of the steering group at Leicester's Social Gallery, a community interest company that shares untold stories in an attempt to keep social history alive. | Wayne is part of the steering group at Leicester's Social Gallery, a community interest company that shares untold stories in an attempt to keep social history alive. |
Its director, Joe Nixon, now hopes that more people will send in forgotten film. | Its director, Joe Nixon, now hopes that more people will send in forgotten film. |
"If they've got any old, long-lost cameras hidden away in the attic that might have some old films in them, send them in to us," said Joe. | "If they've got any old, long-lost cameras hidden away in the attic that might have some old films in them, send them in to us," said Joe. |
"We'd love to get Wayne or the rest of the team to develop them and see what can be discovered. | "We'd love to get Wayne or the rest of the team to develop them and see what can be discovered. |
"It's a forgotten memory, it's a time capsule, and it's something that needs to be logged and captured and chronicled for future generations to learn from." | "It's a forgotten memory, it's a time capsule, and it's something that needs to be logged and captured and chronicled for future generations to learn from." |
Rolleiflex cameras like Wayne's have two lenses and a viewfinder on top. Rather than holding the camera up to their eye, photographers look down to check their shot. | Rolleiflex cameras like Wayne's have two lenses and a viewfinder on top. Rather than holding the camera up to their eye, photographers look down to check their shot. |
Joe and Wayne now hope that Social Gallery can then turn these forgotten photos into an exhibition, a film or a festival. | Joe and Wayne now hope that Social Gallery can then turn these forgotten photos into an exhibition, a film or a festival. |
"There's something incredibly poignant about finding a film that's never been seen before, and then we're the first ones to see them, and then getting the family to identify them," said Wayne. | "There's something incredibly poignant about finding a film that's never been seen before, and then we're the first ones to see them, and then getting the family to identify them," said Wayne. |
Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. | Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. |
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