Here is some background information to this site, www.ian-partridge.com.
You may be searching for information about preservation and viewing of cine film, or wish to have old family cine films transfered into a viewable digital format like DVD. I have assembled this site to be informative about the necessity for film preservation, and also about the transfer and digital video copying of cine films.
I am empassioned by film, especially old British films which are now sadly neglected and unseen. I believe that film is a window to our past that resonates still. I believe the photographic medium, over the last one hundred and fifty years, has shaped the present as we perceive it, and live it, day to day.
The first films I projected were 'Cathy Come Home' and the Polish animated cartoon, 'Pozor' ('Attention') when pressed into operating the empty projection box by an audience of 800 striking students. From then on I have projected many hundreds of fiilms.
It
was antique watch and clock repairing to the trade for no money over
years until eyesiight changed and I stuck with clocks. Suplemented
income with photography and articles about the clocks I restored but
did not own.
Always used Weston lightmeters since an Art
student and independent film maker in the 70's. Used to repair film and
editing equipment too. Ran the film society so I got to handle classic
film prints and more appreciate the art of cinematography which I was
able to complete a local documentary and Arts Council film with my old
tutor at Art School. This is how I dropped my Euro-master
onto concrete when transporting an Arriflex on my bicycle rack. Easy to
repair as I was doing watch work at the time and of course the cell was
good as the meter was thirty-five years younger than they all are today.
I
was selling antique clocks on the internet and in those early days when
digital cameras were beyond my means I was photographing with medium
format Ektachrome transparencies that I scanned. This way my
photography was outstanding at the time. I used to include an
animated gif of each clock pendulum swinging on the web pages that was
not replicated by anyone over the years I was selling. I first sold a
Weston Euromaster in 2001 and got £100 which was so encouraging I
invested in new cells from Megatron in Tottenham and restored a number
of meters in anticipation. I sold only six meters over the next nine
years. However by 2010, the frequency had increased and I soon tried to
order more cells. Of course, Megatron had just ceased trading and
making new cells.
The demand for my restored meters has
picked up very gradualy. Lately, I have had no time for clock repairs
because of demand for restored meters and meter repairs. Also the
website is realy growing in interest. It needs to, because I cannot
think of a time when I have had to earn so much just to live, at an age
when some people retire. I must be paying back for my indolent past!
Ian Partridge,
July, 2009 (March, 2012)
www.Ian-Partridge.Com ~ Web page content photography and design ~ Copyright ©2009 2012 Ian Partridge.