For this image of mature trees in High Park, I used my Canon P rangefinder from the early 1960’s, my Canon Serenar 50mm/1.8 lens from 1951, and developed the Tri-X film I used in Pyrocat-HD, a developer based on a 100+ year old formulation. For something as ageless as a forest it seemed appropriate. 🙂
One of my favourite lenses is my early 1960’s Russian-built Helios 44/2 58mm lens, with an obscure lens mount: a 39mm thread mount, not meant for Leica for a specific model of Zenit SLR’s. The lens is amazing, but I’ve had horrible luck with the bodies in terms of longevity. I found a lens mount adapter from China on eBay for six bucks that I originally got mount the lens on my Pen F half-frame, but I realized I could use on on Canon EOS mount cameras as well. At “The Big One” film camera sale last weekend I was able to pick up a Canon Rebel G body in perfect shape for $15, and this lens has a new home :-). The image below was taken the same day I got the camera body
Shot on Rollei RPX film, developed in Rodinal 1+50
I love late afternoon light, and it can often give a great look inside the bus I take home from work. This image was taken with the iPhone Hipstamatic app, then cropped a bit.
This image was taken last weekend in a graveyard in southeastern Toronto. I took it with my Rolleiflex using Tmax 40o film, and then because of the extreme contrast of the lighting spent some time playing around with the negative scan, and the result I like the best has an old look to it.
Today another portrait of a film photography friend 🙂 It was a lovely day at High Park yesterday when Chrissie Wu and I met up for a photoshoot. I was once again using my 4×5 Speed Graphic and vintage Petzval lens, but the film was Fomapan 100, which I have never shot in 4×5 before. Developed in Xtol 1+1 for 7.5 minutes @ 20 C, I am quite happy with the tonality of the result.
Most portraits are vertically oriented (hence the term “portrait orientation”). But it is fun to mix things up now and then. Here is another image of my photographer friend Suzanne. To show as much of the Helios 44/2 lens’s optical character (namely the swirl with the lens wide open) I felt the portrait needed to be horizontal.
Zenit 3M 35mm SLR with Helios 44/2 58mm/2 lens
Ilford FP4+ developed in Xtol 1+1 for 9 minutes @ 20 C
Diffusion and toning added in post
Recently I went to Kitchener for a shoot with my friend Suzanne Leakey. Suzanne is a talented photographer in her own right, as well as a jewellery maker. It was fun to talk shop as the shoot progressed! This image was taken with the 4×5 Speed Graphic and antique Petzval lens, on HP5+ film.
Another image from my recent shoot with Connie Crosby, this one taken with my Pen F Half frame, 50mm/1.4 Pentax M lens (via adapter) shot on Rollei Retro 80S. A Go-To portrait combo!
It’s been a while since I’ve done a slide show video and I am long overdue in featuring my collaborator and friend Jennifer Santos Bettencourt. We have worked together many times over the last few years and I am always amazed at what she brings to each shoot. I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with her!
Last Saturday both the Gardiner Expressway and Lakeshore Blvd. were studies in gridlock. At the same time, the main hall of Union Station was rather quiet. The irony was not lost on me.
Voigtlander Bessa R Rangefinder, 15mm/4.5 Super-Heliar lens
Tri-X developed in Xtol 1+1 for 9 minutes @ 20 C
My Third Eye 