I think today’s image (another one of Jenna in High Park) is the first I’ve posted that was created using a Lensbaby Spark lens. I guess one could call this a piece of neo-primitive technology: the lens has only 2 elements, one fixed aperture, and to focus one pulls the front of the lens back with your fingers, like a built in bellows. What is fun is that by changing the angle of the bellows you can put the focus point anywhere you like.
I am seriously liking the combination of the 105mm/f2.5 Nikkor portrait lens, and Polypan F film (developed in Tmax developer 1:9 for 8.5 minutes at 20 degrees). It seems made for subjects such as the lovely Jenna (taken yesterday in High Park in Toronto)
Today’s image is from my 6-3-1 project. I had a shoot yesterday with rapper/Hip Hop artist Saint Vybz.He’s busy recording an album, which is being produced by my friend Stevie Z. I used my Mamiya Universal Press camera, 127mm f4.7 lens with red 25A filter, on Fuji FP3000B instant film. This is a scan of the negative. I thought the grit suited the mood we were going for.
Today’s photo is an image of my elder daughter Julia, beside a window in our house that seems to guarantee great light all the time :-). I had a roll of Ilford HP5+ kicking around so I loaded it into my Baby Speed Graphic, using a 6×7 120 roll film adapter from a Mamiya RB67 which just happens to fit 🙂 I’ve never had great luck with that film in 35mm (always too grainy), but in 120 I’m blown away!
I’ve been meaning to take some images of this old building in Toronto for some time, so when I was out with my Baby Speed Graphic last weekend I made a stop. I just love the Kodak Ektar lens on this camera!
(Baby Speed Graphic with 120 roll film holder, 101mm Kodak Ektar lens, Tri-X developed in Xtol 1:1 for 9 minutes)
Today’s image was taken about a week ago; I was at Downsview subway station, waiting to meet someone from whom I was buying some film (and got a great deal on 20 rolls of some medium format Fuji colour negative film!). With me I had my “Baby” Speed Graphic (originally designed to shoot 2 1/4″ x 3 1/4″ sheet film, I was shooting 6 x 7 cm images on 120 roll film, via a film holder from an Mamiya RB 67). It has a 101mm Kodak Ektar lens, which I just love!
Another shot from my extended photo walk last Saturday. The man was selling something (some kind of spirituality perhaps), and actually had gotten someone to stop and listen.
(Nikon F, 105mm f2.5 lens, Tri-X developed in Xtol 1:1)
Every year at around this time, people flock to High Park in Toronto to see the blooming of the Cherry blossoms. Delicate and lovely, they only last a few days at most. I thought it would be a nice setting for a portrait session with Nina Mason, a teacher and actress with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working with in a few Alexander Showcase Theatre productions. In contrast to the newness of the blossoms, I used some decidedly old technology: a 1950’s era Rolleicord III twin lens reflex camera, loaded with Fuji Reala colour negative film. I like shooting this camera with the Xenar lens fairly open, as I like the way the background and corners blur.
There is no new, there is no old; only timeless.
Another image from my extended photo walk this past weekend. The camera (Nikon F, late 60’s/early 70’s) was old. The lens (24mm Nikkor wide-angle, mid-late 60’s) was old. The film was some Kodak Max ISO 400, a number of years past its expiration date. (We won’t even mention the photographer!). The building is old. Put all this oldness together, and I like the result. 🙂
On King Street, east of Dufferin is the remnant of a rail line, likely a spur to service a factory. All that is left now is what you see below. To me, it seemed like a pair of killer whales, frozen in time.
(Nikon F2, 105mm f2.5 Nikkor lens Tri-x film, developed in xTol 1:1 for 9 minutes)
My Third Eye 