It was grey, dismal and rather soggy in High Park yesterday. All the jewel-like ice on the tree branches left by the ice storm in Toronto was all more or less melted. Everywhere you looked broken branches and other debris were scattered as reminders of the recent weather, and the fact that by some estimates Toronto has lost 20% of its canopy.
Canon 7 35mm Rangefinder, Voigtlander 21mm/f4 lens, Fomapan 100 film, developed in D-23 1:1 for 15 minutes
I have many “mystery” rolls of film, where I have no clue what is on the roll. I was finishing just such a roll today in High Park. When I developed it, I found some images from the VOX social media conference in Hamilton this past summer. I like this image as there is only one person in front of the camera, but a whole collection of friends (and me) represented by long late day shadows.
(Canon 7 35mm Rangefinder, 21mm/f4 Voigtlander lens, Fomapan 100 film developed in D-23 1:1)
Another image from the roll shot using the Pentax 200mm/f4 lens, this time of chess players in front of Metropolitan Church in downtown Toronto. There is always an interesting collection of characters in this location!
(Pentax Spotmatic, 200mm/f4 Super Takumar lens, HP5 film at box speed, developed in D-23 1:1 15 minutes)
I finally got around to developing a roll I shot earlier this year: Ilford HP5 film, using a Pentax Spotmatic and a Pentax Super Takumar 200mm/f4 lens. Hard to beat the balance and feel of the Pentax lenses! Some street photography purists poo-poo using telephoto lenses for street work, calling it cheating, but I was there and this was the lens on the camera . . .
Pentax Spotmatic, 200mm/4 Super Takumar lens, HP5 film at box speed developed for 15 minute in D-23 1:1)
Today’s image is from a roll I was using to test both a camera, and a film/developer combo. I was testing my newly acquired Olympus Pen F (replacing a faulty/not really repairable Pen FT). The Pen F is a 35mm half-frame SLR of the 1960’s and is truly a cult classic.
The second test involved pairing Eastman Double-X 5222 film with Diafine film developer to increase the speed to around EI 400.
I am happy to say that both tests were successful. 🙂
This image was created the day after the first significant snowfall of the season here in Toronto. The snow turned so many otherwise mundane objects into interesting collections of lines and patterns.
Nikon F2, 24mm/2.8 Nikkor lens, Tri-X developed in D-23 1:1 for 13 minutes
I am working from home today, nursing a bad back (injured while putting on winter boots, how Canadian is that?), and so was here for the delivery of my ANR (Anti-Newtonion Ring) glass inserts for my scanner. These inserts are designed to flatten curled negatives, without creating Newton’s Rings reflections. I’ve been really unhappy with my scans of certain kinds of films recently (mainly Tri-X), and these inserts have solved the problem, plain and simple: I rescanned a roll from last weekend and what a difference! 🙂
Pentax ME, 24mm/2.8 SMC Pentax Lens, Tri-X at EI 400, developed in D-23 1:1 for 13 minutes
Today’s image was created near the base of the Don River in Toronto. It is a rather desolate part of town in my opinion, but there are still interesting shapes and lines.
Nikon F2, 24mm/2.8 Nikkor lens, Rollei 80s film, developed in D-23 1:1 for 13 minutes
In the image today I used something old, but new to me; I developed the film using a rather old developer formula known as D-23 which I mixed up from scratch using chemicals bought on line. D-23 is a very simple (two ingredient) developer to mix up, and tends to soften contrast, which is useful for films like Rollei 80s which tends to be contrasty.
Nikon F2, 24mm/f2.8 Nikkor lens (non-AI), Rollei 80s, developed in D-23 1;1
I am writing this blog post from the backstage dressing room of The Crucible, as we await the start of our last performance, so I thought another backstage portrait would be an appropriate subject. This is Annie, at fifteen the youngest member of our cast. She is a remarkable, talented young actor who combines wisdom beyond her years with the spirit and enthusiasm of a child; as such she is perfect for the role of Betty Parris.
(Nikon F2, 50mm/f1.4 Nikkor lens, Tri-X film at E.I. 800, developed in Diafine 3+3)
My Third Eye 