Category: Analog Film

If At First You Don’t Succeed

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This past Saturday I was with my Photographic friends Mike and Donna, shooting infrared film In Kleinburg, Ontario. I was shooting Efke 820 Aura infrared film, but the it turned out the filter (an IR 920) was blocking the wrong light, and when I developed the film that evening, I was horrified to see basically a blank roll :-(. All I have from Saturday is mosquito bites.

Not wanting to admit defeat, I went out on Sunday with a different filter (this time an IR 72) and a different infrared film to Guild Park in Scarborough, and had somewhat better luck 🙂

Guild Park Infrared 3

 

(Nikon F3, 28mm/2.8 Nikkor lens, Rollei Retro 80s film, IR72 filter, 1 second exposure @ f16,
developed in HC-110 Dilution H for 10 minutes @ 20 C)

Conflicted

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Today’s image is of disused railway tracks in the lower Don Valley here in Toronto. Disused tracks means more transport traffic on our roads (and more pollution), but if not properly regulated, railway accidents can have tragic consequences, as we were so graphically reminded in the last few days. hard not to feel conflicted.

Rails 2

 

(Mamiya Universal Press Camera, 127mm/f4.7 lens, 120/220 6x9cm roll film back,
expired Portra 160 film in 220 format)

Smiling From the Sidelines

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Here is another image from the belly dancing in Kensington Market recently. This image is of a dancer Audra of the Dark Side Studio) waiting in wings for her groups turn to perform. I was struck by how the various groups enjoyed each others performances, in a supportive atmosphere.

Dancers on the sidelines

(Canon 7 35mm Rangefinder, Leica 90mm/f4 Elmar lens, Tri-X developed in Microdol-X)

More Than Looking Pretty

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I’ve mentioned on more that one occasion how I like working with actors, musicians and other performers, as well as models who understand that it’s not just about “looking pretty”. Young model Julia MacKenzie (who has also had some acting experience) gets it. During a sequence a photos we came up with a story/scenario, and Julia was immediately able to immerse herself in it. More than just looking pretty.

Left Alone

 

(Nikon F, 85mm/f1.8 Nkkor lens, Ilford Delta 400 developed in Microdol-X 1:1,
negative scanned and post-processed with Nik Efex)

Swirl

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Today’s image is from a recent shoot with my friend Marla at Guild Park in Scarborough. I used my Canon 7 35mm rangefinder, with my Leitz (Leica) Summitar 50mm/f 2 lens. This lens is known for its swirly bokeh when shot wide open. Not everyone like the effect, but I do 🙂

Swirly

Communication

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Much is said about communication in Social Media circles, specifically in the context of audience. When I use old film gear, like I did for this image of Rebecca below, I feel in a way that I am also communicating with photographers who have gone before me; holding an old film camera, I feel a connection to the history of photography that I just don’t feel with a digital camera, almost a ghost in the machine kind of thing.

Scan-130625-0036

 

Canon 7 Rangefinder camera, 50mm/f2 Summitar len, Ilford Pan F film)

The Landscape of Life

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Last week I made the following statement on Twitter:

“The human face is the landscape of life, and is infinitely more incredible than any geography on Earth”

I think this image I took of model Jennifer Santos Bettencourt last evening serves as a good illustration of what I was saying. What sets Jennifer apart from so many other models is the depth and subtle intensity of the facial expressions she creates. truly a landscape of life.

Jennifer at U of T

 

(Rolleicord IIIa Twin lens Reflex, 75mm/f3.5 Xenar lens, Tri-X developed in Xtol 1:1 for  minutes)

Old Married Couple

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With the ubiquity of cell phones, we are seeing fewer and fewer pay phones; they are increasingly seen as obsolete, and the ones that are still around tend to be in pretty rough shape. These two outside the Bathurst subway station seem different; they are both in decent condition, and seem determined to maintain dignity and a sense of purpose. In a sense, they remind me of an old married couple: not flashy, but dedicated and devoted.

Old Married Couple(Canon 7 35mm rangefinder, 50mm/f2 Jupiter 8 lens,
Fomapan 100 film,
developed in Tmax developer for 9 minute)

Sunnyside Pavilion

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This past weekend I had a shoot on Saturday at Sunnyside Pavilion in Toronto. While waiting for the couple to arrive (and more on them in a future post), I did some shooting of my own. This location has become a bit of a wedding photography factory, so I mainly skulked around the edges and did detail images.

Fencing, Sunnyside Pavilion, Toronto

(Canon 7 Rangefinder camera, circa 1961, Soviet Jupiter 8 50mm/f2 lens,
Fomapan 100 film developed in Tmax developer 1:9 for 9 minutes)

Large and Small

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Here is another image from Lethbridge: the large trestle bridge in the background, the humble pedestrian bridge in the foreground. I found the juxtaposition interesting.

Big Bridge and Small Bridge

 

(Mamiya 645 Pro TL, 80mm/2.8 lens, shot on Tri-X @ E.I. 1000 developed in Diafine 3+3)