All it took was window light on a cloudy day,shining on my niece Sarah . . .
Nikon D7100, Nikkor 18-200mm lens
Category: Available Light
Backstage
This past Friday evening I photographed actor Justin Miller’s transformation into his character Pearle Harbour. Along with the digital images, I shot a roll of Tri-X at EI 800 on my Bessa R rangefinder, with my late 50’s-era Canon Serenar 50mm/1.8 lens. I was shooting wide-open at f1.8, at 1/30th of second, and I like the available light look of the image.
Portrait of the Artist: Channeling Lovecraft
My images today are of my friend Leeman Kessler, actor and creator of the Ask Lovecraft video podcast. In this podcast, he portrays author H.P. Lovecraft, reanimated to answer viewer questions. In the photo shoot, I was shooting “behind the scenes” as he recorded an episode. Leeman can certainly channel intensity! I chose three images below:
For this shoot I used my Mamiya 645 Pro TL and Rolleiflex E3 medium format cameras, shooting in available light wit with Ilford Delta 3200 film, and Kodak Tri-X film, pushed to EI 3200.
The Face of Comedy
I had a fun time shooting Kat Letwin and other performers last evening at Kat’s Solo Combo comedy show at Comedy Bar here in Toronto. A challenging shoot due to low lighting, but I am happy with a lot of the images.
Nikon D7100, 18-200 Nikkor lens
Shooting at ISO 6400
Post-processing done with Lightroom and Nik Efex
Those Swirl the Days
I love photo gear that imparts character to images, and this is one area where vintage film gear beats digital. This image was taken with an old Soviet-era Zenit 3M SLR, and a 58mm f2 Helios 44/2 lens. A Russian copy of the Zeiss Biotar lens, when stopped down to a small aperture it is quite sharp, but when used wide open (as it was in this image of my friend and fellow film fanatic Ori) you can get an amazing “Swirl” in the out of focus areas, especially away from the centre of the frame.
Zenit 3M SLR, Helios 44/2 58mm/f2 lens
Tri-X developed in Pyrocat HD 1+1+100,16 minutes
The Quiet of the Snow
Another image from the snowy shoot with Justine this past Saturday in High Park. The snow is like nature’s diffuser: the light is softened and sounds are muted, sharp edges and angles are rounded by a covering of snow. This image is not tack-sharp, but for me I feel it captures the mood of the the shoot.
Rolleiflex E3, 75mm/3.5 Xenotar
Tri-X @ EI 800, developed in Diafine.
Post work with Lightroom and NiK Efex
Found Light
This image of my friend Jennifer was created recently in a room with a single 1950’s table lamp and a couple of ceiling fluorescent lights as the illumination. Once the colour correction was done I was really happy with the results!
Nikon D7100 DSLR, 18-200 Nikkor Zoom lens
Banff Springs Hotel
As much as I love the natural splender of Banff, from an architectural point of view, the Banff Springs hotel is quite something. This glass-walled room in particular is incredible!
Voigltander Bessa R, 35mm/2.5 Color Skopar Lens
Tri-X @ EI 3200semi-stand developed in Rodinal,
1+100 for 2 hours @ 20 C (gentle agitation every 30 minutes)
Solitary Space
At the Art Gallery of Ontario, another large space marked by a solitary individual.
Voigtlander Bessa L 35mm camera, 21mm/4 Voigtlander Color Skopar lens
Tri-X at Box speed, developed in Pyrocat 1+1+100, 15 min. @ 20 C
Inside the AGO
I love this space inside the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario)
Voigtlander Bessa L 35mm camera,
21mm/4 Voigtlander 21mm/4 Color Skopar lens
Tri-X at box speed, developed in Pyrocat-HD developer
1+1+100 for 15 minutes @ 20 C
My Third Eye 