I was out this morning at Todmorden Mills; it was cool, but some amazing light to work with. One of the cameras I was using was my Mamiya Universal Press, with a 90mm/3.5 lens and a 6×9 medium format back attached. I was shooting Rollei RPX 25, a very slow speed film an with a small aperture the tripod was a necessity for the 1/4 sec or so shutter speed.
Stand developed for 1 hour in Rodinal 1+100 @ 20 C
I’ve shot the wagon wheels in Toronto’s Distillery District a number of times, but this is the first time in colour, and my first time shooting Kodak Portra 800. Shooting in 6×9 format (spooled for 620 for my Medalist) I am amazed at the tight grain structure for an 800 speed film! I will need to get more of this stock!
Home-developed with Argentix.ca C-41 kit
This image is a from a recent visit to the military section of the cemetery at St. John’s Norway in the east end of Toronto
Rolleiflex 3.5E3, Xenotar lens
TMax 100 film
I have probably mentioned this before, but my own theory of photography involves images that tend to fall into three categories:
My goal as much as possible is to shoot images that fall into categories 2 and 3, and for me this image from the shore of lake Ontario last Sunday falls into category 3. The light was dramatic, and in post I heavily accentuated the drama of the light to match the emotional response I was feeling.
Kodak Medalist I with 100m/3.5 Kodak Ektar lens
Tri-X (120 film respooled onto 620 spool)
Developed in Xtol 1+1 9 minutes @ 20 C
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.
This image was taken with the Rolleiflex on Ilford Pan F fine grained film. One of my favourites from the Alberta trip.
I’ve always wanted to get a dramatic sky photo, and finally I’ve found the combination! Rollei Retro 80s film, plus a 25A red filter and Polarizing filter stacked together. I took this with my Mamiya RZ67 and 65mm lens early on a Sunday morning at the Beaches, with the sun at a right angle, for maximum polarizing effect.
The Atlas Mine Museum is located just outside of Drumheller, Alberta in the Badlands. A coal-mine (now closed) it is a fascinating location, especially if you like heavy machinery. In one area of the exhibit, a lot of abandoned machinery and parts are laid out, against an amazing backdrop.
Rolleiflex 3.5E3, 75mm/3.5 Xenotar lens
Plus-X developed in Rodinal 1+25
Toned in post
This image is a view of the lake at the Laurentians home of my friend Michelle. It was taken inside a hut, looking out through a window. To me the window looks suspended is space, and I reminded of the concept of the classic Science Fiction story Light of Other Days, where “slow glass” forces light to take years to pass though it.
Rolleiflex E3, 75mm/3.5 Xenotar lens
Kodak Tmax 400 film developed in Xtol 1+1
Recently I was in Alberta for business meetings, and as I was staying over the weekend I had time to do some exploring and drove up to see the Badlands around Drumheller. These formations are called hoodoos; the day brought a bright overcast sky, and combined with a strong backlight the landscape had an alien look to it. While the hoodoos are not as big as one might think (only a few metres), their shape is fascinating.
Rolleiflex 3.5E3, 75mm/3.5 Xenotar lens
Plus-X film developed in Rodinal
My Third Eye 