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.
(Mamiya Universal Press Camera, 127mm/f4.7 lens, 120/220 6x9cm roll film back,
expired Portra 160 film in 220 format)
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.
(Rolleicord IIIa Twin lens Reflex, 75mm/f3.5 Xenar lens, Tri-X developed in Xtol 1:1 for minutes)
One of the reasons I still like shooting film is exemplified by this image of model and dancer Kaitlin taking using my Rolleicord IIIa twin lens reflex camera. The Xenar lens has a unique character, not tack sharp unless you really stop down. It is easy to get a lot of sameness with digital cameras; each of my film cameras has own voice, its own signature, and I have a love affair with each of them.
One thing I like about cameras like a Speed Graphic is how parts can be mixed and matched. I was able to use a Voigtlander Voigtar Anastigmat lens (15mm/f6.3) rescued from a non-working Voigtlander Avus folder from the 1920’s. The roll film holder was from a Mamiya RB67 camera; it mounts perfectly.
Today’s image is of tulips in High Park, Toronto. I took the image using my Rolleicord III Twin-lens Reflex, on Fuji Reala colour negative film. I’ve mentioned before how the Xenar lens on this camera has nice swirlies in the out of focus areas when shot fairly wide open, and I think that effect suited the flowers.
It took a few steps to arrive at the image below (again featuring the lovely Jenna). The original was shot on Fuji Reala ISO 100 colour negative film, using my Rolleicord III twin-lens reflex camera. I had to shoot pretty wide open, and with my eyesight I find this beast a trick to focus at the best of times. her face was not tack sharp, but I liked the image so much I was not prepared to give up. I converted it into black and white, added the antique look and I felt instantly transported back a century.
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!
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.
My Third Eye 