Today, another image of Justin Miller during his back stage transformation into Pearle Harbour. This image does not capture a pose; Justin was applying a spray-on fixative to set his complex make-up. I saw it and instinctively clicked the shutter.
Nikon D7100 DSLR, 18-200 Nikkor lens
Post precessing in Aperture and Nik Efex
Today, more images of Naima, created with one of the film cameras I used at the shoot: an early 60’s ere Zenit 3M, with the Helios 44/2 58mm f2 lens that is becoming my new best friend as far as portraiture is concerned. As for Naima, she has a look in these images that to me has an Old World sensibility that I like. Both images were shot on Tri-X, developed in Diafine. Lighting was done with a late 50’s movie light, through a lighting umbrella
This weekend I had the pleasure of working with Naima, using three cameras (two film, one digital). I’m starting with the digital camera here: my Nikon D7100, using my Lensbaby lens for the selective focus effect. Naima brought intriguing, nuanced expressions to the shoot. Stay tuned for more!
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
One last image from my recent shoot with Justine. I like mages where faces are partially obscured, and the power of eyes carries the image.
Nikon D7100, 18-200mm Nikkor lens
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
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
I first met Karen a number of years ago, when we both had images in an exhibit of photographs from the G20 incident in Toronto. A talented, resourceful and strong woman, she has a lot of presence in front of the camera!
Rolleiflex E3, 75mm/3.5 Xenotar lens
Tri-X @ EI 800 developed in Diafine
Negative Scanned and post-processed in Lightroom and Nik Efex
Shooting was a challenge in terms of light this past Saturday. Indoors at the Allen Gardens on a dreary day it was not very bright. I had one roll left of Delta 3200, and developing it in DD-X (at the time listed for EI 6400, not 3200) gave a look I quite like, wit ha smooth tonal range.
Rolleiflex E3, 75mm/3.5 Xenotar lens
Ilford Delta 3200 film @ EI 3200
Developed in DD-X 1+4, 12.5 minutes @ 20 C
It was lovely to work with Natasha again. Since we last worked together she has discovered she has a great talent for drawing, so a portrait of her makes a nice addition to my long term “Portrait of the Artist” project. In her expression I see the same thing I have been privileged to see in a number of artists: the joy of imagination, and the ability to tap into it. Shot in late afternoon in a fall day with the light rapidly fading, the Tri-X/Diafine combination made this film image possible.
Rolleiflex E3, 75mm/3.5 Xenotar lens
Tri-X @ EI 800 developed in Diafine
My Third Eye 