Another image from my recent shoot with Jennifer at U of T. It was around 7 pm, so the sun was lower in the horizon. The sunlight was coming at an angle through trees, which made for some great lighting!
(Nikon F2, 85mm/1.8 lens, shot on Kodak Tri-X at box speed developed in Xtol 1+1 for 9 minutes)
I had a great time yesterday shooting with Rebecca again; I used a variety of cameras, including my Nikon D7100 and LensBaby Spark lens. The Spark is an interesting lens: it is a doublet (only two elements), and you focus by squeezing it like an accordion for a focus point, surrounded by blur; it can be a trick to control, but it is fun to use!
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)
Yesterday I had the pleasure of doing a photo shoot with Michael James. I first met Michael last year when we were both in The Alexander Showcase Theatre’s production of Man of La Mancha. Michael is a fun guy to work with: a great sense of humour, and also a lot of depth and thoughtfulness. My job as a photographer is to capture that, and I’d like to think I did.
I used the Nikkor 85mm/1.8 lens on my Nikon F2, using Kodak Tri-X film; I can see myself coming back to this combo again, especially for male portraits!
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.
I think today’s image (another one of Jenna in High Park) is the first I’ve posted that was created using a Lensbaby Spark lens. I guess one could call this a piece of neo-primitive technology: the lens has only 2 elements, one fixed aperture, and to focus one pulls the front of the lens back with your fingers, like a built in bellows. What is fun is that by changing the angle of the bellows you can put the focus point anywhere you like.
I am seriously liking the combination of the 105mm/f2.5 Nikkor portrait lens, and Polypan F film (developed in Tmax developer 1:9 for 8.5 minutes at 20 degrees). It seems made for subjects such as the lovely Jenna (taken yesterday in High Park in Toronto)
Today’s image is from my 6-3-1 project. I had a shoot yesterday with rapper/Hip Hop artist Saint Vybz.He’s busy recording an album, which is being produced by my friend Stevie Z. I used my Mamiya Universal Press camera, 127mm f4.7 lens with red 25A filter, on Fuji FP3000B instant film. This is a scan of the negative. I thought the grit suited the mood we were going for.
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 mentioned on more than one occasion how I enjoy shoots where the models are actors. Today’s image features Brandon, whom I had the fun to work with in Young Frankenstein. This image was created to be used in the show, as the basis for a portrait of one of Frederick Frankenstein;s mad scientist ancestors. Brandon did a great job of getting into character immediately, with a perfect expression. 🙂
My Third Eye 