I had the chance yesterday to meet another local Toronto photographer Edward McLaughlin for a portrait shoot, using my Rolleiflex. It was a very dull day weatherwise, so I shot Tri-X at 800 and developed in in Diafine
Rowers in the Sun
Another image from my happy place, down at the Beaches.
Rolleiflex E3, 75mm/3.5 Xenator lens
Tri-X developed in Xtol 1+1 for 9 minutes @ 20 C
On Saturday I was again down at the Toronto Beaches, and among the films I was shooting with my Rolleiflex was Rollei IR 400, a film that is sensitive to light in the infrared portion of the spectrum. With a nearly opaque IR 720 filter, one gets an almost otherworldly view of an otherwise normal sunny day.
Rolleiflex E3, 75mm/3.5 Xenotar with IR72 filter (via Bay 2->52mm adapter)
Rollei IR 400 film at EI 12, developed in Xtol 1+1 12 min @ 20 C
Everyday Objects 1
It can be a fun challenge to look for everyday objects that can be an interesting composition. This collection of pylons on Queen Street in Toronto caught my eye yesterday
Rolleiflex E3, Xenotar 75mm/3.5 lens,
Fuji Neopan Acros 100 developed in Rodinal 1+50 13.5 minutes @ 20 C
Another Film
I recently got a few rolls of ILford FP4+, a film that was a competitor to Kodak Plus-X (when it was still around). All in all, a nice emulsion.
Rolleiflex E3, 75mm/3.5 Xenotar lens
Ilford FP4+, developed 10 minutes in Xtol 1+1 @ 20 C
HP5+
I’ve never had much luck with Ilford HP5+ in 35mm; my scans always had too much grain for my taste, and I didn’t like the tonality. Shooting in medium format (at an exposure index of 250 instead of the box speed of 400) I am liking the results better!
Rolleiflex E3 with 75mm/3.5 Xenotar lens
HP5+ film at E.I. 250, developed in TMax Developer
1+9 for 14 minutes @ 20 C
In the Window
I was in Kensington Market with my Rolleiflex yesterday and ran across this interesting shop window display
Rolleiflex E3 with 75mm/3.5 Xenotar lens
Fuji Neopan Acros 100 film, developed in Rodinal 1+50, 14 minutes @ 20C
Arriving in the Photo
Yesterday morning I was taking some images of the stairs that lead to pedestrian bridge over the DVP in Riverdale. I was trying to get the focus just right (not always easy with my middle-aged eyes) and at the last moment a figure arrived in the frame. An accident, but I like the result.
Rolleiflex E3, 75mm/3.5 Xenotar lens
Tri-X developed in Xtol 1+1 for 9 minutes @ 20 C
Softness
Another image created with my Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5 lens (on my Contax IIIa rangefinder). At a wide aperture (in this case f2) this is not a sharp lens, and it has a focus shift that makes it a challenge to work with. I do like its atmosphere though.
Contax IIIa, Zeiss Sonnar 50mm/1.5 lens
Svema Foto 100 film, developed in Xtol 1+1 for 10 minutes @ 20 C
Zeiss Sonnar
This image was created using my Zeiss Sonnar 50mm/1.5 lens. This is a very quirky lens when used at large apertures, and will definitely take some learning!
Contax IIa, 50mm/1.5 Zeiss Sonnar lens
Svema Foto 100 film developed in Xtol 1+1 10 minutes @ 20 C
My Third Eye 