Despite what Rob Ford might have claimed at a debate recently, subways can indeed run above ground, and portions of Toronto’s TTC subway are above ground. I like what my Smartphone (Samsung Galaxy Note 3) does to the trees it passes on the Bloor/Danforth line.
On the bus coming home from work today, a gift from the photo gods: a visually very interesting individual, and some great light. I took the image with my smartphone (Samsung Galaxy Note 3) but a no-smoking sign behind the individual was very distracting, and there was no way to take the image without it being there. So in post I photoshopped it out. Even though I am being upfront about it, I still feel a bit queasy when I have to do that for this kind of photography; is the image less honest?
Here is another “Less Is More” image from the Beaches this past weekend. I like the metal texture.
Rolleicord Va, 75mm/3.5 Xenar lens
Tri-X developed in HC-110 Dilution B for 7.5 minutes
Another Beaches image. I believe the quiet and calm of the early morning hour yesterday lends itself to a minimalist approach to an landscape image.
Rolleicord Va, 75mm/3.5 Xenar lens
Tri-X film developed in HC-110 Dilution B for 7.5 minutes @ 20 C.
Toning adding in post
This morning about 7:15 am, by the shore of Lake Ontario on a beautiful day. It was a yoga class, but with arms outstretched it seems like so much more than that.
Rolleicord Va, 75mm/3.5 Xenar lens
Film was Tri-X, developed in HC-110 Dilution B
7.5 minutes @ 20 C.
I spend a lot of time on the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission for those outside of Toronto). On average about twelve to fourteen hours a week. I actually prefer it to driving: I can read, close my eyes, listen to music. And, I can practice street-style photography, using my Smart Phone. So I am starting a new project called the Daily Commute Shoot: one photo taken and posted every workday during my commute either to or from work, , taken with my Samsung Galaxy Note 3 smartphone. You can see the results here. The image below is an outtake from yesterday. (I am three days into the project at this point).
It has been said by many performers that children are the toughest audience you can have: it is hard to get their attention and even harder to keep it. Last night Janice and I attended the 2014 Toronto edition of Dusk Dances, an outdoor dance festival. Many children were in attendance, and one particular performance (involving synchronized swimming in inflatable wading pools!) really grabbed and kept their attention, as shown in their faces below.
Nikon D7100, 18-200mm Nikkor lens
Post work in Lightroom and Nik Silver Efex Pro 2
Taken at the recent Matsuri Japanese festival in Toronto, this is an image of a performer backstage, preparing to perform. The bright sun made her visible behind the backstage screen.
Nikon D7100, 18-200mm Nikkor lens
When it comes to shooting from the hip, it’ hard to beat a twin lens reflex (TLR) camera. I was out yesterday on Queen Street in Toronto with my Rolleicord Va and for this shot I had already estimated the distance and used a small aperture of f11 to get good depth of field. The remained hanging down at my waist while I quickly took the image.
Rolleicord Va, Xenar 80mm/3.5 lens
Tri-X, developed in Xtol 1+1 for 9 minutes @ 20 C
Negative scanned and toning added in post with Nik SilverEfex Pro
Today’s image was created in Niagara On the Lake recently. I used my baby Speed Graphic, with a 120 roll film holder that creates 6cm by 9cm negatives. The combination of the large negative, the classic Kodak Ektar lens, the Kodak Tmax film and Rodinal developer is hard to beat. There was no post processing of the negative scan at all: no sharpening or anything else, and I love the look!
My Third Eye 