Back Alley in Kingston

In Kingston, Ontario this past weekend we discovered this little back passage-way. Rollei Retro 80s film and Rodinal developer were the perfect combo for this image!

Back Street in Kingston, Ontario

 

Nikon F4 body, 17mm/3.5 Tamron lens
Rollei Retro 80s developed in Rodinal 1+50 for 14 minutes @ 20 C.

At the Scene of the Story

Alice Degan is a friend of mine who also happens to be an author of urban fantasy fiction. What I like is that her fiction is set in Toronto’s Kensington Market (one of my favourite places to shoot) so when she needed some photographs it was the natural choice of locations. As we moved from spot to spot it was fascinating to hear  how they related to the stories. A fascinating shoot which gave me added insight into her great stories. Highly recommended!

Alice Degan

 

Nikon D7100, 18-200mm Nikkor lens
Post processing with Lightroom and Nik Color Efex 4

Something Slightly Different

This image is from our trip to Niagara On the Lake this past weekend. It was a gazebo, so I had to shoot it, but to me the woman stretching out in front gives the image a slightly different, almost surreal aspect; it would be a very different image without her.

By the Gazebo

 

Nikon F2, 28mm/2.8 Nikkor lens
Eastman 2366 film, E.I. 10, developed in Xtol 1+1 for 10 minutes @ 20 C

A Soggy Day

It was a pretty soggy day in Niagara Falls yesterday, and the two film cameras I had with me had no weather sealing. I wanted this shot at the base of the American falls, so out came the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Smart phone. Quite happy with the results!

At the Base of the American Falls

The Expression

I was in Hamilton this past weekend at a social gathering with some of my best Social Media friends. On the way from supper Saturday to a pub we walked through the beginning of that evening’s Hamilton Art crawl. The street was already crowded with artists, musicians, performers and pedestrians of all kinds. I had literally not much more than a second or two to get this shot; technically it’s not perfect, but I like it — I wonder what the story is behind expression of the woman on the right! There must be a story there!

Hamilton Art Crawl Street vendors

In the Kitchen

My friend Maria and her business partner Agatka have three times now put on a dinner service at The Depanneur here in Toronto. This facility has a kitchen area visible to the eating area and is a great setting for photography! I was able to shoot the buzz of activity in the kitchen and I think for the most part I was able to stay out of the way. 🙂

Working hard

 

Nikon D7100, 18-200mm Nikkor lens
Post processed in Lightroom and Nik Efex

Railroad Bridge

Yesterday morning I went for a walk on the disused Don Branch railway in the Don Valley in Toronto, and went to the edge of the so-called “Half Mile Bridge” (no where near a half mile, for the record but still and interesting subject for photography)

Railroad Bridge, Toronto

 

Mamiya M645J, 45mm/2.8 lens with 25A filter
Kodak Tmax 400 film, developed in Tmax developer 1+7 for 12 min. @ 20 C

Textures

It’s hard to beat black and white for capturing the texture of wood. In this image from Riverdale Farm I used my Mamiya 645 Pro TL camera and Kodak Tmax 100 film developed in Rodinal, a developer known for enhancing sharpness (at the cost of increased grain, which is not really an issue with slower speed film and larger medium format negatives). I love the combination!

Barn

An Early Hour

Normally in the summer Kensington Market is a busy spot, full of people. I recently went there on a Saturday at around 7:30 am, and captured empty streets and long shadows.

Street Early Morning

Mamiya 645 Pro TL, 45mm/2.8 Mamiya lens
Fuji Neopan Acros, developed in Rodinal 1+50,
13.5 minutes @ 20 C

A Changed View

The Bloor Street Viaduct in Toronto for many years was sadly for many years a final destination for jumpers, until the safety barrier seen in today’s image was out into place. Changing the view is of course a very small price to pay if it saves lives, and the barrier does open up other photographic possibilities.

Bloor Street Viaduct

 

Mamiya 645 Pro TL, 45mm/2.8 lens
Fuji Neopan Acros 100 film, developed in Rodinal 1+50 for 13.5 minutes @ 20 c