Without Guile

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It is frustrating that we live in a climate where street photography of children can be dangerous. As long as the subject is in public view, and I do not use the images for commercial purposes, to create images such as today’s is legal, but still risky. We are becoming a society driven by mistrust, sadly. I couldn’t resist taking this image today of a young child on the bus home; her expression was direct, thoughtful, and (in the manner of young children), open, and without guile. Hopefully not too many viewers will consider me a creeper for posting this image.

Without Guile

Speed Graphic

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Good morning and Happy New Year!

I took this image yesterday close to home. I was shooting with a Miniature Speed Graphic, a vintage press camera (with a 6×7 roll film holder from a Mamiya RB67). This is an intriguing camera. Utterly manual, so easy to make mistakes, and yet photo journalists of the past were expected to “get the shot” with this kind of gear. My respect for photographers of the past continues to rise.

The Snow's Edge

Photo-realism

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I’ve been having a lot of fun with the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone, and so here is another Hipstamatic image: my good friend Ken at the Only Cafe in Toronto. The photo is dark, not particularly sharp, and rather gritty. However, the lighting in the Only is not bright, and the pub does have a gritty ambiance, so in this case I think the image is more realistic, more true to the moment than a perfectly sharp, properly lit image would be.

At the Only

The Joy of Everyday Things

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I was watching a video this morning about a woman who had been kidnapped for 18 years but managed to regain her freedom. Her interviewer commented on how she took pleasure from everyday things, no matter how small, and I think this applies to photography as well; it’s not always about the spectacular sunset, the exotic location, the once in a lifetime portrait. Photography can (and should) also be about everyday things, and the beauty that can be seen, if only we look a little harder

Condensation

Early Music

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Last night I was at a concert put on by Sine Nomine, a Toronto-based early music ensemble (of which my wife is a member). In addition to recording the concert, I decided to do some photography of the group warming up and decided to go “old school” by shooting Polaroid. In retrospect I wish I’d brought a flash as the venue was not very bright. I ended up shooting 1/30 second, wide open @ f4.7, even with Fuji FP3000B film with an ISO of 3200.  Pictured in the image is Randall, who in addition to being a musician and scholar is also an enthusiastic advocate of traditional film.

Early Music

Nothing Outside

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I originally started taking photographs of this rider on the subway because I thought his hat was interesting, but looking at the images later, this one really caught my eye because of the completely blank windows. The train was above ground at this point, but seeing nothing through the train windows, just the light gives the image a strange feeling for me.

Blank windows

Wardrobe and Personality.

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I know I must drive some models crazy when they ask me about what to wear for a shoot. Unless I am planning a very specific concept, my suggestions tend be very vague. This is due in part to my abysmal fashion sense, but mainly with how I approach most shoots; I hope they pick clothes that bring out their personality and character, and model Hilary certainly did on a recent shoot. Her costume to me radiated a cheerful, whimsical playfulness, and that certainly came out in her poses and expressions.

Smiling

 

(Mamiya 645 Pro TL, 80mm/2.8 lens, Ilford Delta 400 exposed at E.I. 800, developed in HC-110, DIlution B for 10 minutes.)