I am continuing to experiment with my Helios 44/2 58mm f2 lens adapted for the Nikon mount. To get the signature swirly, out of focus bokeh this lens is known for having a suitable background a few feet away from the subject, as well as shooting wide open at f2. This attempt is from St. James Cemetery in Toronto, the subject being a tilted old memorial.
Nikon N90s, Helios 44/2 lens
Kodak TMax 400 film
Today I got a roll of Fuji Velvia 50 slide film back from processing. Such a vivid, intense film, especially for blue skies!
Nikon FM, 20mm/2.8 Nikkor lens
My exploration of pinhole photography continues. This time I put a roll film adapter on the back of my Speed Graphic 4×5 and shot in colour using Kodak Portra 400 film. The subject is the bridge which spans Taylor Creek Park. Exposures were about 1 minute long.
https://www.podbean.com/media/player/4gzp4-684770?from=yiiadmin
This week I am privileged to once again have the opportunity to speak with wet plate photographer Shane Balkowitsch. Shane has attracted a lot of attention recently for his project Northern Plains: Native Americans A Modern Wet Plate Perspective, as well as for a hard-hitting satirical image of Donald Trump.
We talk about politics, activism and commitment to a cause and how it is reflected in his amazing work.
My interview with Shane for Classic Camera Revival.
Example for the Northern Plains project:
Archie D. Fool Bear, (Kokipesni) “Afraid of Nothing”, Upper Yanktonai Dakota Sioux
Donald Trump – “POTUS Revealed”
Model: Kevin R. Tengesdal
The Soviet-era Helios 44/2 lens (actually a 58mm lens, and a direct copy of the Zeiss Biotar 58mm lens) has a cult following for the way it renders out of focus areas at wide apertures. I recently got one that had been adapted to work on the Nikon F mount and still focus to infinity, and I have started to experiment with it. The person who did the work on the lens has an interesting YouTube video that explains the process.
Nikon F4, Helios 44/2 58mm lens
Rollei RPX25 film
From Bluffer’s Beach a couple of weeks ago. The low angled early morning sun was amazing.
Nikon FM, 105mm/2.5 Nikkor lens
JCH StreetPan 400 film, developed in HC-110 Dilution B
Today another image from the Toronto Harbour: a Toronto Police Marine Unit boat house
Rolleiflex 3.5e3 (Xenotar lens)
Portra 400 film
On the two latest episodes of My Photography Podcast I had the pleasure of speaking with pinhole photographers Kathrena Revera and Moni Smith. Their passion for their craft and their amazing work inspired me to finally try pinhole photography. I am using my 4×5 Speed Graphic camera, with a 0.3mm pinhole in place of a lens, and though I am still at the experimental “dialing it in” phase of my work I am excited with the results. Both images below were shot on Fomapan 100 film. The exposure for the first image was 6.5 minutes, the second 1 minute, 15 seconds.
The first of a few images from a roll of Kodak Portra 400 I shot with my Rolleiflex 3.5E3 at Toronto Harbor recently.
Also, the latest episode of Classic Camera Revival is now online. We have a great discussion about folding cameras.
Shooting right into the sun, so I positioned myself to put the sun behind one of the masts.
Nikon F4, 105mm/2.5 AI lens
Kodak Tmax 400 film
My Third Eye 