March 30 - 2012 - Street Photography - Downtown

Something about the love of Street Photography.  I'm not sure what it is about it, but it's just a very interesting thrill..  I don't shove my camera in someone's face to get a shot.  I think to myself, would I like it if someone did that to me?

Mind you, I rarely ever see Street Photographers anymore.. I see them every now and then, but it's becoming rather rare.  Are people becoming leery of the art?  Or did they lose that passion?

For me, I can't get enough of it?  Sure, the area I work and live in isn't the greatest for it, but I do get the odd chance to go downtown.  And that's where you can get some incredible chances for really interesting images.

From people sleeping on benches, to the wildest of street wear, it's all downtown!
Looking forward to the chance to do that this summer... Hopefully more often than not!
My weapon of choice for this adventure today?  My Pentax Spotmatic w/Carl Zeiss Jena T* ƒ/2.8 50mm lens.  Oh what a wonderful camera and lens combo.  It's just brilliant, actually.  The lens is tack sharp, the camera is spot on with the light meter, and they just seem to make the perfect team!
Either the Helios 44-2 or the Carl Zeiss Jena T*.. I just can't decide which lens to make the staple.

I do have a Pentacon 50mm ƒ/1.8, but I need to pull it apart and clean the elements completely, as it looks like they have a bit of haze.

The amusing thing with "faux-tographers" today is the digital P&S with an LCD screen for a view finder.  It is nice, sure, to be able to see the composed image before you take it, but that's not how you train your eye.  I know, because I have practiced training my eye constantly to learn how to look at a possible image, and compose it visually before I take the shot. 
Like this one here, I wanted the girl to be tack sharp, and the b/g didn't have to be.  So, wider aperture, and fast shutter.  Digitals seem to take away that thinking.  Not a nice thing at all!  You need to think when you're shooting.  Otherwise, all we'll end up with are just snapshots and no real artsy images.  Of course, the tiny CMOS sensor has really hampered photography, as it requires much smaller focal lengths to be equivalent on a 35mm frame. Not to mention, why the heck do you have a CMOS sensor at more than 6MP?  It's just stupid.  You do not need that much on such a small camera.  The higher the MP count does NOT equate to a better image, but of course no one thinks of this when they purchase the camera.

 I'm always telling other photographers, and other people, that in public, the majority of the populace could care less about being photographed.  And it's true!  I have taken multiple photos of people, and they have seen the camera pointed their way, without comment.  Mind you, I have been asked by some NOT to photograph them, and I gladly comply.  They don't want a photo, I won't take their photo, very simple.  I am not out to harass people, but to have a bit of fun with a camera.
Street photography is something I enjoy, not for the bit of an adrenaline rush, but just because you can capture some very raw emotion and moments.  This is the one thing that Portrait photography will never capture.  When you shoot an image of someone in a closed and set environment, it's all staged.  They may smile, they may be serious, but it is not their raw emotion that is out. 
Yet on the street, when least expected, you can capture some very raw details about someone.  And contrary to popular belief, like the Internet.  In public, everything is public!  Just because you assume that you have rights to privacy when you're walking down the public street, you don't.  There are ATMs that have cameras pointed your way as you walk by.  Store fronts, fueling stations, office buildings, etc.  All with cameras pointed out toward the street, so that right to privacy in public?  Forget it!  On any public street, what you see is fair game.  But obviously within reason.  Don't be hiding in a bush waiting to spring your camera on a couple getting a bit frisky in the park.  Use your judgement!

I really liked this girl's hat.  The texture, the colour (although not conveyed in B&W) and the way it complimented her ensemble.  It's hard to tell if it was hand stiched, or factory made. 
I'm leaning a bit toward factory made, but at the same time, you never know.
She knew the camera was looking her way, never cared either.  If she asked, I wouldn't hesitate to strike up a conversation regarding the reason for the shot.  Besidse, I would have gladly taken her Email address to send her a copy.  She never did ask, so no bit loss on that part either!

 

 I was surprised here.  I walked by this guy, and saw his cart, and him sitting beside it.  Well, I didn't think he was sleeping when I saw him, so I took one shot from the side.  Took a few steps forward (walking from behind instead) and turned to look.  Sure enough, he was sleeping.  So instead I took a few steps forward toward him, and took this one instead.  Not every day you find some guy just sleeping on a bench, but then again.  It is downtown!

This is something that makes NO sense at all.  I understand that they have a job to do, but this is beyond silly.  They are a government service, not the Postal truck, but the ticket cop.  Sure, it is municipal, and they are a needed service, I will never deny that... But really? Ticketing a postal vehicle?  That goes a bit beyond nonesense!  That's the Government billing the Government. Talk about a backward system!  This is one thing that should never happen.  I wish I had a photo of a truck I saw recently.  Not only did it have a few tickets on it, it literally had at least close to a dozen tickets on the windshield.  That is just beyond ridiculous!  I know that the postal vehicles will never be towed away, as you just can't really do that.
But ticketing a postal vehicle 12 times in a day?!  That's just plain stupid!  Sadly, I know it happens all over the city/country.  It's time that they review this policy, and try to figure out some way to change it.

This was going down the escalator at St. Patrick station.  Exposure time was about 1 second, and held against my chest.  Obviously I wasn't QUITE as steady as I would have liked to be, but that's okay, the image still conveys the sense of movement I was looking for. 

Street Photography In Downtown

   Something about the love of Street Photography.  I'm not sure what it is about it, but it's just a very interesting thrill..  I don't shove my camera in someone's face to get a shot.  I think to myself, would I like it if someone did that to me?

   Mind you, I rarely ever see Street Photographers anymore.. I see them every now and then, but it's becoming rather rare.  Are people becoming leery of the art?  Or did they lose that passion?

   For me, I can't get enough of it?  Sure, the area I work and live in isn't the greatest for it, but I do get the odd chance to go downtown.  And that's where you can get some incredible chances for really interesting images.

   From people sleeping on benches, to the wildest of street wear, it's all downtown!
Looking forward to the chance to do that this summer... Hopefully more often than not!
   My weapon of choice for this adventure today?  My Pentax Spotmatic w/Carl Zeiss Jena T* ƒ/2.8 50mm lens.  Oh what a wonderful camera and lens combo.  It's just brilliant, actually.  The lens is tack sharp, the camera is spot on with the light meter, and they just seem to make the perfect team!
   Either the Helios 44-2 or the Carl Zeiss Jena T*.. I just can't decide which lens to make the staple. 
   I do have a Pentacon 50mm ƒ/1.8, but I need to pull it apart and clean the elements completely, as it looks like they have a bit of haze.

   The main reason that I find street photography so much fun, and so exhilarating actually has nothing to do with those that get an adrenaline rush from it after they stick their camera in someone's face to snap a very invasive photo.. Not at all.  I don't shove my camera into someone's personal space, use a 50mm not a 24mm, and make sure that the photo is as flattering as possible without hurting the personal feelings of said subject.  Most people are completely unaware that you took their photo, while others are aware of it, and just don't care.  Probably questioning your sanity.

   Always try to use your best judgement when shooting, by putting yourself in the other person's shoes.  Would you appreciate a camera shoved in your face for the shot you're trying to get?  Or not?
   If you feel that you're just doing it to be an annoyance, then you should give it up.  It's not about trying to annoy people, but looking for that perfect moment of raw emotion, or a situation that tells a much bigger story.
   This guy was sleeping, not sure exactly why he was sleeping, besides being tired.  Perhaps the cart is all he has, and this is, basically, his home.  Who knows, as the financial crisis around the globe has effected everyone, whether they know it, or not.  It shows in almost every city and town around the world, with massive layoffs, job cuts, companies no longer hiring, and just an over-all shortage of work when there used to be a huge surplus of work just a short time ago.

   This is one of those moments that I completely fail to understand.  Two different government agencies, such as the post office and parking enforcement, they just seem to clash and battle it out on a daily basis.  I don't understand how ticketing a post office vehicle makes sense.  I understand that a PEO is a municipal officer, where as the Posties are Federal, but when you are one level of government ticketing the other, it just seems like a complete waste of time!  Not the smartest thing you see on a daily basis.  The interesting part here, is this truck already HAS a parking ticket on it.  Obviously the drivers do not care about the tickets.  Then again, maybe it is a game for them.  How many tickets can you accrue in one day.

   On a different side of things, sometimes you find a moment to capture that is far from invasive.  In fact, it's just the right moment to capture.  Such as this young lady that was shooting an image of the Canada Life building.  I understand that using an LCD screen to compose the image can be nice, as it's a bit larger than a viewfinder, but when you've used a viewfinder for years, it just doesn't make sense to try to use an LCD screen.  The fact that many camera manufacturer's are actually getting RID of their viewfinder in place of a "large" LCD screen just seems, well, silly to me.  Why they do this, is beyond me.  In fact, there is a large segment of people that have never shot a photo using a viewfinder before, and this segment is getting larger, and larger.  It says a lot about someone that can look at the image on an LCD unfold before them and say, "Wow!  This is a nice photo!" compared to someone who looks at the photo before taking it, lines it up in their viewfinder, and snaps it, knowing exactly how it will come out before they have even pushed the shutter release.
    Or you can try your hand at some photo journalistic style shots.  Slightly off kilter, with your subject doing something beyond just standing statically in front of you.
As these 4 are walking up University avenue, one of those 4 the young lady photographer above, they are almost in perfect step, with just one being out of step. 
   When I took this, I never noticed their feet being almost in sync, but got a pleasant surprise when I developed this roll of film. 

   Although I try not to stick my camera in someone's face, there are times where I'll go against this little suggestion, and actually do something like that.  Especially when something catches my eye, such as a nice coat, a tattoo that is very strong, or, say, a rather interesting looking, and well textured wool hat.  Something like this really stands out.  It matched her entire look.   From the fur lined hood and thick jacket, to the way she had her hair, and even the look on her face.  It all worked nicely. 
   The texture makes it look hand-stitched, perhaps because it is, but as I never struck up a conversation with her, I'll never know.  Too bad, because she was a pretty girl too!  I think she'd have fun as a photo-shoot model, even if she did it as an amateur, either paid or unpaid.  Who knows!   The nice thing is, that you don't have to be rail thin, and still considered too fat!

Trying Out A New Camera...

Yashica Electro G35 - Shot on Kalimar A 35mm Zone Focus Camera

Yashica... A camera company that has made some impressive cameras, and glass.  They are no longer in business today, as they were purchased by Kyocera in 1983.  They had a long and great history producing but point and shoot, 35mm SLRs, and some amazing TLR cameras.  Today I spent the day using a very nice EE (electronic eye) or AE camera known as the Yashica Electro G35.  It's a neat little camera that is pretty much fully automatic, except it's more along the lines of a Auto Exposure Aperture Priority camera.  Most manual shooters will prefer the Aperture Priority method of AE over shutter priority.  For myself, it is irrelevant.  I will shoot my AE-1 which is Shutter Priority, and easily switch to a fully manual Spotmatic or K1000, back to my T80, fully auto Program, and then to a Aperture Priority camera without missing a beat.
But for those that prefer Aperture Priority, this is a camera for you.  It'll give you a warning, telling you "OVER" or "SLOW" for "UNDER" exposure. Yet, not only will it do that, it'll even control the shutter up to 30s open, which is near unheard of in the 50's, without a cable release, yet this camera did it!

Although this should be more under my gear blog it just doesn't seem to fit in there quite yet.  As I am testing this camera out, not just for myself, but for a fellow photographer John Meadows.  It has performed remarkably well, and the negatives from todays shots look great!  Sure, there are some over-exposed images, but, for the most part, they look great!  Sharp, clean, and looks quite decent.

The hour of shooting this camera went very nicely.  The camera performed, mostly, as it should have, compensating the shutter speed for the amount of ambient light, f-stop and film speed.  Its rangefinder is bright, big, and contrasty, while also very easy to see though.

I was extremely impressed with this camera, as it just worked as it should have.  There were minor hiccups along the way, such as the shutter staying open to long a couple of times, but that's either USER error, or an error on the camera through the battery, as it was an older battery, and probably not really a smart battery to be using for this camera

I do hope that, when, I return this camera, I get to see more images taken on it from John.

Cheers for now!

The Yashica G35 Rangefinder - Tested And Approved

So I posted about testing out the Yashica Electro G35 rangefinder..  I found it to be a rather interesting camera, with a great electric eye that seems to do a great job of setting the shutter speed to the selected aperture based off the amount of ambient light.  Sure, it doesn't meter through a filter, so you have to adjust your film speed based off the filter number, which truly isn't that difficult a task, except if you forget to change the filter factor when you remove said filter, or add one.

So through it all, I really love the camera and the way it works!  I have to spend a bit more time getting acquainted with it.  It's a great camera, with super sharp lens, and a brilliant rangefinder.  The image is very contrasty, and simple to use.

Took it out today and shot some Polypan F 50 on it.  To prove that the meter was working properly, and the electric eye was seeing the world as it was supposed to, I developed the film normally.  Instead of using Rodinal 1:100 for an hour, I decided to use Ilford Ilfosol 3 1:14 6:30.  I love this Ilfosol 3 stuff, it's almost identical in results to XTOL, except it doesn't seem to like my water from the tap.  It's the only developer that reacts that way too, so it looks like I'll be sticking with XTOL and HC-110 for the next little while.  Mind you, I just picked up a box of ID-11..

The Signet & AE-1

The journey into Cruickshank Park was one filled with ducks, geese, screaming kids, and some okay photo opportunities.  I should get a longer lens for my camera as a "JUST IN CASE" scenario.  Today was one of those days.  Geese attacking ducks on the water, seagulls fighting ducks for bread, and pigeons landing on the railings.  With a 24mm lens on my AE-1 and a 44mm on the Signet, it just didn't seem right that I try for some action shots, but I did anyway..  I believe I got some, but it's hard to tell on the negatives. 
I haven't been taking my digital camera along, as I haven't felt the urges to shoot some IR right now.  Trying to pack light at work these past couple of days.
Tomorrow will be no different, with a choice of a Yashica Electro G35 on the table, along with, I think, my Kalimar A (Welmy 2), it should be a fun and interesting day.

There was a man at the park who was feeding the ducks and geese, although the signs there clearly state.. "DO NOT FEED THE BIRDS!"
Well, nobody, apparently, reads those signs, because they all feed the damn ducks and geese!

This gentleman, it's not the first time that I've photographed him feeding the birds, actually spends a fair amount of time, not just feeding the birds, but relaxing with them.  It's pretty interesting to see the birds pretty much landing on him to get to the food in his hands and bag.
Between feeding the ducks and geese bread, which the 'gulls are more than willing to dive in to get, he tosses a handful or three of wild-bird seed out.
The pigeons love it, as do the ducks, as I watched them shovel 
beak full after beak full of the stuff down their own gullets.

 Here is a photo of a gull diving down to get to a piece of bread in the water.  Sadly, I missed the shot by a mere moment.  I was on the trigger just a split second too early to capture the gull splashing down onto the river to collect the bread.
I tried a couple of times to capture it, but was moments too late.  I should bring a longer lens to try it again, but there's no reason to say that I'll be successful next time, just because of the longer lens..  Maybe more light will help, as the day was badly overcast!

I like to find different structures in nature.  This almost reminds me of a multi-story building with balconies.  Maybe I'm looking too far into this.

Now this is an oddity.   I wasn't sure if this is a shopping cart that is upturned in the water, but without the basket attached, and therefore just the wheeled carriage, or if this was something else, like a dolly.
All I do know is that it's tossed into the river, as if the water should remove the garbage from our shores.
It's quite depressing that people actually do this, and ruin our fresh water drinking supply. I don't now if they realize that without fresh clean water, we will be in some serious trouble!
This now leads to the side story of the Kodak Signet 35.  I'm actually rather impressed with this little rangefinder.  It needs a little bit of work, as the rangefinder is slightly off, and you can barely see it in the viewfinder, but if used as a zone-focusing camera, you can actually get some very sharp images.
The 44mm ƒ/3.5 Ektar lens is quite remarkably sharp, and considering it is a triplet lets, renders some nice smooth out of focus areas.  Mind you, their latest film like, Ektar, it just makes sense!
I'm used to a lot of these older lenses causing swirly bokeh instead of smooth and straight, which this lens actually does, and is a nice change!  Don't get me wrong, I do like swirly bokeh, but not all the time, as some lenses have a habit of rendering.

A little bit a over-exposure, and a silver film pressure plate, and you get some amazing bloom!  It begins to make it feel almost like an IR film.  The Anti-Halation layer, which is not present on this film, would help to prevent this form of bloom.  For some, it is not liked.  I really like this bloom!

Although I'm just starting to get familiar with this camera, I think it, and I, will have a very long relationship with each other.  The lens is just awesomely sharp, has a close-focus of 2 feet (almost unheard of with rangefinders) which is actually really easy to adjust for parallax, considering the actual way that this camera is laid out.

I think that using this camera along side an SLR will be a winning combination, regardless of what SLR that would be.  Besides having to get the rangefinder adjusted so I that it is actually being projected into the viewfinder, a similar problem I am having with my Konica S2, it works splendid as a zone-focusing camera.

 River Over-pass, Lawrence Ave. West @ Weston Road.

Are Our Parks Safe?

Today I was appalled to find a used and chewed up dildo, yes a dildo.  Also known as an adult sex toy, in one of our public parks, and just a couple hundred feet from where children are known to play.  This just isn't right.  A sex toy, and one that looks heavily used, plus the big bite-mark out of it, is NOT a good thing to find in a park, anywhere!

It's not so much that I found this thing on the ground, that isn't the issue, as you find condoms on the ground, porn magazines, and several other choice things, but it's rare you find a sex toy.

ESPECIALLY in a park where children frequent.

Now the funny part of this, is there is a big bite mark out of the top of this toy.  It would be quite amusing if this is because the owner of this toy had a dog, which picked this thing up and used it as a chew toy..  Then later was taken to the park, with this hanging out of its mouth, only to drop it after at the park where it was left.  Yes, I do think that would be rather funny!

But still, come on people... keep the parks clean and safe for everyone!

Canon AE-1 Returned!

Today I finally took my AE-1 out for a spin.  It needed the excercise, as did I...

Canon AE-1 w/24mm OSAWA ƒ/2.8 FD Prime

 After its brief interlude with the repair shoppe, due to a failed shutter, I got a chance to give it a fair run.  The camera seems to be operating perfectly!  The meter is accurate, as expected, and the shutter sound is awesome!  I don't know what sound I prefer for a shutter..  The quiet, yet near perfectly engineered cha-clicka of this camera, or the more defined chiclick of the Spotmatic.  It's truly hard to say.  Both sound great, and are a dream to use.
I believe I might have to say, as close as it is, that I prefer the sound of this AE-1.  I'm pretty quick about checking the DoF preview, and making rapid adjustments on the camera when needed.

Now that it is back, it's going to get a well needed workout.  Although it did get a serious workout last year, I'm intending on doing much more with it this year.  Already it's started out slow, due to it being in the shoppe for 3+ weeks.

As the day went by, I found myself wondering how to get the film I was shooting processed.  Not where, but how.  It's an old roll of Kodak Ektachrome 100.  Not E100G or E100VS or anything like that, but just straight Kodak Ektachrome 100ISO Film.  I have no idea on the age of the film either.  It came to me by ways of being stuck in a Yashica Electro G35 camera.
I opened the back of the Yashica, much to my surprise, to find a roll of Ektachrome PRIMED and ready to go!  I was both shocked, upset, yet elated to see.  The film was NOT exposed (as far as I can tell) but primed and ready to go.  Well, I rolled it back into the can, which was just a quick stroke of the wheel, and it was disengaged from the camera just like that.

So popping it into the AE-1 meant that I might get some usable images on it.  Maybe!  I am hoping that I shot it at a slow enough speed to cut down on the base fog. 
As I am unawares on how it was stored, other than in the back of a camera, I can only assume that it will be a stop or so slower.  Which is fine, but I'm worried about the severe colour shifts that might have happened.

Really took my time with this, shooting slowly, and deliberately.  Really hope that I get something!  Even if I have to convert the image to B&W to be usable, I'm game!

Hope I'll have something to post in the future from this film...




UPDATE : Got the film back, and it was blank.  Unfortunately it was too old...

Smartphone Photography

Between using my Canon AE-1, Pentax Spotmatic SP, and a little HTC Kaiser (AT&T Tilt) from 2005, my day was definitely interesting.

A walk through Cruickshank Park, a park that is going to be interesting to shoot in the summer under the full sun with IR film, grass everywhere, trees, and some nice waterscapes.  It will definitely be fun!

I do have some 35mm Efke IR820 film handy, but I'll be passing up on it for the time being, as we're not getting the right kind of light, nor do the trees have enough foliage on them.

Anyway, on to the real topic at hand.  Shooting with an HTC Kaiser smartphone.  It's a 3mp super small CMOS sensor, but the photos that are taken with it are surprisingly sharp!  Sure, you get some chromatic aberrations, can't shoot RAW, and get some easily blown out highlights.  Big deal, it's all part of the fun!

Sure, I didn't take anything special that day, just a bunch of photos of my AE-1, but it taught me something about the camera on the phone.  It is pretty powerful!  I know, it's more about the person behind the camera, instead of what the camera is that they're using, but the fact is, it's a very fun little camera to use.  It produces nice sharp images, with very good colour saturation, without being over the top (typical of digital) and excellent sharpness. 
It also produces some decent bokeh, considering the extremely small focal length. (4mm)  But, I'm sure in 35mm equiv. standards, it's probably closer to 35mm or 45mm, but not entirely sure.

There will be more images to come, not from today, but in the future.  This truly is a fun little camera to use, as you have to be very inventive to get a good shot!

Until next time...

A Roll In A Day/A Day In A Roll

Today I took part in a group project that spanned the globe.  Although I had to work today, I still managed to get some time in to do some shooting!  Although they aren't my best work, I made sure to take my time, and shoot slowly.  Especially since I only loaded a 24 frame roll! 

Either way, I was very happy with the results I got.  What a great day it was, and I really look forward to another one.

I know that I usually manage to shoot a roll or two per day anyway, but this is different.  It's focusing on shooting a roll to, well, represent your day..  So I did!  From getting to the car in the morning, to the beer at the end of the day..

It's funny, when you reflect back, you get those projects of "A Photo A Day" which are also called 365 projects, but they really don't represent much more than a need to shoot a single image every day.

Sure, it might mean a roll of film in a month, but that seems a bit slow to me.  I'd sooner shoot a roll of film a day, possibly even two or three depending! 
Come the summer I plan on even shooting a fair bit of IR.  With a box of 50 sheets of EFKE IR coming in 4x5, I can't wait to get the chance to put my Calumet to use. 
Oh to finally have 4x5 film being shot more than just once a month to once every two months!

Anyway, to see more of the photos that I took during this project, click here..

Thanks for visiting!

Infrared - Digital

So today was an exciting day.  Between shooting a few frames of B&W film, and the odd shot here and there on my Mirai using some Redscale, I decided to put a roll through my Rolleicord V.  Some Ilford PAN F 50..  at the moment, it's awaiting developing, but should be developed and scanned in over the next couple of days.

However, I have not broken my vow of a year on film, not in the slightest.  In fact, I consider this some heavy practice until the day I actually shoot it for real on a roll of Efke AURA 820 that I bought back in October.

I spent a bit of time down at the Lakeshore and ever managed to get a shot or two on the CNE grounds... 
If the IR shots come out anything like these, I'm going to be a very happy camper!

 I have not added any kind of Tone-Mappy to this image, nor have I converted it to an HDR.  It's an AS-SHOT image.  I really really really do like this IR stuff!

 The fun part about (above photo) is trying to get a kid to sit there for more than 1 second perfectly still.  This is the first image that my son managed to sit completely (almost) still for the 4 second duration of this shot.  I have several others, but this one is truly the best of the bunch!

Rollei-ng Walk

Rolleicord V - 75mm ƒ/3.5 Xenar Lens - Kodak EKTAR 100
Processed At Toronto Image Works

I have a thing for park benches, that is true. Something about the look, and design of many park benches just gets me drooling for a photo of them, and honestly, I can't really say why.  Perhaps it's just the intrigue of the future opportunity to have a photo-shoot revolving just around a park bench, or perhaps that the design of many are age-old yet unchanging.
I just know that I really can't help myself whenever I happen to come across a park bench, especially one that looks like it is either an antiqued design, or one just well thought out.
This one, although rather plain, does have some interesting character to it.  The arms and legs are nicely curved... Look at me, describing the character of a park bench!?  Man, I need to get out more..
Well, this gave me a good opportunity to give the camera a whirl.  I don't always get the chance to put it through its paces, but from time to time I do get the odd chance to give it a bit of a workout.  This is one of those cameras that I can't leave it sitting for months on end.  I just have a hard time taking it outside, as it is just so unique that I feel it'll be viewed with such envious eyes.  My Duaflex IV has gotten similar looks, except I wouldn't care as much if someone tried to rip me off of that one.  I would care, but hardly to the same degree as my Rolleicord.
The whole aspect to shooting with this camera is rather unique, from the composition, to how your hold it, to how you cock and fire the shutter.  It's just different, yet far from uncomfortable.  In fact, I really like how it works, although the shutter cocking level CAN slip out of your fingers while you're actuating it, which can easily cause the shutter to trip, wasting a frame.  Of course, I've learned, quickly, how to combat this.  It's really simple, actually, by simply covering the taking lens while you cock the shutter, if it slips and fires, well, you haven't wasted the frame at all, so you are free to recock the shutter and take the photo.
I've saved many frames of film this way, but I must admit.. It doesn't ALWAYS work out like that.  Sometimes I forget to cover the taking lens when setting the shutter, and it slips and fires. A bit of a pain, but a constant remind to myself is all it takes for me to remember, "Cover the lens!"

Hopefully I'll get some more 120 film to take out with me soon, and give this camera another fair workout.
Until then,

Keep those shutters firing!

Cheers

Spring has finally arrived! (Although Winter Never Did)

A beautiful early spring day, with temperatures upwards of 17°C (62.6°F), was a fantastic day to be out shooting.  The sights to see were wonderful, and as the year continues, I'm sure those days are only going to get better!

It was a day like today that makes you wish you had some colour film to go along with the black & white.
Bright blue skies, a soft warm wind, and some incredible light! 

Went out shooting with my Canon T80 loaded with, believe it or not, Kentmere 400ISO film, and coupled with my Vivitar 28mm ƒ/2.5 FD Prime, along with my Ricoh Mirai 35-135, loaded with Fuji NEOPAN 400 B&W CN-41 film, plus I decided to bring along my Kodak Tourist II and Kodak Hawkeye Flash box camera. 

As I have only scanned the T80 shots, so far, I will post a couple, but it'll be followed with some shots on the MIRAI and Kodak cameras.

Bridge Over Turbulent Waters
>

Stump Bench


Onward & Upward


Out For A Ride

Above Images Shot On Canon T80 35mm SLR w/28mm Vivitar ƒ/2.5 FD Prime & Kentmere 400 developed in Ilford Ilfosol 3 1+14 6.5 Minutes @20°C

My Newfound Love

Now this was fun..  A fellow Flickr contact sent me a roll of Fujicolor 200ISO film (35mm) that he had redscaled.  Now, having never shot REDSCALED film I was unsure of how to handle it.  Turns out, as soon as it is flipped, it instantly loses 2 stops of speed (EI50).  So, that means I have to compensate by dialing the ISO speed down to 50 so it'll meter properly.
I was originally told to shoot it at EI80, but I tossed that to the wind and figured, heck, at 50, if it's blown out, I can do it again.
WRONG!  50 is the golden number, it appears.  What a fantastic time I had with that film!  I am so impressed, I can hardly contain it.  What a marvelous idea to flip it, as it gives all the images a great red tint, but that's not all.  It increases the contrast, while acting like a Sepia filter, and red filter, all in one.  The blues aren't exposed very well, so blue skies end up becoming a brownie colour instead.

I must say, if you get a chance to shoot your film redscaled, you won't be disappointed, but be forewarned... remember to dial your ISO down a couple of stops, otherwise you'll be receiving a nasty surprise with very underexposed images.

Until next time!



Canon EOS 1000F 35mm SLR w/Canon EF 28-90mm ƒ/4-5.6 Wide-Angle ZOOM & Fujicolor 200 Redscaled @ EI50

Weston - The Sites And More Sites

While walking up Weston, you can see some interesting characters.  Now, it isn't as much fun as travelling downtown or in crowded areas for Street Photography, with wide sweeping sidewalks, or with throngs of people walking and milling about, it's more personal.  Every now and then you can catch someone, just minding their own business, yet completely unaware of what is going on around them.  Like the person below;

Taken on Canon T80 35mm SLR w/Vivitar 70-210mm ƒ/4 FD Telephoto Zoom on Polypan F 50 developed in Ilford Ilfosol 3 1+14 6:30s @20°C
She was waiting for the bus, and enjoying her cigarette, which seems a rather oxymoron, considering how harmful those are to your health.
She was completely unaware of the camera being turned on her as she stood in the sun, albeit cold sun, waiting for her ride to wherever she was off to.

Yet this is just one of many images from wandering the streets of Weston.
It's also nice to see that there are other stores that are using cameras as a method of attracting attention and potential buyers, such as this little pawn-shop just a few minutes walk from my work who is using a Polaroid camera as a gimmick to entice would-be buyers in;

Taken on Canon T80 35mm SLR w/Vivitar 70-210mm ƒ/4 FD Telephoto Zoom on Polypan F 50 developed in Ilford Ilfosol 3 1+14 6:30s @20°C
This isn't the first store I have seen doing this, and to be honest, this sort of thing does catch the eye.  A nice vintage camera does have some appeal to it, even if it is just a plastic old Polaroid.

There is art everywhere you look, all you have to do is frame it.  The funny thing is, that is true with paintings, sketches, drawings, etc.  Although Art is subjective, you can still find it everywhere you look. 
Even something that someone did to be funny can be considered a bit of art work.  And considering that ART is something that is used to express yourself, they were expressing their humorous side.

Taken on Canon T80 35mm SLR w/Vivitar 70-210mm ƒ/4 FD Telephoto Zoom on Polypan F 50 developed in Ilford Ilfosol 3 1+14 6:30s @20°C
A glove shoved onto the top of a pole, looked over by thousands of eyes every day, yet it just takes one eye to catch it and realize that someone was making a statement by putting it there. Regardless of whether they thought they were being destructive, or humorous, it is some form of statement. Until next time! Cheer

Up Weston - A View On Construction

Today I took a trip up Weston Rd.  Not a far trip, just a short walk up the street, taking in the sites and collecting a handful of images along the way.  One thing that really stood out was that there is an awful lot of construction taking place and causing a horrible bottleneck in the city.  With the digging of the streets as they replace watermains from Lawrence Ave. to the ONT401 Highway, it has just caused a traffic nightmare! 

At least there is hope, with the construction project in the local area starting to near its completion.  It is still a few weeks away, at least locally, but hopefully the damage that has been done to the streets doesn't mean that we'll be seeing even more construction as they return to dig up the road to repave it.



Above images taken on Canon T80 w/Vivitar 70-210mm ƒ/4.5 FD Lens, Polypan F 50ISO film & developed in Ilfosol 3 1+14 for 6:30 at 20°C

Although, for those of you that are stuck in this kind of a mess, whether you are local, or abroad, you can just think to yourself....  What would I need to not have to sit in this kind of a mess?
Here's a hint!

Above image taken on Canon T80 w/Vivitar 70-210mm ƒ/4.5 FD Lens, Polypan F 50ISO film & developed in Ilfosol 3 1+14 for 6:30 at 20°C

Until next time everyone!