As I mentioned in a previous post, I was finding it challenging to accurately measure the amount of concentrated IlfoTec HC B&W developer when mixing up small batches for 120 or 35mm rolls. I knew that a syringe would be a big improvement over using the small Paterson graduated cylinder. My wife works in the…Read more IlfoTec HC: Use a medical Syringe
Photography
Taking an image, freezing a moment, reveals how rich reality truly is.
First roll: Bronica SQ-B
Earlier today, I said I'd picked up a Bronica SQ-B, where B purportedly stands for Basic. Yes, indeed this is a basic medium format camera. But it doesn't lack anything essential. Sure, you can't put a metered prism on here even if you wanted to, but that's okay by me. I didn't want to. I…Read more First roll: Bronica SQ-B
Going Square: Bronica SQ-B 6×6 Film Camera
In the 1980s, I used to dream of one day owning two cameras: A Leica M rangefinder 35mm , and the iconic Hasselblad 6x6 120 professional film Camera. Our local source for great used cameras, Camera Traders has a Twitter feed that I follow. Earlier this week, up pops a Hasselblad 500cm with Carl Zeiss 8omm…Read more Going Square: Bronica SQ-B 6×6 Film Camera
SSCXWC 2015 Victoria, BC
Irreverence meets cyclocross in the annual single speed cyclocross world championships. Victoria, BC won the right to host this crazy and wonderful event. November 22, 2015 about 330 racers spilled over Western Speedway land, a facility for auto racing and dirt biking but also a frequently used venue for Vancouver Island's Cross on the Rock cyclocross…Read more SSCXWC 2015 Victoria, BC
Unicolor C-41
I don't develop colour film that often. In fact it had been such a long time that I wasn't sure if the chems would still be good. I'd honestly deferred developing the one roll I had kicking around, Portra 400 120 roll since my el-cheapo digital thermometer had died. The LCD screen lost most of…Read more Unicolor C-41
Unicolor C-41 processing first crack
It's been over 8 rolls of B&W film since I resumed my own film processing. It was easier than I remembered, and especially easy thanks to the Massive Film Database Timer application available for iPhone and Android. I use it on my iPhone 5. Time to try colour processing. Last weekend provided a few firsts…Read more Unicolor C-41 processing first crack
Nikon FA first impressions
It's funny how people respond when they find out you shoot film. My longtime neighbour Bob (real name) wandered over one day and I happened to be holding my F3 in my hand. He mentioned he had a couple film SLRs he'd like to show me sometime. That sometime came last Sunday. I dropped over…Read more Nikon FA first impressions
Tri-X ’round Chinatown
A week or so ago, I went downtown with my family. I brought my Mamiya loaded with HP5+ and Fujicolor 400, and my Nikon F3 with Tri-X 400. I've not yet developed the 120 rolls, but did develop the Tri-X the other night, and scanned them over the next couple of evenings on my Epson…Read more Tri-X ’round Chinatown
Nikon F3 once more
Ah, the Nikon F3. It is arguably the most successful camera from Nikon. When this camera was launched, I had just purchased my first SLR camera, the popular Pentax ME-Super, a high tech 35mm SLR, with touch controls to adjust shutter, and a very compact body. It was a great camera, and I was very…Read more Nikon F3 once more
My son’s intro to photography
My son, 12, has been learning some basic composition and other photography skills at his middle school. The instructors use iPads to remove the technical aspects of photography from the student to allow them to place their attention on composition. He's learned about the rule of thirds, and other composition tips. He asked me one…Read more My son’s intro to photography
Mamiya 645 Pro TL medium format film camera
Ever since I got into photography in the late 1970s I've wanted a medium format film camera. More specifically, I wanted a Hasselblad, the iconic studio camera of the era. I really knew little about medium format, but was intrigued. Well, over thirty years later, I now own a medium format camera. At first, inspired…Read more Mamiya 645 Pro TL medium format film camera
FED 2 tryout: b&w film
As I mentioned in a previous post, I was recently pulled into the draw of shooting a fully mechanical, meter-less vintage, and somewhat iconic rangefinder, made in the then USSR. Who wouldn't want a Leica M rangefinder. I just didn't want to invest all that much at this moment. It wouldn't have been a wise move…Read more FED 2 tryout: b&w film
FED 2 Rangefinder
This is my first rangefinder camera. At $29, it was hard to pass up. I like the story. In WW2, as you could imagine, getting your hands on german made camera equipment was next to impossible. At the time, Leica was the 'standard' for rangefinders. I guess it still is. To solve the shortage, FED…Read more FED 2 Rangefinder
Vancouver at Night. 1986
With my trusty Nikon F3 in hand I started at my apartment on Alma street to do some night shots. F3, a standard 50mm f1.4 lens, and a tripod, some Fuji colour film and off I went.
Powell River, 1984
In winter of 1984, I returned from my first summer hydrographic surveying in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska. I'd welcomed the real seasonal weather back home in Powell River. A few days home over Christmas and the snow had fallen overnight. I grabbed my recently acquired Nikon F3 HP camera and went out around town.…Read more Powell River, 1984
Dutch Harbor 1984
After graduating from BCIT, I joined a hydrographic surveying firm in Houston, TX. My first assignment was a six week survey in the Bering Sea. We spent a couple days in Dutch Harbor, a small village in the Aleutian Islands. The grass covered hills around the village featured several WWII bunkers. I recently purchased a…Read more Dutch Harbor 1984
Scooter Boys
My son and his pals ride trick scooters. The day was epically sunny and clear and relatively balmy. I tagged along with my D600, F3 and a couple lenses to shoot the kids attempting various tricks and pushing their limits. It's free play at its best. I shot a lot of digital for the benefit…Read more Scooter Boys
