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
Jason
Custom DT350/Archetype wheel set: Hey Brad, As expected I'm real happy with these wheels both product wise and build quality. I probably have 750km on them now. Thanks a lot Jason
Richard Schmon
Unbelievably well built Enve 6.7 wheelset. 3400km and as true as the day I bought them. Chapeau Brad!
Brent’s ENVE SES 45/Tune build
As I posted earlier, Brent had a set of Hadley disc hubs built onto two rear ENVE SES 3.4 clincher rims, the 45mm tall rear version, 24h. He figured they'd do him better on his road bike so asked ZED to build the rims onto Tune Mig 70 front (72g) and Mag 170 rear 11…Read more Brent’s ENVE SES 45/Tune build
Brent’s Hadley/Pacenti SL25 Disc wheelset
Brent had a pretty cool set of custom built ENVE 3.4 45mm rear rims 24h, laced to made in the USA Hadley disc hubs. Front and rear, 24 holes. He found the ENVE's would be better utilized on his road bike and asked ZED to build put the Hadley hubs on some disc rims and…Read more Brent’s Hadley/Pacenti SL25 Disc wheelset
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
David’s Pacenti SL23/CK R45 wheelset
David, a repeat customer of ZED Wheels, picked up a used set of 28 hole Chris King R45 hubs and asked me to build them up with his favourite rim, the Pacenti SL23. David likes the look of silver stainless spokes and so, like his previous build, went with silver Sapim CX-Ray spokes laced with…Read more David’s Pacenti SL23/CK R45 wheelset
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
One Shoe
I sketched this one late evening in the fall of 1998. I was looking for a 'subject' to draw and tripped over my shoes at the front door. Problem solved.... subject in hand. A Johnny Fluevog shoe.
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
Parker’s Chris King/Stan’s ZTR Crest 29ers
Hand built Stan's ZTR Crest 29er with Chris King ISO Disc.