A Trip With the T90

Well, sure, I know I'm supposed to be out and about with the Super Ikonta more, but I need to give my other cameras a wee bit of attention to. If I don't exercise the shutters, they can start to go... funny.
This time around I decided it was time to take the T90 out for a bit of an adventure, albeit not much of one.. So, loaded with some TMAX100, off I went... here are some of the images from the roll..

Of course, what roll is complete without a silly selfie in a mirror 😊 haha!

Until next time, keep those shutters firing!

Day 5 - Jan. 6, 2018 - FP4 at 1600!

Never to let the limitations of a camera limit me, I'll push film as much as I can get away with to allow me to use it. I haven't done much in the way of pushing or pulling with Ilford's FP4+ film, but I figured, what the heck. So I decided to spin it up as high as EI1600... That's almost a 4 stop push! Many films respond alright to a one or two stop push, but four?! Why not. How hard could it be? I mean, after all, +Kelly-Shane Fuller has done some seriously crazy pushes with film himself, plus I have done that sort of thing many years ago with Polypan F..

Why not a more robust film like FP4+..
To be honest, I really do like the results!

Not bad for a 30s rangefinder.. It was actually this roll where I noticed that there was a hole in the bellows, which accounts for the light leak I had found on my first few rolls I developed.. Fixed that issue with a piece of black Duct Tape, since it was on the side of the bellows instead of a corner.

Until next time, keep those shutters firing!

All photos taken on my Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 530/2 120 6x9 Roll film Rangefinder using Ilford FP4+ ei1600 film.
All images are copyright and cannot be used without permission.

Day 4 - Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta Still Life - Take II

So this was actually my first attempt at using my smartphone to kind of show the visualization of my photo before I took the photo on my Super Ikonta. I wanted to know what sort of final image I would be working with and then working out how I really want it to look using my phone to see where the camera would get the best framing for the entire frame.

Well this first image shows basically the unfortunate limitations of using a Rangefinder for still life..

Sighting up the image and double checking and fine tuning the focus - Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

As you can see it doesn't show much promise. It's simply TOO wide to get proper framing.. I thought it would make a good shot to show a 'wider' shot of the entire scene. Almost like a behind the scenes with the primary camera.

Then basically what I saw through the finder, is almost a direct representation of what I actually got in the image as we see in the original post.

Then I think.. this isn't good.. I know I can do a lot better.. SO I reach out my Kodak Portra +2 closeup filter and want to try upping the difficulty game to very difficult.
A few test shots later....

First here with the Tomato on my Cell-Phone. I was blown away with how close I could get and focus with the phone. It gave me a lot of hope for what I wanted to try to accomplish.

Closer still, but not quite where I was intending on it going.. The framing seemed awkward and loose. I didn't like the light...

Time to try changing a few more variables... adjusting the curtains... adding a screen...

Yup.. a lot better here..

Finally another adjustment to the final image and...

 Yeah, this is what I was after..

Referring to the 'Reference Guide for Kodak Portra Closeup Filters' I set the camera where I needed it to capture this kind of framing, although it would be more square to the image...

I think I nailed it with the Super Ikonta...

Day 4 - Still Life

This time around I wanted to try something very different with the IKONTA.. Close-up Still Life. I've never really done too much with Still Life photography, so this was a big step for me. I've always wanted to, but know how hard it is and never did do it. Well that's not true, I have done some still life, but it never worked out properly... Okay, one or two images have, but I always thought it was more luck than anything..

This time around I had help.. Using my phone as a framing guide from the distance I had chosen (making corrections to match frame size between the phone and the Ikonta (wider angle lens on the phone)..

Playing with lighting, positioning and just outright moving the whole frame closer...

I got this...

Still Life - A New Approach - Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 530/2 Ilford XP2+ Super

I felt it was too far.. I couldn't get the look I was after.. I wanted tighter and closer... less ... noise.. clutter..

Well, I moved the camera closer.. The problem, however, is that my camera cannot focus closer than 1.5m (1.5 meters, learn the metric system, it's based off of parts of ten. Ten fingers ten toes)

So I had to think how I can change that.. Well sure enough I remembered... I have a close up filter!

Grabbed my Kodak Portra +2 closeup filter.. only to realize I'm going to have to hold it over the lens because I didn't have a filter holder.. Dammit!
On top of that, I didn't know the distances... So onto the internets I go.. Then I find it.. a scan of the quick guide... Set lens to INF and measure to 19 7/8".. good thing I also know the Imperial USA system as well as Metric, right? Guess what, lens is in Metric... hahah! So I have to convert.. okay, INF!

Well, a cable release in hand, filter in the other.... and ... CLICK...

Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 530/2 - Novar Anastigmat 105mm 3.5 w/Kodak Portra +2 Filter - Ilford XP2 @ EI800

I think I nailed it...

Until next time, keep those shutters firing!

Day 3 - January 4th, 2018 - XP2 and the Ikonta

I took a few photos on my way to work one morning. Since I was running with XP2 I knew I should get something..

So here are a few of the photos I took that morning..

All photos are taken on Ilford XP2 and shot rated for 800.. However I could only do so much without a tripod for the last photo..

Until next time, keep those shutters firing!

Back In The Darkroom - Jan. 22 - 2018

Back in January, on the 22nd, I ducked into my Darkroom to do some printing for a print-exchange I'm a part of..

The photo I printed is this one below that I shot using my Yashica Lynx 5000 with Rollei RPX 25.. However, I'm not really sure I am going to go with this image after all. I mean, it's lovely, I know, but I'm really thinking I have a better image for the exchange..

Yashica Lynx 5000 - Yashinon 45mm 1.8 - Rollei RPX25 - Printed on Agfa MCP310 Semi-gloss RC paper

It has been quite amazing the experience of selecting the negative to use and the whole process to get that image the way you want it on paper..
So maybe it'll be the image I send off around the world, or maybe it'll be something different..

But when I was setting up to do the actual Print itself, I decided I was going to get a shot for my Zeiss Ikon Project.. Sure enough my Ikonta was loaded with a near finished roll of Portra160NC.  I had my lightmeter on my photo to get an ambient reading with my red LED light... Sure enough it read... ƒ/4 10s ... Crap that's leaving too much to chance on focus and framing being absolutely near perfect..
OKAY stop down to ƒ/5.6 for that much wider a margin for error.. Good 15s... Reciprocity plus less than ideal film colour sensitivity range... frig.. 30s I have to hold still... while depressing the shutter release cable... All the while trying to pose like I was examining a projected negative to try to determine the best framing for a print...

Darkroom Selfie - Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 530/2
Novar Anastigmar 105mm ƒ/3.5 @ ƒ/5.6 30s Exposure
Kodak Portra 160

So you can achieve the unlikely in one take on film.. It's the only frame I wanted to use and it worked perfectly the first time around!

Until next time, keep those shutters firing!

January 3rd, 2018 - Day 2

Beautiful! That's about the only thing I can say about the weather ... It was cold... it was gray... but it was still beautiful! There was still a lovely filtered type of light that was going on.. But it was the afternoon when I got home that really was lovely.  I got some photos of my dog in the back yard. He actually is a great subject for pet portraits. He is extremely obedient and listens really well, but he's also his own dog, so sometime he has his moments..

Of course, you'd figure a dog named Kodak would be an awesome subject for photography.

Hockey On The Lake - Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta - Fuji Acros 100

Well one image from that day was out on Fairy Lake, which is where I went that day. There wasn't too much really to take a photo of, but there was the family out on the lake playing some hockey...

The Snow Dog - Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta - Fuji Acros 100

So until next time guys, keep those shutters firing!

Jan. 9th, 2018 - Day 8

Another walk in the neighbourhood, mostly to finish off a roll of Tri-X 400 and to continue to get accustomed to this camera... Of course in went a roll of HP5, no less.. Nothing like finishing a roll of magic to load a roll of another.. I think I'm already up to, what, 10 rolls approximately through this camera since I got my hands on it.
So much for 52-rolls.. We're only a week in and I'm already on 10?! ahaha!  Okay, so, maybe I'll have to just say it's a project of 52-weeks of shooting film in my Super Ikonta.. Might be a better way to look at it..

I did, however, compliment the Super Ikonta with another Zeiss Ikon camera.. The Contaflex SuperBC. The Contaflex Super-B has gone on its merry way to California now and is going to be receiving a complete and thorough overhaul. She needs it!  A half-roll of Kodak Gold 200.. I can hear Hilton Falls calling, but I'll probably just go back to Limehouse to finish it off..
Mind you it'll be nice to get to Niagara Falls sometime soon, considering this cold-snap. Would love to shoot the falls and the ice that are encrusting everything else around it..
The Super IKONTA might be a smart choice for that, but I think it's about time I got it a strap I can wear around my neck or over my shoulder..

Until next time, keep those shutters firing!

A New Box Camera - The Hamm Box

Okay, so officially it isn't 'the Hamm Box' but the gentleman that has came up with it is named Robert Hamm.  It is called the NuBOX1, which makes sense, as it is a New Box camera, the only one around.
It is a 6x9 120 roll film box camera that will have interchangeable lens cartridges and even waterstop apertures.

I have had the pleasure of chatting with an Andre Domingues about this camera, who is the PR guy for the camera.
Although this isn't an interview, I'll make a quick rundown of this camera here..

First off, there is a Kickstarter (but it's actually beyond funded) however it is, as of the day of this post, still running with 21 days remaining.

Blue Weathered NuBOX1

The NUBOX1 is a really nice looking camera, which looks like it has been based off  pretty much any other Box Camera, however I like to look at it and think.. "Oh this looks nearly identical to my Agfa Shurshot B2 Box Camera."

That said, there are some stark differences. For one, it's modern, a bit better built (not made of cardboard) and looks really well designed.

Sure, there may not be focusing on this camera, unlike the Zeiss Ikon Tengor, but which one survived in design? Not the Tengor!

Now, why a box camera, you might ask. Why not a 35mm SLR, or a 120 TLR or something else like that, well, baby steps.
HOWEVER think about this, one of the best selling cameras today right now for people getting into film photography, is a Holga. Well maybe not, but they are hugely popular and incredibly versatile, albeit basic, cameras. That said, I shoot with a box camera on an off and on basis. Sometimes I just want to go out with a camera and not worry about focus and adjusting the shutter and aperture and just shoot... compose, shoot, walk away. A perfect solution is a Box Camera!

Especially with such a big negative!  2 1/4" by 3 1/4" (also known as 6x9)

A bunch of coloured boxes

I have done a lot with my box camera. Well, not exactly a lot, but a fair bit of things, from snapshots, landscapes with a polarizer and even Infrared film!  Yes, I shot IR (well sorta IR) in my Box.
Ilford SFX200, which is pretty darn close to IR with similar effects.

My Agfa Shurshot B2 Box
With IR R72 Filter

The way I did it was actually kinda fun. I pulled the 'aperture' lever, which also has a 'yellow' filter on it, held down the shutter release for a 'set time' and released. Other times I just clicked the shutter multiple times...

This method did work! I just didn't have a tripod socket on the camera, so I had it basically completely level and there wasn't much I could do from there.

Maybe the NUBOX will have one? Then again, it shouldn't be too hard to glue one on with some Epoxy if they don't... it's getting it to suit and match the camera that might be the hard part.

But you can see in the image, left, and the images above that the cameras are very very similar in design. But then again, many box cameras are exactly the same. A single element lens, two composition windows and a lever on the side.

Agfa Shurshot B2 Box Camera - Kodak Tri-X 400

So why a box camera, for one, they are extremely inexpensive to produce and are very good cameras to use. You can easily customize them for your liking.

But still, why a box camera? That's a good question.. I know that Bellamy Hunt (Japan Camera hunter) is designing a 35mm camera, although it is probably going to be an expensive point and shoot style camera. There are other 35mm SLRs that were kickstarted, but they are all extremely expensive.

Let me put this into perspective, a 35mm SLR that was on kickstarter you would have to pay 350 British Pounds to get one with a choice of what mount to use.
That is a huge chunk of change... vs the $80 for a Box Camera (you do the math).

Sure, there are other Box Camera options that are 'pricier' but I mean, I backed the project and I went with the top choice. Less than 200USD shipped.
WHY did I go that route and not the lower priced one?  Well, you see, it has a leatherette cover, but it's made with a synthetic leatherette and not one that is derived from any animal sources, which for the simple fact of a massive Vegan movement (yes I am part of that, along with many other fellow film photographers) it has opened up options for other shooters that would not have purchased a camera with a leather skin attached.

I went with that model to show there is a demand for that kind of alternative product. If we don't vote with our dollar, the status quo stays the same.

But a BOX camera... For me, it's a no brainer. I've rolled Velvia50 in my Box.. I've rolled Tri-X... SFX200 and have been planning on rolling Kodak Ektar through it as well... It's a perfect solution for just shooting and enjoying photography without breaking the bank.

There are some key features of this NuBOX 1 that I think are very impressive.  For one, sure, a lifetime warranty. Well, sure, meh... it's a box camera... after 90 years, my Box Camera still works as it used to, except the shutter lever is a little stiff..

Okay, so let's do a run down on the options;

Interchangeable lenses - Wide - Normal - Telephoto
Aperture Stick - Basically water-stop sticks that will 'stop down' the lens, but you just shove them into a hole on the top of the camera. This is good for fast film...
1/200s shutter. Yes, that's right!  That's a nice fast shutter, which means you can shoot 400 speed film in there with the ƒ/16 stick and have very good results, unless you're closer to the equator than I am, then you might need the ƒ/22 stick or a filter on the lens.
Plus... this isn't no plastic element hope it's sharp kind of lens,  it's a high quality optical glass lens! It's designed to give you the best results without costing a fortune!

So let me guess... Well, it's all great that there are some excellent options that come with this camera, but ... what about image quality?
Okay, so lets get started...





The camera is capable of producing some excellent images and I believe that this will be a great addition to anyone's collection of camera... especially as an everyday shooter!

I think everyone should own and shoot with a box camera. I'm not saying every single day, but you should be out with a box camera at least once or twice a year just to shoot. To enjoy photography in its simplest form.
The best part of this, everyone that is into PINHOLE photography makes a box camera. That's how simple they are and how wonderful they are... Box Camera designs are the most basic, yet the most versatile!

Considering that pretty much every single modular camera out there is basically just a 'box' with a lens and film back.

Bronica.. Hasselblad.. Mamiya.. Sure the optics are way beyond what you find in a box, but considering the price tag of many of those lenses, that's a lot of Box Cameras.. hahaha!!

So if you haven't already backed it, even if it is already 100% backed, you can still get in on it and get yourself a brand new box camera with interchangeable lenses.

Until next time everyone, keep those shutters firing!

All images are copyright and images of the NuBOX1 are used with permissions from Hamm Camera Company. Images may not be used or redistributed without permission.

Day 7 - Jan. 8, 2018

I decided to try something for a change. I ran a roll of TMAX100 in my T90 for no better reason than to give another camera a chance to shoot some film. I went with 35mm for a little more of a 'care free' attitude. I took it on a road trip to Toronto and did a bit of shooting there and on the trip back.  Nothing too fancy, but will know when I develop the images.  The Ikonta got a short break but it'll be back again shooting soon!

Stay tuned for some 35mm frames, which will be a bit more plentiful than the few from the 8 shot Super Ikonta.

Until next time, keep those shutters firing!

Burlington Lakeshore

Ahh, the brisk wind that whipped in off the lake was anything but comfortable. It was biting and would numb your fingers in seconds. The brief moment that I took my fingers out of my sleeves and had to manipulate the camera to capture a single exposure was anything but fun, however the photos, they were worth it. 

I warmed up fairly quickly by making sure I was always moving, but I found that the sun, as weak as it was, did help a bit. The blue skies and bright light did make you feel better, even if it was just for show and wasn't actually super warm.  One good thing, it wasn't snowing or raining!

The ice that had formed all over the bollards and chain was pretty cool, but the moment that really stood out was seeing the geese standing in the water.... sleeping..

Fowl Waters - Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta - 105mm 3.5 Novar
Fuji Superia 100

I mean.. Really?  at -20C and they're sleeping in the water.. It's really weird to see that, but I guess when you're made to be able to take bitter freezing temperatures in the water, it's not going to phase you.  But sleeping? Crazy!

But enough typing.. here are the images from the Lakeshore..

It was a cold, but fun New Year's day...

Coin Binoculars - Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 530/2
Fuji Superia 100 Expired

Bollard Walk - Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 530/2
Fuji Superia 100 Expired

Frozen Chain - Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 530/2
Fuji Superia 100 Expired

Skating - Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 530/2
Fuji Superia 100 Expired

Sleeping With Cold Feet - Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 530/2
Fuji Acros 100

Frozen Lakeshore - Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 530/2
Fuji Acros 100

It was a really cold morning, there were a couple of camera malfunctions, probably to do with the cold weather, but in the end, everything was sorted out and we both got a roll or two finished off..

Until next time, keep those shutters firing!

Day 6 - Jan. 7 2018 - From Weston to Belfountain

A Poppy In A Tree
Samsung S6 Edge

Original plans were to accompany my friend James Lee for a shooting excursion into Toronto. From the area around Jane and Eglinton, for a Hasselblad refurbishment by Joe Viera, to some shooting in the Weston area, Weston Rd. and Lawrence Ave West.. Through Cruickshank Park, however we never made it there.. That's alright..

In fact, the plans changed rapidly toward when we were planning on leaving.. Turned out that I was going to be tied down with one of my kids, my youngest, Noah. Turns out, James had to bring his kid along for the journey as well. We were getting things ready and figure they'd keep each other engaged and we'd have a shooting day.
Well, it changed only minutes before leaving.. James' Son has a cold.. Yeah, probably not a good idea. I don't want to get sick, neither does Noah.. SO off to Belfountain on our own we go.
The Super Ikonta on my side, bundled up like crazy and a roll of HP5+ rolling through at 400 ... Wasn't bad... I enjoyed it, but the light was pretty flat. Slipped on some stairs, but it just made me hurry up on my walk down instead... haha! I went back up and picked a different set to go down.. Well... for Noah and I to go down..

How Canadian
Samsung S6 Edge

He was a little scared on the stairs, thinking they were super slippery.. So I bashed some of the snow off the steps so he could step on bare stone, since they were stone and not concrete.
A couple more shots and we were heading back to the car... Noah saying his toes are cold and he's feeling tired..
Poor guy.  I managed to get through the HP5+ and even a partial of Kodak Tri-X 400, so I'm really looking forward to seeing how they look. Frustratingly, I also found a tiny pinhole in the side of my Bellows on the Super Ikonta. I tried to get a piece of self-adhesive fabric to put on, but couldn't find any... SO a super tiny patch made out of Duct Tape... black Duct Tape, to be exact, from a roll of Black Duct Tape no wider than a roll of regular clear tape for wrapping gifts and sealing envelopes.

The Long Road Home
Samsung S6 Edge

But the repair is done and the camera is still working very well.  The ordeal is extremely minor and the bellows is sound, it was just one small spot, but it's very odd where it was... Ah well, it's fixed and I don't think it hurt my growing respect for this camera.

I know, there are some Samsung S6 phone shots on here, but they're just meant to be some silly eye-candy..

Until next time, keep those shutters firing!

The 616 Rides Again

A trip to Belfountain, kinda impromptu, but I already had a desire to visit for a while, just didn't think it'd be in the depth of Winter Ice and cold..  But sure enough, that's just how things worked out.

Suspension Bridge - Kodak Jiffy 616 - Kodak Verichrome Pan
Developed in HC-110 Dil. B

The camera did have pinholes in the bellows and I screwed up a couple of shots, but nothing major. I was completely floored when I pulled the negatives out of the tank. They really are beautiful, especially from a film that is older than I am! (40+ years old).. I didn't expect too much, but was hoping for some kind of image... Even if it was badly fogged or poor contrast, even just a soft crappy image.  When I got instead was just beautiful!
The camera honestly isn't much more than a glorified BOX camera that allows you to ... slightly... adjust the focus, but that's probably more to do with the virtue of such a long focal length.  Not to mention that the camera also does have a waterstop, which mostly just blocks light for slightly faster films.
Due to the pinholes in the bellows, I took some precautionary measures..  I had received some advice many years ago about just wrapping the camera bellows in a dark towel or cloth or something like that... so i did it with a scarf. Sure it made it look like I was trying to keep the camera warm, but it was more along the lines of just simply keeping the camera light tight.  It worked quite well!  Last time I used the camera I rolled some TMAX through it, which was just 120 rolled onto a 616 spool.. This time it was 616 film onto 616 film spools.
Properly done...

Very impressed with this film size, it's absolutely massive!
Scanning took a bit of work as I had to make a custom film mask but it was not too hard. I had an old matte from a broken picture frame and a box from a new tube of toothpaste.. A bit of tape and cutting with scissors and poof! I had a functioning 616/116 film mask that allowed me to scan frame by frame.
Worked very well and get the film relatively flat for easy scanning..

But enough of the blab, let's see some of the photos now, right? That's mostly why you're here anyway... Just so you know, 616/116 film is about 65mm wide, which means that you can use 70mm film from a bulk roll and spool it onto the backing paper and roll with it.
Going to give it a whirl with the Eastman 70mm DoubleXX film I have in my freezer..

Reinvented Wheel - Kodak Jiffy 616 - Kodak Verichrome Pan
Developed in HC-110 Dil. B

Riverside Bench - Kodak Jiffy 616 - Kodak Verichrome Pan
Developed in HC-110 Dil. B

Snow Covered Bridge - Kodak Jiffy 616 - Kodak Verichrome Pan
Developed in HC-110 Dil. B

All photos taken in Belfountain Conservation Area.

Until next time, keep those shutters firing!

Day 4 - January 5th, 2018 - Belfountain And Still Life

A day off on Friday, a nice change from the usual hustle and bustle of the big city, so I took a short trip north to Belfountain Conservation. My trusty Super Ikonta in hand with an extra companion. A 1940's Kodak Jiffy 616 roll film camera. This camera is huge! Yet it still fit perfectly in my pants pocket... Well.. my cargo pants pocket.. haha! It's a massive negative too!
Loaded with Verichrome Pan and wrapped in a scarf to prevent errant light from leaking into the bellows and making a muck of things.. I was ready to capture the impossible!

The Ikonta cleaned up, of course. With some still life shots in the morning with a Close Up filter, not too shabby, on Ilford XP2 no less... Really excited to see the results from this setup.. Never know, I might have caught Gold on Silver... haha!
I wonder if I can do that with my box camera... Ideas ideas ideas.. hrmmm...

















With these ideas, perhaps I will be able to expand my knowledge and skill level.  Learning to do still life is incredibly challenging. I haven't done a lot because of the challenge involved, however I do have a fair amount of help with someone who is incredibly good at it.

The idea of actually shooting Still Life with a Rangefinder is probably nothing new, but I like to think I'm stepping into a different frontier every time I do something silly like this..

Until next time, stay tune.. Photos will be following..

Keep those shutters firing!

Day 3 - January 4th, 2018

So I took my camera to work today. You know the one.. there is only one right now for much of the year I feel it might be that way with the way I've been shooting this camera. I am determined to explore all the limitations of this camera and go beyond them.  The Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta..
I have some ideas for close ups... Well, that Super Ikonta is loaded with Ilford XP2 Super... a film that i know you can expose between 200 and 800 without having to adjust your developing.. provided you develop it in C-41 chemistry.. I'm not sure if that holds true if you develop this film in a traditional Black and White developer..
Well, I rated it at 800 this morning, took a reading and snapped a few photos.... One of the photos I didn't bother taking a reading, I just kinda winged it.. we'll see... but I don't have a lot of faith..
My only worry, of course, is with how blistering cold it was this morning, I just hope I wasn't shaking at all..
I know this is supposed to be a 52-roll project, but if this keeps up the way it is, I'm going to have to get a Patreon account.. hahaha!! You know ... and offer some extra content that way???  hahaha..

Okay okay, for now, no, but film and film processing can get pricey, depending on what type of film and how it requires processing..

It's an idea if I get into some serious dedication to this project!  Maybe I'll just ignore the whole 52-roll project and just entirely concentrate on content to share...

I am trying to release a new post at least every Monday and Saturday..
Since this is the first week, I'm posting the beginning process of this project.. I want to remember it..

So.. here goes guys!  Time for me to jump off the deep end and see if I can add a new layer to our bleak existence out here in this Winter Wonderland in the snow belt area of Southern Ontario..
Woohoo!

So.. until next time guys... Keep those shutters firing!

Jan. 02 - Day 2 - A Short Trek to Fairy Lake

I took a short trek over to Fairy Lake, which is about a 5 minute drive from my house, to finish off a roll of Acros in the Ikonta. Well, let me correct that. I was off to get a new water filter for my fridge, so it was not far from there and I wanted to finish the roll.  After finishing that roll I replaced it with a roll of Ilford XP2 Super. A great C-41 B&W Chromogenic film that I can shoot between 200 and 800 iso without adjusting developing times. Not a bad film at all.  I'll have to see how some long exposures come along too.. hrmmm.. Or some infrared..

Well, the most amazing part was that the world changed from a lush green landscape with beautiful birds and a paddle friendly lake, to a winter wonderland... Deep drifts of snow and the unbroken crust on a frozen lake.  Unsurprisingly was the section out toward the middle in the bay where there was a family playing hockey in a section of the water they had shoveled off into a makeshift rink.
Hopefully my photo of that comes out and wasn't obscured by the blowing snow.

We shall see... so stay tuned.. It may not have been a lot of shots from today, but it was a couple of them.  I do have a few more from January 1st, colour and black and white, including those from the roll of Acros I finished. Wonder how the uncoated lens will treat colour film.... Guess we shall see, especially since I might have shot into the sun on one of the photos.. Oops!  Flare time!

The Trip to Elora - Day Zero

Self Portrait - Longest 30s of my life!
 Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta
Novar-Anastigmat 105mm ƒ/3.5
Ilford HP5+ HC110 Dil. B

Braving the cold, I do mean brutally frigid temperatures, of -20°C without the windchill and for the Imperial readers, that would be -4°F, of course I'm pretty sure everyone can agree, it's cold. I had joined the Toronto Film Shooters on the trek to Elora this past Autumn to hopefully capture the fall colours, but unfortunately, due to the rather warm Autumn we had, the trees didn't change to their usual vibrant colours.. But we got some colour, nonetheless.. Well, this time I decided to trek up and see how the town was in the winter.. I only went to their quaint little downtown section, only barely, snapping a few photos while there. I'll have to do a longer walk around the town, but the wind was so biting cold that I could only stay out for about 30 minutes.. After that, a brief coffee stop... Then another 20 minutes walking around and then back to the car and home.

It wasn't for naught, I got some E6 shots on my Canon ELAN 7NE, maybe a frame or two on the Bronica EC before it decided it was too cold even for it... but a complete 8 shot roll in my Super Ikonta, which just, like usual, kept on firing.




Here are a few images from there;

Come In Open - Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta
Novar-Anastigmat 105mm ƒ/3.5
Ilford HP5+ HC110 Dil. B

Lost and Found Cafe - Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta
Novar-Anastigmat 105mm ƒ/3.5
Ilford HP5+ HC110 Dil. B

Old Footings -  Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta
Novar-Anastigmat 105mm ƒ/3.5
Ilford HP5+ HC110 Dil. B

Hope you like the images... Stay tuned as the year goes on, many many many more images coming.