Bill Smith's Photography

Now this is the real Algonquin Park, no tourists, tour buses, crowds, just eight photographers and two models in the woods, tackling the trail a little too late in the afternoon. We really starting getting a little freaked out when one of us spotted some bear shit on the side of the trail, it was brisk hike back the parking lot which we got to after sunset. Now some of the photographers and one of the models were of Polish ancestry and were singing Polish children's songs to scare any bears away as the last bit of daylight left us. Aside from that, Bat Lake Trail was an amazing hike, we decided to re-do next year, only in the morning this time. The consensus is wandering around Algonquin Park in the dark without flashlights  hoping like hell you are on the right trail for the parking lot can be spooky. Camera: Nikon F2A, Nikkor Ais 50 f1.4 lens.  Film: Kodak Portra 400 iPhone 5s, VSCOcam App.

Nobody wants to see tour buses in their Algonquin Park shots, it defeats the whole thought of getting way from it all. We stopped along the side of Highway 60 on a few occasions and got some amazing photos. The fall colours up there make what's seen here in Greater Toronto seam dreary in comparison. Thing is the western part of Algonquin Park gets all the action due to closer proximity to  Huntsville and Highway 11 which takes you back to Toronto when it connects to the 400. Now the eastern part of the park is a lot quieter in comparison and that's a good thing. Camera: Nikon F2a Nikkor Ais 50 f1.4 and 200 F4 lens Film: Kodak Portra 400

It looks peaceful, but in reality the Hardwood Lookout Trail off Highway 60 was a zoo full of people from all over the world. Think busier than the Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto at Christmastime. Fortunately there was another trail we took later Saturday afternoon that wasn't crowded, more on that later... Camera: Nikon F2a, Nikkor Ais 50 f1.4 lens, B+W polarizer filter. Film: Kodak Portra 400

This is my second visit to Bella Lake and Billie Bear Resort. Unlike last year, we had company, then again it was Indian Summer with not one cloud in the sky and yes the colours are that bright. What blew my mind Friday night was the sky. I could not believe what I could see with my naked eyes, like nothing in Greater Toronto where we suffer from light pollution. I could see the Milky Way, I have never seen that before, can't put my feelings into words after that night. Rolleicord Vb, 75 f3.5 Schneider Xenar Lens Film: Kodak Ektar 100 Nikon FE, Nikkor Ais 35 f2 lens, Film: Kodak Portra 400

Like I said last post, I only shot one roll of black and white film this year on the Algonquin road trip. I also wanted to shoot some medium format this year too so my new to me Rolleicord Vb came along for the ride. I chose my colour film carefully, Kodak Ektar 100 and Fuji Reala 100 for out in the open shots and Kodak Portra 400 for more sheltered locations and used a 35mm circular polarizer most of the time on my Nikon gear to make the colours pop. I could not believe the stretch of perfect weather we had this past weekend, sunshine and a high of 25c, it contrasts with last year which was cool and wet. You can't ask for nicer weather. Camera: Nikon FE, Nikkor Ais 35 f2, 105 f2.5 lens, B+W Circular Polarizer. Film: Kodak Ektar 100 Square Photos Camera: Rolleicord Vb with a 75 f3.5 Xenar lens, Film: Fuji Reala 100