Bill Smith's Photography

A few weeks ago I attending the a meet up for the Classic Camera Revival Podcast in Hamilton Ontario, it was a great opportunity to connect with other Southern Ontario film photographers and to explore a city I don't photograph that often compared to Toronto. First off Hamilton feels different courtesy how it's situated on Lake Ontario, it also has a very different vibe to Toronto due to the industrial past. If Toronto is compared to New York (I prefer Chicago due to geography) Hamilton is Canada's Pittsburgh. Camera: Olympus OM-4, Zuiko OM 50 f1.4 lens, OM 28 f2.8 lens. Film: Bergger BRF 400, HC110 B.

Yes I was slow this this week in posting. Camera: Minolta SRT 102, MC Rokkor 50 f1.4 lens, 28 f3.5 lens. Film: Ilford HP5, HC110 B.

I was called in for a jury panel two weeks ago, it is a civic responsibility however it can throw your life upside down. I wound up projects I was working on as I could be potentially stuck in a criminal or civil trial that could last months and we don't get to choose the case. Thankfully my rotten luck at raffles played in my favour and I managed not to get selected for  particularly creepy sexual assault case. To celebrate I went on a hike with a friend up at Mono Cliffs Provincial Park. I have not been up this way in a while due to other plans and commitments. With work going in within Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, one of the main trails is presently closed and to be honest I was getting bored with the place. Back up to Mono we went. I love it up here be it Spring, Summer and especially fall.  And you're probably wondering, where are the cliffs? That's next post, the park is pretty big and even has a kettle lake. Camera: Minolta SRT 102, MC Rokkor 50 f1.4 len

My only complaint with Bergger BRF 400 is the fact it curls when it dries after processing which makes scanning a bit of challenge. Aside from that if you are getting a bit bored of Tri-X, HP5 or Fomapan 400, give BRF 400 a try. I highly recommend it for shooting in different light environments (full sunshine, overcast and indoors) and in urban environments and processes well in most developers including my favourite HC110. Camera: Nikon F3HP, Ai 50 f1.4 lens. Film: Bergger BRF 400, HC110 B. for 7.5 min at 20c.

I ordered a brick (ten rolls) of Bergger BRF 400 from B&H a month ago to try out because every once in a while I want to try something new. To my understanding BRF 400 is re-spooled ORWO UN74 and if you're a real film photography geek this particular emulsion has a similar look to Eastman XX cinematic black and white motion picture stock. Now to really test a film's latitude do it on a bright sunny day and BRF 400 handles well. Another true test is how it handles portraiture, I want to thank my friend Crystal for being my model, again the latitude handle it well. One thing, there is grain, either you're going to like it, or not. I used Kodak HC110 B at 7 min 30 seconds at 20c while not officially listed in the film specs from the Bergger website, Digital Truth had a developer and time combination. I'm using this film primarily in city environments this Summer, will I buy more, don't know, I really love what I get from Rollei RPX 400. Camera: Nikon F3HP,

More from a mid town wander from a few weeks ago. Camera: Olympus OM-2n, Zuiko MC 50 f1.8 lens, Zuiko 24 f2.8 lens. Film: Ilford HP5 400, HC110 B.

I got my black Olympus OM-2n back from John Hermansonn of Zuiko.com fame, the meter was jumpy and that got fixed with an overhaul. The camera now shoots better than new and will get a lot of use this year. If you are a single digit  Olympus OM shooter, in particular the OM-2(n), 3(Ti) and 4(Ti), Zuiko.com is pretty much the only game in North America I'm aware that can fix these cameras to factory specs. Even with the Canadian dollar hovering around .75 USD when I paid for my overhaul, it was worth every penny. Now I want to share an urban gem in Toronto, the city of ravines, it starts in Craigleith Gardens in Rosedale and tracks northwest towards St. Clair and Mt Pleasant Cemetery further beyond. The Park Dr. Reserve lands and David A. Balfour Park along Yellow Creek cuts between Rosedale and Moore Park with a natural oasis in the middle of the city. Now if you're truly ambitious, you can cut through the cemetery and pick up the Kay Gardiner Beltway park and walk all the w