Bill Smith's Photography

Billie Bear Resort up in Northern Muskoka is my happy place, while the trip up north was two months ago I'm not quite done with it yet. We didn't have the full group this year due to schedule conflicts, for those who didn't make it, I hope this will be a quick fix for them until next year. What I love about this place is the fact it has changed little since opening up a century ago, save for running water and electricity. I'm glad we're headed up four days instead of three because just a long weekend, isn't enough.  This year the resort itself became a photography project on the spot, I have taken photos around Billie Bear in previous years, I regret not shooting the water tower before it was taken down for safety reasons, it was a long time fixture. Billie Bear will be a long term project and I hope the resort is still around for another century. Camera: Rolleicord Vb, 75 f3.5 Schneider Xenar lens. Film: Kodak Tri-X 400, HC110 B.

What I love about Boyne River is how it is just a bit further than other "day hike" parks and conservation areas in Southern Ontario. There are times you need some quiet time in nature and this place fills the bill nicely. Hiking later in the fall can be hit  or miss, so it's always wise to layer. You have a the main loop in the park and the side loop on the west side or Prince of Wales Road. If you are in amazing shape, knock yourself out and do both. Even the main loop for someone in decent shape is a strenuous hike. I would not recommend this to anyone with mobility issues, you'll get into trouble pretty quick. There's no climbing up or down really, just a lot of up and down and uneven terrain. After tackling the park we went down to the Mono Cliffs Inn for a late lunch, by then the rain squalls returned and it was time to pack it in. Cameras: Olympus OM-1n, OM-1md, Zuiko Lenses. Films: Kodak Ultramax 400 (Colour) and Rollei RPX 400 processed in HC110 B ...

Boyne River is a beautiful if strenuous hike, I went up for a nice walk in the woods back in late October for the day. Here's the thing about weather forecasts this time of year, even the day of, things can change. I was smart to have both a fleece jacket and a Goretex shell because the weather got very, Scottish. What made for brisk borderline uncomfortable hiking out in the open made for some beautiful photos. Once you are in a sheltered area under a tree canopy, it was fine.  Boyne Valley is far enough from Greater Toronto it deters the fair weather hikers while fall colours peaked a week or two before, there was still plenty to shoot. Camera: Olympus OM-1n, Zuiko MC 50 f1.8 lens, Zuiko 28 f3.5 lens. Film: Kodak Ultramax 400

After lunch we left Elora for an hour's drive south through Cambridge down to Glen Morris to visit the German Woollen Mill Ruins on the shores of the Grand River. Rumour has it the ruins are haunted, I didn't see any ghosts while I was there, only a couple and their wedding photographer showing up to do an engagement shoot. The mill has a bit of an interesting history, started out processing, became an inn and later a private residence. It sits between the river and the Paris to Cambridge Rail Trail. Ben, Svetlana and I walked in from the south by about 2 km, being a rail trail it was an easy walk. Camera: Asahi Pentax KX, SMC Pentax K 28 f3.5 lens, SMC Pentax M 50 f1.7 lens. Film: Rollei RPX 400, HC110 B.

Elora won't be the same in a few short years, best to enjoy it while we got it before the change happens. Camera: Asahi Pentax KX, SMC Pentax M 50 f1.7 lens. Film: Rollei RPX 400 processed in HC110 B.

I went on a day trip up to Elora last weekend with friends, it was a nice escape for a little while. Elora is going to change over the next few years when "The Mill" reopens as a boutique hotel and the old furniture factory ruins become a new hotel, conference centre and wedding chapel. They already began construction on the south side of the Grand River. The end result will change the town but hopefully not wrecking its character. Camera: Asahi Pentax KX, SMC Pentax M 50 f1.7 lens. Film: Rollei RPX 400, HC110 B.

It has been a mild fall so far. People are still out wandering around enjoying the weather, winter is still coming but for now I'm enjoying what we got. Camera: Nikon FE2, Nikkor Ais 50 f1.8 lens. Film: Rollei RPX 400, HC110 B.

Midtown is a different place...... Camera: Nikon FE2, Nikkor Ais 50 f1.8 and 28 f2.8 lenses. Film: Rollei RPX400, HC110 B.