Bill Smith's Photography

As I mentioned a few days ago, the calender says Spring, the windchill values say otherwise. Camera: Nikon F Photomic Tn, Nikkor H 50 f2 lens. Film: Ilford HP5 400, HC110 B.

Winter ended but while it says spring in the calender, it sure doesn't feel like it. I took out one of my first Nikon F's, a circa 1967 Photomic Tn, the meter head works, and it's still reasonably accurate from the CLA seven years ago. Camera: Nikon F Photomic Tn, Nikkor H 50 2 lens. Film: Ilford HP5 400, HC110 B.

Winter started out harsh, the long term forecast was for lots of snow, well, they missed on that one. Aside from the stray snow fall between now an Easter this season is pretty much done and dusted. You will still see snow on the slopes at Caledon Ski Club into early May by then we're hurtling towards Summer. I love how Efke 100 processes in Rodinal 1+50. Considering this film expired three years ago, I'm still getting super tonality and it loves bright lighting conditions. Camera: Olympus OM-1n, Zuiko lenses Film: Efke 100, Rodinal 1+50.

Winter has wound down, the snow is receding and looking a lot dirtier. Camera: Olympus OM-1n, Zuiko lenses. Film: Efke 100, Rodinal 1+50

After the under exposure fiasco with the roll before this, I wanted to eliminate equipment error on a local photo walk around my neighbourhood. Yup, it was user error. That said the photos on this roll look fabulous, the Canon 50 f1.4 LTM lens from the 1960s renders beautifuly. If you shoot Leica, get a LTM-Mount adapter and find this lens, you can use the difference between the cost of the 50 f1.4 Summilux and this lens for a nice vacation. Leica M4-2, Canon 50 f1.4 LTM lens. Film: Ilford HP5 400, HC110 B.

It's been a while since I shot with one of my Leicas, and I also wanted to use up what's left of my bulk loaded HP5. For kicks and giggles I pushed it to 1600 ISO and processed in Tmax Developer with a 1+4 dilution. I went with my M4-2 with my Canon 50 f1.4 (Japanese Summilux) lens and kept it simple. It was liberating granted after a while slushy Toronto in February wears thin, even for those of us who like winter and ski every weekend. I love pushing Tri-X, especially in Xtol, love what I get in that developer, same for HC110. Now I haven't pushed HP5 in a long time and had some Tmax Developer. Do I like this combination? It's not bad. I love HP5 around or slightly overexposed at box speed. I have to figure out the sweetspot for push processing. Camera: Leica M4-2, Canon 50 f1.4 LTM lens. Film: Ilford HP5 400, pushed to 1600, Tmax Dev 1+4.

I was gifted a black Olympus OM-2n last fall up in Limehouse Ontario by my friend Dan before a photowalk. It came with two Tamron adaptall lenses. The 80-200 was good, the 35-80 had some fungus, so that was quickly segregated. The Camera body itself had seen better days, it had been stored in the basement and you could smell the mustiness which wasn't a good sign. I went local for the overhaul and figured around $150 will bring the camera from the dead. The OM-2n had battery drain issues, and needed a circuit board from a donar camera, along with a thorough clean came back to life.  It cost me around $180 in the end, pretty much the same as a functioning OM2n purchased off Ebay from the used counter at your local indie camera store. So far, so good. I ran a test roll walking around Old Oakville on dismal Family Day Monday. Also gave me an opportunity to use up my HP5 stash as I'm switching to Rollei RPX 400 bulk rolls going forward. Camera: Olympus OM2n, Zuiko MC 50 f1.8 l

I had an opportunity to shoot my nephew Marcus on the Timber Tour when it stopped at the Caledon Ski Club a few weeks ago. It gave me to try out a zoom telephoto I bought the year before, it's great for sports photography, and the N90s was perfect for it. These shots were on Friday, the practice day. Marcus sadly came down with Strep throat and couldn't compete Saturday. I'm still proud he can pull jumps like this. I don't ski with my camera gear too often anymore, there's one particular lift operator who has a hate on for the camera bag I use and channels his inner mall cop. Meanwhile ski patrolers wearing backpacks are ignored. Truth of the matter, I don't need the hassle, I've been skiing longer than this guy has been alive, I know what an acceptable risk is, and choose my gear carefully. Camera: Nikon N90s, Nikkor AFD 70-210 F4-5.6 lens, Af 50 f1.8 lens. Film: Kodak Portra 400