Bill Smith's Photography

On paper this should have been a fun day trip, I wanted to explore northeast of Toronto and Fenlon Falls was within driving distance. I've always driven past the cut off on Highway 35 on my way up to Dwight every year, I was curious.  Fenlon Falls lies within the Kawartha Lakes District between Lindsay and the Haliburtons and is on the Trent Severin Canal system connecting Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay. The drive up was uneventful, we got to Fenlon Falls late morning and started exploring.  Lunchtime came around and Jo-Anne and I went to Fenlon Falls Brewery for lunch. That's when the whole day trip went off the rails and by all rights if there was was a Fenlon Falls Tourist board or local BIA, they be shitting bricks. The service at Fenlon Falls Brewery was awful, both servers working the patio claimed to be super busy, it took us almost an hour to get our lunches while locals were getting their orders within ten minutes of ordering, well after we sat down. There was chocolat...

 Thursday morning I got in my car and started driving, heading north to Billie Bear Resort along my usual route along 35. Instead of going through Cannington, I went through Beaverton sadly the roll from that stop didn't turn out, that's ok because I'll be back there at some point.  Highway 35 is going to be a zine topic, I jusst have to set up at template and get started like all projects.  I ran with two camera bodies this year, the Nikon FM2, as my black and white body, and the Nikon F4 as my colour body, I think I hit the sweet spot, I love the results i got with this combination over the course of hte long weekend.   Of course I had to stop and photograph Miner's Bay Resort, I love places with character and history that have been around for generations. Next stop Minden.  Camera: Nikon FM2n, Nikkor Ais 50 f1.8 lens.  Film: Eastman Double X 1D-11 1+1. 

I cannot stand driving up the 400/11 and if I can avoid it, I will. That's a good thing because 35 is way more photogenic though, that still means I have to cross Toronto on the 401 before going north. The journey really begins when I leave Cannington and Durham region for the Kawarthas and point my car north on Highway 35. Fuji Neopan Acros 100, while I shot that film in medium format, I haven't touched it in years in 35mm, I forgot how creamy this film was. What a shame Fujifilm killed this film off but, I think Rollei RPX 100 will be a decent substitute for most situations where you want a medium speed black and white. Camera: Olympus OM-2n, Zuiko MC 50 f1.8 lens. Film, colour: Kodak Portra 160. Black and White: Fuji Neopan Acros 100, Xtol 1+1.