Bill Smith's Photography

 The August Long Weekend was a nice one for photography, had a great frugal film roll, I also packed my chrome Nikkormat EL and shot some recently expired and refridgerator stored Kodak Ektar 100. I'm really pleased with the results.  The Nikkormat EL was a precurser of what's to come in the world of Nikon, it begat the FE, FE2, FM3A by exension the FA, a well engineered prosumer camera with aperture priority. The only real downside is the 6SR44 battery that's housed under the mirror box, and you have to go through the mirror box to replace the lens. Otherwise, a really solid camera that's fun to shoot with.  Camera: Nikkormat EL, Nikkor Pre Ai lenses.  Film: Kodak Ektar 100. 

You can't go wrong with HP5 400 pushed to 1600 on a day where the skies were pale lead, and the next day will be dirty cottonballs left by a diesel exhaust for two weeks. It looks great at box speed but it also sings pushed to 1600, almost more so than Tri-X with the added bonus, no cupping! Camera: Canon New F-1, FDn 50 f1.4 lens. Film: Ilford HP5 400 pushed to 1600, HC110 B.

Times, they are a changing. I got a chance to witness and later on in the afternoon ride on one of the last CLRV streetcars the Toronto Transit Commision had in service, December 29, 2019 was the last day. They have been around for over 40 years and had seen better days. Originally designed in Switzerland the CLRV was the replacement for the classic PCC cars the TTC had in service for decades. Yeah they were hot as hell in the Summer due to the lack of air conditioning, and seeing the salty brine slosh back and forth along the floor in the winter months add to the charm. That said I'm going to miss the CLRVs, the new Bombardier low floor street cars while air conditioned and AODA compliant, don't have the same soul as the old ones. The Classic Camera Revival and Toronto Film Shooters Facebook Group brain trust were out for a host/admin only walk on the last day of the CLRV. One to dry run a potential walk on a future date (nothing to see here, move along now) and two bounce ...