Bill Smith's Photography

There's a reason why I don't go to camera shows that often, usually I go wanting to purchase one or two items in this case a Nikkor Ai(s) 35 f2 lens. There was only one dealer with that particular lens and he wanted almost twice as much as the going market value on Ebay and KEH. In frustration I just started browsing the tables and I found this bad boy, a Rolleicord VI K3B from late 1953.The speeds fire correctly and the both the taking and viewing lenses are in great shape. I did really well on the price and I walked out with something way cooler than just a lens, I now have two Rolleis. I ran a test roll of Ilford FP4 through the camera and got this: this: and this: Oh yeah, I metered the scenes from an iPhone app I downloaded two months ago, makes a pretty serviceable spot meter in a pinch.

Spring time in Oakville

Part two of the OCC winter photography outing. Camera Olympus OM-1n, Various Zuiko Lenses Kodak Plus X processed in Xtol 1+1.

From the Oakville Camera Club winter photography outing up in Belfountain Ontario back on Saturday February 12th. Shot on a Series E Rolleiflex with a 75 f3.5 planar lens. Film: Ilford Pan F 50 Developer: Rodinal 1+50.

I'm a rock and roll photographer and don't you forget it. and here is a concert video of the Shanks in action (I had no hand its production):

Gone skiing.

I have a soft spot for Nikkormats: This is what you can get out of a 40 year old camera body and pre-ai Nikkor lenses: From the recent the recent snowfall from last Saturday:

I made my return to the darkroom back on New Years eve did some printing and experimenting with selenium toning for the first time. While I was using RC coated paper, I only saw a minimal colour shift but to my eye more detail came out in the image. Selenium toner renders the residual silvers into an inert state, however there are some drawbacks, one, it stinks really BAD. Two, you are messing with heavy metals so proper protection is required and don't inhale too deeply. I should make two fibre prints and try this process and see what I get.

I have been experimenting with different black and white films lately, I just picked up a bulk roll of Ilford Delta 100 and two 36 exposure rolls to try out. My favourite medium speed film for 35mm, Kodak Plus X is getting harder to find in bulk lengths these days. I was gifted a huge jug of Tmax developer a couple of months ago and it makes Delta 100 sing. I found my go to 35mm medium speed film going forward.

One lens I got from Alex along with the Canon F-1n is the legendary FD 35 f2 with the chrome nose complete with the radioactive rare earth glass element. All I can say is wow, the results are mind blowing and the 35 f2 lens weighs a ton especially mated with the Canon F-1n body. I pack a two lens set up if I'm in the city the 35 lens along with the 100 f2.8 telephoto. Anything more, my briefcase gets heavy.

A continuation of the last post with my Beach photowalk last Saturday. I really like the below shot, the woman looks like she is confounded by choice with the Kew Beach Park Xmas tree lot. They do sell some of the nicest trees in the city and if I did not have an allergy to whatever rides along with fir, pine or spruce I would have a real tree from here in my living room.

Had a major case of GAS recently, it coincided with my brother Alex's garage sale of camera gear and it resulted in I being the new owner of a Canon F-1n, their answer to the Nikon F3 along with a bunch of FD lenses. I love the F-1n and with what I now have in lenses FD 28 f2.8, 35 f2, 50 f1.4, 50 f1.8, 100 F2.8, 135 f3.5, and 200 f2.8 plus a FTb and AE-1 Program bodies, I don't need to get anything else. The above two photos were shot along the boardwalk in the Beach neighbourhood in Toronto yesterday afternoon.

It's been a busy two months and I finally got back back into the swing of printing. I find working in the darkroom takes my mind off more weighty (personal and professional) things that are currently on my mind. Somehow I lost my photography mojo a bit of late. Part of it is due to being very busy with the Oakville Camera Club's Capture Oakville Photography Competition and related exhibit as well as dealing with other stuff that life throws your way. I'm also frustrated with my job search, as you figured photography is my passion but PR/communications and marketing pay the bills, it allows me to tell compelling stories for a living and I love doing that. The job market however is not so cooperative, for now I am still slogging along, leads are welcome especially in downtown Toronto.

My annual fall hike along the Bruce Trail almost did not happen this year. For some reason October has been really busy for (still not making money yet) but I managed to sneak out and go for a walk in the Dundas Valley near Ancaster Ontario. Funny thing, I could not get away totally from civilization like I would at Mono Cliffs. I still need to get away, maybe after all the leaf raking is done. I used my Nikon FE and shot Kodak Ektar 100, my go to medium speed colour film. If you think this looks great in 35mm, you should see the results in medium format.

Wandering downtown Oakville at night between the rain showers with a Rolleiflex, tripod, light meter and two rolls of Tri-x 400.