Last season's apples.
(Camera: Hasselblad 503cx; Lens: 80mm Zeiss Planar (with extension); Film: Fuji Reala 100)
I grew up on a sun-soaked orchard in the Similkameen Valley of British Columbia. Probably that’s why I’ve always marked the season cycles with the arrival of different fruit varieties. Cherries, apricots, peaches, and now early apples. Just in time too — after months in storage, last year’s apples are starting to look a little past their prime.
East Sooke Park, BC.
(Camera: Konica Auto S2; Film: Kodak T-MAX 100)
Most photographers have at least two cameras – one for when they set out specifically to take pictures, and another for “just in case” situations. It’s handy to have something small enough to slip into your pocket if you’re just dashing off to the corner store for a carton of milk. A compact camera is also the ideal accessory for a medium-format setup or a full-on 35mm SLR rig. And since I mainly shoot black-and-white, I like to keep a second, small camera loaded with colour film for those occasions when the urge strikes. But even if it’s just a sometimes camera, I don’t want to sacrifice quality for convenience. And that’s why the Olympus Stylus Epic is a firm favourite. Continue reading
(Camera: Olympus Pen - D; Film: Kodak T-MAX 100)
I have to confess to an almost Larsonesque love of cows. They’re just plain funny. Gary Larson’s cartoons always depict them as having a lively intellect capable of clever invention and sophisticated scheming. But of course, that’s why it’s funny. There are probably few creatures on the planet as conspicuously uncomplicated as the barnyard cow. Still, there always does seem to be some kind of bovine intelligence at work there. Perhaps it’s only the lack of opposible thumbs that prevents them from fulfilling Larson’s Far Side depictions. Perhaps not.
At the Royal British Columbia Museum.
(Camera: Olympus Pen; Film: Kodak T-MAX 100)
(Camera: Olympus OM-2; Lens: Zuiko 135mm f/3.5; Film: Ilford XP2 Super 400)
In the world of common barnyard animals there is a definite heirarchy. Horses are unquestionably at the top — they’re beautiful, smart, and dignified creatures. After horses, next come pigs, goats, and cows. Sitting at the bottom of the heap are sheep. They’re not especially beautiful or dignified (definitely not!), nor are they terribly smart. But at least when they’re lambs, they do manage to be cute.
Skunk cabbage, French Beach Provincial Park, British Columbia.
(Camera: Olympus Stylus Epic; Film: Kodak Ektar 100)
The leaves of the skunk cabbage can grow to 1.5m (5 ft) long, but what’s really impressive to me is just how vivid green they are, especially when they’re new and wet from a morning shower. And if you’re ever out for a walk in the woods on Vancouver Island and smell skunk, you can bet the odour is coming from lysichilon americanum and not Pepé Le Pew — we don’t have skunks here on the Island.
French Beach Provincial Park, Britsih Columbia. (Camera: Olympus 35RC; Film: Kodak T-Max 100)
(Camera: Olympus Stylus Epic; Film: Kodak Ektar 100)
This photo shows the smoke stack (is that what it’s called?) of the B.C. Ferry, Spirit of British Columbia, set against a beautiful blue morning sky. After I developed the film and scanned this shot, I thought to myself, hmmm — Kirk Tuck probably would have taken this if he were on the ferries that day. I really enjoy Kirk’s photography and his thoughtful, warts-and-all approach to blogging. He’s also an excellent writer. His The Visual Science Lab is one of the very few blogs I make a point of checking daily. If you haven’t done so already, stop by for a refreshing and enjoyable read.
French Beach Provincial Park, Britsih Columbia.
(Camera: Olympus 35RC; Film: Kodak T-Max 100)
The starlight in this case is from the Sun, fragmented into tiny glints by water next to a sandstone shore. I like how the simple, two-blade aperture of the 35RC gives each bright little “star” four diffraction spikes. Can you guess the scale of this photo? Is it an arial shot from high above, or a close-up from only a few inches away? Devoid of context it’s difficult to tell. Not that it matters — this picture is about shape and contrast.
Subscribe with RSS
