Hey, is that a camera?

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Gary

(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.

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Camera Self Portrait

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Gary

At the Royal British Columbia Museum.
(Camera: Olympus Pen; Film: Kodak T-MAX 100)

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On the Lamb

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Gary

(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.

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Skunk Cabbage Landscape

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Gary

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.

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Seashore Yin Yang

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Gary

French Beach Provincial Park, Britsih Columbia. (Camera: Olympus 35RC; Film: Kodak T-Max 100)

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Blue and White

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Gary

(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.

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Starlight and Sandstone

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Gary

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.

Posted in Black and White, Nature & Landscapes | 2 Comments

Avoiding Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS)

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Gary

GAS is nasty business. It’s a close cousin to hoarding and, like that malady, it’s not only a terrible resource drain, but also a distraction that derails your intentions. Fixating on gear instead of the creative process distorts your perception of art. “If only I had Canikon DX150 — my pictures would be so much better!” It’s an easy trap to fall into. When one camera doesn’t produce the results you want, you try another, and then another, and then another. . .  That said, it’s true that for many photographers one camera won’t satisfy every creative ambition. So how do you get what you need and avoid a bad case of GAS? By following one basic rule. Continue reading →

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Favourite Cameras: Canon Sure Shot A1

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Gary

Fred Herzog is a fantastic street photographer justly celebrated for his wonderful day-in-the-life photographs of Vancouver. His shots from the 1950s and 60s are particularly exquisite. Recently, I saw a television documentary on Herzog, and in one scene he was shown walking around downtown with a very odd looking camera — something almost toylike. In a subsequent close-up, you could make out exactly what this famed photographer was shooting with. No, it wasn’t a Leica — it was a humble Canon Sure Shot WP-1. Continue reading →

Posted in Favourite Cameras, Reviews | 8 Comments

Henry & Liam

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Gary

(Camera: Olympus OM-2n; Lens: Zuiko 50mm f/3.5 macro; Film: Kodak T-Max 100 push-processed to ISO 400)

A friend’s pair of Irish Setters out for their afternoon walk. Henry is the foreground.

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