Autumn maples, Galloping Goose Regional Trail, Victoria, BC. (Camera: Olympus OM-G; Lens: Zuiko 50mm f/1.8; Film: Kodak T-Max 100)
It was an unexpectedly lovely autumn day — perfect for a walk in the woods. I shot this in the morning, developed the roll once home, and did a quick-and-dirty scan a few hours later so that I could post it here. Instant autumn. Not iPhone instant, but not bad for black-and-white film and not really trying for speed.
(Camera: Olympus OM-2n; Lens: Olympus Zuiko 50mm f/3.5 macro; Film: Kodak T-MAX 100)
This shot is from my most recent roll and was taken during a relatively brief walk at Devonian Regional Park, here on Vancouver Island. I’d been feeling a bit unproductive lately since my last couple of rolls didn’t yield any images I was especially excited about. This latest one was different though. In addition to this shot, there are several others I can’t wait to get into the darkroom to work on. I suppose that’s just the nature of any creative enterprise though — inspiration comes and goes in fits and starts. If it were easy and repeatable, we probably wouldn’t bother at all.
Sigöldufoss, southwestern Iceland. (Camera: Olympus OM-PC; Lens: Olympus Zuiko 135mm; Film: Fuji Provia 100F)
It says something about the extravagant beauty of Iceland that a waterfall as picturesque as this one is so common it doesn’t even have a proper name. According to my Icelandic friend, Martina, most locals refer to it as Sigöldufoss, since it lies near a hill called Sigalda. Makes sense. It was a year ago that I visited Iceland. I’ve been missing the place ever since. Spectacular sights like this are only one reason.
Late afternoon, October, along the Similkameen River. (Camera: Karoron medium-format folder; Film: Fuji Reala 100 )
The Similkameen is where I spent my childhood. It’s one valley west of the more famous Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia. Both regions are rich with fuit trees and vineyards, producing some of the worlds finest wine grapes, apples, peaches, apricots, and cherries. It was the best possible place to be a kid. Continue reading
The start of a beautiful September day on the coast of Maine.
(Camera: Olympus OM-PC; Lens: Olympus Zuiko 28mm f/3.5; Film: Kodak Elite Chrome 200 EC)
In the eight years I lived on the east coast near Boston, I never ventured up to Maine. I have no idea why, except that I fell into that “there’s always another day” trap that conspires to keep one from exploring those things closest at hand. However, last autumn, my wife and I made the trip (this time, from the much greater distance of Victoria, BC) to attend the wedding of our friends Anne and Robert. We were staying just down the road from Pemaquid Point and got up early one morning to watch this sunrise. That alone made the trip worthwhile. Continue reading
(Camera: Yashica FX-3 Super 2000; Film: Ilford HP5)
One of the great joys of having your own darkroom is that you can reach back in time to make a new print from an old negative. I made this photo while visiting San Fransico in 1989, shortly after the big October quake. I was just enjoying the day, wandering around town, when this building caught my eye. I took the shot and carried on without giving it further thought until I encountered the negative 22 years later while organizing my old photos. I was struck once again by the building’s unique architecture and decided to make this print. Continue reading
If you’re hunting for a first SLR camera, there’s probably no bigger bang-for-the-buck than an Olympus OM-10. Do a quick search and you’ll find them littering garage sales and eBay like confetti after a wedding. And they’re cheap too. You can usually get one in decent condition with the standard 50mm f/1.8 lens (which is excellent, by the way) for $30. Sometimes you can get a body, case, and extra lenses for that same outlay. But 30 bucks is 30 bucks and if the camera’s no good, then you’d be better off spending your money on pizza or beer, right? Right. Fortunately, the OM-10 is an excellent photographic tool. Continue reading
(Camera: Pentax Espio Mini; Film: Kodak T-MAX 100)
I shot this on the ferry one morning in August during a voyage from Vancouver Island to the mainland. The car decks are usually deserted but for a few people slouched in their vehicles texting or talking on their cell phones, and an occasional dog-walker. But most everyone else heads up to the passenger decks for the view or a bite to eat. Most everyone, that is, except for loners who prefer to wander the car deck and avoid the noise and the crowds. And on this particular sailing, there were two loners: the guy with the camera, and this fellow being photographed watching the world slowly sail by.
(Camera: Nikon FG; Lens: Nikkor 50mm f/1.8; Film: Kodak T-Max 100)
One of the aspects of black-and-white photography I enjoy the most is that, with the slightest adjustment in composition, you can turn the most ordinary subject into something beautiful. And what could be more ordinary than a bunch of dried grass that had sprung up in a neglected flower pot? Yet, framed this way and photographed in full sunlight against a dark background, the subject becomes abstracted just enough to begin to part ways with “reality.” Continue reading
In the two decades between 1968 and 1988, the Olympus camera company produced something like 10 million of these cameras. That’s nearly one a minute, every minute, for 20 years. Apparently, they were popular. And why not? They’re simple and fun to use. From today’s all-polycarbonate perspective, the Trip seems fantastically well made, as anyone who has held one will attest. This is one solid little camera — there’s very little plastic and all the controls feel sure and positive. Continue reading
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