“Even if we could turn back, we’d probably never end up where we started.” ― Haruki Murakami, 1Q84
Along the busy streets of Hiroshima, amidst the din of city traffic, stands the Atomic Bomb Memorial Dome, a shadow of building that was destroyed during the Allied nuclear attack on Japan in WWII.
At the Memorial Tower to the Mobilized Students hung strands of folded paper cranes.
At the end of some strands were different messages, each sharing the same central theme: a call for peace
Beyond the looming shadow of the A-Bomb Dome was a large water fountain, where a little boy sat crouched, blowing bubbles as his mother looked on.
During a recent trip to Japan, I had the good fortune of coming across a Voigtlander Vitomatic I. For a camera that was originally constructed in 1958, I’m impressed at the image it renders, and even though I enjoy chimping the screen of my D90 and fine-tuning images in Lightroom, I enjoy the idea of having to concentrate fully on what f-stop, aperature and shutter to use for the best exposure.
A friend of mine also suggested developing using caffenol solution, which worked surprisingly well. I think I did a decent job for the first time, but I definitely have to spend a little more time experimenting with the developing time values. I didn’t take these into the darkroom this time. Rather, I used the method of negative scanning method demonstrated by Digital Rev. Despite not having a macro lens, I think the scanning was pretty good (especially considering I don’t have a ton of money to drop on a really high resolution negative scanner…like $13,000 or so, but it’s nice to dream right?).
Anyway, here’s how things went down.
I took a few shots on the streets of Toronto with the Vitomatic I using Ilford Delta 400 black and white film. I didn’t have any specific subject matter in mind, so ISO 400 felt like a good middle road between the clear cut lines I’d get from ISO 200 film and the light-sensitive graininess that I’d get from shooting at a higher ISO.
Voigtlander Vitomatic I
Voigtlander Vitomatic I / Ilford Delta 400 b/w film
The picture below is a little deceiving, but rest assured that I wasn’t preparing a batch of booger sugar.
After finishing the roll I shot, I looked up recipes for caffenol. The ingredients were pretty easy to come by at Noah’s the health food/natural goods store here in Toronto. As an added bonus, I was able to find powdered vitamin C, so there would be no mortar and pestle action necessary. The big bag of washing soda (the aforementioned booger sugar) was also available in a larger quantity than I expected.
Developing materials for caffenol solution: Vitamin C powder, washing powder and coffee
The following shots were the final results. Definitely need to find a better way to scan negatives, but the negative scanning method from Digital Rev works perfectly for now. The Voigtlander Vitomatic I has a spectacular depth of field, and the Skopar lens is pretty kickass. As a rangefinder, it’s a bit of a challenge to guesstimate distances on the fly, but it’s completely worth coming up with some great photos.
For whatever reason, I felt a bigger sense of accomplishment after the whole process of shooting, developing and fiddling around in the darkroom. Now about that $13,000 negative scanner…
Toronto through a Voigtlander Vitomatic I
Toronto through a Voigtlander Vitomatic I
Toronto through a Voigtlander Vitomatic I
Shibuya crossing
Shibuya lights and a sea of people are not things soon forgotten. As commonplace as it can be to the inhabitants of Tokyo, the scramble that is Shibuya Crossing is a sight to observe. The sheer number of people in one location, each going about their business after intersecting with one another for only a brief moment, is enough to provide you with a proper sense of perspective.
Here’s a list of things that I’m going to stick to for 2013:
- average 30km a week, with one 15-20km run at least once a month. Bring 10km time below 45 minutes.
- learn a programming language
- make a post at least once a week for a total of four per month, with one blog post focusing strictly on prose
- cut out all unnecessary spending and adhere to a monthly budget tracker
- create new content generation website
- revamp portfolio and add one new photo a month
- improve film/digital photography skills and sell at least one print
- do community volunteer work for literacy programs
This month’s been a busy one that included test driving a new camera. It’s the same as my pal Eva’s, a Fujifilm X10, and despite some initial misgivings, I think I’m slowly easing into using it as a walkaround camera. The only thing that really bugs me is the way it handles RAW format, but I think part of that might be part of my monitors being fickle with the way they render colour.
Anyway, it’s been at eventful two weeks that have included (as the title suggests) bright lights, fist fights, burgers and a birthday. A friend of mine took me along to a muay thai fight, which culminated with the Canadian Amateur Welterweight title fight. Couldn’t help but think of George Bellows’
Stag at Sharkey’s painting (found here:
http://to.pbs.org/TYUCLh).
Bright lights and fist fights; burgers and a birthday
Conrad’s birthday also happened at Form, a small loungey place in Koreatown. The cool thing about Form is that the music isn’t obnoxiously loud. And they’re cool with letting patrons wear goofy hats. And bring their own cake.
Bright lights and fist fights; burgers and a birthday
…and they also serve some of their drinks in teapots.
Bright lights and fist fights; burgers and a birthday
The last two weeks also included a visit to the award-winning restaurant, This End Up. It’s located at Dundas and Dufferin. The day that we went, I tried a drink called Dead Guy Ale, which was a neatly flavoured pumpkin beer. Really smooth aftertaste on this one, and I’d definitely give it another shot if I came across it again.
Bright lights and fist fights; burgers and a birthday
A meal at This End up wouldn’t have been complete without sampling one of their kickass sandwiches. This restaurant definitely rates a second (and third, fourth, and fifth…you get the idea) visit, if only for their sandwiches.
Bright lights and fist fights; burgers and a birthday
While the graffiti around the Bathurst/St. Clair area of Toronto isn’t exactly anything to marvel at, terse scrawl can be found on pillars underneath this particular bridge.
It includes statements that carry veiled hostility…
and laconic observation.
The humour, though lacking in substance, makes up for its shortcomings in its absurdity…
and at other times, gives the viewer a reason to pause.
The last thing to be seen while leaving the bridge area and heading towards a wooded path makes for an ominous walk home.
It’s been a ridiculously long period of time between now and my last post, which, if I recall correctly, happened all the way back in July. During that month, and most of August, my apartment was witness to many visitors, including two guests from Japan (one who stayed for six weeks), and a cat. September kind of just blew by, and here I sit on 11 October 2012. It would seem that I looked down, and when I looked back up it was time for jacket weather.
Should note that this is my favourite time of year, if only because I can finally start wearing sweaters again, which means I no longer have to iron my shirts for work. Hooray!
Anyway, this past weekend was Thanksgiving, so Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. While I watched my waistline slowly expand, I also finally had the chance to pick up my camera again. That said, whoever reads this (thanks for sticking around, by the way) can expect to see updates again.
This photo was taken on a rooftop balcony in my area. While this particular spot doesn’t command a view of the lake, balconies of all kinds provide are a great way to escape busy streets, perhaps for a moment of quiet thought…
In the Annex
…or endless entertainment from the human spectacle as it unfolds beneath the viewer.
In the Annex
I’ll be displaying my work alongside some really cool artists. Come check it out this weekend (July 14/15th) in the Annex area of Toronto (Bloor/Spadina-ish) from 10-6:30pm. My display will be conveniently located inside Future Cafe & Bakery (483 Bloor Street West). Chances are I’ll be around there, black coffee in hand. As an aside: the coffee at Future kicks ass.
As an added note: A big thank you goes out to Lucky 13 Tattoo Parlour for providing my display window for Sunday! I’m even happier that I got this spot as the storm that hit Toronto was pretty unforgiving.
Also, if you’re reading this, you may be visiting as a result of having seen my stuff at the show. That said, please drop me a line! I’d love to hear what you think, whether it be good thoughts, bad thoughts or a simple hello.
2012 Annex Patio Art Show handbill
Mercedes-Benz Scene (June 2012)
Okay, so maybe it’s not the biggest of deals, this was a pretty big deal for me. One of the photos I took was used for the “Cool Jobs” section of Mercedes Scene, which profiled Sales Training Manager, Andrew le Bret.
If you’ve made it this far, you may as well go a little further: check out the full article and the rest of the newsletter at http://bit.ly/J4z1OS!
Moments captured on camera are often difficult to recreate. This makes for some very interesting photographs as I venture though the streets of my neighbourhood.
Sometimes you catch what seems to be a moment of distraught contemplation.
Walking on Bloor St.
Or determined movement.
Walking on Bloor St.