If you have ever listened to me talk about my photographic journey you will have learned about how much my first trip to Montreal changed my photography. I can always tell my work from before to after my trip in my style, composition, love of black & white and of course square format. So when I brought my family back to the city earlier this month I wanted to make sure I not only explored the city with my digital camera but also with a pair of square format cameras. The first being the same camera I brought on that first trip, my Rolleiflex 2.8F loaded with CatLABS X Film 320 Professional and developed in ZoneImaging 510-Pyro and the Holga 120N loaded with Fomapan 200 and developed in Flic Film’s Black/White & Green developer. I did have my EOS 3000 for the Frugal Film Project, so watch for that post in early November. But enough of talk about gear, this post is about photography.
Nikon D750 – AF Nikkor 35mm 1:2D
We arrived in Montreal just after four on Thursday afternoon and settled into the hotel room. After driving for the day, we were all tired and needed to relax, settle, and have dinner. The following day, I awoke with a shock; I could smell something burning. At first, I thought it was something in the room, but after seeing nothing of concern, I figured it was the construction work on the UQAM library across the road. After breakfast, we planned to check out the science centre; despite being a Friday, we wanted to get there when they opened to avoid later school groups. Outside, I could still smell smoke and fire, wood fire now, and there was a haze in the air. As we walked down towards Old Montreal, we could see smoking coming from a section of the Old City. It turned out a 100-year-old building had caught fire, causing the death of two people and is now a subject of a major investigation and public inquiry. We could walk close enough to get a feel for the scene without getting into too much danger ourselves. After a rather interesting start to the day, we enjoyed a nearly empty science centre, all the exhibits, and all the cool stuff and displays without having to wait. For lunch we stopped in at a noted sandwhich shop Van Winkles and then ate out in a public park as getting everyone into the shop would have been difficult Then it was off to wander through Old Montreal, but sticking mainly to wider areas as the sidewalks can narrow. From the Old City, it was a long walk up to Rue Sainte-Catherine to check out the Stylo.ca pen store and pick up some ink. For dinner we checked out one of those new food halls, La Central and just enjoyed the sheer volume of choice but ended up settling on a burger place. Now the burgers reminded me of Webers here in Ontario, but were certainly a little better!
Nikon D750 – AF Nikkor 24mm 1:2.8
Canon EOS 3000 – Canon Lens EF 50mm 1:1.8 – Arista EDU.Ultra 200 @ ASA-200 – Zone Imaging 510-Pyro (1+100) 6:00 @ 21C
Holga 120N – Optical Lens f=60mm 1:8 – Fomapan 200 @ ASA-100 – Flic Film Black/White & Green (1+49) 9:00 @ 20C (Constant Rotation)
Nikon D750 – AF Nikkor 24mm 1:2.8
Canon EOS 3000 – Canon Lens EF 50mm 1:1.8 – Arista EDU.Ultra 200 @ ASA-200 – Zone Imaging 510-Pyro (1+100) 6:00 @ 21C
Holga 120N – Optical Lens f=60mm 1:8 – Fomapan 200 @ ASA-100 – Flic Film Black/White & Green (1+49) 9:00 @ 20C (Constant Rotation)
Saturday, we decided to head out to the Montreal Biodome; this small indoor zoo almost highlights several Earth biodomes and various animals. The venue, part of the Olympic Park, was initially constructed as a velodrome during the 1976 Olympics. Afterwards, we wandered up towards the Botanical Gardens. Finding no place for lunch, we hopped back on the subway and headed back towards the downtown. I had forgotten how fast the subways are in Montreal and even got to ride on one of their new train sets. After lunch at Three Brewers, it was a nice long walk through the various malls along Rue Sainte-Catherine back to the hotel. After having a big meal at lunch, we opted to get a pizza from a small food-fired place near the hotel on Rue Saint-Denis (which has a tonne of cool spots). The one that stood out was a blues bar with live music and the defined smell of cigarette smoke.
Nikon D750 – AF Nikkor 85mm 1:1.8D
Holga 120N – Optical Lens f=60mm 1:8 – Fomapan 200 @ ASA-100 – Flic Film Black/White & Green (1+49) 9:00 @ 20C (Constant Rotation)
Rolleiflex 2.8F – Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm 1:2.8 – CatLABS X Film 320 Pro @ ASA-320 – Zone Imaging 510-Pyro (1+100) 12:15 @ 20C (Constant Rotation)
Nikon D750 – AF Nikkor 85mm 1:1.8D
Holga 120N – Optical Lens f=60mm 1:8 – Fomapan 200 @ ASA-100 – Flic Film Black/White & Green (1+49) 9:00 @ 20C (Constant Rotation)
Rolleiflex 2.8F – Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm 1:2.8 – CatLABS X Film 320 Pro @ ASA-320 – Zone Imaging 510-Pyro (1+100) 12:15 @ 20C (Constant Rotation)
On the third and final full day in the city, we decided to just relax. The original plan was to visit the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts as they are free on the first Sunday of every month, or, as Heather found out the night before, only for Quebec residents. So, instead of packing up and heading out that way, we had a quiet morning in Old Montreal, giving me a chance to shoot a roll of film through the Rolleiflex before heading and getting lunch at a different Three Brewers. We regrouped and hopped the subway along the Green Line to McGill Station, walked up to the Fine Art Gallery, and then returned to the hotel along rue Sherbrooke. We saw the buses that probably belonged to the Toronto Raptors and many different neighbourhoods along the way. I happily took photos and chatted. Then got a simple dinner at a donar place where we had seen take-out bags from around the area.
Nikon D750 – AF Nikkor 85mm 1:1.8D
Rolleiflex 2.8F – Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm 1:2.8 – CatLABS X Film 320 Pro @ ASA-320 – Zone Imaging 510-Pyro (1+100) 12:15 @ 20C (Constant Rotation)
Holga 120N – Optical Lens f=60mm 1:8 – Fomapan 200 @ ASA-100 – Flic Film Black/White & Green (1+49) 9:00 @ 20C (Constant Rotation)
Nikon D750 – AF Nikkor 35mm 1:2D
Rolleiflex 2.8F – Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm 1:2.8 – CatLABS X Film 320 Pro @ ASA-320 – Zone Imaging 510-Pyro (1+100) 12:15 @ 20C (Constant Rotation)
Holga 120N – Optical Lens f=60mm 1:8 – Fomapan 200 @ ASA-100 – Flic Film Black/White & Green (1+49) 9:00 @ 20C (Constant Rotation)
The trip was perfect despite only being in the city for three whole days. Quiet, relaxing, and having no real plan except for a few items here and there. Most importantly, it got us away from home and work for a much-needed vacation. Montreal continues to hold a special place for me and my photography. Hence, I was glad to have brought my Rolleiflex along and also came away with some images I am particularly proud of again. And sure, I didn’t get to see everything I would have liked, but you are always subject to the situation. But it also means that we can go back, remember what we saw the last time and try something different. I know on my list are a couple of other historic churches, some stores, and the Expo Rail Museum, which is a little bit out of the city. I only shared a small percentage of my images here in this post, but you can go and check out all my photos over on my Flickr Collection!