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With everyone settled back in school, we decided it was time to hand out a bit of homework and have them do a summer book report. No, we didn’t assign this task before the summer ‘break’, but let’s go with the theme! On this episode, the team sits down and shares some of their favourite photo books (two each, since we love to talk). These books could be anything from pure photography and technical guides to group projects. The books on today are: The Camera, The Negative, The Print, Magnum Contact Sheets, The Canada Chronicle, Tao of Photography, The Disappearing Darkness, Photography through the Pandemic,Read More →

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I knew, I just knew that one day I would end up here with a large format camera. You could say I was influenced by the Film Photography Project and one of their hosts specifically. The Crown Graphic was one of three large-format cameras I owned and used; it was also the one that ‘fit’ my style of photography best, and the one I used the longest before I left the format. While not the largest format I used, 4×5 was the sheet film format that I used the most. If I had to lay the blame for my getting into large-format photography, I wouldRead More →

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When it comes to Tri-X, I’ve always seen this film as having a wide latitude. I have since learned that the new formulation, 400TX, first released in 2007, isn’t as good as the pre-2007 version, mainly because it has lower silver content. But when it comes to 400-speed films, Tri-X has been a long-time favourite of mine, so I figured it was time to get a full view of what the film can do and is ASA-1600 the best EI for Diafine? Film Specs Manufacturer: Kodak Name: Tri-X 400 Type: Panchromatic B&W Film Base: Acetate Film Speed: ASA-400 Formats Available: 135 (35mm) & 120 ForRead More →

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There’s something so unique about looking back on a trip and thinking, “I was in a place where history was being made.” Remember, not all history is good history, but it was history all the same. Ten years ago, I visited a city I had wanted to visit for some time, but it had always slipped through my fingers. But in 2016 I finally decided to take some time and visit Washington, DC. It was the final place I needed to photograph and visit to complete my massive War of 1812 project, which, at that point, had been going on longer than the war itself,Read More →

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Kodak Direct Positive Panchromatic Safety Film, or Kodak DPPSF, is probably the oldest film that I have ever taken in for review. Kodak DFFPSF is one of the many motion picture films Kodak produced, originally used for duplication or special effects. This stock expired in 1957. I initially didn’t plan to run it through a review, but I decided to. What makes this review different from others is that there is no real documentation on how to develop the film other than Kodak’s specific motion picture film processes. So I thought, what if I did my usual developers but used ‘universal’ techniques for each? Well,Read More →

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I wasn’t planning to visit yet another historic community in Halton Hills, but like everything, even the best-laid plans are often hampered by Mother Nature. A major storm that whipped through southern Ontario at the start of September flooded out my original plans for the day. I needed to go somewhere else, so after a bit of hunting around my original spot and not liking the locations based on my camera choice, I stuck to something a little more local: Acton. If you grew up in the Halton region, you’ll know that there’s a bit of a feud between the communities in Halton, with ActonRead More →

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We’re back on the topic of Infrared, this time with James, Alex, John and Bill! Infrared light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which includes the visible light spectrum, ranging from 380nm to 700nm, or violet to red. Most infrared photography uses specialised film and filters to capture light in the 700-900nm range. Today, we don’t have dedicated IR films being newly produced like Kodak HIE, Efke IR820, or Konica Infrared 750, but we do have extended red-sensitive films that reach the near-IR range. These films include Rollei Retro 80s, Rollei Superpan 200, Rollei Infrared, Rollei Retro 400s and FPP Black & White Infrared. TheseRead More →

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There’s something fun about getting into a new location and connecting with a trusted group who were more than happy to share the location. Of course, once it gets too well known, things can go downhill. And when something interesting turned up in Coburg, I knew I had to check it out. Suppose you were around when Sidbrook first started to get traction. In that case, you’ll immediately recognise it as the place with “that” bathtub. Harry Mason, a manager for the Coburg & Peterborough Railway (operations started in 1854, purchased by Grand Trunk in 1893 and ceased operations in 1898), purchased Lots 13 andRead More →

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Last year was a big year for more premium modern 35mm cameras; you have the Pentax 17, the Lomography MC-A, and this one. The RETO Kodak Snapic A1 marked a major shift for RETO in their camera lineup. I’ve reviewed two of their previous offerings (Ultra-Wide & Slim and Kodak Ektar H35N), which are basic and cheap feeling; the Snapic A1 is a lightyear leap forward. The A1 offers a few things previous cameras did not: first, automatic film advance and rewind, second, two focus points for the three-element glass lens, and third, a proper OLED screen for information. And while it is advanced inRead More →

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I have visited plenty of small blink-and-you-miss-it communities across Canada and the United States. Some have a draw, while others make you think: is it even worth stopping? The funny thing is that I didn’t even consider going to the historic hamlet of Norval; it’s one of those places that I have heard of, driven through, but never fully considered stopping to get out and take photos. But here I am, willingly going to Norval, parking the car, getting out, cameras in hand, fully committed to capturing this historic hamlet and writing about it, which is saying something. For this trip, I took along myRead More →