Long Beach, Tofino, 2022.
Rolleiflex 2.8F, Zeiss 80 mm f/2.8 Planar, Kodak Portra 400.
Here are two landscapes in black and white.
kodak portra 400
Looking Glass /
As I continue the process of re-examining the 15-year archive of my negatives, I am not surprised to discover recurring themes among the photographs. Occasionally, one of these emergent themes demands closer consideration. To that end, I am now curating a collection of photographs called Looking Glass. In these images, I peer from the street through ground level windows into buildings (and occasionally vehicles) to glimpse the people inside. Often, my reflection is captured in the glass, and sometimes the inhabitants look back, quizzically and disapprovingly. Over the coming weeks and months, I will enlarge this collection as I unearth old photographs from the archives and take new ones on the street.
The photograph above was shot in Gastown, Vancouver, during the summer of 2018 using a broken Voïgtlander VF 135 point-and-shoot rangefinder loaded with Kodak Portra 400 film. I owned this camera briefly: neither the rangefinder nor the point-and-shoot appeals to my way of shooting, so there was a two-fold reason for letting go of it. While I don’t regret selling the VF 135, I regret the loss of its Zeiss 40 mm f/2.3 Sonnar lens, which is sharp and contrasty—as this photograph beautifully attests. It is a surprisingly good lens for such an inexpensive camera.
Neighbourhood Vignettes, 2018 /
Selected from a roll that has been languishing in the basement fridge for 5 1/2 years. I finally got around to developing it the night before last.
Through glass in Copenhagen /
Exposed on Kodak Portra 400 film using a Nikon F100 mounted with a 35 mm f/1.4 Sigma Art lens. Read my review of this wonderful camera.
Out and about with my Rollei 35 /
I had forgotten what a joy it is to use this little gem of a camera.