Tag Archives: city

400TX:365 – Week 18 – The Hammer

It’s funny, Toronto has the hustle and bussle, but it’s downtown Hamilton that I like more. Probably, as my friend Kathy pointed out on Flickr, it’s because despite it’s size, Hamilton’s downtown feels more like a small town than Toronto does. Sure there’s a handful of skyscrapers, Stelco Tower for example, but there’s not a canyon like you find along Bay Street in TO. Hamilton still maintains many of it’s historic buildings (well most of them…if you see a random parking lot, good chance that used to be a historic building). Despite the many years of decline the downtown is starting to come back it still has a way to go, but with more time, and continued support from the local government and businesses Hamilton will once again be the city it once was.

New York City – On Super8

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Back in October when I visited New York City in addition to a plethora of still photography cameras I also took along a super 8 camera, and while in NYC picked up two cartridges of Super8 film, Kodak E100D, and shot them around the city. Once again the footage was out of focus, which I soon found out was due to the camera not my operation of it. Which is a good thing over all. Again I’m rather pleased with how it all turned out.

Now the camera, it sadly lost it’s life after getting hit by a subway (after I had pulled the second cartridge out) so it won’t be bothering me anymore and I’ve already replaced it with a much nicer unit, again a Eumig, a 300/XL with a big bright split screen focus viewfinder. I also picked up the last two caridges of E100D (as Kodak has discontinued this line) from West Camera and plan on shooting it again this summer (maybe Chicago?). I am also looking forward to working with Kodak’s new Super8 stock the Vision3 50T!

400TX:365 – Week 1 – Oakville

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At the foot of Trafalgar Road is one of my two favourite locations in the town of Oakville, the downtown. Located along the old Highway 2, now Lakeshore Road is dotted with boutique stores, coffee shops and high-end restaurants. The snow and bright sun only made the place that much better in my view as I took a cold walk through not only the main street but the side streets that run down to the lake, taking in again the century homes, the small frame ones to grand brick manor homes, reminders of Oakville’s past, and current wealth in the area.

Nikon F3 – AI-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4 – Kodak Tri-X 400 (400TX)
HC-110 Dil. B 4:30 @ 20C

Little Trinity Church

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The Church of the Holy Trinity is one of the more unique churches I have visited, next to the round church on Manitoulin Island. The reason I say this church is unique is because you don’t just walk past it on the street, you really have to seek it out.

Also known as Little Trinity Church, the building is tucked rather out of the way in its own little square near the Dundas Street end of Toronto’s Eaton’s Centre. Surrounded by glass skyscrapers and the massive mall, it’s a little piece of the 19th century that’s still making it known in the city. Providing help for Toronto’s Homeless and providing an oasis in the middle of downtown Toronto.

Established in 1847, the Church of the Holy Trinity was designed by H.B. Lane (who also designed two other churches in Toronto), and built with funds from an anonymous donor. The donor stipulated that none of the pews would be reserved (a tradition in many churches at the time) but rather it be open to all. The donor was later revealed to be Mary Lambert Swale of Settle, England. Built in the Gothic Revival Style the church was slowly fenced in as the city grew. When plans were being made for the Eaton’s Centre, they originally called for the purchase and demolition of the church, but the members stood their ground, against Eaton’s, the Anglican Church of Canada, and the City of Toronto. They eventually won, and a three way land swap happened, and the design of the Eaton’s Centre was changed.

Today the church remains at the heart of things; their ministry is aimed at the urban homeless and needy. Along with providing services of worship the church also acts as an event venue, several concerts have been held there including two by the band Cowboy Junkies who recorded their breakthrough 1988 Album The Trinity Sessions at the church. They also did a follow up concert on the album’s 20th anniversary.

You can check out the Church’s site here: www.holytrinitytoronto.org

Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 – Ilford FP4+

Sunrise in Toronto

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I had gotten a grand total of three hours sleep before my alarm clock woke me up. But I knew there was some strange reason I had done this to myself. So by five in the morning I was back on the road again aiming myself into Toronto. I reached Polson Pier just before six. The wind and cold was wicked that morning. My iPhone told me it was -10C. I quickly setup my camera at the edge of the pier, two huge cargo ships were busy getting loaded. But my interest was in the Toronto skyline.

The sky was still dark, no sign of the sun yet save a sliver of light on the eastern horizon obsured by the few buildings dotting the portlands. The Hearn Stack towering above me. The sunrise from the roof of the old station would be just as good.

By quarter after the sky was starting to turn a clear blue, I could start to see the clouds turning pink along the eastern sky.

The sun’s influence was starting to warm up the area, but I was so cold from standing outside for almost an hour now, this better be worth it. The Royal Bank tower was now glowing like crazy. The Sun was going to come up any time now.

And then it hit.

Totally worth it. I quickly retired back to my car, did a quick packing job and hit up the Balzac’s in the nearby Distillery District.

Project:52 – Week 50

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Finding myself back in Ohio I took a break from the long drive home to stop off in the city of Findlay, home of the university where we had a day earlier gone to a Polaroid Party. I had seen the downtown from the photos taken during the FPP mid-west meetup a meetup I sadly was unable to attend, so I made a point to stop off this time. Spent some time at Imagine That, and even ran into a friend and inspiration Mat Marash while enjoying lunch at a local pub.

Nikon F4 – AF Nikkor 35mm 1:2D – Kodak Portra 160

Project:52 – Weeks 42 & 43

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New York City
The Big Apple
NYC

A city this big cannot be covered in just one week, so I gave it two. Also because I did not actually have a post ready for Week 41 since I was still in the US and did not have the film for that week processed, I probably could have done it, but I don’t know any labs in NY/NJ that could do it for me, so I waited until I got back to Canada. I went through so much film over the course of my time down there, most of which has yet to be scanned, so I worked hard to get at least these photos scanned and uploaded just for you my faithful followers!

Less than ten weeks left in the project, and the book is already starting to take shape. (By shape, I mean I have an idea of how I want it to work, just have to make that a reality.)