Montreal Protest on Film

I cover protests and other events for 99 Media and Forget the Box. I carry a Fuji X10 as a spare camera and a Sony a230 DSLR  as my main. I carry 2 lenses for the Sony and one fun way to lug the second one around is to attach it to a Minolta 4500 film SLR.

The Minolta is all plastic and lightweight so I figured as long as it can carry the second lens, why not give myself the opportunity to take some film shots as well. So here for your viewing pleasure are some shots taken at some protests here in Montreal this March and April. They were all taken on Fuji Acros 100.

Until next time, keep posted.

Gerry :)

This is why Medium Format film is so amazing.

I recently got myself an Epson V500 scanner to scan my film. No more half-ass rigs with my digital camera. What a difference. I was scanning some of my 120 medium format film and started to blow them up a bit to see how good they came out and found this. A picture inside a picture, pretty cool. The negative was scanned at 2400 dpi and it was shot with a Yashica A on Fuji Acros 100 film.

Picture of a Vintage Chevy at a car show taken with a Yashica A.

Look closer.

Here's me taking the shot with the Yashica A and a fill flash. Pretty amazing.

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

Cambridge and Salem Massachusetts in black and white

Here are some shots I took with my Yashica FD-X using Kodak T-Max100 film during my vacation last summer.

Airbrushing with rattle cans in Cambridge

Harvard University

Top down Mercedes in Cambridge

Cambridge Bike Cop giving directions

Phone Cards and Ice Cream on the streets of Cambridge

Being young on Harvard Campus

Tall Ship Friendship in Salem

Sailors in Salem

The Bunghole in Salem

Flower Bike in Salem

Waiting for the trolley bus in Salem

Thanks for watching

Gerry :)

Canon FTb SLR test roll

I was recently given a Canon FTb SLR with 3 lens. This is a vintage fully mechanical SLR with a dead light meter (Batteries made with mercury are no longer available). Last Friday I hooked up the 100mm lens on it and went for a walk in the Montreal Plateau district to test it out. This beast weighs the same as a WW2 German Tiger tank, so my neck got one serious work out!

Here are those amazing images.

Film used was Fuji Superia 400 ISO processed at the local pharmacy and tweaked in Gimp.

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)

FED2 camera test roll

I recently purchased a FED2 which is a Soviet era Leica knock off. A very hefty rangefinder this is as close as I'm probably ever going to get to a Leica. It is in mint condition and it even smells fresh oil from a recent CLA.

I think I have an issue with the shutter mechanism or I'm not doing something right. The next roll will tell. I'll be going for a black and white film next time since I want this to be my main street camera.

Film used was the $0.99 Likon 100 ISO processed at the local pharmacy and tweaked using Gimp.

Gerry

Montreal Evening in picture with a $5 Ricoh FF-70 point and shoot

Film point and shoot cameras are plenty and inexpensive. Case in point this Ricoh FF-70 with integrated flash and automatic everything. Bought at a thrift store for the bargain basement price of $5, it came with the original sales receipt dated August 1986 in its case, $257!

I've been having a hard time taking photos during the evening in the City with my Canon G12. Any type of movement made the images overly blurry, high ISO setting left too much noise in the image and the black and white result isn't that great. I prefer black and white in the evening since street lights do not bring out nice colours. Film for me is the way to go for crisp black and white pictures.

Candles and flowers left on the grounds where Denis Blanchette a 48 year old sound technician and Father , fell. A lot of time was spent in Gimp to have this image in a usable way.

I was heading to the Metropolis on Ste-Catherine on the evening of September 5th in order to document and participate in a vigil organized to commemorate the shooting death of an innocent by-stander. The evening prior while our new Prime Minister elect made her acceptance speech, a maniac tried to get in the theatre to go on what appeared to be a shooting rampage. He was quickly arrested by Montreal Police but he had already killed one and wounded another. This kind of thing never happens here.

I decided to use the Ricoh since it was easy enough to use and I figured I would manage to get shots like they use too back in the day with the integrated flash. I used Kodak Professional 400TX 400 ISO film for the job and I am quite pleased with the results. All of the shots you'll see were done hand held. The Ricoh is great for jamming it flat on your face and remains pretty stable while the shutter opens.

Local TVA news crew setting up across from Metropolis. Flash used.

Metropolis Theatre on Sainte-Catherine in Montreal.

CBC Radio reporter doing an interview. Flash used.

People gathered in front of the Metropolis.

People hold hands while observing a minute of silence for the victims.

The rest of the evening was spent going around Sainte-Catherine trying to find the light and picture opportunities. I was lucky to find a few decent shots.

Bumming for change with a dog and a nice looking fixie bike.

Shish Taouk place on Sainte-Catherine.

Nice Lady who volunteered to pose for me. Flash was used.

Original Archambault music store

Sainte-Catherine and Berri.

Berri-Uquam Metro station

Graffiti from the Under Pressure festival. Flash was used.

Thanks for watching.

Gerry :)