Shooting Kodak SO-554
These photos were shot on Kodak SO-554 200 film — a film I know almost nothing about. I came across this mysterious film one day while shopping online and quickly bought 3 rolls. All I can tell you is that the SO stands for ‘special order’ and the 554 is the order number. Kodak SO-554 […]
Camera Review: Olympus Pen EED
Inspired by Katie’s Half-Frame Diary, I decided that I needed a half-frame camera myself. I love the look of two half-frames scanned together. The two images form a diptych and the juxtaposition offers a unique opportunity for photographic storytelling. It’s something that I’m eager to experiment with. I already own a Diana Mini, and while […]
Bearspaw Classic Car Show and Shine
Every summer, I try to attend as many interesting events as I can and bring along a camera. In the past, I’ve attended and photographed hot air ballooning, show jumping, live music, the Calgary Comic Expo, and the engine run-up on a WWII Lancaster bomber, to name a few. But since the pandemic started, I […]
Burnsland Cemetery
I shot these while wandering around Burnsland Cemetery when I was first experimenting with cross-processed film. I like some of the statues in Burnsland, but overall I don’t think it’s as picturesque as Union Cemetery, which is right across the street.
Olympic Plaza Part 2
During the Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics, the medal ceremonies were held downtown at Olympic Plaza. Today, Olympic Plaza is a public gathering space open for everyone to enjoy. In winter, the plaza is turned into a public skating rink, and in summer, it is sometimes flooded to become a wading pool.
Flat Santa
It’s not uncommon to see deflated and flat Santas, reindeer, snowmen, etc. on people’s lawns during the day over the Christmas season. Then they all get plugged in and reinflated in the evening.
Sarah’s Guitar Fund
I shot this a while back when Sarah was saving up for a guitar. At the time, I thought that maybe I should make my own jar and call it ‘Dan’s Camera Fund’. But then I thought that’s what my pay cheque is called!
Zoo Animals #2
Here are more animals from the Calgary Zoo, this time shot on Kodak Hawkeye Traffic Surveillance Color 400 film. The last photo is of the Transalta Rainforest building at the zoo.
More Detritus from the Flood
These photos depict more of the debris and detritus left behind by the 2013 flood in Calgary. I shot these while testing a roll of Orwo NP22 film. For a roll of film that expired in 1993, it has aged fairly well. It’s box speed is 125 ISO, but I shot these at 64 ISO […]
A Winter Day
One of the things I love about Calgary is that some days, when the weather is right, you can see the Rocky Mountains looming large in the west. You can see them on the horizon of the first two photos.
First Impressions of the Pentax Spotmatic SP II
I bought the Pentax Spotmatic SP II on a whim back in May. It has some good reviews online and since I already own many M42 lenses, including a 50mm f/1.4 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar, I decided to buy it. My SP II is in great condition. Cosmetically, there are some very minor scratches but no dings. […]
Field of Crosses
Every November, just before Remembrance Day, thousands of white crosses are placed row on row along Memorial Drive. This is the Field of Crosses, an annual memorial honouring the 3500 men and women from southern Alberta who gave their lives in service to Canada, many during the world wars. I shot these on a roll […]
The Bel-Aire ‘Special’
I shot these photos using the Bel-Aire ‘Special’, which is the new name I have given to my Belair X 6-12 Jetsetter modified to accept a 100mm Anastigmat Special lens mounted in a Compur Rapid shutter. After my successful attempt to shoot Instax Wide with the new lens and shutter, I took a trip to […]
Detritus from the Flood
In 2013, Calgary suffered its second flood in 8 years. The Bow & Elbow Rivers overflowed their banks and flooded much of the city. Downtown was hit particularly hard. These photos are from further downstream at Fish Creek Park many months later. Some of the detritus from the flood is still visible in a few […]
Early Morning at The Zoo
These were shot one early morning at the Calgary Zoo on Fuji Velvia 50. I bought a 100 ft bulk roll of expired Fuji Velvia 50 on eBay for cheap. The seller owned two rolls, and when he opened one and shot some photos with it, he found that the film had color shifted and […]
Art Found Under Bridges
I love it when I find art around the city in places where it has no reason to belong other than just for the sake of art itself. These photos were all taken on a walk through Fish Creek Park.
Pearce Estate Park
About 6 years ago, I acquired a Sigma 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens and attempted to use it to photograph birds at Pearce Estate Park. Shooting chickadees with the lens at 200-300mm without a tripod was quite challenging. The little chickadee rarely stayed still. He kept flitting about and it was hard for me to keep […]
Bow Valley Ranch
This is Bow Valley Ranch in Fish Creek Park. Once the residence of William Roper Hull, who commissioned this two-story gable-roofed mansion in 1896, it is now a restaurant in Fish Creek Park. The other wooden building is Annie’s Cafe which was once the farmhouse of ranch foreman Billy Banister and his eponymous wife Annie. […]
