Tag: <span>film photography</span>

Published October 3, 2022 by

Hip To Be Square – 2022_10_03

Square format
Carlton Street, Toronto, 1980 – © Avard Woolaver

In my first few months in Toronto in 1980, I used a square format, twin lens reflex (TLR) camera–the Yashica-Mat 124G. The camera is held at waist level and you look down into the viewfinder, it is a unique perspective as usually cameras such as the SLR are held up at eye level. Famed outsider photographer Vivian Maier used a TLR camera for much of her work. The low angle gives her street portraits a more noble, stately look. Sometimes it’s hip to be square!

I recently purchased a new scanner–an Epson V600, and at last can scan the medium format negatives that I shot in Toronto many years ago. I find that I’m remembering my 22 year old self.

Photography Toronto

1980s 6x6 Epson V600 scanner film photography square format Toronto Yashica-Mat 124G

Published September 29, 2022 by

Inside Ralph’s Barbershop – 2022_09_29

Barbershop, Toronto, 1980s
Ralph’s Barbershop, Keele Street, Toronto, 1983 – © Avard Woolaver

There were several barbershops in West Toronto Junction when I lived there in the 1980s. I liked Ralph’s Barbershop because of the nice light and ambiance. It was the classic community gathering place where men sat and talked as they waited their turn. I asked Ralph if I could take some photos, and went there a few times with my camera.

Photography

1980s barbershop documentary photography film photography The Junction Toronto West Toronto Junction

Published September 22, 2022 by

Abandoned Cars, Toronto, 1980 – 2022_09_22

abandoned cars
St. James Town, Toronto, 1980 – © Avard Woolaver

Abandoned cars used to be a common sight in Toronto in the 1980s. It’s something we no longer see. The graffiti, however, is still prevalent.

Photography

1980s abandoned cars film photography graffiti Toronto

Published September 19, 2022 by

Twin Lens Reflex – 2022_09_19

Twin Lens Reflex
Yonge and Gould, Toronto, 1980 – © Avard Woolaver

When I first arrived in Toronto, I took a few photos with a twin lens reflex camera, a Yashica Mat-124G. Looking back at these photos, I wish I had used this camera more often. The twin lens reflex is an ideal camera for street photography, as the camera is held at waist level and you look down into the viewfinder to frame the photo. The negatives are large and crisp, but there are only 12 exposures on a roll. Perhaps this is the reason it was abandoned in favour of the 35mm SLR.

Photography

1980s film photography street photography Toronto Twin Lens Reflex

Published September 17, 2022 by

Coffee Shop, Toronto, 1980 – 2022_09_17

Coffee Shop
Coffee Shop, Carlton Street, Toronto, 1980 – © Avard Woolaver

It was my friend Bill Knetsch who introduced me to the wonders of coffee in the fall of 1980. Before that I had been a tea drinker, but there was something about relaxing with a coffee and doughnut, that couldn’t be beat. After a marathon printing session in the Ryerson darkrooms, Bill and I would hit up a local coffee shop such as the Donut Castle on Church Street. At 1:00 am the place would be crawling with all manner of characters–cab drivers, cops, prostitutes, night owls, students, partiers, etc. But is was the lure of coffee that brought us together!

According to Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, good coffee is: “Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love.”

Photography

1980s Coffee Shop film photography street photography Toronto