Waiting for the clock to tick to the next second

What do you do when you have nothing to do?

I love to fish and rock climb. In the winter I've always skied and did a lot of ice climbing. I could use a few days off just to catch my breath and try and get caught up.

My dad is at the opposite end of the spectrum. He watches time crawl past. He sits looking out the window on a street where no one walks in the winter. He's tired from reading, doesn't have the energy to play the guitar, has no hobbies and plays no sports. He has nothing to do but fight leukemia. It takes all his efforts, all day, almost everyday.

This is what its like when you get this cancer. You look out the window and wait for the cancer to pass, with little energy to do more than watch the clock tick by.

-Rob Skeoch 

Although I've worked as a photographer all my life, I'm currently back at school trying to finish my Masters of Fine Art Degree at the Maine Media Workshops and College. 

Cig Harvey is one of my mentors and the project I'm working on is a documentary on my father as he battles leukemia.

Leica O Street Photography, Bike Courier in the Cold

I've been shooting for a few months with the Leica O and have finally gotten an image that I'm happy with. I ducked into one of the bank towers to warm up and change a roll of film. It takes me about five minutes to change a roll. In fact it takes a while just to rewind the film back into the can once it's done. I can see why future versions of cameras had a quick rewind crank on them. It would sure speed things up.

While changing the roll I noticed a bike courier had ducked into the building as well to warm up and have a coffee. He reminded me of a flying ace with his goggles and bulky coat and pants. 

It's the first shot taken with the Leica O that I'm happy with.

-Rob Skeoch 

Although I've worked as a photographer all my life, I'm currently back at school trying to finish my Masters of Fine Art Degree at the Maine Media Workshops and College. 

Norman Mauskopf is one of my mentors on a project that ties together street photography and a touch of the history of photography as I drift through Toronto using a Leica O camera that was designed in 1923. You can learn more about the Leica 0 here.

Fighting Leukemia, even combing his hair is exhausting

My dad is fighting leukemia. He found out about the situation in the fall and has gone through rounds of chemo. Some days are better than others. At first he was living on his own, then with my sister and her family. Since Christmas he's been living at our place.

One thing you notice about my dad right away is the weight loss since he's become sick. He mentioned today that he's down 44 pounds since the start of this battle. 

So different from just months ago when he seemed to strong now he's fading away and the skin hangs over his bones.

You can see it easily in his face, like those haunting photos we've all seen from the holocaust. He's facing his own holocaust I guess as he battles this leukemia. It's stealing his strength, it's stealing my father.

He has little muscle left and has problems climbing the stairs or climbing into the shower. He needs to sit just to comb his hair.

In this photo he's been through three months of chemo and is in the darkest part of the six month program. At least that's what the cancer doctor tells us. 

-Rob Skeoch 

Although I've worked as a photographer all my life, I'm currently back at school trying to finish my Masters of Fine Art Degree at the Maine Media Workshops and College. 

Cig Harvey is one of my mentors and the project I'm working on is a documentary on my father as he battles leukemia.

Leica O Street Photography Getting out of the cold

How cold has this winter been? 

Wow let's be series. I love the winter but this is crazy and I'm out drifting around shooting long days on the street. I try and keep gloves on but there's no way you can change the  controls on the Leica O with gloves on. Just to get thawed out I headed into the Toronto Eaton Centre and tried to make a photo there. 

The framing on the camera is not dead on since there's no viewfinder but just the little window and rifle sight style for framing. I'm starting to get used to it but most photos require a number of attempts to get one that frames up just right.

Freezing on the street back in Chinatown.

-Rob Skeoch 

Although I've worked as a photographer all my life, I'm currently back at school trying to finish my Masters of Fine Art Degree at the Maine Media Workshops and College. 

Norman Mauskopf is one of my mentors on a project that ties together street photography and a touch of the history of photography as I drift through Toronto using a Leica O camera that was designed in 1923. You can learn more about the Leica O here.

Lieca O Street Photography Drifting around Toronto

Drifting takes up most of my free time these days. It's my term for walking around Toronto with a camera and trying to make a photo or two. This year I'm drifting with the Leica O and I'm starting to get the hang of things with the camera.

I usually start off at Union Station if I take the train into the city and head up Bay or Yonge with my camera set and ready to shoot. I usually walk down the shadow side of the street since this provides even light and nicer light on peoples faces. 

If I decide to switch to the full-sun side of the street I have to adjust the camera for the new exposure. Everyone knows this but with the Leica O changing exposure isn't always that easy.

First you have to replace the lens cap, I've been getting better at remembering to do this. Then you fire off a frame and wind the film half way until two little dots line up. With the dots in the right spot I can push down on the shutter speed dial and rotate the dial to the next speed. 

Of course they're not shutter speeds but shutter slot widths. 10mm is what I use the most often because it's about 1/100 second. If I move across the street I have to change this to a 2mm slot width which gives me a shutter speed of about 1/500 second. Now with the new slot width set, I finish winding the film to the next frame and I'm ready to shoot.

Of course I also have to adjust the aperture for the bright side of the street. You have to remove the lens cap and reach into the front part of the lens and adjust the aperture. The minimal aperture is f12 which means the minimal exposure I can get is 1/500 at f12 which works out perfect in full sun for ISO 400 film like the Ilford XP2 I've been using. 

If you forget to finish winding the film and try to adjust the aperture first you fog both the previous frame and the next frame since the un-cocked shutter is in the open position and the film is protected by the lens cap. I've made all these mistakes more than once and a sheet of contacts has both blank frames from changing speeds and fogged frames from winding without the cap on.

Sometimes the picture has moved on before I get everything set but I was able to make this shot in Toronto's Chinatown when I met a dragon on the corner.

This is me shooting with the camera. There is no viewfinder but just a rifle sight style framing device. You hold the camera about 30 cm from your eye, similar to people using a modern digital with LiveView. The more things change the more they stay the same.

-Rob Skeoch 

 Although I've worked as a photographer all my life, I'm currently back at school trying to finish my Masters of Fine Art Degree at the Maine Media Workshops and College. 

Norman Mauskopf is one of my mentors on a project that ties together street photography and a touch of the history of photography as I drift through Toronto using a Leica O camera that was designed in 1923. You can learn more about the Leica 0 here.  

Leica O Street Photography_Taking it to the streets

About 15 years ago Leica came out with a camera model called the Leica O, which was a remake of one of the earliest models. Somehow I ended up with one and it sat on my shelf for a number of years. I'm not a camera collector and always felt they were made to be used so a few months ago I started taking the camera with my as I drifted about on the streets trying to make photos.

One of the first things you'll find with the camera is the film is hard to load. You have to cut each roll to extend the leader area, start it on the take-up spool and carefully slide both the film and take-up spool into position through the bottom of the camera. The first roll didn't catch right and I was shooting blanks. I know you're thinking "Hey fool, you can see the rewind moving if it's working" and that would be a good point. Anyway blanks were all I got.

I then spent a few hours, and it did take that long, trying to figure out how the camera loads and then how to rewind the film afterwards. It turns out once you reach the end of the roll you flip a switch for the rewind, but you also have to hold the shutter button down while rewinding as well. This might make sense once someone mentions it but it took me a while to figure out.

I shot a couple rolls the first few weeks using Ilfords XP2 film which is black and white but uses C-41 process. I had the film processed and simple scans made of every image. Even this took two weeks since the lab was down for service and they only run C-41 once a week at the best of times. These shots are all poor but if you look closely on the left side of each frame is a black intrusion coming into the frame. It turns out a small piece of film broke off and was stuck in the camera back ruining every frame. This is one of the problems you get when you cut the film to extend the leader length. I mention this because it was an honest mistake but took me hours to figure out. Did I mention you can't actually open the camera back like the modern Leica but only have access through the bottom by using a film width opening.

Focus with the camera is slightly challenging at first since it doesn't have a true viewfinder and focus is guess-ti-mation only. How far is 3 meters, or 2 meters, or 1 meter. I thought I knew but once the film came back I decided I needed a better method. I actually purchased a measuring tape and when shooting up close I whip out the tape measure and try and get things at the right distance. Although this seems cumbersome it's actually very quick and people seem OK with it for portraits. The shots of the sign holder with the scarf could have used this method since the sign is in focus but the guy isn't.

You'll also notice on these contacts totally fogged frames. This is the part that's tough to remember when using the camera. You have to put the lens cap on the lens before you wind the film or you'll fog both the previous image and the next one. The shutter is an old design and was originally taken from some type of movie camera. If you don't cover the cap you loose the image. Although I've know this all along, sometimes you just forget. In fact every roll has a ruined frame or two.

I'm having fun and learning new things every day.

-Rob Skeoch

Although I've worked as a photographer all my life, I'm currently back at school trying to finish my Masters of Fine Art Degree at the Maine Media Workshops and College. 

Norman Mauskopf is one of my mentors on a project that ties together street photography and a touch of the history of photography as I drift through Toronto using a Leica O camera that was designed in 1923. You can learn more about the Leica O here.

Tired of the fight.

In the fall of 2013 my dad started battling leukemia. Chemo started right away with seven sessions out of a 28-day cycle. By Christmas things were looking bleak with a blood count around 65. My brother slept on the couch at his place since we didn't want him to slip off alone. We moved him to my sisters over Christmas since she was off for the holiday, and then afterwards instead of moving back on his own, he moved to my place.
He has bad days and good days. 
On a bad day he lies in bed and watches the ceiling fan. I call those "fan days" and I think we'll all have our share of them at some point. Waiting for time to march on.
On a good day, he'll walk around the house, come downstairs and sit on the couch, even play cards. Not sure if it will get better than this.The more good days we have the better.

-Rob Skeoch 

Although I've worked as a photographer all my life, I'm currently back at school trying to finish my Master of Fine Arts Degree at the Maine Media Workshops and College. Cig Harvey is the my mentors on this documentary on dad. 

One final portrait with the big camera

The project I'm working on about Kenilworth Avenue in Hamilton is nearing the end for this term at school The deadline is only a couple days away and I have to start making the final darkroom prints.

I did want to get a portrait of Brandon done before I put the camera away and headed into the darkroom. 

Working near the tracks gave me a nice variation from the other street work and I had more room to backup the camera and try different things. We were rolling along nicely until a thunder storm brought the session to an end... and ended the shooting for this term.

-Rob Skeoch

Although I've worked as a photographer all my life, I'm currently back at school trying to finish my Master of Fine Arts Degree at the Maine Media Workshops and College. 

Cig Harvey is one of my mentors and the project I'm working on is a documentary on north Hamilton.

My retail store for rangefinder gear and Zeiss lenses is www.rangefinderstore.com

My retail store for large format photo supplies is www.bigcameraworkshops.com

Moving the large format gear into the pub

I went into one of the bars along Kenilworth and tried to make a few portraits. It was Sunday afternoon and most people were watching either the soccer game or the football game. The area near the bar was very dark for my big camera but I was able to set up near the front window and shoot between rounds of pool. 

Carl reminded me that he was kicking most people's butts that day and took on all challengers at the table. I tried to get one group shot but it didn't really work since they couldn't stay still for the four second exposure. This are was the brightest area in the bar but with my 4x10 camera and f8 lens I could hardly see the folks outside the centre of the frame.

William from Niagara Falls was visiting his niece and didn't mind having his photo taken. He was able to stand still long enough to get this shot as well as the one with his niece.

-Rob Skeoch 

Although I've worked as a photographer all my life, I'm currently back at school trying to finish my Master of Fine Arts Degree at the Maine Media Workshops and College. 

Cig Harvey is one of my mentors and the project I'm working on is a documentary on north Hamilton. 

My retail store for rangefinder gear and Zeiss lenses is www.rangefinderstore.com 

My retail store for large format photo supplies is www.bigcameraworkshops.com

Details and buildings along Kenilworth Avenue

Lloyd's Variety sits about halfway up Kenilworth Avenue and many nights has the only lights on for a block. It's classic for this area and a main hub for those that need a quart of milk or pack of smokes. I've photographed it a couple times, day and night but like this image the best of the group.

The row of homes is further up the street. Each door seems unique and the construction seems to have taken place piece by piece over the years. If you live here, then you're right in the middle of the Kenilworth action. Whether you like it or not.

Although he wouldn't pose for a portrait showing his face, I was able to convince this resident to slow down for a few minutes and let me shoot the pipe he was using. Not sure it held that much tobacco though.

-Rob Skeoch 

Although I've worked as a photographer all my life, I'm currently back at school trying to finish my Master of Fine Arts Degree at the Maine Media Workshops and College. 

Cig Harvey is one of my mentors and the project I'm working on is a documentary on north Hamilton.

My retail store for rangefinder gear and Zeiss lenses is www.rangefinderstore.com 

My retail store for large format photo supplies is www.bigcameraworkshops.com

Portrait of a 49'ers fan

I used a new plan today. 
As usual I was set up on the street waiting for people to walk by so I could start a conversation and hope to make a portrait.

I set up right outside the main door to one of the bars and instead of shooting people as they walked by, I photographed people entering or leaving the bar as well as those coming outside for a smoke.

These three shots were the most successful of the bunch. A couple of the other shots had the subject near the edge of the frame but there hands were so distorted from the wide angle that the image didn't work.

Of the three images I like the centre image of Al best even though he is a 49's fan.

-Rob Skeoch 
Although I've worked as a photographer all my life, I'm currently back at school trying to finish my Master of Fine Arts Degree at the Maine Media Workshops and College. 

Cig Harvey is one of my mentors and the project I'm working on is a documentary on north Hamilton.

My retail store for rangefinder gear and Zeiss lenses is www.rangefinderstore.com 
My retail store for large format photo supplies is www.bigcameraworkshops.com

Trying to get a tighter angle

Carl is always in a great mood and great to be around. The former jockey is pumped with energy and grinning ear to ear. 

Once again I tried to add a tighter shot of him and once again I still prefer the wider shot of him.

-Rob Skeoch

Although I've worked as a photographer all my life, I'm currently back at school trying to finish my Master of Fine Arts Degree at the Maine Media Workshops and College. 

Cig Harvey is one of my mentors and the project I'm working on is a documentary on north Hamilton.

My retail store for rangefinder gear and Zeiss lenses is www.rangefinderstore.com 

My retail store for large format photo supplies is www.bigcameraworkshops.com

A classic large format portrait

This shot of Susan has become the classic look of my series on Kenilworth Avenue. I was set up on the street and Susan walked by and had time to stay for a portrait before continuing on to work. Well dressed and well mannered she was a great addition to the collection of portraits which seem to concentrate more on the rough parts of the area. 

The street in the background is also typical of this area.

-Rob Skeoch 

Although I've worked as a photographer all my life, I'm currently back at school trying to finish my Master of Fine Arts Degree at the Maine Media Workshops and College. 

Cig Harvey is one of my mentors and the project I'm working on is a documentary on north Hamilton.

My retail store for rangefinder gear and Zeiss lenses is www.rangefinderstore.com 
My retail store for large format photo supplies is www.bigcameraworkshops.com

Large format street portraits

This shoot of Wayne started off rather easily. I was shooting a photo of a row of buildings and Wayne dropped by to see what I was up to. It turns out he lives in one of the row houses and was curious about what I was doing. 

I explained my project to him and showed him a few of the images I've taken so far, which I keep in my day journal and bring along. He thought it would be fun to take part and we did this short session. This is often the way it works out with these shoots. I set up the camera and start shooting and people drop over and chat. The camera itself is a good conversation starter and I continue to use it for this reason. Shooting 4x10 film is much more hassle than other formats or digital but I continue with it because of the attraction it generates and conversations that get started.

I started with the wider shot and I still like that frame the best. I moved in twice for tighter shots and they look different from what I'm normally doing and I can see the advantage of changing things up, but I still like the wider shot shown at the bottom the most.

I'm not sure if it's because of Wayne's demeanor or because I've stopped drinking coffee but both Wayne and I seem very calm in these photos. 

The bottom image is one of my favourite from the series of street work done in Hamilton.

They're all shot on Ilford Delta 100 on a 4x10 camera as part of my on-going work on Kenilworth Avenue in Hamilton.

-Rob Skeoch 

Although I've worked as a photographer all my life, I'm currently back at school trying to finish my Master of Fine Arts Degree at the Maine Media Workshops and College. 

Cig Harvey is one of my mentors and the project I'm working on is a documentary on north Hamilton.

My retail store for rangefinder gear and Zeiss lenses is www.rangefinderstore.com 

My retail store for large format photo supplies is www.bigcameraworkshops.com

Rodeo Photos get picked up on Yahoo.com

A couple weeks ago I finished my documentary on grass roots rodeo cowboys. The work was picked up by yahoo.com news and they did a full blog on it as well as a video. Yahoo says the video should get about half a million views a day.

The images were shot mostly with Sony cameras including many done with the new RX1R. You can read the blog or watch the video.

-Rob Skeoch