Recently I've noticed a few people sign off as being in Canada.

I'm interested - how many of us are there up here shooting LF? Where are we scattered. I don't think I've ever run across anyone in the field shooting LF!

Maybe a quick survey of who and where? Maybe, scattered across our vast land (bigger than the US you know - lots of shooting opportunities!!) we may even stop and have a beer some day...

Tim Atherton

imitating a brass monkey in Yellowknife...

-- Tim Atherton (tim@kairosphoto.com), January 04, 2002

Answers

Hi Tim! I am a Toronto based large-format (4 x 5) fine art photographer specializing in architecture and urban landscape. I actually think there are quite a few of us around Toronto including luminaries like Ed Burtynsky, Steven Evans, etc. Where are you based? (You may contact me off-list.)

-- David Kaufman (73501.3677@compuserve.com), January 04, 2002.

Like, how's it goin', eh? Want a beer? :-)

I'm from Calgary. I make regular forays out to the mountains, especially in the Kananaskis area. I've spent a bit of time in Yoho (Takkikaw Falls, Lake O'Hara) as well, but not as much as I'd like.

I'd be very interested in meeting any other LF photographers in the Calgary area - it's always fun to go out with people and shoot - you gain insight into how other people work. I'm pretty new to the whole LF thing, so I try and learn any way I can!

Cheers!

-klm.

-- Ken Miller (andawyr@hotmail.com), January 04, 2002.

I live in Ottawa and use 4x5 and 8x10 formats. We have a small informal group of LF photographers here in Ottawa that meet on a monthly basis to chat about things.

-- Vinod Chettur (swathi25@hotmail.com), January 04, 2002.

Hi,

I'm in Vancouver. Shooting mostly in the studio with my 4x5 but I want to bring it up the Sea to Sky Hwy soon!

-- Dominique Labrosse (d_labrosse@hotmail.com), January 04, 2002.

I'm in Halifax, Nova Scotia (www.evolvingbeauty.com), and shoot black and white on 4x5, 8x10 and occasionally 12x20. Currently I'm working on converting my 4x5 enlarger to print 8x10...

Here in the maritimes we have a decent community of LF photographers; three 8x10 enlargers that I know of in this city, 3 or more times that many 8x10 cameras in at least occasional use, and 10 times or more users of 4x5. This is a factor of having the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in the city of course, but outside of Halifax, we have, among others, Jeff Amos in Lunenburg, NS (www.jeffamos.com), 4x5-12x20, and Thaddeus Holownia (http://www.holownia.com) in Sackville, NB, 7x17 black and white and colour neg. I am of course leaving out too many people, but we are here, though thinly spread, no doubt.

Best of the new year to all.

-- Eric Boutilier-Brown (ericbb@evolvingbeauty.com), January 04, 2002.

Hi Tim,

I'm just north of Calgary and also spend time in the mountains. Kananaskis area as well as Banff tend to be where I like to shoot most when I can get there. Also last year explored the Yoho area (Takkikaw Falls and Emerald Lake) and intend on going back that way this year. Every year I take a forray into the interior of BC and try my luck there. Perhaps I may swing north and knock on your door sometime and you can teach me a thing or two.

A cold Canuck,

-- GreyWolf Phillips (grey_wolf@telusplanet.net), January 04, 2002.

Hey, I'm from Vancouver (that's about 3 hours north of Vancouver, Washington). I take lots of low contrast photos of rain, in rain, about rain. Dean

-- Dean Lastoria (dvlastor@sfu.ca), January 04, 2002.

Grey Wolf, drop me a line sometime, and we'll go shooting in the mountains...just north of Calgary, huh? Whereabouts?

Or is that where-a-boots? :-)

I live right on the West edge of the city, about 2 minutes from the Trans Canada, so getting to K-Country takes an hour. Very handy.

Have you made it to Lake O'Hara? An absolute gem hidden in the Rockies, and only about 30 minutes this side of Takkikaw...

Cheers!

-klm.

-- Ken Miller (andawyr@hotmail.com), January 04, 2002.

I'm in Montreal, I shoot mostly architecture. I don't think there's a terribly huge LF community here either, which is a shame since we do have a lot of beautiful old buildings.

-- David Leblanc (davi_leb@alcor.concordia.ca), January 04, 2002.

We drink Vancouver Island Lager in Victoria and like to shoot Botanical Beach (near Port Renfrew) with our 4x5. I get lots of questions about my camera from interested passers-by, but don't see anyone else with a camera like my Wisner.

My question to fellow Canadian shooters is: where do you go to get your gear and supplies? I was disappointed to find out recently that Lens and Shutter, one of our biggest regional camera stores no longer deals in large format (somewhat understandable) or even medium format (shocking for a pro-type store) anymore. They used to be a great source of used equipment, but they have seen the future and it is digital.

Any other ideas for Canadian suppliers of used LF equipment? Buying my stuff from Mid West Photo Exchange in Columbus, Ohio (notwithstanding their great service) is a bit of a pain.

-- Bruce Pollock (pollock@telus.net), January 04, 2002.

Oh Canada,

I am in Toronto and I shoot a beloved A-S Discovery. I got it from Amplis when they use to sell A-S directly to photographers. From now on I am going to buy LF gear from harrysproshop. The owner is a former Alt camera exchange dealer. Brian is a very friendly guy. Its grey market import and he deals with the warranty himself. I drink anything Labatt's because my dad works there! Being in Toronto I've met Burtynsky. Great nice prints and very friendly dude. I am going to assist Bob Burley who is my teacher at Ryerson. He is a very good architectural photographer. I think his website is designarchive.com. 4x5 is pretty common in Toronto shops. Sinar is plentiful and the film selection is good. I recommend Prolab @ Photomethods and Colourgenics as good labs in T.O. Happy Shooting, Canucks!

-- David Payumo (dpayumo@rogers.com), January 04, 2002.

Yeh, Lens and Shutter is going for that "Black's" mall look. Leo's in Vancouver is going down hill. It was the greatest store in the world, now they also sell used computers and genuine-imatation swords!?! It's also next to porno row.

Bruce, In Victoria you have http://www.camera-traders.com/ Camera Traders in that little ex-industrial mall/warehouse thing. It's small but the guy has a lot of stuff and is friendly - a lot of odd bits, but it's worth trolling from time to time. Also, Henry's mail order is not bad when you can get in touch whith them. And just across the line is http://www.equinoxphotographic.com/new.htm in Portland. This is all used stuff though. You can still get FILM from Lens and Shutter can't you?

I wonder if my suspicion is correct that American LFers have it a lot easier as far as equipment goes?

Dean

-- Dean Lastoria (dvlastor@sfu.ca), January 05, 2002.

Hi All, I'm in Toronto (North York) with a 4*5 and 8*10 - waiting for the spring thaw now to do some shots of the Erie Cannal. Best, David

-- david clark (doclark@yorku.ca), January 05, 2002.

Hi, I am 120km Northwest of Toronto. I shoot 4X5 and MF. Yes, in Ontario there is more than Niagara Falls, we have stuff worth looking at and photographing around Lake Superior, Killarney and the Soo. I day-back-pack in those areas in the Fall. David if you ever like to venture out there, keep my email address and get in touch.

-- Julio Fernandez (gluemax@sympatico.ca), January 05, 2002.

Greetings Tim! (and a nod to everyone else as well!) I base out of Dundas Ont (near Hamilton) and shoot 35, mf and 4x5 (Cambo & Tachi). No wimpy beer here, a cold case of Brador will do just fine. More canucks on the list than I expected! My gear comes from all over - Calumet, Midwest, B&H. Other than Vistek in Toronto, not a lot of LF in Southern Ontario. Sinar is THE THING in the GTA. Film & processing comes for LF come mostly thru Bell Arte in Hamilton. I have to say I've done extremely well on EBAY - 6 good LF lenses and about all of the toys for abt 40% of new. Rodenstock lenses are cheaper out of the Canadian distributor (at least thru Bell Arte) than bringing them up from say B&H. (and they thru in a DOF calculator:)

-- Paul Coppin (coppin@execulink.com), January 05, 2002.

I'm in York Region, just north of Ta'ranna. I was a fashion pro about 20 years ago then I got tired of sleeping in the studio, even if it was on Yorkville Ave. So I changed jobs and kept the equipment. I have shot 35,2 1/4 and 4x5 until last year when I got the urge to get an 8x10, Well the bank account and the spere time account have been drained and I am having alot more fun. I almost wept when Alt closed, The visitek used deptartment is active , they get it and move it not like a warehouse as Alt was. There doesn't seem to be any informal or formal or any way to identify the large format shooters in Southern Ontario. SOOOO... Maybe those of us who do shoot large adn mammoth should have an informal arrangement to meet once a month at a place , have a beer ,tell lies and maybe to satisfy our own vanity arange an annual large format gallert show, I have to say that the big stuff is just not getting displayed. I went down to Jane Corcoran's last fall after about 6 yrs of not going to look at the large format prints for sale. Well first off all she had were the really expensive guys, and they were all in strorage and I was able to view them. But as for the begining guy there is no place to hang and show.If the kids and the general public could just see the detail and tones in the 4x5 or 8x10 fine prints then they will understand why digital is not the best,yet.

Enough rambling, If any LFP ( Large Format Photogs) want to have a monthly lies and beer meeting contact me. I will buy the first round.

Happy new year

ED

-- Ed (zeke@idirect.com), January 06, 2002.

I'm in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, and I think one of maybe two or three LF shooters in the province that I'm aware of.

If anyone is coming this way let me know, a beer (or a dark rum) sounds good to me ...

-- Michael Mahoney (mike.mahoney@nf.sympatico.ca), January 06, 2002.

Better late than never. I shoot exclusively large format and live in Burnaby (You know the home of Michael J Fox)

-- Adam Gibbs (adsgibbs@telus.net), February 02, 2002.

Greetings all....I'm from Kahnawake Mohawk Territory on the south shore of Montreal. It's sort of Canada. Eh? I've been shooting LF for about 18 years. I started with a Crown Graphic and moved on to an Arca Swiss after about 15 years. I now have a Linhof Technica III. I shoot mostly portraits but I do landscapes too.

-- Martin (amloft@yahoo.com), February 16, 2002.