Bracing for Winter
Photographic goals for the winter
February 2025, Downtown Toronto (Ilford XP2)
Writing this I am sat by the window as the snow continues to fall; it’s mid-afternoon and it has been pretty consistent all day. So consistent the great clothing switcheroonie has taken place - goodbye shorts and t-shirts, hello fleece and boots.
Winter is arriving here in Toronto.
October 2025, Woodbine Beach (Ilford XP2)
Not that long ago, Thanksgiving weekend in fact, it was warm enough to warrant the A/C on after you returned home having worked up a walking sweat. Now it feels like the winter is here to enshroud us for a few months.
Of all the seasons it is probably winter where the hobbies start to become distant friends. I mean, when it comes to photography my tolerance for hovering around while exposed to the elements shortens considerably. I like the ends of my fingers.
February 2025, Toronto Harbourfront (Ilford XP2)
Changing memory cards, trying to preserve battery life or worse, trying to change film, are deemed somewhat luxuries beyond being able to click the shutter when it’s minus something silly with windchill.
Added to this, the light exists across shorter intervals. That is of course, if you get to see the sun beyond layers of grey shade.
February 2025, Frozen Lake Ontario (Ilford XP2)
Weather aside, I remain positive towards photographic goals - I just need to set them.
Shutter count may remain down on other seasons but I am determined to not be held back by the prospect of frostbite. My goals this winter include:
Local shooting: Inspired by Ben Staley’s YouTube video where he exclusively shoots on a 3-mile loop near his house, which he repeats everyday, I have further itchiness to shoot as much as possible locally.
More printing: I am very bad at this and I know doing more will only help me to improve. First step is to buy a compact printer, select a matte-leaning paper and then experiment. My aim is to fill a journal with small prints, doodles and annotations by Spring.
Learning Large Format: Possibly the fiddliest format and the one that for most multi-format photographers sees least tripod time. I have a Nick Carver online course to wrap up, so I’ll be starting here and honing my gear for some laundromat action come Spring/ Summer 2026.
Creating my own presets: I am very close to a couple of Lightroom settings I very much like, subject to a few more tweaks and tests. The aim is to have them exported as Presets on my website in the coming months.
February 2025, Downtown Toronto (Ilford XP2)
I will be sure to continue progress with small projects and capture any landscapes as the opportunities present themselves. I expect to be mostly digital, unless the conditions are favourable for film (ie. not wet!).
February 2025, CN Tower (Ilford XP2)
Thank you for stopping by, I appreciate it. You can find my social media accounts via the button below. Happy shooting!