Travelling from Conneticut to Georgia: The Travelling Canonet 28 roll #4

“The world can be dauntingly huge, yet sometimes also very small.“

You can read about the Travelling Canonet project here. We have over 50 photographers on 4 continents waiting to take part. Two Canonets are involved, each travelling in a different direction. Participants take 5 or more shots and send the camera on to the next person on the list. Previous pictures from the first, second  and third rolls from this camera and the first  and second rolls from the Original Canonet are also available on 35mmc.

This article covers the fourth roll taken with the Canonet 28 as it makes its way south down the eastern United States.

Dan

I usually work with people in my photos. Not exactly street photography, but people as a compositional element. Occasionally I’ll shoot informal portrailts. For this series of photos, I was looking for ‘Pairings’ or similar compositional elements – for example, the two shots of murals. The artist was a pleasant surprise, caught on the fly.

These shots were all done on one day, June 14th, 2022. Except for #9, all the photos were taken in my hometown of Portland CT. I wanted my work to represent where I live. If you look hard enough, any town has interesting sites & people.

Dan’s pictures

Marty

My name is Marty Cutrone and I am an amateur photographer, living in Charlotte, NC. My first real camera was an Olympus OM 10, and I have shot primarily film since. I primarily shoot landscapes, and in the last few years I have concentrated on large format, 4×5 landscapes.

My photos were taken in our neighborhood in Charlotte, NC. The houses in our neighborhood are similarly themed with small yards, front porches, bright colors – to give a “Charleston” look to the neighborhood. I included a skyline shot of Charlotte, because it is an attractive sight and symbol of Charlotte as a lead city of the new American South. Shooting the camera was enjoyable, a nice bright rangefinder is always fun and easy to focus. I think the meter did a good job, and I hope you like the images. I enjoyed taking part in the traveling Canonet. I’ve always found the community of photographers friendly, helpful, fun, and this experience only reinforced that.

Marty’s pictures

Abby

I applied to the Traveling Canonet project while finishing out a semester-long photography project class during which I shot a portfolio of images on medium format black and white film. Although I unfortunately received a C in the class due to some poor time management towards the very end of the project, nothing could ever diminish my enthusiasm to shoot some more film on campus, so I took the camera back out to my university with me for the beginning of my fall semester as a junior. Thanks for the opportunity to participate in such a fun project!

Abby’s pictures

Ferris

Growing up in small town Connecticut, we were always surrounded by photos. My parent’s families always had cameras at hand, both sides had reams and reams of photos. There were carousels of slides but, unfortunately, precious few negatives. I was given a Pentax k1000 for my birthday in 1984 and developed my first roll of film the following year. In the second half of my high school years I set about learning (at least rudimentarily) the printmaking process and carried that camera most places throughout the remainder of school and college.

Like many, once the cameras became affordable, I drifted to digital, but returned to shooting film in the summer of 2019. Some part of me was missing the analog process. The mad scientist chemistry. The brown glass bottles. The smells of the chemicals. That first-peek reveal of what the camera and I collaborated on making. Sometimes we succeed. Sometimes … not.

I had been following 35mmc for a while when the announcement of the travelling Canonet project was made. Having seen the images and stories from the Traveling Yashica, I quickly fired off an email to see whether I could take part. Shortly thereafter I was told I was on the list! The camera made its way to my doorstep on a Tuesday in mid-September, loaded with a roll of Kentmere 400. Looking over the notes included with the camera, it seems the first person to contribute lives close to where I grew up, nearly a thousand miles away up the eastern seaboard. The world can be dauntingly huge, yet sometimes also very small.

Wanting to get things underway, I went out that Saturday intent to shoot five or so frames. The counter on the camera read thirty, so I knew I would likely be finishing the roll. Having read the notes, I knew the first frame was a garden Buddha, so I headed out back and took a starter pic of mine to bookend the roll. I then headed out towards a nearby state park. Always having a soft spot in my heart for capturing entropy, I stopped off on the way at a partially demolished industrial facility and an abandoned house to capture a few images. Finally getting to the park, I wandered through the woods, trying to be careful as to how to spend the last few exposures.

Ferris’ pictures

Processing

Dan writes:

With the final four frames done, I returned home and replaced the Kentmere with some Foma 400. The next step was to develop the roll. I wouldn’t describe my feelings going in as terrified, per se, but will admit to some fear that something would go all cattywampus and that I would ruin the work of all those who came before. Yes, I first developed film in 1984 or ’85, but then took a break for thirty-odd years. In the end I stuck with the old reliable: Rodinal 25:1. Consulting the Massive Dev Chart, I opted for the recommended seven and a half minutes and, nerves and neurosis adide, everything seems to have worked out just fine. I scanned the negs, re-packed the camera, and sent it on its way.

I’m thankful for having been able to take part. It was a great experience and would definitely recommend it to anyone who’s a bit curious.

Summing up

That brings us to the end of another wonderful set of photos from this (understated) little camera.

My thanks to all participants and congratulations on producing such great results – Your ethusisasm and ability to compose with a basic point-and-shoot rangefinder camera leaves me very much inspired.

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