Big Camera gathering in Ontario

[Rob Skeoch]

In the west they have grand photo destinations like Point Lobos and Yosemite Valley, while in Ontario we have ..... Rattlesnake Point near Milton. OK so it might not be as great as Yosemite but it's still a great place for landscape shooters and an interesting area if you're part of the roots & rock crowd.
I'm putting together an informal photo shoot for large format users in southern Ontario. If you use sheet film you're invited.
The plan is to meet at Rattlesnake Point around 9am on Saturday July 23rd, take some photos and meet other LF photographers. If you're new to LF this will give you a chance to take some great photos and ask questions while in the field. If you have experience in LF this will give you a chance to take some great photos and offer advice.

Rattlesnake Point in part of the Niagara Escarpment and is owned by the Halton Conservation Area. The cliffs with their ancient gnarly cedars are only about 100 meters from the upper parking lot. You can get directions to Rattlesnake Pt at "www.conservationhalton.on.ca". There is fee of $4.50 per adult to enter the area.

Let me know if you're interested, or have suggestions to make this day work better.

-Rob Skeoch

 

[rogueish]

I 'm not shooting LF (I've just moved into MF and see LF in my future) but would like to see it in action. If this gathering takes place, would you mind if I was to "drop by" and check it out?

 

[Bob Carnie]

Hi Rob
July is a bad month here as my partner has undergone serious surgery and I am left holding the fort. I will post this at my lab as there are a few LF shooters around me that may find this quite interesting . have fun and keep Ian away from the beer.

 

[cory stickley]

Rattlesnake Point

Hi Rob,
I am looking forward to July 23 at Milton. As you know I am brand new to the LF camera and so, will be looking for some advice. However, in the event of extreme frustration at my lack of skill and knowledge, I intend to bring my 35mm with me! That way I can take advantage of the incredible scenery one way or another.

Thanks for setting this up. I am also looking forward to meeting other LF photographers and was pleased to read that there are others around.
Cory

 

[MenacingTourist]

Rob,

Good to see you again
Just to let everyone know, Rob was one of the kind souls at the Zion's LF workshop that let me carry thier gear in exchange for some education. Rob was shooting 8x10 so this was especially nice.
Robert Hall developed those 8x10 negs and I just can't get over how cool they are. Out of the six I shot there are one or two that might even be good

Good luck with your get-together and see you around,

Alan.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

I'm so alone out here on BC's north coast ...

If you all chip in for my plane ticket I'll show you how to keep your gear dry in the rain!

Murray

 

[Daniel Grenier]

Damn! I'll just barely miss it, Rob, but good initiative on your part. My wife and I will be in Niagara On The Lake that week (our wine stock is dangerously low ) but we have to be back home in Ottawa on Friday the 22nd! Too bad. Good luck with it and I hope you get great weather that day.

Cheers

 

[Rob Skeoch]

Just so everyone knows, this is open to everyone... if you don't have a LF yet, this might be a chance to see some gear. Plus people with big camera's are always looking for sherpas.

 

[Buster6X6]

Hi Rob
If I don't have to work that Saturday I'll meet you there.In the summer time I have only Suday's I can do some shooting and than come the honey-do's.I would like to get some pointers with my C1.
Thanks for organizing the meet.I was at the raptor centre in Milton about month ago ,great place.
Hopefully see you out there.

Greg

 

[Earl Dunbar]

Damn.... with a little more notice, I would have planned for it. I may still make it, but my tripod (Zone VI) is in pieces as I recondition it. Just like Daniel, I also need to replenish my wine cellar (had a whopper wine-tasting party last Saturday and we went through 10 bottles!)l, so I'm off to NOTL (Hillebrand, Stratus, Lailey, maybe some Beamsville wineries) to spend money my wife says I don't have. ;-)

Daniel: PM me with your wine preferences, findings, etc. I'd love to exchange notes.

Earl

 

[Rob Skeoch]

Just a reminder about the Big Camera Shoot/Gathering at Rattlesnake Point near Milton, Ontario on Sat. July 23rd. If you shoot sheet film or want to hang out with someone who does, you're invited to this informal gathering and shoot. Bring your camera, since Rattlesnake Point is a great spot for shots of old bent-up cedar tress hanging over the cliffs.
Feel free to bring some of your prints for the rest of use to enjoy, I'll be bringing a couple of outstanding examples of Azo as well as a couple superb b&w prints. None of which I took.
I'll also bring my large film changing tent in case anyone is short on holders and wants to reload.
The fee to enter Rattlesnake Point near Milton is $4.50 per adult.
-Rob

 

[dschneller]

I'm hoping to get out. Being a LF newbie it would be nice to see others in action. One question though, how far will we be traveling? My LF gear isn't very mobile, i.e., not a field camera.

Dave

 

[rogueish]

I'm hoping to get out. Being a LF newbie it would be nice to see others in action. One question though, how far will we be traveling? My LF gear isn't very mobile, i.e., not a field camera.

Dave

The walk from either parking lot to the cliff is not very far. The whole park is actually small. The loop from the first parking lot along the cliff and back through the forest is just over one km. The secound parking lot is closer to the cliff and is by the junction of the loop trail and the cliff top extension trail. If you follow the cliff further along it's another 2-3 km. After that I believe you'd be out of the park but still on the Bruce trail. For guys hauling LF cameras, tripods and assorted gear, I would think you wouldn't be traveling all that far. It would be a matter of "which parking lot is everyone meetting at"?

http://www.conservationhalton.on.ca/rattle.html

 

[brimc76]

I am also hoping to be there with another friend. I know roughly where the park is but as roqueish has said "which parking lot is everyone meeting at?" or is there more than one?

 

[Timothy]

Wow this is a great idea. I actually have an annual pass for all of the Halton Hills conservation parks and I live in Mississauga which is on the west side of Toronto. So if anyone would like to meet at my place on the way out, we can carpool and save on the park admission fee. I also have a spare tripod if someone is in need.
Anyone interested just PM me.

Tim R

 

[Rob Skeoch]

I would suggest meeting at the upper parking lot.... I should be there before 9am but come when you can. I would expect it to be a busy area with climbers on a weekend day. We don't have a bar-b-q area or pavilion.... the cost was just too high for the number of people I expect.
-Rob

 

[m. dowdall]

Thanks for organizing this Rob, I’ll be there Sat. It‘ll be great to meet some other L.F. users in the area. (I should say Photographers, but I’m not sure I would belong to that group.;-)

In the unlikely event of rain, I’ll post here on Saturday morning if I’m going to cancel.

Michael

 

[cory stickley]

Rattlesnake Point

Rob,
Just wanted to let you know I am still planning on being at the gathering on the 23rd. However, as I am driving down from the beautiful shores of Georgian Bay, some 2 1/2 hours north of Rattlesnake Point, it would be foolish for me to think I will be there by 9 am! Will be there as early as possible and looking forward to seeing you.
Cory

 

[Rob Skeoch]

For those who plan on attending but don't yet own a LF camera.... I'll try to remember to bring my 4x5 gear to lend out.... just try to bring a few sheets of film... or at least an empty film box to take the exposed sheets home in.
-Rob

 

[Rob Skeoch]

This Saturday is the Big Camera Gathering at Rattlesnake Point in Milton, Ontario. If you shoot sheet film you're invited to this informal gathering and shoot.

Rattlesnake Point is a pretty good spot for landscapes with the old gnarly cedar trees hanging over the cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment. It's also a chance to meet other photographers who shoot LF. I've had a pretty good response to this so am expecting a good turnout. I hope to see a couple of ULF cameras, and even try one out.

So here is a list of things to consider.

I should be at the "Upper Parking Lot" by 9am. I hope to take a team photo around noon.

There is a $4.50 per person cost to get into "Rattlesnake Conservation Area", ... your fee also gets you into "Kelso" just down the road where they have a great swimming lake. (I guess you could dump, I mean drop, the kids off at Kelso with your spouse for a day at the lake, then continue up to Rattlesnake Point).

I will have a 4x5 available if you don't have a camera but want to give it a try.... bring a box to put your exposed film in.

I will bring a large harrison changing tent.

Bring along an extra empty film box incase you have to change film holders... or get a chance to try a larger format..... I'm hoping to try out someone's 11x14. Hint, hint.

No food or water to buy on site... bring your own.

It could be busy with the rock climbers using the cliff area.

Bring along a print or two to show.... I've got some amazing ones.... of course I didn't shoot them, but they are good.

I hope to set up a small area with a flower or two to shoot, I have a small black background but if you have a large black background maybe throw it in your car.

That's all I can think of, see you Saturday. ... my car is a gray Camry station wagon.

-Rob Skeoch

 

[Buster6X6]

Thanks Rob for the info.
This is my first outing with 8X10 so it should be interesting.Also very nice photo opportunity is at Hilton Falls which I visited in May.I'll see you at 9.00 tomorrow.
Greg

 

[brimc76]

Rob, we will be on our way early tomorrow morning so hope to see everyone by 9:00 or just after. I beleive it's a couple of hours drive to Milton from here.

 

[Rob Skeoch]

Thank you everyone who came out.... we had 17 in all.
If you haven't received a list of emails and the photo please contact me directly.... I wasn't able to read a couple of the email addresses.
-Rob Skeoch

 

[dschneller]

Thanks Rob, it was great to meet everyone. I never did see that Ansel Adams photo though!

Dave

 

[m. dowdall]

Just got back from Rattlesnake point, had a great time today meeting every one. I learned some things and got to see some great prints. Thanks Rob, if it wasn't for you organizing this outing I would still feel like the only one in the Toronto area using L.F. Now I know there are a few more than one, there’s probably a lot more lurking around who couldn’t make it today.
Michael Dowdall