Today I took a walk around Providence to fiddle with my “new” Canon Canonet QL17. I have a great affinity with this camera model, having spawned an “around the world” project with one after my daughter Victoria died, in her honor. There is mention of the project on my homepage, and the images and stories remain at See The World With Victoria on WordPress. Unfortunately, the camera ended up in the hands of a photographer in California who disappeared into thin air and my enthusiasm for the project and faith in humanity were tested. My plan is to finish the project, as intended, by shooting a Canonet myself. It is 10 years on, and hopefully the images I make will in some way express the raw emotions I continue to grapple with.
Today, I went into a convenience store near Kennedy Plaza and as usual a man loitering at the entrance asked for spare change. I ignored him, but on exiting the store I asked him why he was living on the street. He told me some of his pain and of sleeping in tents and being unable to get a room in a shelter. I gave him $10 because he said he was hungry, and told him to get something to eat. He went into the store for this purpose. I waited across the street and watched the door. He exited shortly after I left without food and immediately joined a gnarly group of people hanging around in the plaza. I have refrained from giving money to people such as him, wondering whether it would be used to perpetuate the sadness. In the end, it is not for me to judge. I gave a meager sum, and what was done with the gift is none of my business.
The image was not taken with the Canonet. It was taken with my digital camera a few nights ago. The first roll of black and white shot with the Canonet is hanging in my shower to dry. The exposures look good and I will post a few images if warranted. Focusing in low light scenes with the small rangefinder patch while wearing eyeglasses is not easy. Without a depth of field scale, zone focusing is hit or miss.