Summit Park is one of my favourite photography locations around Greater Victoria. My hard drives store many images made there. Not quite a year ago, I used it for a model shoot.

Like that December day, a steady rain was falling as I hiked up the curving stairway traversing the rocky outcrops that form the mini mountain (see yesterday’s post for a geological primer on these lovely lumps).

Mt. Tolmie from Summit Park

My challenge today, besides finding a new angle on a place I know well, was to use one camera/one lens (see technical notes below for more info). Since the lens I chose is not weather resistant, the other “gear” I chose included a ziplock bag.

This outcrop lies 2.5 km southwest of Mt. Tolmie, location of the Day 7 shoot. I made the snapshot above to illustrate the relative position as much as sneak in an extra photo.

The rain eased off after a while and I was able to release the lens from its plastic rain jacket, which had a habit of intruding into the frame and making a soft-focus halo (Hey! creative innovation!)

As if the actual photo “assignment” wasn’t enough of a challenge, I decided to update operating systems and photography apps today. I began the downloads before I headed out, expecting everything to be awaiting my return. Who could have anticipated an hour on hold for support, then another sorting out the inevitable conflicts and incompatibilities? Apparently, not me. Fools rush in.

Haven’t I waxed nostalgic before about the relative simplicity, not to mention comparative economy of film photography? I’m sure I have … though there’s a tendency to idealize old processes.

In the present (remember living in the moment was a prime motivator for this series) wandering around in the rain can be quite therapeutic, as long as one dresses body and gear appropriately.

Summit Tower