[pure-silver] Re: "Large format techniques"
- From: "BOB KISS" <bobkiss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 21 May 2011 11:13:40 -0400
Lest we forget, the image on the ground glass is also *backwards*,
inverted left to right,, not just upside down. This may not mean much in
this context but it meant a lot to me when I used to shoot fashion catalog
in the 70s and 80s. We often had to shoot models using 4X5, 120 (Blad), and
35 mm on the same day. When directing models you give directions from their
perspective, "stage left and right" not "camera left and right".
When setting up and directing the models while looking through the
ground glass of the 4X5 I had to remember that everything was inverted left
to right as well as upside down. Then when directing them shooting with the
Blad everything was right side up but inverted left to right. Then with the
Nikon 35mm, everything was right side up and correct left to right.
By the end of the day I was "con-FUSE" as we say in Barbados.
*****Another thing for large format: Remember, it isn't jus a matter of
greater sharpness and apparently finer grain in the final print. It is also
a matter of MUCH finer, more subtle, tonal gradation.
I just last week finished shooting 8X10 Tri-X (PMK)of chattel houses
for my soon to be published book. I then used one of my 4X5s and it felt
like I was playing poker (cards) rather than handling film.
Lastly, I use the Majestic tripod and live by those thumb screws.
Never had a problem. Love that 'pod!
CHEERS!
BOB
-----Original Message-----
From: pure-silver-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:pure-silver-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Michael A. Smith and
Paula Chamlee
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2011 9:40 PM
To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [pure-silver] Re: "Large format techniques"
Negative size and resultant quality are indeed the
main things, but equally important is the activity
of looking on a large ground glass. Large begins
at 8x10. 4x5 is considered large format, but after
one works with an 8x10, 4x5 seems like small format.
And that the image on the ground glass is upside
down is an important factor, too. Immediately, one
becomes aware of a sense of abstraction and it is
easier to concentrate on how things look rather
than what they are. For a photograph to be
meaningful it needs to be more than what it is of,
as well as an image of what it is of.
Michael A. Smith
On 5/20/11 9:22 PM, Jean-David Beyer wrote:
> Speedy wrote:
>> Start with an assessment of WHY would someone want to shoot Large Format.
>>
>> 1. Negative Size and resultant quality.
>> 2. Movements and their effect on focus and perspectives.
> 3. Keep in shape by carrying all that stuff around. At 72, horsing a
> 4x5 set is already about all I can manage. I never tried an 8x10, even
> when I was younger.
>> In the middle of answering the WHY you can explain the HOW.
>>
>> Also, you might also illustrate that you can get started in LF
photography
>> for comparatively little money and if you decide you like it you can
spend
>> a fortune on it if your heart desires to do so....
>>
>> Speedy
>>
>
>
============================================================================
=================================
To unsubscribe from this list, go to www.freelists.org and logon to your
account (the same e-mail address and password you set-up when you
subscribed,) and unsubscribe from there.
__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature
database 6140 (20110521) __________
The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
http://www.eset.com
=============================================================================================================
To unsubscribe from this list, go to www.freelists.org and logon to your
account (the same e-mail address and password you set-up when you subscribed,)
and unsubscribe from there.
Other related posts:
