Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/01/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Norm, Thanks for the words of warning, advice and encouragement. I just spoke to a good friend of mine in NYC who shoots 4x5, and we talked about him coming down and bringing a field camera and giving me some lessons - that might be a good start! Scott Norm Aubin wrote: > Scott, > >Be careful! This "grand hobby experiment" will take over your life, and >next thing you know you'll be driving around the country in a station wagon >and searching for "The Big Picture"! I kid you not, it's addictive. At >least the film is not too out of sight, averaging around $3.00 per sheet for >any of the good films, like Tri-X and Ilford's or Bergger's fine products. >In fact, if you're planning on doing studio work try their (Bergger) 200 >speed film, it's rather like Kodak's Super XX of the 40's, and it's a great >portrait film even in the 35mm form. The next thing you know, you'll be >trying to recreate the look of George Hurrell, or buying ND filters of 8-10 >stops and trying the techniques of David Fokos. Me too, Me too! > >I've been developing LF negatives for years now, and have tried all kinds of >gadgets, and still I prefer the tray method for doing only 2-4 negatives at >a time, and perhaps a dunk tank if I have to do 6 or more. Since I use 4x5, >I can and do use the Yankee tank, which will hold 12, but I use only 6 at a >time. I want a few surplus Kodak black rubber tanks and frames for tank >processing - it was the method of choice everywhere and for good reason. >Tray processing has one subtle draw back - temperature control, and one big >draw back - scratched negatives from the interleaving of the sheets. Still, >it is a very inexpensive way to get going. I use at least one size over for >sheets, and prefer two sizes over. I have used 5x7 for 4x5 but think 8x10 >is better. For 8x10 neg's an 11x14 or better yet 16x20 tray will provide >ample room to move the film around while minimizing cramped conditions. > >You're comment at the end - "Who knows, maybe something good will come of it >:-)" is interesting - because you will find it conflicts with using a 35mm >Leica - Big Time! The Leica is used spontaneously - by feel and instant >decision , as Ted so often exhorts us. His recent exposition on how he did >the work in the O.R. really goes over this succinctly and pointedly. The LF >camera on the other hand requires you to evaluate a scene for a long time >while adjusting the camera, it could take 20 minutes or longer (in the field >or the studio) to get it all set the way you want, and by then you may >decide it's not worth it. I love the two different ways of thinking about a >photograph, but it is akin to switching from Epee to Saber; rather different >approaches to the same problem. In the end though it does integrate, the >equipment fit's your hand and you start to adapt to that way of thinking, >and it gets easier. > >Think of the opportunities - pin hole, macro to die for, negatives the size >of Rhode Island, contact prints that have more tonal values and subtleties >than you've ever seen, and if you can find an Arista light source to mount >to your camera back, and a flat field lens to install in a lens plate - a >built in enlarger! F:45 and be there - 20 minutes early! > >Write me offline at puff11@comcast.net if you wanna B.S. about this stuff >more - > >either way - go for it - it's great! > >Best of light, >Norm > > > > >>Message: 5 >>Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 05:12:45 -0500 >>From: Scott McLoughlin <scott@adrenaline.com> >>Subject: Re: [Leica] Way OT: Shooting 8x10 LF and contact printing >>To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org> >>Message-ID: <43D4AC1D.4000107@adrenaline.com> >>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed >> >>Roger that as well. As I said, this is all foreign territory to me. >> >>Yup, I'd be souping my own B&W negs. Exactly how warrants >>more exploration :-) >> >>Note that this would all be a grand hobby experiment for me. >>I figure if some of my peers who don't drive especially well >>can go and get their jollies buying sports cars, I should be >>allowed to flirt with (relatively inexpensive) photo toys, >>ahem, I mean "tools." >> >>Who knows, maybe something good will come of it :-) >> >>Scott >> >>Frank Filippone wrote: >> >> >> >>>Ok, but 1:1 in 8x10? A bit "challenging"..... >>> >>>You realize that every shutter click is a $10-20 bill spent >>> >>> >>on film + >> >> >>>development, in B+W. and color is $25-40? >>>Are you going to process it yourself? JOBO? BTZS Tubes? >>> >>> >>Tray? Can you >> >> >>>find a lab to do the work? >>> >>>You know about J+C Photo? They carry the film you will >>> >>> >>need.... "Cheap >> >> >>>FIlm"..... Mostly from Eastern Europe........B+W >>> >>>Frank Filippone >>>red735i@earthlink.net >>> >>> > > > -- Pics @ http://www.adrenaline.com/snaps Leica M6TTL, Bessa R, Nikon FM3a, Nikon D70, Rollei AFM35 (Jihad Sigint NSA FBI Patriot Act)