My newest challenge

[Terri]

I received a 4x5 camera for Christmas from my husband. A black rosewood Tachihara with chrome trim - just looking at it is a treat. :love:

Our weather since Christmas has been awful - cold, overcast, windy, typical nasty wintery stuff - so all I've been able to do with the new baby is practice opening it, mounting the lens, then dismantle it. Practice which is needed since I've never shot 4x5 film before, I might add!

He gave me a box of infrared sheet film along with the camera at Christmas, but I wanted my test shots to be a little less expensive, so last night I loaded up some Ilford FP4, a film I have some experience with.

I'll be shooting a couple of stunning shots of my back yard. :mrgreen: And for starters, I will be doing tray development, but I don't know if I'll want to stick with that or not - we'll see how badly I can scratch 2 sheets of film with my clumsy hands!

So wish me luck, and I will post the results as soon as they are available!

[Antarctican]

:popcorn:



(Rosewood! Sounds lovely)

[Terri]

(Rosewood! Sounds lovely)
It is! :wink:

I am back from my first-ever LF shoot. 4x5 is FUN!! As much fun as it sounded after reading about it for the past few years and getting bitten by the bug. A lot to remember, but it actually all makes sense in a progressive-order sort of way.

So I now have 2 sheets of exposed film, still in their holder, waiting for me to get in the darkroom for development. Won't be today, as I promised myself a big batch of soup and the pot is simmering at the moment. I DID leave my backyard to go shoot, at least. :lol: wheeeeee!

[Terri]

Still haven't developed my test shots. :gah:

After a very nice weekend, weather-wise, it's turned bitter cold and the jug of distilled water in my darkroom had a standing room temperature of 63 degrees when I tested it last night. I'm also battling a miserable head cold and feeling too lazy to warm it up manually, so I'm waiting for this weekend to give me a better ambient room temp before I get to mixing and sloshing.

It's actually supposed to warm up so nicely this weekend I'll probably go shoot some more, as soon as I pull those sheets out of the holders.

Spring fever, just around the corner!

[Christie Photo]

What lens did you get?

[PhotoJet]

It's ok, terri! It's ok. :hug:

[Terri]

What lens did you get?Pete, it's a Rodenstock Apo-Sironar-N 150mm f5.6. I believe the "S" series lenses are considered top of the line....? But it's unlikely I'll need anything that special. :razz:

I know I will want to add 2 more lenses to this system eventually. Some kind of moderate wide-angle for landscapes and a moderate telephoto, for portraits.

I can't imagine needing any more than that. Any suggestions for those 2?

[Terri]

It's ok, terri! It's ok. :hug:Well, I got to it eventually. :lol: But not without having my "moment" up there.

[Christie Photo]

I know I will want to add 2 more lenses to this system eventually. Some kind of moderate wide-angle for landscapes and a moderate telephoto, for portraits.

I can't imagine needing any more than that. Any suggestions for those 2?

I have a Nikon 210mm (8 1/4 inch) that I absolutely love. And I have an old Calumet wide angle camera outfitted with a Caltar 90mm. I suspect you'll need a recessed lens board for something that short.

Did you get a Polaroid back?

[Terri]

No Polaroid back. :) You know, I have one that fits onto my Daylab, it's a model 545i...wondering now if it can be used on the Tachihara. I have a small stash of Polaroid film in my darkroom fridge, not a lot. Is Fuji sheet film compatible with these Polaroid backs? Can't imagine it wouldn't be, but I've not even looked at it.

So you're happy with the 210mm for portraits?

[Christie Photo]

No Polaroid back. :)...210mm for portraits?

I never routinely used a view camera for portraits. I used it for table top product sort of work and on location for industial work.

When I first began... years ago... really, I was little more than a kid... I did some work on a large wooden studio camera. It sat on a stand with two large vertical posts and a table that tiped forward and backward with a crank. It was outfitted with a split 5x7 back, allowing two exposures, side by side, on a single sheet of film. I shot full 5x7 for older couples (a retouching concern) and full legnth bridal portaits.

But, the idea of going back to a view camera for portraits doesn't appeal to me. It's somewhat easy for the subject to move in and out of focus with a portrait legnth lens. I'm thinking something like 12 inches for 4x5.

[Terri]

Wow. I had no idea. I've seen several LF portraits and am rather intrigued by them. I definitely have more reading to do before I make a move.

Landscapes are certainly an easier approach for the time being!

[Christie Photo]

I've seen several LF portraits and am rather intrigued by them.

Oh, they are fascinating. You can count the pores in the skin.

[Terri]

Oh, they are fascinating. You can count the pores in the skin.I saw one in a book of prints made by Larry Bartlett, now deceased. (I think I have the name right. This guy was a master printer, and though he was also a photographer, he accepted negatives from other photographers and made great prints for them.) It was exactly like that. A B&W portrait of an older gentleman with a great face. Larry Bartlett printed it on variable contrast paper and the face was printed at about grade 4. It was stunning!

There are times I think I'd rather be a good printer than a good photographer. Darkroom printing challenges me, and I never get tired of playing with the many tricks. :love:

PS: Larry Bartlett! I said Peter before while I was at the office and had an idea I was getting the name wrong.

[TammyK]

Terri, I have an older metal 545 Polaroid back. The back you have for the Daylab will fit your camera. Start shooting Polaroid and you lament it's passing even more! :( Nothing beats a type55 negative!:love: The Fuji quickload holder will work with the fuji film and kodak quickload film. The Kodak holders will not work with anything but Kodak, if I remember correctly. But, Kodak has been discontinuing it's quickload film anyway. (darn Kodak :batterup:)

I understand that the Fuji 4x5 Peel apart (like Polaroid) is only a pack film and will not work in the Polaroid holder you have. It needs a special pack film holder, but I don't quite know what that is.

Portraits are not that difficult on the larger format. Even wide open, it's accomplished, but using slow film with indoor light and a wide aperture just requires a bit more patience from both subject and photographer. ;)
There are those using indoor strobes and backdrops who just mark the distance and close down the lens, and get a perfectly focussed shot each time. Outdoors seems easier as the light is stronger and the lens can be stopped down a bit from indoors (usually). I tell you to go for it and please post your results!

You have the same camera as I have.:sexywink:

[Terri]

You have the same camera as I have.:sexywink:
I thought I remembered you talking about your Tach! :cheer:

Okay, so I am in possession of a working Polaroid back and a couple more boxes of sheet film in the fridge. Guess I'll have to use it with the Tach before it's gone. :sigh:

Thanks for the comments about the LF portraits. I don't want to waste money on a lens that I am afraid to use. OTOH, I won't learn without a large donation to the Learning Bin (AKA the trash can). :lol: I have made consistent deposits for many years and expect to continue to do so!