LF Animation Teaching Tool

[John Hennessy]

Harold Merklinger's site has some wonderful animations of the affects of LF focu s but only in a very limited and fixed number of situations. Does anyone know of a program that shows these sorts of animations but which can used interactively ? I suggested to Harold that he do it but couldn't get him interested. Also sear ched RIT, MIT, and so forth but no dice.

If not, some clever photographer/programmer should write one. I think it would b e a boon to all beginners and many others who harbor all sorts of misconceptions about how their view cameras actually work. My concept is to have a dialog box into which one types focal length, subject distance, f stop, front or rear focus , even angle of coverage or even a specific lens, etc. and then watch what happe ns!

A good project for a photographer with winter-induced cabin fever.

[Altaf Shaikh]

I still think the old boring way of actually using the camera clears up things a lot faster than some simulation ever could.

[David Payumo]

Sorry John but I have to agree with Al. I would have to say shooting Polaroid Type 55 should be a required for LF. I had trouble understanding all the theory about LF movements but looking at a Polaroid negative gives me all the composition and depth of field answers in any situation. Looking at the Polaroid positive is great for exposure judgement. You try something and get feedback in twenty seconds. Its a great aid for people learning LF than a computer program.

[Dave Anton]

John, such a project is not very difficult to create. Director and Flash are very easy software to master. They should allow you to quickly produce an interactive cd that will yeild the effects you mentioned. If you are familiar with photoshop, you are half-way there already.

Dave.

[John Hennessy]

If I may defend my idea: Actually using a view camera for many years completely fails to enlighten many what is going on. One very successful photographer wrote an article in Photo Techniques that he could move the plane of sharp focus parallel to itself by twisting the focus knob. We all know that is nonsense. (Don't we?)

For instance, Harold's animation shows the great difference of focusing with the front standard as opposed to the rear. A picture is worth a thousand words but an interactive animation...

[john martin]

have you look at the polka animation library? if you know a goo programmer in C/C++/Java, then search geogria tech for 'Xtango'. Polka is beter, butif your using a search engine Xtango will get you their quicker.