A Picture Story: A Grand Dame returns to Tonopah.

[Jim Galli]

Just for your enjoyment. The tale is here.

Hope you have some fun with it. I used the Eastman Improved #2 camera with 8X10 and 7X11 backs. The Wolly Verito 18" on 7X11 is just delicious.

Along similar lines, the next day we re-enacted a famous photograph done in Tonopah 100 years ago when the Thomas Flyer arrived in Tonopah on March 20 1908 on it's way to Paris France! Again the 18 Verito just sung.

[Hugo Zhang]

Jim,

Delicious!!! I like all the pictures, but the one of Nicolas Walker stands out.

Thanks for sharing!
Hugo

[Jan Pedersen]

Well done Jim. Looks like you all had a lot of fun with this project.


jan

[David Karp]

It seems you have more fun with photography than just about anyone.

And your enthusiasm is contagious.

Thanks Jim.

[John Kasaian]

Beautiful photographs Jim! What a way to celebrate history

[Greg Lockrey]

There was a program on PBS a while back about a Doctor who was the first to drive across the U.S. in an automobile. It would be neat to retrace his route and photograph those same sites he came across back then.

[Ted Harris]

Jim, nice job.

[John Z.]

Hi Jim,
How do you time your exposures with the Verito? I had been under the impression it is too large for standard shutters.

[Jim Galli]

My 18" Verito is in a Studio #5 shutter. The blades form both the aperture if you use it and the shutter. There is no mechanical timing device, you just have a cable release that opens and closes the blades as fast as you can cycle the cable release. Wollensak used to advertise that was about 1/5 second. The common problem is that you'll want to use the lens wide open for best effect and 1/5 is generally 2 1/2 to 4 stops over exposed out of doors with modern 100 asa film. My approach is to just do it anyway and then do a pull in the Pyrocat HD. Pyrocatechol is ideal for this because it levels off in the highlights being a "compensating" developer. So the negs are a bit thick for platinum but I never have any trouble getting a good silver print from them.

[Glenn Thoreson]

There was a program on PBS a while back about a Doctor who was the first to drive across the U.S. in an automobile. It would be neat to retrace his route and photograph those same sites he came across back then.

I saw that program. It was really interesting.I don't think you would be able to find much of his route now, let alone gain access. So much has changed since then, especially in the west. Too bad. It would be a fascinating adventure.