What did you compose at Waters Edge?

[paulbarden]

Testing a pre-war Rolleiflex a friend loaned me yesterday, Tessar lens, uncoated. Tri-x in D-76.

[Peter De Smidt]

[Tin Can]

Like!

[Corran]

Nice water motion Peter.

Here is another one from a scouting trip to a new trail.

Canada Creek Confluence
Chamonix 45n1, Nikkor 90mm f/8, TMX, FX-39

[John Layton]

Paul...while I know its unfair to ponder choice of equipment - especially in the case of an image as nice as yours...there is just something wonderful about the rendering from Tessar lenses on old Rolleis. I've owned a number of Rolleis over the years (sadly am currently rollei-less) and my two favorites, rendering-wise, were the 3.5F with six element Planar which I just sold recently...and, much earlier, a Post-War (Automat?) with a coated 3.5 Tessar. If I were more of an MF shooter I would have kept both.

...but maybe its only fair to pay some heed to my "equipment ponderings" because I do believe that lens rendering quality does become, over time, an important component of our own vision.

And about that image...kudos for your own "rendering" of this - so that what might otherwise present itself as a very "busy" image has become, to my eyes at least - very subdued, on the edge of somber...but with a quiet energy of its own.

[esearing]

Corran, now you are really tempting me to go hiking this weekend.

Now that my darkroom has cooled off I am working back through some of my spring and summer images. Shot from near water level to the side of the "Edge of the World" class 4 rapids, Amicalola river. This is one of those shots where I wish I had a rope to tie off myself and gear. I remember thinking just relax, breathe, and don't drop your loupe or meter.

Chamonix N2, FP4, Pyrocat HD, scan of print.

[jp]

Nice water motion Peter.

Here is another one from a scouting trip to a new trail.

Canada Creek Confluence
Chamonix 45n1, Nikkor 90mm f/8, TMX, FX-39

This is great! I tend to yawn at most of the cotton candy water long exposures. This is much better since that is secondary to the detail, composition and whole scene.

[Corran]

Thanks jp. I definitely try to put more emphasis on composition and the "whole scene" when shooting these creeks, though it can be difficult. The light was really great yesterday though which made this work.

Even if I shot 400-speed film, most of these scenes would still be around the 1-second mark. I think 1/8 is a great water shutter speed, but it's not often I can use it.

Eric, I'm glad you didn't fall in! Let me know about Sunday morning. Weather as of now looks good. We could meet at the Dahlonega Wal-Mart.

[CreationBear]

I think 1/8 is a great water shutter speed, but it's not often I can use it.

On a (somewhat) related note, is the Nikkor 90/8 okay on your GG under canopy? It's a lens with a stellar reputation, but I'm wondering if, given my middle-aged eyes, that a 75/4 and cropping if necessary would be less frustrating.

[Corran]

It can be very hard to see the image, especially if my camera is wedged into some place against a tree or low to the ground which happens occasionally. Focus is easy with my preferred 10x loupe but sometimes I wrestle with my jacket-turned-darkcloth (don't like bringing my big darkcloth usually) when focusing, especially if the sun is in a bad place. I am not great at visualizing cropping and prefer to compose on the GG fully, so your solution is viable but not for me. Overall I would say I notice the dimness occasionally but it's not bad, and the relatively small/light Nikkor 90mm has delivered 100's of good negatives.