I headed up to Yosemite Valley this past week-end. My main purpose was to make a few carbon prints in the Ansel Adams Gallery darkroom -- a test run before I teach a workshop in carbon printing there next month. While I like surprises, I do not want any (or at least not many) in a workshop situation.
The first thing I loaded into the van was my 8x10 in its pack, then my tripod. Then I went through my long list of things I needed to make carbon prints, tossed in some clothes and a sleeping bag, and headed off.
About 420 miles into my 500 mile drive, I suddenly remembered that I never put my dozen loaded 8x10 holders in the van. First it was a feeling of unbelief. Then I just had to laugh...what else could one do?! When life hands you lemons, and you forget the sugar, all you can do is pucker up!
So anyway, I arrived in the afternoon on Friday and spent all day Saturday working in AA's old darkroom behind the Ansel Adams Gallery making carbon prints (the darkroom and facilities will work great for the workshop!)
I stayed with a friend who lives in the Valley and who happened to have an extra medium format camera and lots of film. So I spent all day Sunday and half the day Monday with his Mamiya 23 (ground glass viewing/focusing, back movements, 100mm 150mm and 250mm lenses, and two roll backs...6x7 & 6x9). I had a blast. I shot 8 rolls of B&W film with the idea of making small platinum prints directly from the negatives.
A few flakes of snow on Friday, one or two Monday morning, and great weather all weekend. I revisited some places I had used the 8x10 in the past, I photographed some icons, I photographed photographers photographing the last light on Half Dome, and I made new-to-me images. I am looking forward to developing the film.
The Mamiya 23 is an interesting camera -- probably would drive someone nuts who was not use to view cameras. The shutter/lens combos are like those on LF cameras, and using the GG and then removing it to attached the roll back is not too unlike using a 4x5 (even down to the darkslide on the roll back.)
I also got to see the Yosemite Renaissance Show. Jim Fitzgerald's and Jon Shiu's photographs were wonderful! I'll have to step up to the plate and give the show my best effort next year!
Vaughn
I did not see one LF camera being used...lots of digital, including a gentleman photographing two models in white bikinis in the snow along the Merced River
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Originally Posted by Vaughn
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