I'm back in action!

[Jason_1622]

The forum records showed that my last visit here was in 2004, so it's been quite a while! I'm breaking back out the Cambo 4x5 and I'm gonna pick up an old Argyle 12x18 process camera for $40 to slowly convert into something I can use... maybe an 11x14? Yes, I know that ULF will be a new learning curve from the 4x5, but I'm up to the task. I'm back in LF action!

[Brian C. Miller]

No, the term isn't "back in action," it's "done with ultra-long exposure pinhole photography experiments." (Kind of like measuring tar drips (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_drop_experiment).)

:)

[Drew Bedo]

Hello Jason,

Whatever you call it . . .Welcome Back!

[Jay DeFehr]

I would adapt an aerial 240mm roll film back, or build one for that process camera, for 9.5" x 18" format images on aerial film. Welcome back!

[Jason_1622]

I would adapt an aerial 240mm roll film back, or build one for that process camera, for 9.5" x 18" format images on aerial film. Welcome back!

That sounds like a fun idea, too! I'm not sure exactly WHAT will come of the process camera yet. I pick it up tomorrow morning. I'll assess its future when I get the beast back home.

I plan to try some portraits, maybe around headshot level? I want to do something that can leave the giant thing in the studio with minimal alterations. Knowing it is set up for close-up repro, I figured tight, head and shoulders shots would be good. Am I close on a starting point for it? Eventually, I could see hauling it outside for some mammoth landscapes, but I know it won't easily focus at infinity without more time and effort being put into it... not to mention the fact that it would be a chore to haul around, if I did configure it for landscapes.

Either way, it will be a challenging project, and a giant departure from my regular paid gigs shooting for magazines and newspapers.

[Jason_1622]

No, the term isn't "back in action," it's "done with ultra-long exposure pinhole photography experiments." (Kind of like measuring tar drips (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_drop_experiment).)

:)

Yeah, I miss doing the old pinhole stuff, too. I had fun building 4x5 pinhole cameras that became sharp enough to look like cheap glass lenses. The 5-15 minute exposures and the funny looks from passersby.

[Jason_1622]

OK, I picked it up today! You can see it here:

http://janikphotography.blogspot.com/2010/07/talk-about-large-format-photography.html

I was thinking about ditching the vacuum back and building something that held 11x14 holders. Is this a stupid idea? I've heard that backs this big can be difficult, because the spring tension is so strong. However, I'm seeing the value of film holders vs building a giant tent next to the vacuum back. Thoughts? Pointers to a good discussion already existing on this topic?