Taken the plunge to large format

[timbo]

I've just taken the plunge. After shooting digital for a while, then a brief foray into 35mm, I'm going to 4x5 (and maybe bigger eventually). Thanks to all the amazing threads here, I bought used from ebay (and beyond) and am now anxiously waiting for the arrival of my:

Toyo 45A (Comes with a collection of small bits),
Grandagon-N 90mm f/6.8 MC Lens,
Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 tripod, and
410 Junior Geared Head,

Seeing as I now have nothing to do but wait, I thought I'd introduce myself.

Any advice on a good intro to large-format-in-the-field project?

Tim

[adam satushek]

Welcome Tim, glad to have another join the fold! Sounds like you have a nice setup on the way, it should be a great place to start. Having just a 90mm would feel limiting to me, but I am certianly not a wide angle shooter so take that with a grain of salt.

Just out of curiousity do you plan to shoot color or back and white or both?

In terms of a good project....thats trickey as everyone as different approaches. Personally, I say just get out and shoot....and shoot as much as you can of just whatever you find interesting. After you have done that for quite a while you will start to see different themes emerge that you tend to keep in mind while you are out shooting. These themes can become series once you have been working with them for a while. That has generally been my method for the 10 or so years I have been shooting large format. It works for me, but im sure many others prefer more project based approaches.

Best of luck!

[timbo]

Thanks Adam,

I figured I'd start with wide angle because that is where I seem to have always trended for whatever reason. I will admit though that I'm sitting on my hands to avoid getting a second lens until I get shooting!

Interesting about the B&W vs color. I've always used black and white when I shoot 35mm, and figured that is what I would shoot in 4x5 too. But as I was doing my research, I've found that there is something about color prints from large format film that are just amazing and I imagine I'll be going there before too long...

[adam satushek]

Yeah I think large format color is amazing. Of course black and white is amazing too. I only asked because I have a feeling that many people who are picking up large format these day do so mainly for the process of black and white and to make handmade darkroom prints. That seems to be where film photography most obviously sets itself apart from digital capture.

[timbo]

I have a feeling that many people who are picking up large format these day do so mainly for the process of black and white and to make handmade darkroom prints.

Thats certainly a big reason I got into 35mm from digital, and one my curiosities is to eventually start playing with prints on other metals and what have you. That and making enormous prints ;)

[cosmicexplosion]

welcome to the mad house.

stick with one lens until you have your system sorted. many greats only had only one, its a bit like eye balls, oh, thats two, but usually duplicates.

one of my fav landscape togs: http://http://www.peterdombrovskis.com/ used a 90 a 150 and a 300 thats it.

he is one of my favourites as i grew up in tasmania and spent my youth trekking through the subtropical rain forests and deserted beaches. so its a bit bias, but deservedly so.

[Peter De Smidt]

The 45A is a very nice camera. (I have a 45 AX, which isn't all that different.) I also have a 410, which should work just fine with the 90mm. (A longer lens puts more demands on the support system.) You may prefer a recessed lens board with the 90 so that the bellows don't become too compressed, which makes using movements a bit difficult, but it's probably quite usable with a flat board. Welcome to the format!

[cosmicexplosion]

ps where are you from and do you have links to your work in tiny format?

[timbo]

Ah yes -- I'm recently moved to Chapel Hill, NC to start a job at Duke. I also manage to get out west on a rather regular basis, so it will be interesting bringing the Toyo and film through security. I already refuse to let them xray any of my film, regardless of ISO. And I refuse the naked-scanner. This is going to be a spectacle.

I have some tiny-format digital stuff up on flickr. Some of my favorites are:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timreddy/4211531921/in/set-72157622940295097/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/timreddy/5484898690/in/set-72157626038847697
http://www.flickr.com/photos/timreddy/4116541792/in/set-72157622709850327
http://www.flickr.com/photos/timreddy/3993071872/in/set-72157622417825821

I never got around to digitizing any of my 35mm stuff, but perhaps some day. There are a few keepers in there.

[timbo]

Well, it only took a few months for my camera to get lost in the mail, found in the mail, sent for a bellows repair, and some false starts including "I'll just go take some shots after work. Wait, I need to figure out how to load film. Better find a tutorial on youtube. Now it's dark."

But, I made it out today and got my first negatives. I had a total blast! Off to yosemite for a vacation in two weeks -- maybe I'll be ansel adams for halloween?

81607

Just need to figure out how to print this thing!

[Peter De Smidt]

Congratulations!

[Vaughn]

But, I made it out today and got my first negatives...

Too cool! Congrats!

[dperez]

Welcome to the forum.

There are some great "how to" videos on Youtube. In my opinion some of the best are made by Tom Johnston, who's Youtube account is ZoneIII (www.youtube.com/user/zoneiii)

Also good is tomonator60 (www.youtube.com/user/tomonator60)

Good luck,

-Daniel

[timbo]

Thanks Daniel,

This is great advice -- I used his videos to figure out how to load film holders. They were invaluable -- looking forward to watching the rest!

Tim


Welcome to the forum.

There are some great "how to" videos on Youtube. In my opinion some of the best are made by Tom Johnston, who's Youtube account is ZoneIII (www.youtube.com/user/zoneiii)

Also good is tomonator60 (www.youtube.com/user/tomonator60)

Good luck,

-Daniel