1st successful exposure and a question?

wiseowl · Dec 17, 2005

Attached is my first attempt with LF. The only movement used was front rise to bring the church into frame. Taken on Rollei R3 at 100 iso and developed in Rodinal 1+25 for 9 minutes. (Lens used was a Schneider Super angulon 90m)

Now to the question, to me it looks as though the verticals are diverging. The spirit level is broken and I set up the camera for level using my eye and the lines on the gg. What I'd like is an informed opinion as to whether this effect is a result of wide angle distortion or because the back wasn't perpendicular?

The church is St Mary Magdalene in Mawdlam, Aberkenfig BTW.

Lee L · Dec 17, 2005

You have a slight bit of widening at the top of the frame (if the tower is straight and true). However, that's probably exaggerated by the brain's expectation that verticals seen from below converge. Some people don't correct fully, and leave in a little convergence to avoid this problem. It's a personal and aesthetic choice. Try shooting both ways next time so you can compare and find your own preference.

You might try a small level against the camera back to check for vertical next time. In the US there are short baseline protractor levels available that you might find handy as an accessory.

A visual example: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...k_13/002-6985823-6501625?n=1000&s=hi&v=glance

Lee

Bob F. · Dec 17, 2005

I loaded the image into my PC so I could look closer... Assuming the tower is vertical, the image is slightly tilted to the right (about 2 degrees). The tower sides appear parallel until you reach the part that juts outwards near the top at which point it diverges noticeably. I suspect that if you go back and look closely, the top of the tower may actually be built that way - if not, then I would suspect lens distortion.

Cheers, Bob.

David A. Goldfarb · Dec 17, 2005

I like Bob F's answer, and second the recommendation to use a perpendicular level or an angle finder set to 90 degrees on the groundglass.

Aside from the issue of scanning the negative crooked, beware of film moving around inside the holder. Some people tap the holder before inserting it to be sure the film is settled. Toyo holders seem to be better than others at keeping the film straight.

If you don't have gridlines, you can draw them on the matte side of the groundglass to be sure that the image is visually level. There are also some PDFs of different groundglass overlays that you can print out on overhead projector film at the Satinsnow website.

Dorothy Blum Cooper · Dec 17, 2005

Wonderful advice...I'm wanting to learn from this as well. I love the tones in the image, but see what these gentlemen are referring to (re. the tower). Something I wouldn't have noticed before. I'm glad this was pointed out. Thanks for the explanations!

wiseowl · Dec 17, 2005

Thanks for looking and the opinions and advice. At the next opportunity I'll revisit and reshoot, next time I'll take a spirit level with me. Thanks also for the tip about tapping the darkslide.

Donald Qualls · Dec 18, 2005

Just a frugal suggestion -- here in the US, one can sometimes find a "Dollar" table at auto parts stores where there will be a big selection of cheaply made tools for one, two, three, or so dollars each. A couple years ago, I picked up a cheaply made plastic torpedo level with magnet insert on one of those tables -- which was and remains perfectly accurate and cost me $2.

If they have such shops in Wales, it's worth a look before you spend 20-30 pounds for a similar item at a photography, carpentry, or machine tool supplier. BTW, it's easy to check a level for accuracy -- put it on a surface and now how far off and in which direction the bubble reads, then swap the level 180 degrees. If it's off the same amount and same direction (relative to the world, not to the level) then it's accurate.

wiseowl · Dec 19, 2005

Bob F. said:
I loaded the image into my PC so I could look closer... Assuming the tower is vertical, the image is slightly tilted to the right (about 2 degrees). The tower sides appear parallel until you reach the part that juts outwards near the top at which point it diverges noticeably. I suspect that if you go back and look closely, the top of the tower may actually be built that way - if not, then I would suspect lens distortion.

Cheers, Bob.

Your quite right, the very top part does lean out slightly. I must admit I had to revisit before I could be sure. I wonder if the effect is exagerated by the white gravestone leaning to the left and the telegraph pole leaning to the right?

Donald Qualls said:
Just a frugal suggestion -- here in the US, one can sometimes find a "Dollar" table at auto parts stores where there will be a big selection of cheaply made tools for one, two, three, or so dollars each. A couple years ago, I picked up a cheaply made plastic torpedo level with magnet insert on one of those tables -- which was and remains perfectly accurate and cost me $2.

If they have such shops in Wales, it's worth a look before you spend 20-30 pounds for a similar item at a photography, carpentry, or machine tool supplier. BTW, it's easy to check a level for accuracy -- put it on a surface and now how far off and in which direction the bubble reads, then swap the level 180 degrees. If it's off the same amount and same direction (relative to the world, not to the level) then it's accurate.

Thanks for the tip, I'm sure I can find a cheap level somewhere.

vet173 · Dec 19, 2005

ditto everybody else, plus nice cherry shot.

1st successful exposure and a question?

wiseowl

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