I got a 4 x 5 Toyo view when I was 18. I gave it a go for a year or so, but it was too cumbersome for my work. I decided to give the Hassy SWC a try and loved it.
Here are a few shot with the SWC from the early 1970's.
Here are a few shot with the SWC from the early 1970's.
'Captain of Wall Street 90014' L.A....an old merchant marine living in a cold water flat on skid row. It was hell for post processing. Only light in the room was a bare bulb on the ceiling and the window. Eventually they tore the building down and guess he died on the street homeless.
'Crazy' L.A.... I went back to give him his print, but he left town within a week of shooting this
'Gypsy Woman' Hollywood, CA...I only had a tripod, camera and light meter. Everything was available light. I used slow shutter speeds. Every time the dog heard the shutter buzz it moved its head.
I bought the beat up SWC from an Art Center student quitting photography. One of the shutter speeds was sticky, but it still did a good job for me.
My motto back then was 'meet on the street, shoot at the home.' People were more open to letting strangers in their homes to shoot them back then. They didn't have cell phone cameras and were glad to get photos from me. Nowadays they are self-sufficient with photos. They can pick up a $29 ink jet printer from Walmart and don't need me. Or maybe they were more open because I was a teenager? Or was it just simpler times?
Well, whatever it was, now that I'm in my 60's, strangers don't want to let me in...even if I offer some $. Luckily I am highly skilled with candid street work, so I need no cooperation to keep shooting.
Well, whatever it was, now that I'm in my 60's, strangers don't want to let me in...even if I offer some $. Luckily I am highly skilled with candid street work, so I need no cooperation to keep shooting.
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