B/W film in summer for urban documentary project, and come kit critique please

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RezaLoghme

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MattKing said:
Agreed.
Of course there are some participating here who seem to want to acquire some new options before they start that work.
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Well, according to some, i should buy a new camera, e.g. a RF or point-and-shoot.
I cant, so for me there is not point in discussing that idea any further.

And I have thought about the monopod many times now and decided not to buy one.

It's a dog's life, Matt...
 
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grain elevator

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I see one really limiting difficulty with the Hasselblad with a waist-level finder, and that is that unless OP is very tall, photographing from chest or belly level is limiting when one wants to show a crowd, the extent of which is most easily seen in a perspective above the heads.
 
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RezaLoghme

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True. The height difference between my belly and my face is what, 60cm?
 

Donald Qualls

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RezaLoghme said:
I wish I could afford another camera, lets say a nice M6 with some battle scars.
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You can get a freshly refurbished Kiev 2 (Contax II copy) from Ukraine for under $200, and Soviet lenses for the Contax mount are good and pretty inexpensive. A fast 35 mm in that mount, however, will still run $200-$300. I carry mine with the f/1.5 50 mm.
 

Alex Benjamin

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RezaLoghme said:
I might, although I think the Hasselblad will be a better choice.
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What works for you is the better choice.

Some people seem to be confusing "protest" with "riot". A protest is mostly static: people moving slowly, people standing and not moving at all, people sitting. You look at Ta Mwe's photos you mentioned, that's exactly what you see.

In other words, you could easily and perfectly photograph a protest with a hand-held 4x5, if that's the camera you're used to, you're comfortable with, you know how to use to its advantages and understand its disadvantages, and which corresponds to your vision.

Furthermore, what's interesting, photographically speaking, about a protest is not the crowd — unless you want to show how huge the crowd is, in which case what you need is distance —, but the actions and expressions of individuals or small groups. So what you need is something that can take you close. That could be your feet — in which case you take a medium wide-angle lens corresponding to the format (35mm, 120, 4x5, etc.) you chose —, or it can be the lens, in which case you just carry around telephoto lenses.

If you don't have a choice, as in the Koudelka example I mentioned, then you adjust to what you have and make it work according both to what you see and how it can be translated photographically. That's why a question like "should I use a 60mm lens with a Hasselblad?" is absurd. Only relevant question is "I have a medium format camera and a 60mm lens, what can I do with it, what's the full range of it's possibilities, and how can I adjust to them and learn to master them?"

That said, in the end, you might realize that such or such camera with such and such lens doesn't work for you. Sadly, only after the fact. But if you took the time to understand and master the tool you have in combination with your photographic craft and skills, chances are that might not happen.

If I were you I would stop looking at options. There will always be options. Options don't make you move forward.

What will make you move forward is showing photographs and requesting critique. No one can answer the question "Should I use a 60mm lens?". But one can say after looking at a photo: "I understand what you're looking for, but if you're going to use the 60mm for this type of shot, you need to move closer." Just an example. But that, to me, is the most relevant way to talk, and learn, about gear.

***

P.S. I don't know if there is a 60mm lens for the Hasselblad, but doesn't matter, you get my drift.
 
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Alex Benjamin

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RezaLoghme said:
Not sure if "absurd" is the right tone here.
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"Absurd", as most words, has many meanings. It can mean "laughably foolish" or it can mean "contrary to reason or common sense" — and I won't get into all the nuances in between.

I would add that having grown up reading Camus, it's a word I'm pretty found of, even though existentialist undertones were not part of my intent.

Considering all this, the tone used above seems to me pretty adequate. But since along Camus I'm also partial to Vulcan philosophy, I can amend it to "illogical".

This said, if that's all you took from my (admittedly too long) tirade, then we may have to consider my entire comment as falling under the category of "absurd" .
 

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And if you are willing to answer a couple of other questions I have, which are asked without any implication of criticism of your choice and without any recommendations made:

How many film backs will you carry and how will you handle film changes? In static environments having limited film backs is feasible, in my experience. In dynamic environments I find that my "best shot" is either #13 or when I'm in the middle of reloading film. And, unfortunatlely, too often when I find that I have no more film left. Seems that you've already experiencd these situations. I once observed a wedding photographer using Hasselblad and he had about a dozen backs and an assistant to reload them. Probably out of the question for either you or me. If you have a plan it could help me too!

What are the characteristics of the protest(s) that you anticipate? I've seen all types (not all in person, though): milling about, sit-in, roving marches, street takeovers, and full-blown rioting. Most of the protesting I've been aware of lately in England (mostly in the North) have been marches and some street takeover. Many of the protests I've seen in the US have been a milleu of all types, but most commonly lately, milling about with street takeovers. All seem to have robust police presence and, often, crowd/access control measures.

BTW... despite the fact that you chose equipment that I might not have for that type of photography, I'm very interested in how it works out for you. So far your "trails efforts" are headed in the right direction. Hasselblad is a great camera system and if one is lucky enough to have one it's nice to see them used for all sorts of photography. Bravo to you!
 
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RezaLoghme

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1. I have 5 V-System backs (A/E12) now, equating to 60 photos without reloading, and I am quite comfortable in re-loading the magazines while "on the go". Your comment re assistant is great, I could easily appoint one locally, but maybe I prefer to be on my own.

2. Roving marches, but maybe some street takeovers, anti-government, in the capital city. Police definitely present, with anti-riot gear in place.

3. Besides my 553ELX I also have other (digital) equipment (2 Leicas) but I would really like to work with the Hasselblad, maybe just because of the blood (hopefully not), sweat (surely) and tears (when it breaks). Carrying that beast seems to make my process "better", more intense, more worthwhile. No idea. Its shortcomings and limitations might lead to me only returning with one shot, but that shot is really "it". For me, in my mind, it is not the same when blasting away on a SD card or with a super practical AF 35mm SLR from modern times. I want to take photos, but I also want the experience. And I want my 553ELX to see the world. No way I would leave it at home and take some plastic point-and-shoot. I still have my iphone for that, if really needed.
 
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RezaLoghme

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The beauty of Hasselblad's V-System is that you can use almost any kind of viewfinder. Besides the waist level finder, there are not one but several prisms (with different angles, with and without TTL function), and there is a wire frame "Sport" finder, which I might buy. Thank you for the nudge.
 

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I have wire-frame findres on 2 different cameras but have not really used them. The wire-frame finder for Hasselblad seems quite usable in situation like you describe, although I have held back on buying one because I can't visualize using such a finder mounted to the side rather than the top. Must be possible, and perhaps more desireable, since there have been many made and sold. Possibly a mistake, but I bought the finder that replaces the WLF, which is good in that it allows focus via the GG screen but bad since it is fragile and fiddly. Like this one:

Shop : Buy Hasselblad Tiprc Yellow Sports Finder: DAD0124/21657 : Blue Moon Camera and Machine

Blue Moon Camera & Machine: Buy Hasselblad Tiprc Yellow Sports Finder online or in store at Blue Moon Camera & Machine, Portland, Oregon.
bluemooncamera.com
 
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RezaLoghme

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Yes there are several. That one looks nice, hopefully it does not end up shish-kebab-ing my eyeball.
 
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RezaLoghme

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Oh how exciting! Already identified 3 different versions - yours, then a wire one to be attached at the lens shade, and a foldable one for the cold shoe/accessory shoe.
 
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RezaLoghme

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No film inside the camera - Its like a Vodka Martini without Martini. Only for real men, or real photographers in my case.
 

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Oh dear... here we go down a rabbit-hole. Martinis are made with gin. I make and drink the vodka variant but it's not a "true martini"... no more than a Vesper is a "martini. Stirred, not shaken
 
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RezaLoghme

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BTT

There is another aspect. Due to the climate (or weather? Sensitive terminology nowadays) most of these protests take place later on a day, not at 12:00 in burning heat. In one of my previous trips, I filmed such a protest with a D1g1t@l c@merÄ which automatically tuned up the ISO and all. With the gear I want to use for this trip, I have to have in mind the light settings, steep sun, contrast in narrow urban streets.
 
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RezaLoghme

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I have looked at all 3 sports viewfinders and decided not to.
There must be a reason Hasselblad retired them early from their product range.
 
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RezaLoghme

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And, inspired by some(!) in this thread, i am looking at 503 bodies now.
 

eli griggs

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RezaLoghme said:
True. The height difference between my belly and my face is what, 60cm?
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Just turn the Hasselblad with the WLF on its side, at eye level.

It's a square format and it'll not make a difference unless you are using a 4.5 cm x 6cm magazine or magazine mask.

Too many people don't recognize this opportunity of WLFs, so try it out so you can work out the camera handling and focus requirements.

Cheers
 
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