Cirkut shooter from West Virginia

Mark Crabtree · Dec 5, 2010

Photography has been a big part of my life for quite a while. I've done a variety of things including a bit of newspaper and studio work, but I mostly earn my living shooting panoramic photos with an old #10 Cirkut Camera.

In addition to the Cirkut I shoot in smaller formats from 35mm to 8x10, mostly 35mm lately, but I believe there is a Hassy coming my way very soon. The Cirkut work is almost entirely color and everything else is mostly black and white.

Lately I've enjoyed getting back into the darkroom after spending way to many hours staring at pictures on a monitor. From the beginning of digital, I've been surprised to hear people say how great it is to get away from the darkroom; I love the darkroom and find working there relaxing and satisfying (well at least black and white darkroom work).

I'm certainly not a newbie, but have still picked up a lot of information from this forum. It is nice to have such a great resource available.

Mark

markbarendt · Dec 5, 2010

Welcome.

Troy · Dec 5, 2010

Welcome. Is it hard to find film for your Cirkut camera?

Black Dog · Dec 5, 2010

Welcome !

Mark Crabtree · Dec 5, 2010

Troy said:
Welcome. Is it hard to find film for your Cirkut camera?

Not at my house, but yes I think it is getting hard to come by on the market.

As far as I know the current 160 Kodak color film is still available in 10" x 6', but I have heard the price is very high. Aerial film was always the standby for b&w, but I don't know how easy that is to find anymore.

Mark

papagene · Dec 5, 2010

Mark - hello and welcome to APUG from western Massachusetts.

Jeff Kubach · Dec 6, 2010

Hello Mark and welcome to APUG.

Jeff

M.A.Longmore · Dec 6, 2010

.
Welcome Home, Mark !

Christopher Walrath · Dec 6, 2010

Welcome to APUG, Mark. You up on the panhandle?

c.d.ewen · Dec 6, 2010

Glad to see you here, Mark. As I recall, I bought your backup No 10 some years ago.

Charley

Mark Crabtree · Dec 6, 2010

Christopher Walrath said:
Welcome to APUG, Mark. You up on the panhandle?

I was originally, but Morgantown (WVU) now. I wish I'd had the awareness to photograph that crazy area around the steel mills in the northern panhandle when I was young. It seems like you have to get away to really see what is around you.

Mark

jamie young · Dec 6, 2010

Hi Mark welcome to apug
I also shoot cirkut cameras. I have one of each size, and have shot with all but the #6 camera. I usually use a 8 outfit. I also shoot other format cameras.
Jamie Young from Syracuse NY

Mark Crabtree · Dec 6, 2010

c.d.ewen said:
Glad to see you here, Mark. As I recall, I bought your backup No 10 some years ago.

Charley

It's a small world isn't it (especially the world of Cirkut photographers). I can't remember the details, but seem to recall sending that south. Is that right? Did you get a process lens (maybe a 16.5" Artar) with it?

Did you ever make any pictures with the camera?

Mark Crabtree · Dec 6, 2010

jamie young said:
Hi Mark welcome to apug
I also shoot cirkut cameras. I have one of each size, and have shot with all but the #6 camera. I usually use a 8 outfit. I also shoot other format cameras.
Jamie Young from Syracuse NY

Hi Jamie,

I know about you from friends, but guess we've never spoken. I shoot almost entirely with #10's but have an especially nice #6 Camera that I mean to use more. I had a #6 Outfit and actually like that size even better, but the little camera won out. I've had #8's over the years (started by printing old #8 negatives), but never really used them.

I had a fair portion of a #16 for a while, but passed it on to a friend. Ron who posts here was going to manufacture the missing bits, but I'm not sure that is still an active project. Ron came by a few years ago with his #16; that was quite a beast.

Do you still use the Cirkut much? I'll post over in the proper section sometime and see what you know about supplies availability.

Mark

jamie young · Dec 6, 2010

Most of the "serious" cirkut shooters have ended up with good #10's, but I've been happy with the 8 outfit and still have a supply of 8" film. I have a 10 fan camera but it doesn't always run well. The 16 is a bit of a bear, but fun to try to use. Mine was missing a lot and I got a gearhead made and found a lense and tripod legs whatever else, and it does work now. I only do B&W with the cirkuts and do color with my roundshots. Film is a problem now and we would need to have enough people to make a special order to get it. Ilford did do a special order of hp5 last year of 8" by 100 foot rolls. I think it was a 10+ roll minimum. I got one roll from the order, and it was done through Fred Newman. I've been busy moving the family and getting settled the last few years and haven't done much shooting, but plan on changing that this year and using the cirkuts again come spring.
Jamie

c.d.ewen · Dec 6, 2010

Mark Crabtree said:
It's a small world isn't it (especially the world of Cirkut photographers). I can't remember the details, but seem to recall sending that south. Is that right? Did you get a process lens (maybe a 16.5" Artar) with it?

Did you ever make any pictures with the camera?

Yes, 16 1/2" Artar, but North - New York. I've blown through a couple of hundred feet of film and still am having fun.

Charley

Mark Crabtree · Dec 7, 2010

c.d.ewen said:
Yes, 16 1/2" Artar, but North - New York. I've blown through a couple of hundred feet of film and still am having fun.

Charley

I'm glad to hear you've used the camera. The Cirkut is a tough thing to tame. I still struggle with black and white in it; color is much easier for some reason.

Cirkut shooter from West Virginia

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