Dark Cloth and Windy Days

bobwysiwyg · Nov 13, 2009

Somewhat related to another post of mine re: sturdier tripod. It was a very breezy day to say the least and trying to keep the dark cloth under control while trying to focus, etc. was quite the challenge. I could have used another set of hands. Any tricks or tips you have found useful in situations like this?

mjs · Nov 13, 2009

Spring loaded binder clips, any brand, from any office supply store and many drug stores, grocery supermarkets, etc. I keep half a dozen in the bag. Just clip stuff together until it stops slapping you in the face.

Mike

bobwysiwyg · Nov 13, 2009

Thanks, Mike, makes sense. I had also considered a couple of holes in the dark cloth with grommet reinforcement, spaced to match the rear standard uprights, then something to keep things taught on the underside.

And yes, it was slapping me pretty good. )

bdial · Nov 13, 2009

A black xxlg tee-shirt works too, stretch the neck part over the back of the camera, stick your head in the other end. For a big camera you may have to reverse that procedure, but it works pretty well either way.

bobwysiwyg · Nov 13, 2009

bdial said:
A black xxlg tee-shirt works too, stretch the neck part over the back of the camera, stick your head in the other end. For a big camera you may have to reverse that procedure, but it works pretty well either way.

Now that's an idea. I will have to give it a try.

Mike1234 · Nov 13, 2009

I saw a very different dark cloth the other day. It was a quality product with waterproof white or silver on the outside, black on the inside, a stretchy collar that closes around the rear standard and sleeves. It also serves as a poncho. I'll try to find it again.

EDIT: Here it is... http://www.quietworks.com/FRAMES_FILES/BJ_SPECIFICATIONS/BJ_NEW_HOME_FRAME_.htm

Shangheye · Nov 13, 2009

bdial said:
A black xxlg tee-shirt works too, stretch the neck part over the back of the camera, stick your head in the other end. For a big camera you may have to reverse that procedure, but it works pretty well either way.

That's what I do...works perfect, and I get to wrap the camera in it without removing the T-shirt...K

Richard Wasserman · Nov 13, 2009

Sounds like a BlackJacket:
http://www.quietworks.com/FRAMES_FILES/WELCOME_BJ_FOCUSINGCLOTH.html

Many people like them a lot.

Mike1234 said:
I saw a very different dark cloth the other day. It was a quality product with waterproof white or silver on the outside, black on the inside, a stretchy collar that closes around the rear standard and sleeves. It also serves as a poncho. I'll try to find it again.

Robert Hall · Nov 13, 2009

I use a btzs cloth for 4x5 through 12x20, you might consider that as well.

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36cm2 · Nov 13, 2009

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8330/4.3.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I also use a BTZS cloth, but prefer a traditional cloth when I know it won't be windy. It just feels nicer and packs a bit better.

Martin Aislabie · Nov 13, 2009

The biggest problem I have with my Darkcloth in windy weather is that it acts like a sail and tries to topple my Camera/Tripod.

Having to hanging on to the Tripod with one hand and trying to use a View Camera with the other is no fun

I have invested in a large string bag, which can be filled with large stones/small rocks, and attached to the hook on the bottom of my Tripods' Centre Column.

It’s not perfect but the whole assembly is a heck of a lot more stable with the stones as ballast than without them.

Martin

keithwms · Nov 13, 2009

bobwysiwyg said:
Somewhat related to another post of mine re: sturdier tripod. It was a very breezy day to say the least and trying to keep the dark cloth under control while trying to focus, etc. was quite the challenge. I could have used another set of hands. Any tricks or tips you have found useful in situations like this?

Sometimes a darkcloth just isn't convenient no matter what you do. I think it's a good idea to have strings or distance markings noted on your baseplate/rail so that you can focus hyperfocally, in a pinch.

Anyway, my best darkcloth has lead weights in the corners. At the kind sof winds that disturb it, I wouldn't be able to use any bellows focusing camera* anyway... so it's moot.

*With possible exception of the rb

juan · Nov 13, 2009

Because it's almost always windy here, I use two black t-shirts, one inside the other, put the neck over my neck, and stretch the waist over the camera only when composing and focusing. That way, I wear the dark cloth over my neck all day - no worry about the darkcloth sail tipping over the camera.
juan

bobwysiwyg · Nov 13, 2009

Some interesting ideas here, folks. Thanks.

Bruce A Cahn · Nov 13, 2009

There is a heavy duty Calumet cloth with weighted corners, or you can attach weighted film hanger clips.

jp80874 · Nov 13, 2009

Robert Hall said:
I use a btzs cloth for 4x5 through 12x20, you might consider that as well.

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Dick Phillips recommends these for his cameras. The one for the 7x17 is a little loose on the 8x10, but works well.

Two of us (12x20 and 7x17) were up 90 feet on the new bridge over the Maumee River just south of you in Toledo. It was fine early in the morning, no wind. By afternoon we could just barely hang on. A worker had died in a fall when some scaffolding let go off the side a day or so before. The nice lady working for ODOT who was driving us around just parked her 18 foot extended van up wind of us and we were back to working conditions. The btz hood is probably cheaper and less maintenance than the state employed pregnant lady driving the 18 foot extended van.

John Powers

bobwysiwyg · Nov 13, 2009

Interestingly enough, that was sort of the area I was in. I had driven passed the mosque at the intersection of I-475 and I-75 many times and always thought it might make a nice pic under the right conditions.. oh, and with a camera in the hands of someone competent might help. I was out behind the building in a field and waited for gusts to subside before tripping the shutter. Still don't know whether it worked or not as I haven't developed the film yet.

jp80874 · Nov 13, 2009

bobwysiwyg said:
oh, and with a camera in the hands of someone competent might help. .

oh, you hadn't said that part was in the requirement.

John

HerrBremerhaven · Nov 13, 2009

I run into that problem often, since I shoot around windy buildings, or at the beach. Worst is when I am sweating and the wind is really going, then the tube dark cloth I use just sticks to my face. What I really think would be the best choice would be one of those viewing prisms, though unfortunately they take up much space in the gear bag. I know a few other pro shooters who use the viewing prisms in windy conditions, with the Linhof reflex viewer being the favorite. I think Toyo and Ebony also have straight viewing bellows, though I am not sure how much better they are in the wind.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography

bobwysiwyg · Nov 13, 2009

jp80874 said:
oh, you hadn't said that part was in the requirement.

John

Sadly, the prevailing weather conditions have little to do with that part.

colrehogan · Nov 13, 2009

I unfold the darkcloth just enough that I can drape it over the top of the camera when it is windy.

srmcnamara · Nov 13, 2009

I still just use my sweatshirt, raincoat, whatever.

wiltw · Nov 14, 2009

bobwysiwyg said:
Somewhat related to another post of mine re: sturdier tripod. It was a very breezy day to say the least and trying to keep the dark cloth under control while trying to focus, etc. was quite the challenge. I could have used another set of hands. Any tricks or tips you have found useful in situations like this?

Hook and loop strips sewn or adhered to the cloth...secures the cloth to the view camera, and strips along the bottom edge keep it more a tube which you plug with your head and shoulders

Mike W · Nov 20, 2009

Elastic Loop

I had my wife sew a 1" wide strip of elastic, in a loop, to the forward edge of the focusing cloth, for about 6-8". Its looped around the top of the rear standard and at the bottom just forward of the adjusting knobs.(Toyo 45 A II)
I find it much easier to use than clips, and probably similar in use to the t- shirt method.

vdoak · Nov 20, 2009

I use Velcro on the dark cloth strapped around the legs of my tripod, and around the lens/camera and a bungy cord from the tripod to my backpack to stabilize the rest while I am taking a picture. While I am focusing the Velcro helps a lot and if it is not in the "right" place i keep a couple of old fashioned clothes pins in my bag to keep the cloth in place.

Dark Cloth and Windy Days

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