Examples of your work if you photograph machinery or people doing manual labour Bronica ETRS

[Keezly]

Two of the things that I am interested in photographing with my ETRS are old machinery (tractors, etc) and people doing manual work such as someone at a forge. Would any of you have examples of your work photographing this sort of thing with a medium format like an ETRS? I am especially interested in any done with flash in buildings.

Many thanks,
Kez

 

[Pieter12]

The camera doesn't matter. Neither does the format, if you are looking at approaches and technique, except maybe using camera movements in large format. I am sure there is plenty of material and inspiration on the internet and in books.

 

[Keezly]

I appreciate that but I was just interested in what people had produced with a medium format camera. It is always nice for me to see others work.

 

[MattKing]

The camera doesn't matter.

I agree, although there are perhaps some slight advantages in some environments to using 35mm cameras which offer a choice of fast lenses.
You start to see some advantages from medium format when you see prints, because the larger film frame offers some advantages there.
That being said, some scenes from the farm, with a Mamiya 645 Pro. I prefer the darkroom print versions, but this gives a taste:

 

[Keezly]

I agree, although there are perhaps some slight advantages in some environments to using 35mm cameras which offer a choice of fast lenses.
You start to see some advantages from medium format when you see prints, because the larger film frame offers some advantages there.
That being said, some scenes from the farm, with a Mamiya 645 Pro. I prefer the darkroom print versions, but this gives a taste:

Thank you for the examples. I especially like that first shot. Do you remember which type of film you used for these images?

 

[MattKing]

Thank you for the examples. I especially like that first shot. Do you remember which type of film you used for these images?

No, but I went and grabbed that binder of negatives . It was from 5 years ago.
T-Max 400, developed in replenished HC-110 dilution E. The shovels image was toned digitally, to emulate the appearance of my Brown toned 11x14 print.
A majority of my black and white photography is on T-Max 400, which has unfortunately become very expensive. I recommend it, but am happy to also say that it isn't the film or camera that (mostly) makes the difference, it is the photographer using it.

 

[Keezly]

No, but I went and grabbed that binder of negatives . It was from 5 years ago.
T-Max 400, developed in replenished HC-110 dilution E. The shovels image was toned digitally, to emulate the appearance of my Brown toned 11x14 print.
A majority of my black and white photography is on T-Max 400, which has unfortunately become very expensive. I recommend it, but am happy to also say that it isn't the film or camera that (mostly) makes the difference, it is the photographer using it.

I like the toning you have done: it gives that oldie world farm look.

 

[MattKing]

I like the toning you have done: it gives that oldie world farm look.

Thanks. The digital version doesn't really succeed as much as the print toning does. I really enjoy toning darkroom prints.

 

[MattKing]

And just for fun, to give you an example where I used a fixed lens, scale focusing 6x9 folder (a Kodak Tourist I paid $50.00 CDN for) with re-spooled 120 T-Max 100 loaded in it:

In short, it isn't the camera! Even if the camera is a lot of fun to use!

 

[Sirius Glass]

And just for fun, to give you an example where I used a fixed lens, scale focusing 6x9 folder (a Kodak Tourist I paid $50.00 CDN for) with re-spooled 120 T-Max 100 loaded in it:
View attachment 318062

In short, it isn't the camera! Even if the camera is a lot of fun to use!

Great texture on the wood.

 

[Keezly]

So the message that seems to be coming across to me is that really medium format is just for someone that wants a toy to play with. I might as well really forget the expense of doing it and go back to my digital unless I want a new toy. I always got the impression from listening to so many photographers over the past couple of years that there was someone advantage, but obviously not.

 

[wiltw]

Why you shoot with medium format film (vs. with 135 format film)

1. A medium format ETRS film camera gives you a neg which requires 1.75x smaller enlargement to fill the same size print...so grain is 1.75x less apparent on a large print than it is with the 135 format neg.
2. Due to the longer FL lens for medium format for same AOV on film, the DOF using ETRS is shallower than shooting with same aperture compared to shooting 135 format.
3. When shooting with ETRS, the same subject occupies 1.75x more film in each direction (X,Y) and so medium format offers getter representation of tonal or color gradients across the subject.
4. It is possible to retouch a neg shot on medium format, allowing things to be done in an enlargement from medium format which is not possible with a smaller format neg, which cannot readily be retouched

The other question is simply "why shoot with film" other than to play with an alternative way to capture an image (vs. digital)

 

[Keezly]

Why you shoot with medium format film (vs. with 135 format film)

1. A medium format ETRS film camera gives you a neg which requires 1.75x smaller enlargement to fill the same size print...so grain is 1.75x less apparent on a large print than it is with the 135 format neg.
2. Due to the longer FL lens for medium format for same AOV on film, the DOF using ETRS is shallower than shooting with same aperture compared to shooting 135 format.
3. When shooting with ETRS, the same subject occupies 1.75x more film in each direction (X,Y) and so medium format offers getter representation of tonal or color gradients across the subject.
4. It is possible to retouch a neg shot on medium format, allowing things to be done in an enlargement from medium format which is not possible with a smaller format neg, which cannot readily be retouched

The other question is simply "why shoot with film" other than to play with an alternative way to capture an image (vs. digital)

Thank you for your detailed explanation.

 

[guangong]

If you can find it, my late friend Louie Stettner published a portfolio titled “Workers”...all photographed with Leica without flash. Beautiful pictures of people working, some on large machinery.
You have a great project. The difficulty won’t be what camera, but getting access to workers, due to insurance restrictions, etc.

 

[jeffreyg]

Kez
Not exactly what you are looking for except definitely manual labor and an image made with a Bronica S2A thirty-seven years ago in Egypt. Square format gives me more latitude for the final image - square or crop to vertical or horizontal to be decided at some other time.

ABOUT | JEFFREY GLASSER

HOME | SCULPTURE and PHOTOGRAPHY

 

[Pieter12]

Why you shoot with medium format film (vs. with 135 format film)

1. A medium format ETRS film camera gives you a neg which requires 1.75x smaller enlargement to fill the same size print...so grain is 1.75x less apparent on a large print than it is with the 135 format neg.
2. Due to the longer FL lens for medium format for same AOV on film, the DOF using ETRS is shallower than shooting with same aperture compared to shooting 135 format.
3. When shooting with ETRS, the same subject occupies 1.75x more film in each direction (X,Y) and so medium format offers getter representation of tonal or color gradients across the subject.
4. It is possible to retouch a neg shot on medium format, allowing things to be done in an enlargement from medium format which is not possible with a smaller format neg, which cannot readily be retouched

The other question is simply "why shoot with film" other than to play with an alternative way to capture an image (vs. digital)

With a medium format reflex camera and a fast lens, it is much easier to compose an image.

 

[Sirius Glass]

So the message that seems to be coming across to me is that really medium format is just for someone that wants a toy to play with. I might as well really forget the expense of doing it and go back to my digital unless I want a new toy. I always got the impression from listening to so many photographers over the past couple of years that there was someone advantage, but obviously not.

Besides the larger negative, I find that the larger view finder shows me more detail and I am more likely to see objects in the field of view that I do not want, so I frame, compose and crop in the viewfinder much better than 35mm and save myself grief later in the darkroom.

 

[Keezly]

If you can find it, my late friend Louie Stettner published a portfolio titled “Workers”...all photographed with Leica without flash. Beautiful pictures of people working, some on large machinery.
You have a great project. The difficulty won’t be what camera, but getting access to workers, due to insurance restrictions, etc.

Thanks for the recommendation. I shall have a look for it.

 

[Keezly]

Kez
Not exactly what you are looking for except definitely manual labor and an image made with a Bronica S2A thirty-seven years ago in Egypt. Square format gives me more latitude for the final image - square or crop to vertical or horizontal to be decided at some other time.

ABOUT | JEFFREY GLASSER

HOME | SCULPTURE and PHOTOGRAPHY

View attachment 318168

That is a great image. Thanks for sharing. I really like the square format.

 

[Keezly]

Besides the larger negative, I find that the larger view finder shows me more detail and I am more likely to see objects in the field of view that I do not want, so I frame, compose and crop in the viewfinder much better than 35mm and save myself grief later in the darkroom.

I am really struggling with the view finder: I think I need a different diopter. On my prescription glasses it is +5 but even if I can get another diopter they only go to +1.5.

 

[Keezly]

With a medium format reflex camera and a fast lens, it is much easier to compose an image.

I am really struggling to find focus with the rangefinder lens, especially in low light. I am sure there must be a knack to it, but I have discovered it yet.

 

[MattKing]

I am really struggling with the view finder: I think I need a different diopter. On my prescription glasses it is +5 but even if I can get another diopter they only go to +1.5.

Are you using your camera with or without your glasses on?

 

[Keezly]

Are you using your camera with or without your glasses on?

I use my digital with my distance glasses on, but that was not working with the ETRS so I tried my reading glasses and it is slightly better with those, but still far from good. The +5 prescription is for distance and near is +7.25. Without glasses I can't see a thing in the viewfinder.

 

[Ian Grant]

I don't know the Bronica ETRS, but there;s some interchangeability of dioptre between some other brands. I have two 3rd party eye cups for Pentax SLRs that can take a round dioptre, there's retaining rings to hold them in place. The idea was you got a prescription dioptre through your optician.

Ian

 

[Keezly]

I don't know the Bronica ETRS, but there;s some interchangeability of dioptre between some other brands. I have two 3rd party eye cups for Pentax SLRs that can take a round dioptre, there's retaining rings to hold them in place. The idea was you got a prescription dioptre through your optician.

Ian

They look like the one here: https://www.mrcad.co.uk/?product=bronica-etr-4-5-dioptre-for-prism-finders