fighting GG

Mohsen al-Dajani · Feb 1, 2011

hi all
is there a way to reverse the 4x5 image back to normal view, i find composing images in upside-down hard, i know there something to attach on the gg but forgot its name.

thx

DanielStone · Feb 1, 2011

some cameras have a 45 or 90degree prism you can attach to the back.

or you can get a portable monkey bar setup, and hang behind the camera while focusing

-Dan

Sanjay Sen · Feb 1, 2011

The large format experience wouldn't be the same for me if the image was upright, but that's just me.

Dan has good suggestions...

Ian C · Feb 1, 2011

http://www.calumetphoto.com/eng/product/cambo_binocular_viewing_hood/cb0225

Ian C · Feb 1, 2011

The link doesn't automatically show the cambo binocular viewing hood that gives an upright view of the scene.

Marco B · Feb 1, 2011

DanielStone said:
or you can get a portable monkey bar setup, and hang behind the camera while focusing

-Dan

Got to get me one of those!

Marco B · Feb 1, 2011

Ian C said:
The link doesn't automatically show the cambo binocular viewing hood that gives an upright view of the scene.

Here is the image of the thing, wonder if it is adaptable to fit on something like a standard wooden field camera that takes normal 4x5 film holders, instead of just Cambo TC's?:

ic-racer · Feb 1, 2011

Here is a nice list of some of the solutions: Dead Link Removed

Dan Henderson · Feb 2, 2011

My suggestion is to stop "fighting the ground glass," stop thinking about the image being upside down and reversed every time you look at it. Be one with the ground glass; accept what is there.

But perhaps some people can't adjust to seeing this way? I often find myself reviewing a shooting session in my mind and realize that I never really thought about the image being inverted/reversed. I assume that other LF shooters experience the same thing?

John Kasaian · Feb 2, 2011

The image is always rightside up on the other side of the Equator

Doremus Scudder · Feb 2, 2011

Another approach: Make yourself a viewing frame and use it to compose your shot away from the camera. With practice, it will also give you information about which lens to mount (how far from the eye it is). Some use a film-size hole in a piece of mat board or the like, but you can scale it down and have the same benefits. I use one of the old Zone VI viewing filters that has a 1 x 1 1/4 inch opening. It works just fine. Saves time setting up and tearing down, lets me know which lens is likely to work, and, best of all, lets me know when I should just move on and not bother setting up at all.

Once you have your composition worked out with the viewing frame, all you really have to do is get the camera pointed at the right place, get the right lens on and do the job of focusing. I often don't "compose" at all on the ground glass, since I know, after I've set up, that the composition I've chosen is "in there" already.

Finally, you will get used to the inverted image. It just takes a bit of time. After a while, you won't even notice that it's upside down and backwards, and you'll be making camera movements in the right direction without thinking.

Best,

Doremus Scudder
www.DoremusScudder.com

jerry lebens · Feb 2, 2011

Mohsen al-Dajani said:
hi all
is there a way to reverse the 4x5 image back to normal view, i find composing images in upside-down hard, i know there something to attach on the gg but forgot its name.

thx

Actually, looking at an image upside down is a good way of discovering if your composition is good. In the past artists used to turn their canvass upside down in order to see if their composition 'worked'.

It works because it helps to remove context and it's better if you can 'defocus your eyes a little - if you can't identify the subject, you see the relative positions of the tonal areas in the image more clearly.

As a previous poster said, 'embrace the upside down image, it's your friend.

Regards
Jerry

grahamp · Feb 2, 2011

The human mind is very adaptable - a computer mouse works in one plane, the screen in another, but we have no problem with the motion and affect.

Once I have the subject in mind, the reverse on the screen never seems to come into it. In many ways the upside down view of a view camera is less confusing than the left-right inversion with a waist level finder. Practice helps. It really does.

Anscojohn · Feb 5, 2011

John Kasaian said:
The image is always rightside up on the other side of the Equator

*****
Up this side Equator, just turn the GG upside down.........

Mitya138 · Feb 9, 2011

Error

fschifano · Feb 9, 2011

I don't know man. The first time I saw the upside down and laterally reversed image on the ground glass, it made sense. I've never had a problem with it. In some ways it's easier. If it looks good upside down and backwards, it will look good right side up

BrianShaw · Feb 9, 2011

jerry lebens said:
Actually, looking at an image upside down is a good way of discovering if your composition is good. In the past artists used to turn their canvass upside down in order to see if their composition 'worked'.

It works because it helps to remove context and it's better if you can 'defocus your eyes a little - if you can't identify the subject, you see the relative positions of the tonal areas in the image more clearly.

As a previous poster said, 'embrace the upside down image, it's your friend.

X2

holmburgers · Feb 9, 2011

I've always heard that if you wear glasses with prisms that reverse your vision, after a day or two you'll adjust and everything appears right side up.

So like everyone is saying, the human brain will adapt, and it's just a matter of taking a deep breath, looking at that ground glass for a while, and embracing it!

*ommmmmmmm* :joyful:

srmcnamara · Feb 9, 2011

you know, your eye, like any lens, flips the image as well. So in reality, the ground glass is the only thing we see that's right side up!

removed account4 · Feb 9, 2011

4x5 slr

fighting GG

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