First Foray into the Field with My 4x5...some chuckles!

bobwysiwyg · Jul 15, 2008

I hope I'm not alone re: learning the ins and outs of LF in the field. After much research and reading, I decided it was time to take her out for a try.

We have many old, one room schools and town halls dating from the 19th century,scattered about rural, lower Michigan. One in particular is not far and based on its placement and facing, thought it might be a good site for my first try as an early AM shot. I had carefully organized and loaded what I would need in the car. By the way, it's not a field cam.

Got there, unloaded and I only had to walk about 150' from where the car was parked. Set-up the camera, leveled, focused and went to take a light reading. Oops, grey card back at the car [hustles over to get it]. Check the focus again, take another light reading, close the shutter and cock and set the speed. I'm getting ready to insert the film holder and realized I left the shutter release cable back at the car [hustles over to get it]. Finally take the picture. Lowered the camera position to take another shot through some fencing, etc. and even tried some front lens shift.

I definately need to work on my routine. My previous shooting was 35mm and everything I needed either fit in pockets or a small cam bag with two bodies, lenses, etc. Definately not the case with LF. I recalled that a few years ago my wife had gotten me a vest with a zillion pockets, but never really felt the need to use it. Now I've found a use. It has enough pockets for everything, some of which are large enough to carry spare lens boards with lenses attached.

What will they shots look like? Who knows. That will be another adventure.

Ian Grant · Jul 15, 2008

A camera case or backpack dedicated to your LF outfit is invaluable, keep EVERYTHING you need in it, if they go in a pocket while you work thats fine but at the end of the session return everything to the bag/backpack.

Ian

Jerevan · Jul 15, 2008

And check that the camera is in the bag. Last year I scrambled away to catch a wedding ceremony but once there I discovered I took the bag but not the most important thing - the camera. I left it on the cupboard in the hotel.

reellis67 · Jul 15, 2008

I'll second Ian's comments. I find that keeping everything in my pack helps the process flow along. Once you get a sequence sorted out it will be much smoother, but having everything to hand makes the process much more rewarding.

- Randy

bobwysiwyg · Jul 15, 2008

Ian Grant said:
A camera case or backpack dedicated to your LF outfit is invaluable, keep EVERYTHING you need in it, if they go in a pocket while you work thats fine but at the end of the session return everything to the bag/backpack.

Ian

I know what you mean. It actually came with an alum. travel case, sort of a suitcase in design. Everything fits in there. I just have to make myself a little check list to take what I need out of it and take it along. Still no real dark cloth. I've been using a dark, solid colored bath towel. It works, but the material is a bit heavy. I 'almost' took one shot without pulling the dark slide.:rolleyes:

Ian Grant · Jul 15, 2008

Don't worry about fancy dark cloths, I used 2 made from an old dark red satin curtain that I dyed black, they've lasted 32 years and are just wearing out

Ian

Trevor Crone · Jul 15, 2008

Ian Grant said:
Don't worry about fancy dark cloths, I used 2 made from an old dark red satin curtain that I dyed black, they've lasted 32 years and are just wearing out

Ian

Yep, I'm waiting for the wife to replace the living room curtains so I can use them as a DC for my 10"x8" (when it eventually arrives). They're a nice sage green with cream lining

Trevor Crone · Jul 15, 2008

Nice one Bob sounds as if you had a good time of it?

It all becomes second nature after a while. Although saying that I still take the occasional (blank) picture with the dark slide still in place

Christopher Walrath · Jul 15, 2008

I'm just getting into 4x5 field work myself. I feel ya, bro. But it is fun to be out there and all alone (if possible) and slowed down and quiet. Even if it feels like your humping a Fridgedaire out there to do it.

keeds · Jul 15, 2008

Trevor Crone said:
Yep, I'm waiting for the wife to replace the living room curtains so I can use them as a DC for my 10"x8" (when it eventually arrives). They're a nice sage green with cream lining

OT - Trevor, what 8x10 are you getting?

reellis67 · Jul 15, 2008

bobwysiwyg said:
Still no real dark cloth. I've been using a dark, solid colored bath towel.

A hoopy frood always knows where his towel is! (mine is red - very stylish...)

- R

Trevor Crone · Jul 15, 2008

keeds said:
OT - Trevor, what 8x10 are you getting?

OT - Ebony SLW810. Having to wait for it to be built, told 2 to 6 months

Photo Engineer · Jul 15, 2008

While hanging some freshly coated paper up to dry, using spring loaded clothespins, the spring snapped out of the groove and pinned the skin between left forefinger and thumb against the wood. It was agonizing, and I could not get loose as the pin clamped on my right index finger which was holding a wet sticky sheet of freshly coated paper. Any movement to loosen the right finger tightened the metal spring on my left hand.

I had to call for help! And, it was hard work in near total darkness.

PE

bobwysiwyg · Jul 15, 2008

reellis67 said:
A hoopy frood always knows where his towel is! (mine is red - very stylish...)

- R

I didn't feel like I had it together at all.

Wilcoxson David L. · Jul 16, 2008

I absolutely agree with keeping all your kit together. I don't know if its my OCD or Mad Cow, but all my gear has a dedicated bag. I can pull out my LF bag and it has everything I need except a tripod to take photos. Same is true with my MF and 35mm gear. While it's cost me some extra money, each kit has dedicated filters, cable release's, lens cleaning stuff, etc. so I know everything I need is in the bag. I used to swap things in and out of my bag when I got ready to go shoot, but I would usually find something missing I needed or wanted. Life is so much easier now.

Whiteymorange · Jul 16, 2008

I 'almost' took one shot without pulling the dark slide.

I do that as a matter of course early in each session to exorcise the demons and get it out of the way. And just think, you can say you're getting exercise with all that running back to your car!

Efficiency is over-rated. Effectiveness is what counts.

Dave Miller · Jul 16, 2008

I concur with David, I have a dedicated set of accessories in my medium format bag, and the same again with my 5x4 set. Like Trevor I shall put together another set for the 10x8 that I feel is waiting for me somewhere.

Bandicoot · Jul 16, 2008

reellis67 said:
A hoopy frood always knows where his towel is! (mine is red - very stylish...)

I don't use them for dark cloths, but I always have one in my gaffer case, and some of the camera bags have their own towels too. Beer towels usually, Ind Coope Trad for preference...

Recently discovered that my girlfriend also really knows where her towel is, also a beer towel, but hers is Tolley Cobold

Peter

Bill Mitchell · Jul 16, 2008

With the kind of work you've posted on your website, I con't think of any reason that you'd want to switch to 4x5. It would be a downgrade, not an improvement.

reellis67 · Jul 16, 2008

Dave Miller said:
I concur with David, I have a dedicated set of accessories in my medium format bag, and the same again with my 5x4 set. Like Trevor I shall put together another set for the 10x8 that I feel is waiting for me somewhere.

That's precisely the situation I'm in - my M645 has a bag (although it's been over a year since I used it), and my RB67 and 4x5 have their own backpacks. I'm itching to get one of the new Photobackpacker packs for my 8x10, but cash is a little hard to come by right now.

Wilcoxson said:
...While it's cost me some extra money, each kit has dedicated filters, cable release's, lens cleaning stuff, etc. so I know everything I need is in the bag. I used to swap things in and out of my bag when I got ready to go shoot, but I would usually find something missing I needed or wanted. Life is so much easier now.

And that's why

- Randy

bobwysiwyg · Jul 17, 2008

Well, just finished processing my first two sheets of 4x5. Learned lots, to say the least. First and foremost, my 35mm's are going suffer. I'll try to exercise them from time to time, but boy, these bigger negs are great. Exposure-wise pretty good. That's something of a relief because I used my old Gossen Luna Pro after a batt conversion. I really like that meter. The outdoor scene was in the early AM, but not as early as I had hoped. I could have walked up to the small building and metered a couple of different spots, but was convinced I would just outsmart myself. Instead, I thrust the gray card into the sunlight at the camera location and took a reading off that.

Despite all the research and warnings here (and by the way, thanks for all the information I was able to absorb from the site before clicking the shutter for the first time) I still need to get some dust control procedures strengthened. Big change from the 35mm world. I was very careful about cleaning and loading the holders. My first shot was free of dust. The second (outdoor some distance from home) was pretty bad. Which leads me to believe I need to do more to vacuum the bellows. I suspect most of it dislodged while packing/unpacking the camera and setting it up.

I discovered the tripod I'm using is barely adequate, but not much choice at the moment. Hope to change that shortly. I think I'm hooked. And again, thank you all for your insights and experience... so far.

Best of all, I discovered I love it.

Martin Aislabie · Jul 18, 2008

I have been shooting 5x4 for just over 12months now and all I can say about the first outdoor shoot was it was an experience (!)

I thought I had everything I needed in my Bag & knew where to look for it

Well - I didn't !

On the first trip outdoors I made the mistake of putting my bag down next to the place I initially positioned my Tripod

Then I decided to move location with the Camera about 5 metres

I left the bag where it was but after about the 10th trip over to the bag to get something - the penny eventually dropped - move the bag to be next to the Camera again

Setting up the camera initially left odd - but has become more became intuitive

I still have to duck out from underneath the darkcloth from time to time to find the right knob on the front standard – and still need to remind myself to check all the knobs are tight before going for the shutter – but I am getting there.

The thing I still struggle with is restraining myself with how much I shoot of a particular scene.

I still seem to end up with several almost identical shots – with very small differences in light and cloud cover.

I guess its just experience – being able to judge if or when the cloud will break to drop sunshine onto here or a shadow over there – but its something I haven’t mastered yet

I also have to confess to now being an LF Junkie – and wonder will I ever find my way back to my previous camera kit – even if its just occasionally rattle off a roll of film.

At the moment I am just hooked on LF – and love it

Martin

Frank Szabo · Jul 18, 2008

Bob:

I don't care what Ian says - when working with large format, one never has 'everything' one needs at hand. It's a physical impossibility, not to mention there's probably a natural law against it - you can't carry that much stuff regardless of the size of whatever bag you find for said stuff.

Your best defense against mother nature being a witch is to develop improvisation to a fine art.

First Foray into the Field with My 4x5...some chuckles!

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