I realize that different camera types are better suited for different types of photography. But I think the way you look through the camera also influences the way you take a photo and the photo itself.
I just came back from shooting with a 6x6 medium format slr after a week or so of mostly using a 35mm rangefinder and it occurred to me that I perceive differently with the two cameras. Although the scenes I shoot with either camera are often similar, the shooting process feels very different. Using a 35mm rangefinder camera I look through the finder (where I can see more of the image than what will be caught on film) to compose the picture. I can see elements that I might want to include in the composition or action at the edge of the frame that might complement or mar the photo and time the release taking that into account. Using a prism-finder medium format sir, I look into the viewfinder, seeing the image as I would the final image. I am aware of what is happening at the edges, the relationship of subjects, shapes and lines within the square format. I shoot B&W, often using an orange filter and that helps to make the viewfinder image more monotone so I get a hint of what it might be in B&W.
I can be just as spontaneous with either camera, having used both for street shots.
I haven't shot much 35 slr recently, but it seems like it is somewhere between the two.
A waist-level finder 6x6 really throughs me off, often not finding the picture I "see" before looking into the camera because of the reversed image. And maneuvering the camera to compose can often be frustrating. I don't have a lot of experience with this--maybe more time behind the wheel (under the hood?) would help. As it is, it takes longer to get the composition I want.
I have minimal experience with a view camera, but once again the image is not only reversed but upside-down so it takes time and patience to line up the picture I "see" with the image on the ground glass. The up side is certain compositional elements take on new weight in this transformed view.
I just came back from shooting with a 6x6 medium format slr after a week or so of mostly using a 35mm rangefinder and it occurred to me that I perceive differently with the two cameras. Although the scenes I shoot with either camera are often similar, the shooting process feels very different. Using a 35mm rangefinder camera I look through the finder (where I can see more of the image than what will be caught on film) to compose the picture. I can see elements that I might want to include in the composition or action at the edge of the frame that might complement or mar the photo and time the release taking that into account. Using a prism-finder medium format sir, I look into the viewfinder, seeing the image as I would the final image. I am aware of what is happening at the edges, the relationship of subjects, shapes and lines within the square format. I shoot B&W, often using an orange filter and that helps to make the viewfinder image more monotone so I get a hint of what it might be in B&W.
I can be just as spontaneous with either camera, having used both for street shots.
I haven't shot much 35 slr recently, but it seems like it is somewhere between the two.
A waist-level finder 6x6 really throughs me off, often not finding the picture I "see" before looking into the camera because of the reversed image. And maneuvering the camera to compose can often be frustrating. I don't have a lot of experience with this--maybe more time behind the wheel (under the hood?) would help. As it is, it takes longer to get the composition I want.
I have minimal experience with a view camera, but once again the image is not only reversed but upside-down so it takes time and patience to line up the picture I "see" with the image on the ground glass. The up side is certain compositional elements take on new weight in this transformed view.
