I believe the correct expression is.....

Cheryl Jacobs · Jan 20, 2005

..."Holy sh**, Batman!"

Just finished processing and test printing my first 4x5 portraits. Why didn't you guys tell me about this large format thing sooner?

The prints are really going to be amazing. Because of the nature of what I do, I have always shot a lot of 35mm -- I'll continue to do so, because my subject matter and chosen method of working really requires it. However, now that I'm seeing prints from 4x5, I'm thinking I really need to work this in whenever I can.

The print are just quick RC tests to see what I got. I'll scan and attach when it's dry. "Real" print still pending.....

- CJ

Ole · Jan 20, 2005

You mean we've forgotten to tell you about contact prints from 8x10"?

djklmnop · Jan 20, 2005

Lets see some 17x20 portraits, Cheryl!

Cheryl Jacobs · Jan 20, 2005

Yeah, yeah, one thing at a time. LOL.

I put this in the gallery, too, but here's a straight scan from my first RC test print. It's certainly not easy in available light with multiple child subjects, but in certain instances, it will be well worth the pain.

Tom Stanworth · Jan 20, 2005

just what I felt when I made my first print of 5x4........Still, take pleasure in reading those articles by obsessed Leica/contax users who refuse to accept that format makes any difference. Read the millions of numbers and thousands of 'but if's' and conclude that actually you are the daft one taken in by the Emperor's clothes! Clearly 35mm using technigig film at iso 2 in razornol 1+1, shot in a vaccum to reduce air molecules interferring with the light..........

Have fun.

Tom

rbarker · Jan 20, 2005

The trick with large format and kids, Cheryl, is crazy glue and velcro. Then again, gobs of light and f/64 is easier to explain to the parents.

Glad to hear you're first venture into the territory was successful.

David A. Goldfarb · Jan 20, 2005

Looks great, Cheryl! Once you get the hang of it, you WILL want a Graflex SLR and a half-dozen Grafmatics for the kind of spontaneous work that you do.

photomc · Jan 20, 2005

Cheryl Jacobs said:
..."Holy sh**, Batman!"

Just finished processing and test printing my first 4x5 portraits. Why didn't you guys tell me about this large format thing sooner?

- CJ

I thought I had been telling anyone that would listen...

See below

kwmullet · Jan 20, 2005

Cheryl Jacobs said:
Yeah, yeah, one thing at a time. LOL.

I put this in the gallery, too, but here's a straight scan from my first RC test print. It's certainly not easy in available light with multiple child subjects, but in certain instances, it will be well worth the pain.

Awesome shot, Cheryl. What're the details? Did you regular film holders or a grafmatic? Tripod or handheld? Zone focusing, groundglass (not bloody likely shooting kids) or rangefinder?

So far, I've found my EI to be the bane of available light 4x5 handheld shooting. What film/developer/EI did you use?

-KwM-

Daniel Grenier · Jan 20, 2005

Cheryl Jacobs said:
.....Just finished processing and test printing my first 4x5 portraits. Why didn't you guys tell me about this large format thing sooner? - CJ

4x5? Just wait and see what happens to you when you shoot your first 8x10, Cheryl! Pretty impressive this LF stuff isn't it?

rjs003 · Jan 20, 2005

Nuts.... now the secret is out and everybody will want one. I use my 4 X 5 for land scapes and I don't have to wait for the subject to hold still.
I still remember my first experience with 4 X 5. Knocked my socks off. Enjoy!

BradS · Jan 20, 2005

Cheryl, Well done! I am still wondering how you got three kids to stay still long enough to do it.....really, well done.

BTW: dare I mention Peter Gowland and his line of TLRs ?

Mongo · Jan 20, 2005

Spectacular work Cheryl. Proof of what I've always thought of your work: You'll do amazing stuff with anything from a 110 Instamatic up to whatever size you choose.

I'd love to know the details on camera/film/film holder/lighting if you'd be willing to share that info.

Jim Chinn · Jan 20, 2005

I'll keep an 11x14 in the corner with your name on it for when you are ready to go real big!

steve simmons · Jan 20, 2005

I have alway enjoyed portraiture with large format. It is a different experence for both the photographer and the subject. Once the film holder goes in you have to engage the subject directly which is a process I enjoy and my subjects have as well.

I also find I do not have to shoot rolls and rolls of film to get some good ones.

steve simmons
view camera magazine

Peter Schrager · Jan 20, 2005

4x5

Congradulations Cheryl! There has never been a better vehicle for portraiture in the medium of photoraphy. Look at the work of Hurrel,Horst, and the many others who have come before us. And since you already have the gift......
Welcome to the club!
Regards Peter

Konical · Jan 20, 2005

Good Morning, Cheryl,

From the looks of your posted shot, the rangefinder of your Graphic must be correctly adjusted. Wide open?!!

Back in the '70's I was struck by the print quality of the first 2 1/4 square image I printed (shot with an old Ansco Speedex) after previously doing 35mm. The difference between 35mm and 4 x 5 must have really jumped out at you , even under the safelight.

Konical

jd callow · Jan 20, 2005

It just goes to show that it is not the tool but the craftsperson -- yet the better the tool the better the craft.

Cheryl Jacobs · Jan 20, 2005

Thanks, guys! Pretty cool stuff.

First the details: Tri-X 320 at box speed, f/4.7 (wide open) at around 1/60th. I overexposed by a stop, then underdeveloped by 15% or so to expand the midtones. Developed in Rodinal 1:50 7 minutes at 22C. Focusing was done through the ground glass, so I had to make a game out of the monkeys staying reeeeally still, then worked for the expressions once I had focused, loaded and was ready. I don't have a grafmatic, so I'm using regular holders for now. I really wish I could handhold this camera more easily, but it's almost as big as I am. LOL.

11x14 would be quite cool, I'm sure! Once I feel less like a fish out of water, I'm sure I'll be drooling over larger and larger formats. And the disease progresses.

I should mention that there were a lot of 'first' at play here: first 4x5 portrait, first Rodinal usage, first test of my new enlarger. Lots of variables that all went pretty well.

- CJ

kwmullet · Jan 20, 2005

Cool details. I don't think I'd ever be able to pull off a GG-focused portrait session of kiddos.

What kind of rangefinder do you have? Is it a top-mounted one, or a side-mounted one? My top-mounted rangefinder has a neat gadget that projects two different color lines from each side of the rangefinder when you press a button (takes a AA battery in the rangefinder), and you can do shoot-from-the-hip focusing in anything from complete darkness to fairly bright room light by racking the focus back and forth until the lines overlap. Might be useful if you used it before a session to pre-focus at a given distance for the coverage you wanted, then used it while the kids are squirming and jumping about for split-second focus confirmation, so you can lean forward or back slightly to get the lines to overlap.

-KwM-

Dorothy Blum Cooper · Jan 20, 2005

Looks great, Cheryl. I saw this image earlier and was going to respond (the other board). I've been getting my 'ducks in a row' here to use Bobby's Crown and can't wait!! Glad to hear you enjoy using it...looks to be a whole new ball game (the jump from 35mm, medium and now to 4x5). I think I'm about ready to start firing this one...thanks for sharing your work.

*just a side note...little Sophie is turning into quite a young lady! I think I remember when she was just a wee tot. It's been that long, eh?* ;-)

roteague · Jan 20, 2005

Cheryl Jacobs said:
11x14 would be quite cool, I'm sure! Once I feel less like a fish out of water, I'm sure I'll be drooling over larger and larger formats. And the disease progresses.

Just wait until you make that first 30x40, then you will jump up and down with joy like one of your subjects

Sjixxxy · Jan 20, 2005

Cheryl Jacobs said:
It's certainly not easy in available light with multiple child subjects, but in certain instances, it will be well worth the pain.

Indubitably. Nailing a portrait on LF is great.

removed account4 · Jan 20, 2005

congratulations cheryl -

snip ... << I'm sure I'll be drooling over larger and larger formats. And the disease progresses. >>

be careful, the LF disease is deadly!

you'll end up doing this with a 20x24 <g>

http://elsa.photo.net/

- john

Shmoo · Jan 20, 2005

Once you cross over to LF, it'll never be the same. Welcome to the "Dark Slide"...

I believe the correct expression is.....

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