My first LF exposure in over twenty years!

SuzanneR · Nov 12, 2005

Thanks to APUG, I decided to take the plunge last summer and buy a speed graphic just to get my feet wet in LF photography after a LONG hiatus. (Did two LF classes in college) See if I like it, and if this format will lend itself to my type of shooting.

I haven't had too much time to play around with it, but I was asked to come into my son's first grade classroom to discuss what I do for a living (well... just barely for a living, but that's another thread!) I figured the speed graphic would be a fun camera to show them. I've always felt that looking through a ground glass is one of the most beautiful things in photography, and showing them that a lens makes the image upside down and backwords would be a surprise for them.

I made a very quick class picture... I don't even have a dark cloth, so I was using a dark green bathroom towel, and was having trouble focussing! I managed to cut the teachers' heads out...oops! So stopped it down to I think at least f16, with a little of a slow shutter, maybe 1/8 of a second... so there's movement blur, but the kids who sat still are TACK sharp. And was amazed that an image appeared on the negative! (Hp5 @ 800 in xtol, scan is a from a quick contact print.)

Just wanted to share my enthusiasm, but I'm not sure where I'm going to go with this format yet!

rbarker · Nov 12, 2005

Congrats, Suzanne. LF doesn't work for everything, but the added negative size is addictive. Pretty soon, we'll have you looking into getting one of those Gowland hand-held 8x10s.

Jeremy · Nov 12, 2005

Fantastic, Susan! The image reminds me of the Charlie Brown cartoons and comics where the teacher doesn't have a head (or an upper torso for that matter) and when she talks it is all just "wah, wah wah wah wah, wah"

jovo · Nov 12, 2005

Ain't it fun!! Cute bunch 'o kids too (they almost never look that happy when the "official" class picture is being taken....maybe they though it was cool that you were beheading their teachers..(grin))

photomc · Nov 12, 2005

Great Suzanne!! Congratulations...yeah it's dark in there and if you think that was dark you should see what that 8x10 of mine looks like. Can not imagine trying the shot you made, with a classroom full of kids. They are very lucky, and I bet at least one will remember 'the lady that had the cool camera' for the rest of their life..now that is pretty cool. Now you must share which of these fine lads is your offspring...bet his pretty proud of his Mom. Hope you made copies for everyone to take home.

Robert Hall · Nov 12, 2005

I love that you cut their heads off, you did it perfectly!

You did it so well, it looks intentional, like it was the kids that were the important ones.

Great image.

Alex Hawley · Nov 12, 2005

Congratulations Suzanne! I think the most important thing you did was to show the kids something they had never seen before, perhaps will never see again. Maybe that one small memory will spark some inspiration in someone in years to come.

SuzanneR · Nov 12, 2005

Thanks everyone! My little guy is the second row, third from left in the striped t-shirt. I haven't sent a print in to the class, yet, but will on Monday. They have a bulletin board full of digishots of their year so far, but this should stand out among the other photos! Don't you think? One kid could not understand how the photo wouldn't turn out upside down!!

jovo · Nov 12, 2005

Suzanne Revy said:
One kid could not understand how the photo wouldn't turn out upside down!!

That would be fun! Post the photo upside down on their bulletin board. Then explain that you forgot to tell them to stand on their heads for it to come out right. I'll bet you'll get a few takers. (That's the principle of 'conservation' btw, i.e. when a child can realize that a given volume of liquid in a cup or on a plate is the same volume of liquid.)

John Kasaian · Nov 12, 2005

Congratulations! Neat picture, cute kids. I hope your LF experience continues to be rewarding & fun!

Changeling1 · Nov 12, 2005

Nice picture Suzanne! It reminded me of the all the yearly b/w class pictures taken in elementary school (way back in the day) where the photographer used a view camera, focusing cloth and cable release! I don't know for sure what camera or film size (4x5-8x10?) those jovial old LFers used but it was always quite a production. BTW, the prints were tack sharp printed on FB glossy paper and still look great some 40 years later. Makes me wonder how many kids your son's age will ever be photographed with a LF analog camera! You should make a print for each of those kids (to record the historic event)! :- )

BradS · Nov 12, 2005

Way cool Suzanne! Thanks for sharing your story and the results of your efforts. Have fun and keep the photos coming.

dphphoto · Nov 13, 2005

I have to second everyone else's opinion; looks like you're off to a good start. Love the story about the towel.
I've forgotten to pack a darkcloth more than a few times. Jackets and sweaters also make good substitutes. Dean

df cardwell · Nov 13, 2005

Suzanne ! Now you just have to find some of those View Camera picture frames
that let you hang the pictures so they are right side up !

You ought to find some in the flea market towns outside Boston.

.

Earl Dunbar · Nov 13, 2005

Suzanne: Very cool! I've not made an LF exposure in what, about the same length of time? The Toyo and Fujinons are packed away, waiting .... OK, come this Spring (if not before), I'll start. I need to get some darkroom space constructed or arranged first.

Earl

SuzanneR · Nov 13, 2005

Thanks, everyone, for the encouragement!! It really was a lot of fun to introduce such young kids to this camera, and I was SO relieved that there was an image there!!

The print (just a contact print, don't have a 4x5 enlarger... yet another thing to think about!) will be sent to school tomorrow morning!!

papagene · Nov 14, 2005

Congtrats Suzanne and welcome to the LF club!!

gene

Dave Parker · Nov 14, 2005

Suzanne,

Make sure the next time you go in, to turn the camera upside down, so the picture comes out right side up! that will really throw the kids for a loop, just make sure this one gets posted on the board upside down, then the next one gets posted right side up!!!!

LOL

Dave

photomc · Nov 14, 2005

You know Suzanne, surprised no else has said anything...and this is meant in the kindest way....BUT

Where you like 12 y/o when you made your last LF??

SuzanneR · Nov 14, 2005

photomc said:
You know Suzanne, surprised no else has said anything...and this is meant in the kindest way....BUT

Where you like 12 y/o when you made your last LF??

Uh...yeah... something like that!

Steve Hamley · Nov 14, 2005

Suzanne,

I see a 8x20 or 7x17 banquet camera in your future...

Congrats and welcome back to LF.

Steve

removed account4 · Nov 14, 2005

great shot suzanne!

your son's class is lucky to have a photographer in their reaches,
and a real photograph posted on the board.

it'll be kind of funny when by the end of the school year, all of the other images on the board have faded to a blank piece of paper (you know like the thermal cash register receipts you are supposed to save for tax purposes!) , and yours is the only one left ...

have fun ( again ) with LF!

-john

sajianphotos · Nov 15, 2005

What a super cool pic! Also what a great experience for the kids. I've also just sarted again with a 4X5 Speed Graphic. You have inspired me!
Thanks.

My first LF exposure in over twenty years!

SuzanneR

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