Sharing some Widelux Photos

DougGrosjean · Jun 22, 2006

Hi all,

I don't post much here, and noticed not much traffic in the Pano forum, so I thought I'd share some recent Widelux photos from my Widelux FV. Have owned it about 4 months. Been having a blast with it, it has to be the most wonderful candid camera I've ever had for shooting large scenes. No, it's hardly my first or only camera.

Spring Break on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Mid-April 2006. Non-panos are mostly taken with a Rolleiflex:
http://s60.photobucket.com/albums/h33/DougGrosjean/Spring Break 2006/?start=all

A day at Cedar Point amusement park, 10JUN06, all are pano:
http://s60.photobucket.com/albums/h33/DougGrosjean/Cedar Point 2006/

BMW Motorcycle Rally; Thurmont MD, June 3-5, 2006, all are pano:
http://s60.photobucket.com/albums/h33/DougGrosjean/Square Route Rally - 2006/

Enjoy!

Best,
Doug Grosjean

David Brown · Jun 22, 2006

Hey Doug:

Aren't panos fun? I "only" have a 35mm Russian Horizon, but it's a great toy or tool, depending on my mood. I would love to someday upgrade to a 120 pano camera. Thanks for the images.

David

bart Nadeau · Jun 22, 2006

Great photos!
I've been thinking of doing some shooting with my F-8. I used to shoot color negatives and have the negs processed and 8 inch long prints made as proofs. Is there anyone around in the US who does this anymore without paying for custom processing?

bart

DougGrosjean · Jun 22, 2006

David:
Yes, fun - and thanks for the compliment!

Bart:
I go two ways on processing / printing.

Color, the local drugstore will run the film through their C41 and hand me the negs for free. I try to pay them, but they just say not to worry about it because they have no spot on the menu to charge just for chemistry.

B/W, I soup them myself at home.

After, I scan them myself. Pick out what looks good, burn to CD, and take to a photo lab and just have what I want printed.

Used to just hand them the exposed negs to develop and "print all", but couldn't afford it at $25 / roll. But having one or two or three really good ones printed is not bad at all.

Doug Grosjean

roteague · Jun 22, 2006

Thanks Doug. I'll take a look at your images when I get home from work. I just purchased a Horseman 6x12 back for my LF camera, and am looking forward to doing more panoramics.

SteveH · Jun 22, 2006

Doug,
Excellent stuff. I have been drooling over an R100rs for quite some time . What is up with the no spark plug sign ?

Edit: Nevermind, I see that huge radio telescope they got there.....makes sense now

DougGrosjean · Jun 22, 2006

SteveH,

Thanks for the kind words!

The Spring Break series was a trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway w/ my 11 y/o son on the R100gs. We've done other trips, but as he gets older he's a bit more whiney. I understand why Robert Pirsig went nuts in Zen and Art of M/C Maint.

Really, the trip was great.

The BMW rally pics are the Square Route Rally, outside DC, near Camp David. I was a speaker there, spoke about a book I've written, and the B/W shot is / was my audience. Before I started talking, I asked if I could just take a shot of everybody, as I was basically a tourist and the photo would be my souvenir. I took the shot, then a half-dozen people went "What the Hell kinda camera is *that*?", and the ice was broken. The Widelux wasn't meant to be an ice-breaker, but it did a great job anyway.

My first BMW was a 1978 R100s, which I added an RS fairing, good shocks, and frame and swingarm bracing to. My next BMW was an R11rs, which was perhaps the finest machine out of a dozen bikes I've owned. My third BMW is the GS, and it's got a character all its own. Doesn't fit into any niche, and is a blast to ride.

You might enjoy this - my R11rs is here:

http://www.ibmwr.org/pastevnt/grosjeanalaska/alaska.html

I'm the shaved head on the right.

Doug

PS: another moto-related photo subject I enjoy is my Dad's Model T Fords, shot with my Rolleiflix in B/W. My Dad actually enjoys it too, and he never liked photos as a younger man.

JBrunner · Jun 22, 2006

Heres a Fotoman snap from a recent trip..

DougGrosjean · Jun 22, 2006

Sweet!

The Fotoman, that's not swing-lens, correct?

Not that it matters, just curious.

Nice shot.

JBrunner · Jun 22, 2006

DougGrosjean said:
Sweet!

The Fotoman, that's not swing-lens, correct?

Not that it matters, just curious.

Nice shot.

Thats correct. Thanks for the kind words. Its a nice snap, but with LF as my primary format, all I see is the convegence. Id love to play with a Widelux, but my GAS is in forced remission. I still might level up the ground and print it, but then the spire will be pointing left....

Gay Larson · Jun 22, 2006

JBrunner said:
Heres a Fotoman snap from a recent trip..

Is this the same kind of camera that Jeff Bridges uses??

DougGrosjean · Jun 22, 2006

Last I'd read, and in his books, he's using a Widelux.

FWIW, swing-lens cameras have a rather strange look to the photos they produce. Since the lines project onto a curved film plane, they tend to bow if they're not centered in the frame.

Not much of an issue in scenics, but often noticeable when shooting buildings, or anytime the camera isn't level.

SteveH · Jun 22, 2006

Doug,
Next time you're in the DC-NYC area with something cycle related, let me know ! Hopefully by the end of this year I'll have the object of my desire; although I honestly cannot complain about my Honda.....23k miles and still going strong.

DougGrosjean · Jun 23, 2006

SteveH said:
Doug,
Next time you're in the DC-NYC area with something cycle related, let me know ! Hopefully by the end of this year I'll have the object of my desire; although I honestly cannot complain about my Honda.....23k miles and still going strong.

I'll be in DC area in October, speaking at Oktoberfest at Morton's BMW. I may ride the Kawasaki Concours, just because it has a large fairing.

Will try to keep in touch in the meantime.

Good luck on the new bike!

SteveH · Jun 23, 2006

Thanks Doug...I'll look around for some info.

DougGrosjean · Jun 23, 2006

Hey SteveH,

Here's the info on Morton's BMW's special events.

Oktoberfest 2006 is about 1/3 of the way down.

Dead Link Removed

HTH!

SteveH · Jun 23, 2006

Ah. Niffty, thanks.

ksmattfish · Jun 25, 2006

bart Nadeau said:
I used to shoot color negatives and have the negs processed and 8 inch long prints made as proofs. Is there anyone around in the US who does this anymore without paying for custom processing?

Ever since my local full service lab switched over to digital printing systems I haven't had any problems getting 4"x10" prints made from Widelux negs for the same price as they charge for the 4"x12" crops from 35mm (around $0.80).

Sharing some Widelux Photos

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