The standard Large Format process...

[raucousimages]

The Large Format Photographic Process.
(In 66 easy steps)


1. Wake at 3:00 AM.
2. Load 100 Lbs of gear into truck.
3. Go to 7-11, get coffee.
4. Curse.
5. Return home, get film off of kitchen table.
6. Curse for late start.
7. Drive to location.
8. Park truck, step out into cactus.
9. Move truck.
10. Get out, stumble in the twilight looking for marker you left last time.
11. Step in wet cow pie.
12. Wipe off cow pie.
13. Find marker.
14. Get tripod out of truck.
15. Set tripod.
16. Return to truck for camera.
17. Place camera back in truck.
18. Get wrench out of toolbox.
19. Pick collapsed tripod up off ground, tighten leg tension screw.
20. Reset tripod.
21. Get camera out of truck.
22. Mount camera on tripod.
23. Open camera.
24. Mount lens.
25. Get dark cloth and loupe.
26. Try to compose image.
27. Remove lens, remove rear lens cap.
28. Mount lens.
29. Open lens.
30. Compose and focus.
31. Apply front tilt and re-focus.
32. Insert film holder.
33. Take meter reading.
34. Try to set f-stop and shutter speed, find lens pointing at ground.
35. Remove film holder.
36. Pull front standard back and lock this time.
37. Re-focus.
38. Insert film holder.
39. Set shutter speed and f-stop.
40. Cock shutter.
41. Remove dark slide.
42. Try to trip shutter.
43. Remove film holder, throw away film, insert dark slide.
44. Close lens.
45. Insert film holder.
46. Check lens, test shutter.
47. Cock shutter.
48. Remove dark slide.
49. Trip shutter.
50. Remove film holder.
51. Throw away film, replace dark slide.
52. Return to truck.
53. Find second film holder.
54. Go back to camera.
55. Make exposure.
56. Remove rear darkslide when removing film holder.
57. Return darkslide.
58. Lock darkslides.
59. Remove film holder.
60. Walk back to truck.
61. Place film holders in film bag.
62. Remember you replaced darkslides white side out.
63. Realize you didn’t mark film holders and don’t know which ones you just used.
64. Go to cooler.
65. Open beer.
66. Take up watercolors.

 

[2F/2F]

 

[PHOTOTONE]

Well, ha ha, I have shortened up this process for myself, as I regularly shoot about 70 sheets in a full day of 5x7. It takes practice.

 

[2F/2F]

Well, ha ha, I have shortened up this process for myself, as I regularly shoot about 70 sheets in a full day of 5x7. It takes practice.

Jeez, that is expensive....

Luckily, my worst large format troubles have come from changing bags. There have been 25-sheet-ruining horrendous light leaks on the bags checked out at school, and horrendous dust (the worst kind: the kind that settles on the film prior to exposure) even with a brand new bag. The most infuriating part is that the school refused to throw away the totally wasted changing bag, continuing to check it out to future students...

The time I developed a whole 10-sheet box of film in a batch of expired C-41 developer was pretty good too....Talk about some funky color...

But, as I said, luckily the shooting itself has always gone OK as far as things like accidentally exposing film, double exposing, etc.

Then there is the saga of the last cyclorama I *tried* to do. No matter what I did, the shots just would not come out sharp as a tack on 160 film, like I know large format can do even with a 400 film. In the end, I made three trips totaling nearly 1,000 miles, shot 66 pieces of film, and used 30 pieces of 11x14 enlarging paper. I actually completed all the printing on the last attempt just because I needed to turn something over, but it still just wasn't sharp enough. I have no idea what the problem is. It has never happened before or since. Considering gasoline, driving time, processing time, printing time, etc., I think I have spent more time on this one project than any other, and still hate it. HA!

 

[Uhner]

This is in all likelihood an accurate description on how my day will turn out. A friend of mine has just bought a Sinar F2…

 

[David Brown]

I knew there was a reason I still shoot roll film - no truck.

 

[Nigel]

I see why I continue to use medium format. I can get an extra 30 minutes of sleep, drink better coffee, and only carry 60lbs of gear, thusly able to carry an extra 40lbs comprising more beer and steaks.

I do however have an interest in trying large format. But, I also have an interest in sticking my hand in a running meat grinder. So both are potentially things that might not ever happen.

 

[Ole]

I see why I don't get up a 3:00 AM.

If I really have to take a picture at 3 AM, I'd much rather just stay up.

If I really need to shoot a sunrise, I'll do it in November when the sunrise is at a decent time - 11 AM - or june when it's around 1 AM (and not got to bed until after sunrise).

 

[BrianShaw]

Great story... I laugh with you, not at you!

Perhaps step #4 is the direct result of step #3 more than a result of step 5??

 

[Steve Sherman]

At least your zip code doesn't start with zero

 

[c6h6o3]

The Large Format Photographic Process.
(In 66 easy steps)

....

66. Take up watercolors.

So, what cameras and lenses will you be putting up for sale?

 

[raucousimages]

None, I love the torture!

 

[darinwc]

LOL absolutely true, except there should be alot more cursing and cowpies in my experience.
Also, you dont have kids so some steps should be added, like setting up the camera, breaking it down, taking kids to the toilet, leaving after the first exposure cause your wife is bored and demands to leave since youve been there an hour, more cursing cause the the one exposure you made was terribly underexposed, and you find that your lightmeter was at ISO 400 instead of 100..

 

[Shmoo]

Hmmmm, maybe step 2 should have been go for coffee, and step 3 should have been "repeat step 2". lol There are just some days that are better than others, but a day out shooting, beats a day indoors!!!

 

[mhcfires]

I see why I don't get up a 3:00 AM.

If I really have to take a picture at 3 AM, I'd much rather just stay up.

If I really need to shoot a sunrise, I'll do it in November when the sunrise is at a decent time - 11 AM - or june when it's around 1 AM (and not got to bed until after sunrise).

You guys have it made! Go to bed when you want, get up when you want, the sun will still be out in any event. Too bad it is still as cold at sun up as it was at sundown. You can drink beer all day and all night and not know the difference before you started drinking.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

That is a great story. Thanks for the giggles.
I find myself doing step 51 a little too often.
- Thomas

 

[JOSarff]

I've had days like that. Too bad it's too long to go on a tshirt. Maybe a darkcloth?

 

[naeroscatu]

that was a riot, thanks for this post. I don't shoot LF yet but look forward to inflict some pain in my err... back

 

[Uhner]

This is in all likelihood an accurate description on how my day will turn out. A friend of mine has just bought a Sinar F2…

It turned out that it was not an accurate description after all. The only mistake my friend made was that he forgot to adjust his bellows lens shade when he changed from a 210 lens to a 150mm (I should have caught this before he made the exposure. My bad, my only defence is that I usually don’t use this type of lens shade. He also let me to play with an Agfa Isolette, which naturally caught some of my attention…).

Then again, he is a very organised person, and he has had ample opportunity to learn from watching my mistakes when using a large format camera.

Here is a picture of the man himself and his new camera on the first outing:

 

[toyotadesigner]

Using a 6x9 roll film back might ease the process a bit.

8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 could have been avoided if you would have cleanded your head lights and mounted an additional pair on the roof of the truck (at least that's one of the reasons why I drive a 4x4).

18, 19, 20 could have been avoided by checking the equipment a day before, really.

Developing an organized 'workflow' will definitely help a lot. Try to set it up logically: white darkslide side out - fresh film. Dark side out: don't use it again.

Oh, btw, it's always good to have some spare batteries for the meter and to carry two meters with you.

It might as well help to invest into a head band with a small light.

Finally, if you have to wear glasses make sure you always have a second pair in the car, just in case you drop the first one and step onto it (already happened to me several times).

Other than that - funny story. I hope I'll never experience it or I'll surrender and look for another profession

 

[raucousimages]

It's funny because we all have done some if not all of those things as part of the LF learning curve, hopefuly not all in the same day though.

 

[Wade D]

I've done most of those at one time or another. Funny stuff!

 

[FM2N]

"52. Return to truck."
#53 By the time you get back to camera someone has called the police and you are arrested for trespassing. haha