Jeff Searust
Member
Make sure he's paying for the film.
Leave him alone. Its HIS vision, and his time to learn and explore. In no way should you force the lad to be a ractalinear, anal retentive robot clone.Ok,
I bought my 21 year old son a 4x5 monorail, lens/lensboard, tripod, film holders, and 50 sheets of Tri-X. He has access to my library of photography related books including several dedicated to large format photography. He even read a couple of them.
His first day of shooting, he invited me along. I watched as he made these torturous and entirely unnecessary camera movements where his subject required almost no movements. I'd look at his ground glass and bite my toungue rather than point out that if he just backed off on the rear swing, moderated the front rise... etc, he'd have a tack sharp image.
Yes, he recognizes that the images he made are "twisted". He likes that. Imagine a cone shaped building whose image on a 4x5 negative is mostly out of focus except for a narrow horizontal band in the middle that is tack sharp. I've held my opinion in, knowing he is exploring his own vision.
At what point should I step in and gently direct him to the "right" way to use a LF camera?
At what point should I step in and gently direct him to the "right" way to use a LF camera?
"There ARE no standards" -Jim Dow
Ok,
I bought my 21 year old son a 4x5 monorail, lens/lensboard, tripod, film holders, and 50 sheets of Tri-X. He has access to my library of photography related books including several dedicated to large format photography. He even read a couple of them.
His first day of shooting, he invited me along. I watched as he made these torturous and entirely unnecessary camera movements where his subject required almost no movements. I'd look at his ground glass and bite my toungue rather than point out that if he just backed off on the rear swing, moderated the front rise... etc, he'd have a tack sharp image.
Yes, he recognizes that the images he made are "twisted". He likes that. Imagine a cone shaped building whose image on a 4x5 negative is mostly out of focus except for a narrow horizontal band in the middle that is tack sharp. I've held my opinion in, knowing he is exploring his own vision.
At what point should I step in and gently direct him to the "right" way to use a LF camera?
I should have mentioned before that frankly unrealistic distortion of images is rooted in an artistic traditional that's had far-reaching artistic influences: German Expressionism.
Call it a matter of varying taste, but if I had a 21-year-old son, I'd think he was much cooler trying to make his own Caligari images rather than wanting to be just like Ansel Adams.
can we see the image he made?
Never, Never, Never take the initiative here.
Answer his questions succinctly, don't expand on the answers, let him enjoy it his way.
I don't know. Three of mine have a front and rear standard. The fourth, a macro 8x10 with 60 inchs of bellows has a middle standard as well. I have always been fond of the middle ground where you can take a look while the ones at the end take the beating.
John Powers
You are very welcome to adopt me. I will follow your guidance very closely when you are accompanying me if you are willing to donate the before mentioned photographic equipment. Please contact me and my lawyer for details in our service level agreement.
Regards.
EDIT: And judging by your name you could mentor me in road racing too, or at least sponsor me.
At what point should I step in and gently direct him to the "right" way to use a LF camera?
At the point we all go into lock step and all shoot the approved "Right" way, kneel down and kiss St. Adam's butt.
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