My first outing with the 4x5

First, let me just say I have a new found respect for shooting LF in the field. We got about 14" of fresh snow on Monday. Talk about a challenge trying to go through composing to shooting while trying to keep everything dry and out of the snow...lol

I spent a few days last week testing for film speed and development times. I'm now using Ilford FP4+ in Rodinal 1+25 and plan to stick solely with this for a while for my B&W shooting. I have full shutter speed test sheets for my lenses so I didn't need to test for both lenses (different shutters). Turns out for my workflow, it comes in at ISO100 and 7 minutes development at 68 degrees instead of the box rated ISO125 and 9 minutes development.

I'm having some slight development issues, which you can see in the shot with the tree where the development is a little uneven. Still trying to get used to the whole tray developing thing. Anyway, here's some shots from farting around, trying out the new rig...

Looking good, Aaron! There is a ton of character in the photos, that's obvious. Congrats on getting out and using the beast for the first time. You may have done this purposely to avoid blowing out the snow, but they all look a bit dark to me. Other than that, very cool.

Thanks Brad. Yeah, they are dark. It was my own fault because of bad shooting habits from before. I never did full speed and development testings for the Rollei's and obviously my developing was a bit too long before as I always shot the highlights a little under. Made that mistake when I went out with the 4x5 yesterday and cursed myself after printing. Oh well, all part of the learning process.

Indeed, film is definitely a learning process. But that's what we're all about isn't it? If I ran out of stuff to learn in this "hobby" I'd probably get bored. I guess that's part of why it's stuck with me.

Aaron, I like the photo's very much and envy your skill with film, compositions and detail in the shots a very nice. I perticularly like the last 2 and their tones. S

So I'm back to work today after my vaca, and looking at these pics on this monitor and wow they look dark. I had adjusted the scans on my home display, which is backlit, to match the prints. The actual prints are a tad under exposed but, nowhere near as bad they appear on this monitor and they also seem to have a slight green tint on this monitor as well. Yuck :eek: Anyone have a cheap Spyder they want to sell me?...LOL

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Originally Posted by brmill26

...If I ran out of stuff to learn in this "hobby" I'd probably get bored. I guess that's part of why it's stuck with me.

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Same here. Luckily I now have a shitload more stuff to learn now so I shouldn't get bored anytime soon...LOL

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Originally Posted by shootme

...I perticularly like the last 2 and their tones. S

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Thanks S :) I had sort of a Fred Picker theme in my head for playing with shapes and lines in the stream. If you like these type of shots, I recommend looking up one of Fred's books, I think you'd enjoy them :thumbsup:

Nice stuff with the new rig Aaron. I like the fence and foot print shot.
Jimmy

I'll check the book out, thanks, S

Way to go Aaron! Don't think I could ever do the LF thing, just too much for me. I haven't developed sheet film for 30+ years but wasn't fond of it then. I happen to own a 4x5 Speed Graphic but have never used it. Kind of inherited it and its in the personal photo museum now. I was in college the last time I actually shot with one.

:thumbsup:
Work it Aaron! Work it!
Brian

Aaron,

I think you will get there soon. Looks good for early work with LF.

Displaying these bigger prints may find you working a lot more to get them looking good on screen than previously you've experienced.

Part of the printing 'magic' is often playing with dodging and burning as there is often overlap which with smaller contact prints is not as apparent.

Are you filtering or 'polarizing' the light source for making contact prints? Getting the light source to evenly illuminate the larger negatives can be an additional challenge. A diffuser (filter) or polarizer (really a screen) on a lamp fixture (for your print box) becomes necessary with wide range such as white and black extremes of snow and water!

These were really tough subjects you chose to photograph to 'begin' with for any film, let alone LF.

You did pretty good for a first outing under these circumstances!

What are you using for a tripod/stand? Wood, metal, composite . . .?

Also curious about exposure values, particularly for the bridge. There is nicely retained detail in the drift at the end of footbridge.

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Originally Posted by Jimmy B

Nice stuff with the new rig Aaron. I like the fence and foot print shot.
Jimmy

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Thanks Jimmy :) I was trying to play with some movements on that shot but, wasn't quite working for me :(

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Originally Posted by shootme

I'll check the book out, thanks, S

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Look for some of his later stuff. Most of his early stuff, while still very nice, is more Americana I guess you could call it.

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Originally Posted by Old Timer

Way to go Aaron! Don't think I could ever do the LF thing, just too much for me. I haven't developed sheet film for 30+ years but wasn't fond of it then. I happen to own a 4x5 Speed Graphic but have never used it. Kind of inherited it and its in the personal photo museum now. I was in college the last time I actually shot with one.

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Alright Larry, I can't take it anymore! You need to start dusting those beauties off...LOL Guess next vaca I'm heading to Kentucky so I can drag you out :D:D:D

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Originally Posted by mtbbrian

:thumbsup:
Work it Aaron! Work it!
Brian

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I'm trying Brian! I'm trying!...LOL

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Originally Posted by drg

Aaron,

I think you will get there soon. Looks good for early work with LF.

Displaying these bigger prints may find you working a lot more to get them looking good on screen than previously you've experienced.

Part of the printing 'magic' is often playing with dodging and burning as there is often overlap which with smaller contact prints is not as apparent.

Are you filtering or 'polarizing' the light source for making contact prints? Getting the light source to evenly illuminate the larger negatives can be an additional challenge. A diffuser (filter) or polarizer (really a screen) on a lamp fixture (for your print box) becomes necessary with wide range such as white and black extremes of snow and water!

These were really tough subjects you chose to photograph to 'begin' with for any film, let alone LF.

You did pretty good for a first outing under these circumstances!

What are you using for a tripod/stand? Wood, metal, composite . . .?

Also curious about exposure values, particularly for the bridge. There is nicely retained detail in the drift at the end of footbridge.

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Hi drg :) These aren't big prints. Unfortunately for the time being I can only do contacts as my enlarger on does up to 6x9. I'm not diffusing the light at all. I have a 5x7 contact printing frame which I use under my enlarger light. I have the enlarger up to cover a little larger than 8x10 so light falloff shouldn't be an issue. My using a an aluminum tripod I picked up from Amvona like 2 years ago. Would like to get a nice Ries but, that'll have to wait a while...LOL I don't recall what my exact exposure settings were but IIRC, that snow bump at the top of the frame was placed on Zone VIII which put the snow by the footprints around 6 - 7 depending on the how the shadow fell. The foot prints themselves fell in about 8 but, couldn't get a good read on them without getting close and introducing my own footprints into the scene. Part of the reason I picked these subjects, with the exception of the shot of the trees, was to get used to using back focus. Gets a little tricky/hard to see in the corners after stopping down a bit. Part of the problem though was the snow bright and reflecting up off the ground to under the darkcloth. Oh well, it's fun so far though. New challenges and lots of new things to learn :)

Aaron

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Originally Posted by Xia_Ke

I'm trying Brian! I'm trying!...LOL

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There is no try, only do, and you my friend are doing a good job!
There's a steep learning curve, you know this, so don't be so hard on yourself.
:thumbsup:
Brian
Not a Jedi Master...:D

Since we're on the Yoda quotes...lol

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Originally Posted by mtbbrian

...so don't be so hard on yourself.

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“Happens to every guy sometimes this does”

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Originally Posted by mtbbrian

...Not a Jedi Master...:D

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“Powerful you have become, the dark (film) side I sense in you.” :D:D:D

Great shots Aaron. Where were they taken? It won't be long and you will be moving to 8x10 ;)