The 52 Project: Rules Revisited...Again

If you know this reference, I <3 you!So, now that the cat is out of the bag (and by cat I mean mountain lion), let’s examine how adding an even older, large format camera to mix effects The 52 Project as a whole. First, let’s go over the founding purposes of this project:

1. Getting out and shooting film - I’m still doing this, just slower and with larger film
2. Trying out new films - Ditto
3. Posting my findings and progress - completely unchanged by format change

On the whole, nothing Earth-shattering will come of posting one or two 8x10 shots per week instead of posting a few more shots from a roll of film; besides, it’s not like the Hasselbald is dead, I still use it a whole helluva lot. Now let’s think about what adding large format to The 52 Project can provide:

1. More discussions on cameras - there’s much to learn with view cameras
2. New work-flow - there’s also more that needs to be done to ensure an image shows up
3. The Zone System - we’ll talk when you’re older :p

So let’s review, adding the 8x10 not only preserves the integrity of The 52 Project, but it also broadens the spectrum of material that can be incorporated into this year-long study. Sweet for the readers, most-assuredly death for me. X___x

Something Good: The readers will be getting more content while I play around with new toys.

Something Bad: I can’t afford a bit of this 8x10 business. Oh, and film is nearly $6/sheet.

Something Learned: Routines must not be my thing. I’m always redrawing the rules and letting them evolve with my new photography exploits. For those of you who embrace this change, thank you, you won’t be disappointed. 

The 52 Project, Week 19: "What is This? I Don’t Even..."

Today’s blog post is going to start with a short story.

Over a century ago, in a world far less digital than our own, this new documentary phenomenon known as photography was moving at an uncontrollable pace. Art critics were calling for all artists to drop their brushes and pencils, for what they could conjure up in hours/days/weeks/years could be reproduced in a fraction of the time. In another part of the country, middle class and lower income families were taking advantage of the convenience of photography to create a relatively inexpensive family portrait. Heck, people were even taking photos of non-studio subjects just for their aesthetic appeal. Madness, I know.

Now that you can visualize such an exciting time, take a look at the image below. This 1905 Century No.2 view camera embodies the industrious spirit of its era. That’s right, I said view camera. This thing is nothing more than wood/metal, glass, leather, and ingenuity!

Kodak Century No. 2, courtesy of Pierce Vaubel.

If you’d like to learn more about view cameras, here are some great sites to check out:

LargeFormatPhotography.info - if they don't have it, nobody else does either.

ViewCamera.com - the Journal of Large Format Photography

KenRockwell.com - great place to see 4x5 and large format landscapes

Photo.net - choosing a large format camera

Still scratching your head on how this thing works? Here's an entertaining look at the whole process:

Reasons that I’m using a view camera:

1. Resolution - at bare bones scanning levels, I’m getting 80Mp files. Cranking up the DPI can yield upwards of 3 Gigapixels!
2. Dynamic Range - ever wonder how images managed to look stunning prior to the Photoshop CS line? Look no further than sheet film.
3. Speed - or lack there-of. This beast with tripod and film holders clocks in just above 50lbs. Setting up and focusing at my fastest is somewhere around 10 minutes. And at about $5/sheet of film, I’m not going to be shooting more than a handful in a given day/week.
4. Complete Control - Perfect control of perspective, Zone System metering, custom image processing, and of course with said control, several hundred ways to equally screw up an image. x__x
5. Young Chicks Dig Retro - If by young and chicks you mean old and balding men, of course. Either way, it’s fun to have a small crowd gather round every now and then.

Now for the anti-climactic finish to all this awesome 8x10 buildup.

The sharpness Duke, the sharpness!Scan 1: Out on the reservoir

Perspective? Check. Sharpness? Check. Handful of mistakes? Double check. By no means is this a good or usable shot. This is, however, an exercise in the power, depth, and range of the 8x10 format. And as I’d later find out, part of a continuing series of photos teaching me how to properly load a film holder and tray agitate my negatives. >__<

Something Good: Light actually managed to hit the film in a manner that produced something resembling an image. This means I haven’t wasted $5.

Something Bad: Knowing from this image that there’s little turning back to traditional photographic formats.

Something Learned: I’ve just started a greater learning process that I might not complete in a satisfactory manner in my lifetime. 0_____0

Next Week: A more detailed explanation of how things are going to be run around here, in lieu of this new piece of photographic equipment. 

The 52 Project, Weeks 17 & 18: Odds & Ends

Little explanation needed here. Ever since the beginning of summer when I started cranking through roll after roll of film, this set of photos has been slowly building up. I’ll do my best to explain them as I go.

I wonder how the meter-man read these?

Scan 1: Urban Decay

I love the juxstaposition between man-made and nature, and how natue almost always seems to overcome and take back what we've taken from it.

Posing is easy when they're passed out.  

Scan 2: Lazy Exchange Student

In this Japanese girl's defense, the KAKE trip is a very tiring month long exchange program which has you running place to place about twelve hours per day. I know, I went on the opposite version of the trip.

Film + Heat + Time = Old Look 

Scan 3: Hancock County Fair 2010

No, this picture wasn't taken before I was born, but now I know how to get expired film to shoot like this. ^__^

The Aflac duck is very, very jealous. 

Scan 4: County Fair Duck

Just check out that killer "hairdo". This duck is awesome, period.

Corgis get pageviews, enough said. 

Scan 5: Corgi and Boy Closeup

While making a trip on Cleveland along I80/90, the Exit 135 rest stop had a surprise in store for me, and adorable fluffy corgi! Now EVERY time I see a corgi, I must have their picture.

Yeah, she's just a little patriotic. 

Scan 6: Lauren and Mom with Quilt

My mother is a crazy quilting lady. Since I was born, my mom has made over 175 quilts and continues week in and week out to churn out even more quilts. She's on track to break 200 before Xmas 2010.

Usually he runs and hides from the camera. 

Scan 7: Reluctant Coy

Probably the best shot I'll end up with of my own father, Coy, the hardass farmer. In other news, Fuji Pro400H plus barndoor/window light is always a winning combination. See Weeks 4&5. ^__^

Something Good: There was a whole lot more than two rolls of film to choose from for this segment

Something Bad: I can’t use leftover shots as an excuse anymore during the project.

Something Learned: That stray frame from every set/roll/shoot may come in handy some day. And since it’s not like there’s a million of them, *cough* digital *cough*, feel to keep these stray frames around.

Next Week: A BIG upgrade.