Digital BW, The Print

Tim,

LOL!! Just loved your post because it reminds me so much of my own trek UP
the through the formats. I remember many years ago, after having used my
8x10 exclusively for about 5-6 years and after seeing several original Brett
Weston 11x14 contact prints, looking into getting an 11x14 when R.H.
Phillips made their "featherweight" ULF camera. Probably a good thing that I
never went that direction...can you imagine the scanner required to get that
size into the computer? But, even to this day I still peruse the LF ads
looking for one that someone wants to give away! ;>) Anyway, thanks for the
fond memories....

Alan Huntley

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Atherton" <timatherton@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2003 10:15 AM
Subject: RE: [Digital BW] Re: Speed graphic


> Lil,
>
> These are great little cameras to fiddle with and explore. Unfortunately
you
> are facing a rather dangerous situation.
>
> You see 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 isn't very big. You'll start liking the pictures you
> get back, especially if you start shooting some colour transparency roll
> film. I have a friend who has what sounds like the same lens on his mini
> speed graphic - and old as it is, he shoots the most sublime colour
> landscapes with it. You'll find you enjoy being able to tweak the
> perspective, or give your image almost infinite depth of field - even with
> the limited movements you have.
>
> Before you know it you will want more movements - and if you are going for
> that, why not go a bit bigger. So you will get a 4x5. And when you get
back
> your first transparency and pop it on the light table - OMG - it's so big!
> and all that detail and it.. glows..... Then one day someone will show you
a
> transparency from their 8x10 - Holy Cow! And you try out the camera, pop
> your head under the dark cloth and there is this big computer monitor
sized
> piece of ground glass with the picture on it - wow... and before you know
> it, the "little" 4x5 is abandoned in a dark lonely cupboard and you have a
> nice big 8x10 (you don't want to sell the 4x5 because maybe one day you
will
> need something "light and small" to carry.... for that round the world
trip
> you plan one day.
>
> Trouble is, you are out photographing one day and you come across this guy
> heaving out a great big 11x14 camera from the back of his pickup (that's
> what those guys use for camera bags) all glowing polished wood and brass -
> and he plonks it on this massive wooden tripod with a head that looks like
> it's made from old T34 tank parts. He only has three film holders because
> those suckers are $500.00 each... and the film - you don't even want to
> think about it.....
>
> Sadly, I'm already up to 8x10  :-)
>
> tim