Large Format Photography : Lessons from the field #8
Chamonix 45N2 with Nikkor M 200mm/f8. Fuji Neopan Acros exposed at ISO100. Rock in the cascade exposed at Zone 2.5 and developed for 6:45 min in Ilford ID11 at 1:1. Click to view large.
Large format is expensive. Large format is slow. Large format is unforgiving. However I've always loved the slow and meditative process. However when it works, it is pure magic. I've been a long time film user and recently started using film again. My last attempt (circa 2005) to do large format work was a mixed bag and ended on a sour note (no pun) as I tumbled down a cascade. And so did my camera and lens on a tripod which I tried to hold on to in panic. It took about 12 years to recover and start large format photography again. This is an attempt to write about the thought process, technical aspects and lessons re-learned during my second attempt.
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My approach in the field and composition choice at the location for large format. I decided to go with 200mm Nikkor which is fast becoming my favorite lens despite being slow. It is light, sharp and very close to the normal focal length for 4x5. More on that later. Please click on notes and images on how I arrived at the exposure for film and development choice.
Another visit to the favorite part of UK, Wales. I had hiked this small national trust trail in the past and knew it presents some opportunities for black and white images. The final exposure was 7” with reciprocity for Fuji Neopan which I’m becoming fan of. This is a quickload sheet. What pleasure compared to carrying heavy darkslides. Alas, they are not made anymore or are expensive.
I have added a new “taking field notes” as part of my large format image making routine now. I found these brilliant Rite in the Rain pencils and spiral notebooks and now use it regularly. The combination works brilliantly and is rugged enough for UK weather. Please check images above to know how I use it.
So here are the lessons I learnt from this outing -
Test hikes are good. It allows me to test various new equipment without the pressure of making any images. Confirmation of the previously learnt lesson.
Make sure to mark holders with what film is loaded. I’m normally good at this however after twos days of long hikes it was a tiring evening. And film loading isn’t something I enjoy the most. I exposed Kodak Ektar as Ilford fp4+ and developed it too.
Enjoy.
Here is another image made at the same location using Sony A7ii and Canon FD 35mm TS lens. If the hike isn’t very strenuous I often take both the systems. Now it is comparing apples to oranges really. However here are my impressions. This is a three frame panorama cropped to match what I thought is a good composition to start with and close to 4x5 frame above. There is a 4th layer used for water at ISO400 to get better structure. Canon 35mm TS is a very very good lens in terms of sharpness on full frame. This is essentially central portion of each frame. So the sweet spot. I like both for different reasons however overall favour 4x5 composition above.
Sony A7ii + Canon FD 35mm TS, three frame stitched and cropped panorama. Click to view large.