A classic American Camera

I've had this OD Green Speed Graphic for at least 20 years and only just now have been

using it. Being retired (if a photographer can be that) and living in ketchum, ID I found I

hadn't found the subjects that intrigued me. Being a 2 year old golf addict, I started a

project with my friend the golf pro, Stoney Brown who has an amazing collection of golf

"stuff." Polaroid 4x5 pos /neg film, Epson 3200 scanner and the new amazing Epson 4800

printer, have allowed me to make some beautiful prints. After years in a darkroom, the

use of the Polaroid film, scanner and Photoshop... well, I'm excited and producing some

nice 17x22 prints that seem to have golfers very interested in purchasing. To see how

different this work is from my career take a look at my website, www.jimbrittphoto.com

I'm definitely having fun now!!!<div></div>

and the result...

ooops<div></div>

I like the work you've shown that was taken with your Speed Graphic. I have a 4x5 Crown Graphic and it's extremely fun shooting Polaroids with it. My images, however, do not look as sharp as yours, although I shoot avaliable light or with my SB-28 speedlight which has only so much power. This means I usually shoot at f5.6 or f8.

I usually shoot with the camera on a tripod. The still lifes are shot at f16-32, using

multiple flashes. However I do shoot some handheld, or in this case using the ground. : )<div></div>

Jim,

 

Hi there. Nice work! I like to see Speeds in use. I got one about two and a half years ago and have s-l-o-w-l-y been getting up to speed (no pun intended) in the large format vein of photography. Mine is a Pre-Anniversary 4x5 Speed Graphic, ca. 1939 (last year before Anniv. Speeds debuted).

 

I shoot with a 127mm Ektar, and use the Synchro-Compur shutter, not the focal plane shutter. The Ektar is the only lens I have for the Speed actually on a lens board (hopefully, that will change). I usually focus using the ground glass because I haven't adjusted the RF yet.

 

A wonderful resource for me in my Graflex quest is www.graflex.org and I suggest giving it a look when you have a few minutes.

 

Keep having fun with that Graflex!

 

--Micah in NC

I have a 135mm 4.7 Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar and the shutter speeds are off... I'll have

to have it reconditioned when i get to Los Angeles in Nov. Slow speeds are gone, bulb is

fine : ) and 125 seems close.

I jim. I like the result, except it's a bit crowded. Including the golf bat was not necessary i think; it goes out of the frame anyway. With the two balls only, it would be cleaner. Just my oppinion.

 

I'm glad golfers are interested...they are supposed to be rich so you can earn good $ with your images:)

I like the picture but I think your lighting is not very good, especially on the books. It all looks a bit flat and the books are deeply shadowed.

Jim, I think you did a fine job!!! Glad to see someone put a Graflex into serious use.

david I disagree, I think the lighting is quite nice and achieves a look which fits the subject

well. Did you check out Jim's site? He seems to have had some experience in

photography so I'm going to assume it's what he intended lighting wise.

 

Hey Jim, I read your bio and was amused to see Guerneville mentioned. I grew up in that

town right off Old Cazadero Road.

 

cheers

lucas... yeah, Guerneville! Amazing. I lived there from 47-51 and my Dad had a bar there

from 47 'til 76 and lived there until he passed away at 86 in 97. Lots of fun there. I was

up there almost all of my life in the summers etc. Thanks for the note on the photos...

how can light be "flat" and still have shadows? Well, the 16x20+ prints with the Epson

4800 are incredible. Having spent a good deal of my life in a darkroom, this is the first

time I really believe that digital production gets as good as wet. Having some fun now.

I often convert old Graphic and Speed Graphic cameras to very fine 4x5 field cameras.

 

In the 1960's I was a counselor at Camp Cazadero. Does that place still exist?

 

Beautiful golf still life.