Large Format for Portraiture

I've been reading about George Hurrell and other portrait

photographers who used 8x10 cameras for their work. I do not have a

large format camera (shoot 35mm and 6x6), but I know these 8x10's are

big.

When I shoot a portrait in "portrait" orientation with my 35mm (i.e.,

rectangular format is vertical), that means I am rotating my camera

90 degrees. Not a big deal in 35mm. How is that done with an 8x10

view camera? Is the ground glass 10x10 so that one need not rotate

the entire camera? I know this must sound naive, but its really

bugging me!

 

Thanks. Greg

Many (probably most) have backs that rotate. The whole back (including the ground glass, film holder apparatus, etc.)is taken off and turned and placed back on. Some 4x5's (Toyo's in particular) have "rotating" backs that you don't even have to remove (sort of like a rotating roll film holder on a MF camera). I don't know if any 8x10's have this or not.

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I was gonna' be smart and say that there are special stands where the camera tripod is bolted horizontally, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

Hi Greg:

 

Most LF cameras have a "revolving" back. Some actually rotate a full 360 deg., others only in 90 deg increments. That way the camera remains upright, otherwise it would topple all but the most sturdy of tripods. My 8x10 weighs in at 15 lbs.

 

Rich

www.rcodaphotography.com

Greg, the backs on most view cameras can either be taken off and reinstalled in either the vertical or horizontal position(referred to as being 'reversed', or some have a rotating back where the back can be 'reversed' or rotated with having to remove the back, like on a Mamiya RB67, only bigger. Cheers!

Panoramic cameras like my 12X20 do not have the convenience of rotating

backs. Then you really do have to turn the whole (35 lb + lens!) beast on its

side to do a vertical. This can be quite a production and requires a VERY

sturdy tripod and head. You can see some vertically-oriented 12X20 portraits

at :

 

www.platinumportrait.com

 

Regards,

Nathan Congdon

Thanks for all of your input. One of the aspects of my 6x6 TLR is that I don't have to rotate the camera. What I don't like sometimes is that it is square, and for portraits that will be printed in a rectangular format, I would prefer a rectangular format negative.

 

Can you recommend a flexible 4x5 camera with the rotating back? I don't need new (a testament to my 30 year old Mamiya and my 25 year old Minolta 35mm equipment), but I like solid / quality. By "flexible" I mean something I can use for portraiture (possible being able to use roll film and/or polaroid back if desired), not too heavy, will accomodate moderate wide to moderate long / telephoto lense (equivalent of 135mm in 35mm), and doesn't cost a fortune. Would an old speed / pacemaker / crown graphic fit this? something else?

 

Thanks

Greg, look at the graflex.org website and see what info you can get from there. Used graflex can be found on online auction sites at reasonable prices. Once you go the LF route then the price is going to escalate. You will need film holders, 4x5 film, a 4x5 enlarger, 150mm lens and so on.... You can see where I am going with this. It would be more economical to buy a gease pencil at an office supply store and mark the glass of your Mamiya for vertical & horizontal framing. I did that 30 years ago with mine and still shoot with it today. I don't want to burst your bubble LF is great and if you decide to take the plunge, then welcome to the club. There is nothing wrong with a square negative it is all in the framing.

the Calumet c400 series is a 4x5 camera has a back which rotates 360 degrees w/o removing it and fits your other requirements... I just purchased one myself