here is my first sheet film photo ever

[david_haardt2]

Hello folks,

 

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Today I shot my first sheet film (4x5") photo ever. I did already shoot roll film and Polaroids with my large format camera, but today I did *it*. It was also the first film ever I developed on my own.

 

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Camera: Graflex 45 Super Speed Graphic

Lens: Graflex (Rodenstock) Optar 4.5/135

Shutter: Graflex 1000 Nr. 2A

Film: Classic Pan 400 (don't know which emulsion this actually is, it's a very inexpensive film from fotoimpex.de)

Exposure meter: Weston Master V with my hand as a grey card (+1 stop)

Exposure time: 1/2 sec.

Diaphragm setting: f/16

Filter: none

Berlebach 7003 wooden tripod with FLM/Statec 32F ball head and cable release

Developer: Agfa Rodinal (1+25; 7.5 mins.)

Fixer: Agfa Agefix (1+5)

Wetting agent: Agfa Agepon (1+200)

 

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Here's the result, scanned directly from the negative (about 8x enlarged) at 1200dpi and the resized with Agfa 1240UT:

 

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http://haardt.net/gf1_gesamt.jpg

 

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And here's a detail (scanned at 1200dpi and not resized):

 

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http://haardt.net/gf1_ausschnitt.jpg

 

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You can read the distance scale on the camera's lens (this is a FED-1e Soviet rangefinder camera from 1946), you can read all the book titles and numbers, and you can read which model this rather ancient CD player is. Great ;-) I was really fascinated by the detail large format offers (still a huge improvement over 6x9), and I was very happy that developing was rather easy and much fun. I loaded and unloaded the film in my changing bag, but dust wasn't such an issue. I have yet to develop a better washing technique, because despite the use of a wetting agent, there are some slight streaks of water on the negative.

 

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Yeah, large format is FANTASTIC ;-)

 

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Cheers,

[david_haardt2]

Here's the second one:

 

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http://haardt.net/gf2_gesamt.jpg

 

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And a detail of the second one:

 

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http://haardt.net/gf2_ausschnitt.jpg

 

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I like the bokeh in this picture very much.

[jorge_gasteazoro]

Well, actually dust IS an issue. Look carefully at your scan an you

will see many hair lines and dust particles. Maybe it is the scanner

surface, check it out anyway. Oh, and congratulations. I feel sorry

for you...you are now stuck with great quality and tones, it will be

hard to go back to smaller formats.....:-))

Cheers, Jorge

[john_bailey1]

Congratulations on your fine efforts-I wish you many years and many

locations for enjoying your hobby, craft and accomplishments!

 

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Regards,

 

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John Bailey

[martin_kapostas1]

You just now REALLY started photography. Welcome : )

 

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Wish a good light

[sandy_sorlien]

I must respectfully challenge Martin's comment. Large format snobbery

is an unfortunate attitude. One should only be using a large format

camera if that is the right tool for the imagery he wants to make.

Often it is not, and the user gets bogged down in equipment concerns

and love of detail to the detriment of ideas, meaning, and

authenticity of expression. God, I've seen so many technically

beautiful but emotionally dead LF pictures. Don't let that happen,

David...

[jon_paul1]

I understand Sandy's comment. However, the snobbery holds true in any

format. I switched to large format (along with wanting to do huge

prints) to force myself to slow down and truly understand the

technical photographic process. Now I find that I have a greater

understanding of what I am doing technically and create more

"meaningful" images because I have a more intuitive feal for the

process. I hope this move allows you to simply become more thoughtful

and creative with your photography. I find that it is a lot of fun to

use this format. Good luck!

[andre_noble4]

A year ago, I was watching a documentary on public television about

George Eastman and the early days of Kodak and photography, etc. I

learned then perhaps a touch of what David discovered and Martin

eluded to: large format photography, as the passion we users know

it, (which began very early in photography's history with the

invention and evolution of huge glass plates negatives, laborious and

skill-intensive darkroom processes, etc.) is more closely born of a

fundamenatal and passionate pursuit of the medium.

 

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George Eastman's quest of the more convienent rollfilm camera was

largely driven by his desire to be financially successful ie, to

escape the crushing poverty into which he was born and to be able to

financially provide for his mother in her old age.

 

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His invention, the rollfilm Brownie camera became a huge success

because it catered to the amateur masses, not because it was

successful with professionals or passionate pursuists, or because the

rollfilm negatives it used could approach that of the glass plates

already in use.

 

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So yes David, your's is a discovery grounded in history, not a view

based on snobbery. Andre

[andrew_mcphee]

Hi David,

 

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Congrats on this big occasion! I've just acquired my 4x5 Linhof and

have just put a couple of rolls through so far, I'm very excited

about trying a BIG neg soon...I guess you'll all hear from me too

when this happens!

 

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I've been a 35mm user for years with never enough $$$ to go to a

bigger format, that is until I got this outfit! I'm really enjoying

how I'm slowing down and LF is making me think more which can only be

good.

 

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I look forward to seeing more photos from you David...now you just

have to get that sucker outside into the landscape!