david richhart

I forgot to include this link to the pretty pictures... <p>

http://www.activedayton.com/ddn/local/0505weston1.html

Stephen... I was in Columbus, Ohio, last weekend and both Midwest

Photo and Columbus Camera Group had used 8x10 enlargers on the

showroom floor. Friendly folks at both stores if you want to contact

them. Also, I think you would need ALL of that 9.5 ceiling. -Dave

John... If you are building your own camera for pinhole why not

consider constructing a method to arc the filmplane around the

hole... keeping the center & the edges of the filmplane equidistant

from the hole. I would think that should produce a type of panoramic

camera...??? -Dave

benz... a book by Joseph Foldes titled "Large-Format Camera

Practice" published 1969 by American Photographic Book Publishing

Company. It is a VERY easy book to understand, and it covers

everything you need to know. Great information on lens focal length

selection, camera position, perspective, and a wonderful explanation

of the camera's movements. Lots of clear illustrations and easy to

understand theories without getting technically overloaded with

numbers. Combined with this forum it would be a great start. -Dave

Just when you thought the Civil War was over...

http://www.cwreenactors.com/collodion

I have no doubts that Ansel would have used a Linhof if they had

given him one...

Here is an interesting article ... some new things to think about <p>

http://www.studio1productions.com/Articles/FL-Lights.htm

Mark... you can probably get a manual for the meter at

www.craigcamera.com

After over 30 years of stumbling around in a totally dark room to deal with the film processes, my problems may be solved. Check out this handy item on Ebay. <p> http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1319653432 <p>

I know it must be true because I saw it on the internet, on Ebay !!! -Dave

Jonathon Brewer... You mentioned how important speed can be in

photojournalism, and that is true. But consider the important images

that were immortalised on a 4x5 Graphic... The flag raising on Iwo

Jima... The burning of the Hindenberg... Ruby shooting Oswald... <p>

LF is a great tool in experienced hands -Dave

I don't think it is a matter of large format impeding the

photographer's creativity. <p>

A very large % of LF work is made up of sharply focussed images not

because the photographer was impeded, but because that is the type of

image he chooses to accomplish, and the controls provided by the use

of LF processes are STILL the best method to accomplish that... <p>

Sharp focus can also be extremely abstract... as in some of the works

of Brett Weston, Fredrick Sommers, Minor White, and others... -Dave

How about dealing for a badly abused screw in filter at the next

camera swap meet??? Wouldnt that do about the same thing? I

eliminated the problem many years ago. Nothing decent was ever

available (try to find a cap for a 10"wf Ektar) so I started to make

my own lenscaps. <p>

They ain't much for pretty, but they're hell for strong ! -Dave

I took an excursion to Midwest Photo in Columbus, Ohio, this

afternoon. I stopped counting at 50 large format cameras in sizes

from 4x5 and larger. About 1/3 of them were new and the majority of

the used cameras looked to be in near new condition. Check their

website for a listing that is very up-to-date. They have all the

other necessaries as well, including LF film. <p>

I'm just mentioning this for those who find it a simpler trip than

New York. A lot of things to see, and good people to deal with. -Dave

Keith... Photography is a hobby for me, and I support that habit by

laying brick. I have a 35mm Pentax K1000 camera that has been riding

in a camera case behind the seat of my work truck for over 10 years.

I load it with color slide film. I bought it at the time because I

wanted a cheap and reasonably good camera to document my work, and

for all those times when you wish you had a camera with you. The only

real precaution I take is keepint the outfit in a plastic bag to help

keep the dust out. <p>

After all the hard use and abuse it still works great... better than

I would have ever imagined. I live in Ohio, and it has seen rain, and

snow, and temperatures from below 0 to above 100 F. <p>

Imagine what some of the old Speed Graphics and Nikon F cameras have

been through in combat situations... -Dave

Jules... using the enlarger for contact printing also allows you to

use the filtering system for variable contrast papers...

This is not a question, but I am posting this url as a reference for locating the used books that are often mentioned on this website. It doesn't do much good to know about a book if you can't find a copy. The website searches the listings of many dealers in new & used books, so you can shop for the best prices. I am not affiliated with Abe Books, but turn to them often when I need something, or want to appraise a book that I have. I'm sure others will be able to add more good websites. <p>

http://www.abebooks.com/

Hi Adrian...You may find this website interesting...

http://www.mikeware.demon.co.uk/ I have read other sights that

contain detailed instructions, but they seem to have disappeared into

cyberland... -Dave

I just had another thought Grey Wolf... whatever you do, make sure

that you DON'T stick your tongue on the cold tripod...even if someone

triple-dog-dares you!!! ;0D

The foam pipe insulation is a great solution for the tripod. Cheap

and light, it also pads the tripod for carrying and protects it from

scratches. The disposable paper masks can be help avoid breath on the

gg. <p>

Check out the hunting departments for personal cold weather

equipment. There are chemical heat packs that can help the hands, and

battery powered ones as well. <p>

...and, a good bottle of cheap wine can make the ears "glow" {;^D <p>

Best wishes to all for a peaceful and productive new year... -Dave

Hi David...When I was in photo school way back in the late 60's,

One of our assignments was to buy a Diana and shoot 6 or 8 rolls of

film in 1 day. The cameras cost 3 or 4 dollars at the time, used 120

roll film, and made 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 negatives. The camera had a

remarkably good plastic lens. It had a fixed aperture and 2 shutter

settings. One shutter setting was a fixed speed (sunny 16 rule), and

the other setting was bulb (aperture open as long as the button was

depressed) <p>

It was an interesting assignment, because the camera took amazingly

good photographs, and it was easy to do multiple exposures and you

could wind the film while the picture was being made. <p>

It was an interesting assignment and a lot of fun. A great break from

trying to produce perfectly sharp and perfectly exposed negatives...

If you have a good old fashioned hardware store close by, they will

probably have something that will work. Take the camera in with you

and just show it to the kindly older gentleman behind the counter.

Beats the hell out of Loew's and Home Depot stores where the help

won't even understand what you are trying to do ...

You also might want to check out www.smallparts.com A great scource

for hard to find small parts!!!

I was just going through my wish books, getting ready to order some supplies and I see that Freestyle does not have < Oriental Seagull, graded, fiber based > paper listed in the latest book. It's not listed on the website either. The VC version is still there, but that was not what I wanted! <p>

Freestyle is also missing a lot of the unusual items that made them such a great rescource. Are they abandoning me??? Any other places to find the paper I want??? <p>

Thanks in advance... -Dave