robert_hurd

Hi, Photo.Net Folks,

Would some of you have ideas, links, or books to suggest for semi-

nude pregnancy photos? I have seen the good link, below...but am

looking for more ideas or examples for lights, poses, garments,

backdrops.

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0086YF

My business partner (female) is planning a series of shots with her

recently pregnant friend, and I'm the lighting and equipment guy.

Thank you in advance!

Robt.

Hi, Jake,

I'm learning 4x5, so I followed the advice of some other forum posts and spend the extra dollars to take half- and full-stop bracketed shots (if an image is important to me), and then later process and review them one at a time.

I have enough to concentrate on in learning these tools to want the frustration of losing my hard-earned shot!

:)

Robt

http://www.rosanneolson.com/

She is also discussed in the new View Camera magazine, I believe.

Hi, Ron,

As a followup, I must confess I am not an expert with Graflok back attachments and their use for roll-film holders (as will be obvious from my next comment).

However, to use the Fuji Quickload 4x5 and the Polaroid 545i holders in my Shen-Hao 4x5, all I do is pry open the spring secured wooden frame that holds the ground glass, and then slide in the Quickload or 545i from the side...and it fits fine and is secured by the wooden ground glass frame. To do this, I don't remove anything from the camera, nor do I remove the wooden frame that houses the ground glass.

Perhaps call the folks at Badger Graphic to ask for more specifics on this, though.

Robt.

Hi, Benny,

I also went from Medium format (RB67) to Large (4x5), and I imagine you have seen all the related posts in photo.net...but it seems that the three cameras at the $600 +/- price point (new) are the Toyo, the Tachihara, and the Shen Hao.

The Toyo is lightest, but lacks some rear movements that the others have. For me, I wanted movement features and sturdiness, so went with the Shen Hao (purchased from Badger Graphic, which was a good idea). After I fill my field pack with lenses, meters, filters, accessories, I don't know if a couple extra pounds for the Shen Hao would make much difference for me, versus a lighter camera.

Good luck in your choice!

Robt.

It's true. I recently went to northeastern Arizona...spending hundreds of dollars to specifically create some good, classic, cliche postcard shots...Monument Valley, Slot Canyons, Petrified Forest...

Why?

Okay, before that trip I had never used my new 4x5 camera, lenses, Velvia, Quickload holder, Polaroid holder, loupe, field pack, pouches, spot meter, ND grad filters, et cetera. The goal was a field learning exercise...to ape all the things the pro landscape guys do: pre-plan the shot, get up at 4 am, climb the hills, compose the image, meter the shot, wait for the light, bracket the shot, on and on. I felt that if I was able to create just a few cliche images to rival their cliche images, then I would know that I've acquired the necessary skills to capture something outstanding that is NOT a cliche.

So, now I'm mostly there.

Robt.

Thanks, Doug!

Yes..that was it! I just got back from successfully scanning some slides. The result looks good.

Odd...I am quite willing to read manuals, so why did I not find this in the weak docs provided? ...must have missed it.

Robt.

Thanks, Guys!

In your posts, you suggest that I should be able to view the full 4x5 slide, in order to drag/ drop a marquee around it. However, I don't see the full 4x5 image on the screen at all, in order to then select the entire image for scanning. (I am hoping that this is my ignorance in using the software.)

I found a post on dpreview.com, that hints at users needing to turn "OFF" the Thumbnail option near the Preview button. In the (very weak) manual, I can see a dropdown button next to Preview, so I will see if there is an option there.

Robt.

...and yes, in Professional Mode, I selected Film as Document Type, and Postive for Slides.

Thanks!

Robt.

Hi, All,

I hope someone can offer some ideas. (I confess to being new to the

use of scanners, since I always just "sent it out" for scans.)

PROBLEM: I successfully installed my new Epson 4870 Photo scanner.

Then, I tried to scan one or two 4"x5" color Velvia slides (via

PhotoShop Elements 2, chose "File>Import>Epson Perfection 4870").

Instead of a scan of the ENTIRE 4x5 slide, I get 6 or 8 tiny scan

Preview "portions" of an image (e.g., part of a tree, a piece of sky,

some foreground soil, etc). If I then proceed with the scan, then

these "portions" of an image are what get scanned into files on the

harddrive.

ANALYSIS: I experimented using the SilverFast software to scan,

instead of the Epson Scan, but that did not resolve the problem. I

confirmed all cables are connected, and that the Epson slide holder

is correctly oriented and not upside down. All the Epson manuals,

Help screen, website support, and automated telephone support offer

no relevant information. I will telephone/ email Epson support, of

course, but they are closed for the weekend. Also, I will try

downloading an updated Epson Scan software version and re-install.

EQUIPMENT: Sony Vaio Laptop with Win 2000 O/S, 4 GB available drive

space, 512 Megs RAM, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2, USB connection to

Epson 4870 Photo (4870 purchased 7/28/04).

Thank you in advance for any ideas you can provide,

Robt.

Okay, I did it, I bought the Epson 4870.

...now, I gotta figure out how to use it.

Thanks again for everyone's help!

r

Thanks, Michael!

I read some more reviews, and ordered a copy of "Real World Scanning and Halftones" off of Amazon. (It looks like the new edition is from April of this year.)

Robt.

Problem Solved!!

Thanks again to all those who offered helpful replies and specific solutions.

Sure enough, my friends went to one of the websites suggested (PhotoRescue.com I believe), and they successfully recovered all 200 images!

I did not pursue it further by asking what make/model they were using, so that may disappoint folks anxious to run to the camera store, walk through the applicable menuing and manuals, and thus proclaim my friends to be incompetent users.

Thanks again for the happy ending!

Robt.

Yup.

I read the same review, and after reading further comments from others, I learned that the review was incorrect.

Sure enough, I use the Fuji Quickload and Polaroid 545i holders with no problem in my Shen Hao HZX 4X5-IIA.

Robt.

Thanks, Gang,

So...it looks like the Epson 4870 will be good enough for everyday kinda scans for printing up to like 8 x 10". And if I want larger prints, I can always pay for the 12 dollar drum scan to 100 Meg files over at my friendly pro lab.

Also, it looks like dedicated film scanners would be better but out of my price range?

Robt.

Hi, All,

Can some Large Format Folks suggest good $400 scanner "Makes &

Models" for high quality digital scans of negatives and

transparencies of 35mm, 120, and 4"x5"...and also photos, if

possible? I read the Epson 4870 is good, but that a flatbed is not

as good as a "dedicated film scanner" (whatever THAT is). (I am okay

with a $400 price, since my fees to the lab are approaching that

anyway.)

I have been searching in the photo.net forums, but those postings are

way over my head ...with jargon, model numbers, software, and heated

disputes over which product is better...

What do most folks in "Large Format Land" use?

Are there books or websites that I can read up on this stuff? I am

dutifully learning PhotoShop Elements 2.

Thank you in advance for some suggestions to get my research started!

Robt.

Thank you again!

I appreciate the information from all of you who have provided links to software providers, as well as specifics regarding procedures for recovery and restoration of files lost in the media formatting process.

I will communicate this valuable information to my friends in their effort to recover their files.

One thing I've learned working in our studio with 35mm, medium format, large format, and digital cameras is that these formats are nothing more than equipment choices designed to do a job. Some tools are designed well, others are not, and we should never fear speaking out against obvious design failures.

Robt.

OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!

I "KNEW" that if I posted an excitable heading, then I would get a quick response. (My friends are kinda upset about their loss, so they are anxious for some ideas.)

Unfortunately, only one of you suggested an actual solution, and I wish to thank Mr. DiGiorgi for posting the PhotoRescue.Com website.

Thank you everyone for your assistance!!

(Oh...since you asked, yes I do have some thousands invested in pro photo equipment, and yes, there are some digicams floating around in the pile somewhere.)

Thank you, again!

Robt.

Hi, All,

Some friends just returned from their honeymoon, were adjusting their

shiny new digital camera, and by mistake they selected the "FORMAT"

function.

All 200 of their cherished honeymoon photos were erased in an instant.

Two Questions:

1. Is it possible to recover/ restore images from Formatted storage

media?

2. How is it that DigiCam software engineers could provide a FORMAT

function without a "Formatting your storage media will erase all of

your files. Are you sure you wish to proceed?" warning message? (As

a business systems analyst, I consider this to be an outrageous User

Interface design failure.)

Thanks!

Robt.

Thanks, Rose-Marie,

That does sound like and area I should research.

Boat to shore access in Caddo Lake was only onto private landings...otherwise, trees prevented boat access to the banks. Ergo, I am looking for driveable views.

Robt.

Hi, Jim,

I know that Northlake Community College in Irving has extensive photography classes, and that some of them deal with large format.

Have you contacted the http://www.dallascameraclub.org/ ? I wonder if they have much in the way of Large Format enthusiasts. In checking their website, it does seem to be a pretty active group.

Good Luck!

Robt.

You have gotten some great posts with great info, so I thought I would add some anecdotal thoughts.

In '82 to 85', I spent three, 5-month winters on the north coast of Alaska, and the previous posting about the challenge of seeing Aurora during summmer is probably correct. Plus, sometimes the aurora moves rapidly, sometimes not. If the ship is not moving too rapidly, then the ship movement may be no worse than the aurora movement itself.

If you are going in winter, then I am sure you are already thinking of how to work out a way to keep your film and equipment warm, since all rubber, plastic, or leather components may get hard and brittle pretty quickly. This would include your bellows, of course, especially since it may be necessary to equalize the temperature inside the bellows. If the expected temperatures during your trip are likely to get down to 20 to 40 below, then it may be good to keep a back-up 35 mm inside your parka, just to be sure of capturing some images to supplement your 4x5.

Also (this next comment may seem silly, but I assure you that it is not), keep your loupe somewhat warm and away from your eyeball. One of the hazards encountered by surveyors in the '80's was frostbitten eyes, from placing their moist eye surface too close to the subzero glass of telescopic lenses.

Good Luck!

Robt.

Thanks, Manh,

So, in Louisiana, are there places on the side of the highway where one can stop for photo work? (I'm asking, because so much of Caddo Lake, TX is accessible only via boat...but even then, it is almost impossible to reach the bank unless you are in a kayak...which is not so good for 4x5 work.)

Robt.

Hi, All,

Could someone suggest some good, specific locations for interesting

swamp photos (4"x5" in Velvia or B&W). (I prefer landscape

images...trees, moss and lilly pads...more than 'gators and frogs and

nature stuff.)

For example, can folks recommend good, specific locations in

Louisiana? (Caddo Lake is not far from Dallas, but I am looking for

alternatives.)

Thank you in advance!

Robt.

Thanks, David....

FYI...my email reply to your earlier reply bounced back. And the rate Tom quoted was 200 for day, plus...ironically, I was going to provide Tom a good tip, since I was so grateful that he had agreed to take me alone and not require a group.

Anyway...do you know of any good guides in Southern Utah? I am heading there in November probably...for snow on red rocks with 4x5!

Robt.