Monophoto

Boston is a great place for photography - and for seafood. One thing to be aware of is that the Northeast got a little snow this morning, and the weather over the weekend is predicted to be cold and damp.

 

Quincy Market is a great place for people watching. It's a bit sedate this time of year, but even so its worth a visit. Fanueil Hall is nearby and a must-see. You can also walk from there into the North End (fabulous Italian restaurants) and to the Old North Church.

 

If you walk from Quincy Market through the financial district, you will pass the State House (the State Capital building), and eventually get to the Public Garden. Again, it won't be too busy because of the weather, but still nice to walk through.

 

Agree with Robert's suggestion about Harvard Square. Harvard Yard is less appealing to me. MIT is further down Massachusetts Avenue (in the direction of Boston) and is an interesting place to visit.

 

One of the best landscape opportunities is Mt. Auburn Cemetary.

 

The advice about requiring a permit to take photos on the subway is incorrect - MBTA policy on non-commercial photograph was not clear, and a clarification was recently issued to try to resolve the confusion:

 

"Non-Commercial Photography

Persons taking pictures on MBTA property must provide proper identification upon request of an MBTA Transit Police Officer or other MBTA employee. The MBTA Transit Police Officer or other MBTA employee may allow the person to take pictures at the specific location under the following conditions:

? the person provides positive identification;

? the circumstances indicate that the subject of the picture does not pose a security or safety threat or in any way cause disruption of service and/or operations of the MBTA; and

? the picture(s) is/are for personal or educational use only. (e.g., tourist railroad buff, student, etc.)

* Photo identification that includes at a minimum name, date of birth, and address."

I bulk-load my 35mm film, and keep it in plastic canisters. I devised a system using a strip of colored plastic tape to identify exposed versus unexposed film. When I spool up the film, I align the strip of tape from the top of the canister across and down the side. Then, after exposing the film, I return it to the canister but just wrap the tape around the side of the canister. Then, I throw the canisters into a plastic bag that fits into a pouch on the outside of my camera bag.

 

When traveling with sheet film, I take unexposed film in its black plastic bag inside a three-part box with a large label designating it as unexposed film, open in total darkness, do not x-ray. Then, I have three other three-part boxes, also with black plastic bags. One is marked "N", another is "N-" and the third is "N+". The labels also have the "unxposed film, open in total darkness, do not x-ray" statement.

 

I made the label on my printer and pasted them onto the box. Then, I covered the label with clear plastic shipping tape. I also covered the back of each box with the same tape. The idea was to have a slick, plastic surface on the boxes rather than fibrous paper. Then, before leaving on a trip, I seal each box wrapping each with one strip of blue painter's tape. I take the roll of painter's tape with me so that I can reseal the boxes before flying home.

Sadly, what Freestyle told you is true.

 

Forte announced that they would be closing a few months ago. There were various reports of what happened, but the essence appears to be that they were using old equipment in a very old, and vastly oversized factory, and hence weren't making enough money to justify staying in business. Then, someone came along with a better offer for the real estate, and the owners took the money and ran.

Richard -

 

I don't live in SF, but I've been privileged to visit there often.

 

I think you can get a bus at least to the South end of the bridge, and you can easily either walk across or ride a bicycle to get over to the Vista Point parking area at the North end.

 

I've noticed many cyclists in Marin Headlands, so that is also very possible. I would think you can also walk. But I will say that the Headlands area involves a lot of steep hills - - - so be prepared for some exercise.

I flew to San Jose with my 4x5 last month. I had the camera, lenses, holders and meter in a LowePro Trekker backpack, and I carried an old Compaq computer case along as a briefcase to hold film, loading back, a Nikon FM-2, paperback book, etc. Checked the tripod in a Slik canvas tripod bag.

 

No problems at all. TSA security on the outbound leg did a wipe-test on the backpack, and also opened the tripod bag for inspection. But then I was flying out of Albany where they might see a LF camera once every two or three years. On the return trip from San Jose the inspectors didn't even blink when they saw the LF stuff.

 

I chose to not worry about x-ray (for the carry-on stuff). Recent scientific studies have shown that if the number of passes through the x-ray is limited the effect won't be noticeable, and my experience reaffirms that conclusion. And if you are going through airports where photographic equipment is rarely seen, asking for hand inspections could create more problems that its worth. I did have a changing bag (in the Compaq case), both for insurance in case the inspectors insisted on opening film boxes, and to have a backup in case it wasn't possible to darken the bathroom in the hotel in California.

Victor -

 

You won't encounter any problems entering the country at Goldson Airport in Belize City, and I doubt that you will encounter any problems on your return flight out of Goldson on a major airline.

 

What you may find is that if you are connecting with a flight to one of the outlying areas in Belize, the plane will be very small and there won't be enough cabin space to carry on anywhere near as much as you can on an international flight. In that case, you will probably have to check something. But given the size of the plane, it's also likly that you will be on a first-name basis with the pilot, and you may have to help him load the luggage!

 

So don't worry - enjoy the trip.

I would modify Mark's second point - as you exit the Vista Point parking lot, take the Alexander Road exit. At the bottom of the hill, turn RIGHT onto Conzelman Road. This will take you back under the 101 freeway and into Marin Headlands. One of the first parking spots (on your left) will be for the Spencer Battery. This is an old WWII fortification on the hill overlooking the north end of the bridge and is a spectacular view.

 

A bit further down, also on the left, is a second parking spot that is OK, but not quite as spectacular.

 

You can also get there following Mark's direction, but you will have to wander around a bit before you eventually find your way to Conzelman Road. After passing through the long one-lane tunnel (you will probably have a 5-minute wait for the light before you can enter the tunnel), there will be a housing area on your left. Take the first left after the houses and follow that road up the mountain. It will deadend at Conzelman.

This morning I went to a photographic flea market where I was able to score three brand-new-in-the-original-box Riteway holders, complete with the original instruction leaflet.

 

Here's what it said:

 

"Insert the film in the side film channel of the holder. Maker sure that notched corner of the film is in the right corner of the hinged-end of the holder."

A colleague had his laptop computer stolen from his hotel room - while he was sleeping in the room. (He left the door unlocked - note that I did not say that he was a "bright" colleague.)

 

You are responsible for your equipment, and have to take precautions. I don't worry about hotels, or major hotels in Europe or Asia, but outside those limits I would be concerned.

Sonja Bullaty and Angelo Lomeo?

I have several 4x5 and 5x7 frames that I bought at photo flea markets. I also have a DIY frame that is 10x15". They are actually easy to make if you have modest woodworking skills and a few tools.

Re Jordan's comment -

 

we are talking about San Jose, CA aren't we? Supposedly one of the safest medium sized cities in North America.

I was there just last week.

 

The Monterey/Carmel area is nice. There are a number of excellent photo galleries in addition to some wonderful subjects for photography. Point Lobos State Park (on Rt. 1 just south of Carmel) has been photographed by just about every famous photographer who ever lived. The Carmel Mission is a classic. There are several interesting spots on the 17-mile drive, a private, toll road that runs along the coast between Carmel and Monterey. Further north along Rt. 1 is the Pidgeon Point Lighthouse.

 

East of San Jose is the Lick Observatory at Mount Hamilton. Tedious driving on a very narrow, twisting mountain road to get there, but worth the trip.

 

San Francisco is very photographable - the Embarcadero area, including Fisherman's Wharf and Ghiradelli Square, are great for people-watching. A trip to Alcatraz is worthwhile.

 

Golden Gate Park and Lands End are good subjects. Fort Point, under the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge, dates to the Civil War and is a classic. Also check out the Palace of Fine Arts and the Legion of Honor.

 

Drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. At the north end of the bridge is a parking area where you can get some great shots of the Bay and the bridge. Take the first right (Alexander Ave) off 101 North and rollow Conzelman Road into Marin Headlands to see the fortifications, some dating back to WW1. Muir Woods is just a few miles north on 101 and is a must-see. From there, you can either drive north along the coast, or veer inland to get to Sonoma/Napa valleys and the wineries.

 

Only a week, huh. You'll have to budget your time.

Emily -

 

If you want to wander toward the east, Peters Valley Craft Center (http://www.pvcrafts.org) will be offering their Introduction to Large Format workshop again this summer. Gary Bossardet is the instructor - he's a very good photographer who knows his way around LF cameras, and is a lot of fun to hang around with. And Peters Valley (located in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area, on the New Jersey side of the Delaware Rive) is a beautiful setting to spend time in.

Getting around is an issue - if you are there on business, your employer will likely provide a car and driver. If so, ask the driver if he is willing to take you around on your 'days off'. Alternatively, your hotel may be able to arrange a car and driver.

 

Agra (the Taj Mahal) and Fatepur Sikhri are a reasonable day trip from Delhi.

"Can anyone give me any tips on places I shouldn't miss? "

 

New York is full of galleries that show excellent photography - both traditional and avant garde. A few days before leaving on your trip, visit this web site for an updated list of current shows - http://www.photography-guide.com/. One gallery that I always make a point of visiting is the John Stevenson Gallery.

 

You can photograph just about anything anywhere in New York. Be aware of both your personal security (have your wife "watch your back"), and by all means don't try to stand in the street while photographing - traffic in New York doesn't stop for pedestrians!

 

If you plan to stay in New York City, you should plan to rely on public transportation. Renting a car would be both an unnecessary expense and a major hassle. But if you plan to leave the city to explore surrounding areas, you will need some form of transportation. Someone has mentioned the George Eastman House in Rochester (about a 6 hour drive from New York City). Two other good spots in the Northeastern US are the Valley Photographic Center in Springfield, MA (about 3 hours away) and the Vermont Center for Photography in Brattleboro, VT. Be sure to check their web sites to make sure they will be open the days you are there.

 

Also, is there any limitation as to entering and leaving the US with camera gear? I normally take 2 camera bodies and 2 to 3 lenses, plus a small flash. Do you foresee any problems with customs? And if I decided to buy some gear in NYC, would I need to declare it when leaving the country?

 

As this is my first trip to the US, I would like to portray NYC in all its aspects. Not just the typical postcard views, but something that would define 'New York City'. Also, are there any photography museums or photo exhibitions that are worth visiting? I will be travelling with my wife, who is a casual photographer, so I will need to combine photography with sight seeing.

 

"Also, is there any limitation as to entering and leaving the US with camera gear? I normally take 2 camera bodies and 2 to 3 lenses, plus a small flash. Do you foresee any problems with customs? And if I decided to buy some gear in NYC, would I need to declare it when leaving the country?"

 

I don't think you will encounter any problem entering the US with that amount of equipment. And there are essentially no formalities upon exiting the country. I would think that you might want to have some kind of formal documentation (a carnet) indicating that you owned the equipment prior to your trip to smooth the process for re-entering your home country.

David -

 

Leonard's comments are the most helpful. Let me add - - -

 

I have heard and read that that roll-backs with the lever advance mechanism are "better" than those with the knob advance. Supposedly, this is because the lever design keeps the film flatter. I have a knob-wind back and have never had a problem. It could be that the difference relates to how much usage and wear the back has received.

 

You have a choice of making a mask or simply marking the ground glass on your camera. I chose to mark the glass. Using an ordinary lead pencil, lightly draw diagonal lines from corner to corner to locate the exact center of the ground glass. Then, mark a rectangle/square to match the format of your back on thhe glass. I suggest using either a Sharpie or a Rapidograph technical pen with india ink to mark the outline of the roll back frame because either would give you a distinct black line. Pencil will also work, but it will be harder to see in use. You can also use map tape, but that really requires that you have market the outline first in pencil.

 

Obviously, the border that you mark will only be approximate, and you need to allow for some windage when you compose an image.

 

The most common roll backs on e-bay are likely to be the original Graphlex units that were designed for the Graphlok back. These are fine, but obviously a bit less convenient because you have to remove the ground glass to attach the roll back. The Calumet/Horseman backs are more convenient because the slide under the ground glass, but they are also harder to find and are much more expensive.

Tony -

 

The 405 was intended PRIMARILY for the Graphlok (aka international) back typical of speed and crown graphic cameras. With that back, the ground glass is removable, and the 405 attaches by means of a couple of rails.

 

However, it will fit in SOME but not all spring back cameras if the design allows the back to move far enough away from the camera body. As you have noted, the 405 is thicker than the 545 (designed for spring back cameras).

 

One of the subtleties of using the 405 on a spring back camera is that it is sometimes difficult to manipulate the darkslide without inadvertantly forcing the back away from the camera. The handle on the darkslide is very close to the back, and if you have fat fingers (like me), it's hard to grasp the handle without causing it to move away from the camera. The symptom of that problem is that the fogging at one end of the frame. When you are using the 405 on a camera with a Graphlok back, it is held in place rigidly.

 

It sounds like you have (or have access to) both a 405 and a 545. As you may know, Polaroid film for the 405 is less expensive than the same film for the 545. But that is offset by the fact that the choice of materials for the 405 back is limited - Polaroid just announced that they were discontinuing the 665 pos/neg pack film that fits in that back, and they never did have quite the range of products that they offer in sheets for the 545. Also, because the 545 uses individual sheets, it is possible to withdraw exposed film without processing it at the time of exposure. This is sometimes an advantage with pos/neg film if you don't want to have to deal with negative clearing in the field. Finally, the 545 is supposed to be able to hold readyload film from both Kodak and Fuji (I have no experience to confirm that claim). But the bottom line would seem to be that the 545 offers more options than the 405.

In his LF workshops, Tillman Crane routinely gives two assignments. One is to make an image in which the total elapsed time from initially seeing the subject through setup, exposure, and repacking the camera is 5 minutes or less. The second is similar, except that the elapsed time has to be 30 minutes or more.

 

The objective is to understand that the difference is governed by the creative dimension of visualizing and achieving a final print, and has nothing at all to do with the mechanics of setting up and operating the camera.

When you say the holders leak at the "bottom", do you mean at the hinge end?

 

Carefully examine the small wooden strips that are hinged to the end of the holder. In particular, look at the edge opposite the hinge - there should be a tiny groove in that edge that the darkslide fits into when it is fully inserted into the holder. If the wood is broken away from that edge, it is possible to get leaks.

 

It is often necessary to replace the hinge tape on older holders. The tape itself does not provide a light seal - that comes from the wooden flap fitting precisely into the opening at the end of the holder. All the tape does is serve as a hinge - I'm not familiar with hockey tape, but bookbinders tape, electrical tape, and even duct tape (of course) have been used successfully to rehinge holders.

 

Replacing the tape is simple - strip off the old tape, and apply a new strip. There is a slight rabbet in the face of the flap - just make sure that the tape stays within that rabbet, and then fold it tightly over the end of the holder. I usually use 3/4" tape that covers the flap and the end, and two strips (one on each side, overlapping on the end) are required to repair a holder. After applying the tape, clean up the ends by trimming with a sharp xacto knife.

 

If by "bottom" you are referring to the end opposite the hinge, the problem is likely with the baffling inside the opening that the darkslide fits through. If the holders can be disassembled (some can, but some cannot), then it might be possible to replace the felt baffles.

Paul -

 

Let me reinforce Steve's comments. Istanbul is a fabulous city for walking, and by just walking around, you will see and experience things that no tour book will ever tell you about.

"Does anyone sell 17" wide sheet film anymore?"

 

Film in sizes larger than 8x10 is available by special order, typically once each year. Ilford is currently accepting special orders for special cuts through select dealers. Do a search on LF Forum or APUG to get details.

 

Bergger has also supplied film in larger sizes. However, their material was manufactured by Forte who recently closed their factory, so there may be temporary disruption until they find a new coating contractor.

The web site that a previous poster linked is an excellent reference and answers your question about quantities.

 

As to how far to roll - if you examine the Unicolor drum carefully, you will find that when the drum is placed on its 'feet', the liquids are in a trough that is separated from the negatives (or paper). That makes it possible to pour chemicals into the spout. Then, when you tip the drum off its 'feet', the liquid then comes in contact with the negative/paper. If you are not using a roller base, the actual rotation is limited by the feet on the drum, and is only about 10-12" from end to end (less than 360 deg rotation).

 

It's true that the roller base rotates the drum more than a full revolution, but you really can't do that if you are merely rolling it on a counter.

While it's been a few years since I was last there, I've visited Singapore a number of times.

 

You will not be alone walking around with a camera. In fact the contrary will be true - if you walked around without a camera, you would be in a distinct minority in Singapore.

 

Singapore used to be one of the two or three best shopping cities for photographic equipment. I think you can do better price-wise in New York today, but certainly you will find hundreds of shops with the very latest in equipment.

 

Yes, you don't want to chew gum, spit on the sidewalk, or arrive in need of a haircut. And the treatment for drug smugglers in Singapore is downright inhospitable - they get executed. But what that means is that the place is clean and with remarkably little crime. I've never heard of the usual street crimes happening there - pickpockets or muggers. You may get offers of various "personal services" (you know, girls, boys, - your choice) - that's also illegal but it still happens.

 

The orchid gardens and the zoo are a couple of the must-see spots. The architecture is fabulous, and people don't seem to be very anxious about street photography there.

Dana -

 

The places that I find most appealing in Maine start around Freeport (got to stop at LL Bean, but don't bother with the rest of the outlets in Freeport - they are no different that the outlet mall at home). Then, we follow Rt. 1 up the coast stopping in Wiscasset, Bath, Damariscotta, Thomaston, Rockland, Rockport, Camden, Belfast, and eventually Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. The highway is actually a few miles inland from the coast, but you can make a right turn in most of the towns and eventually find your way to small coastal hamlets that offer great seascape opportunities.

 

For architecture, don't miss Fort Knox near Bucksport. There is another abandoned fortification down around Wiscasset, but it's in pretty shabby condition whereas Fort Knox is immaculate.

 

A nice day trip is to get the ferry from Port Clyde over to Monhegan Island. There is a hotel on the island, but you would be well advised to either make absolutely sure to have a confirmed reservation, or else be prepared to sleep on the ground; otherwise, don't miss the ferry home at the end of the day. There are some interesting "old shack" possibilities in Port Clyde, and Marshall Point light is a classic subject.

 

Other lighthouses that are good subjects are Owl's Head (south of Rockland) and Pemaquid Point. The best view of Owl's Head is from the shore, and there is a trail from the parking lot that will eventually get you there. Pemaquid Point is more of a challenge. Parking is very limited, and more importantly, there is a high probability that the area will be shrouded in fog during June and July.

 

Camden is a very nice town - a bit touristy, but still nice. Cappy's Chowder House is a great place for lunch. There is a back road between Camden and Rockport that passes by a classic old cemetery that is a great place to visit. Rockport is also nice, and is the site of the Maine Photographic Workshop. Tim Whelan's Bookstore in Rockport is a fabulous place for someone interested in photography - he only sells books dealing with photography.

 

While in the Camden area, be sure to visit the one and only winery in the state of Maine that grows its own grapes. Tastings were free the last time we were there, and the wines aren't expensive. They aren't California quality, but still not bad.

 

Wildlife? Does that include tourists? Seriously, I know that there are lots of deer and even a few moose in Maine, but I've never seen them myself. My sense is that you probably would have to drift further away from the populated area along the coast to see them. You may encounter some seals, especially in the smaller, less populated harbor areas. You may be aware of the semi-tame seal that once lived in Rockport harbor - sadly, it died many years ago.

 

There are art galleries throughout the area. The Farnsworth in Rockland is world famous for the Wyeth paintings and is a must see. Most of the others show recent, local work - some are good, some are typical vanity galleries. The Maine Coastal Gallery in Rockport usually has a good show, and there is a gallery at the Maine Photo Workshop (upstairs in Union Hall, over the "Resource" photo shop) that usually has a series of interesting shows over the summer months. Camden and Belfast also have nice galleries.

 

The status of the Maine Workshop is uncertain. They were experiencing financial difficulties last year, but announced just before Christmas that a new owner had been found and that they would be operating relatively normally in 2007, with further details to follow.

 

On yes, seafood. Anywhere.

 

Have a great trip.