german

Hey, thanks Jack and Jennifer.

Jack, as I found out, the wedding business may be quite different from one state to the other. (Try Los Angeles, California to anywhere in Utah, for example.) Thanks for the link though!

Jennifer, I did read there are 500+ Protestant churches versus 17 Catholic ones there in Charlotte. I would have to see what the religious preference is in California to compare it. (I was used to Catholic, Jewish and non-denominational weddings over there.)

What is the difference between a Protestant (Baptist, Methodist and/or Presbyterian) wedding and a Catholic one, if you could tell me?

Are the churches simpler, or are they just as elaborate? (And I am talking about older, traditional Catholic churches here, not the newer, gym-like churches we see nowadays.) Are the ceremonies similar? Do they allow you in the church while the ceremony takes place? (Mormon churches don't.)

Please let me know.

Best,

G.

Hi,

I am looking into Charlotte, North Carolina and would like to know any

information about the wedding photography business in the area.

I understand it can get quite busy, that people usually photograph in

Wilmington, by the beach, that Raleigh may be a good town in which to do this

type of photography, but that's all I know.

If you don't mind, I'd really appreciate it if you could tell me what religious

denominations do most weddings fall into, are there many non-denominational

weddings, what seems to be the average for wedding packages, what do brides

want, etc?

Thanks,

German S.

PS. Of course I am checking into wedding photographers in the area myself, but

I would really appreciate your input as well.

Hi Lynn,

where's your "previous piece on the 4x5 Toyo"?

Please let me know.

Hey Michael and Ronald, thanks for the info.

I am having 2nd thoughts about this since I will need to get several things, besides the camera. Do you think $127 was a good price for said camera? I thought so at the moment, but then I have to consider the lens, shutter, film holders, Polaroid back and dark cloth.

How much do you think I should be paying for the lens and shutter part of the deal?

Please let me know.

Best,

German

Another question, does it say in the lens what type (or how big) the hole in the lens board has to be for it to fit?

I bought the camera without the lens and I am not sure how big the hole is and/or whether what I see in the images is the lens board.

I'll see if I can enclose a photo of the front of said camera....<div></div>

Hi,

I got a Calumet 4x5, but it needs a lens (and perhaps even a lensboard!).

Now, what lenses are recommended to use with this camera? I will need

something on the 200 something mm range (for portraiture).

thanks,

German S.

Hi Steven,

too late! I just found out I won the bid for a Calumet 4x5 View cam!

Hey Rafael and Dave,

thanks for your input. There are so many choices in this field it becomes a bit too much sometimes.

I had a Calumet Cambo that I used for a little bit and then sold. I wish I had not sold it!

Oh well, time to move on. We'll see what other camera I can get now.

Hey guys, thanks for your input on this!

Now, how does a Burke & James 4x5 Orbit sound for the same purposes? (I could not find any Graphic View II for sale at this time.)

Hey guys,

what's your take on the Vintage Graflex 4x5 Anniversary SPEED GRAPHIC?

I am looking for an inexpensive 4x5 for some portraiture (with type 55 film)

and probably some landscapes as well. (I know this one I am looking at comes

with a 127 mm lens, so I will need to get a longer one for portraits.)

Going back to the question, how does it compare to other Graphics, etc,

according to your experiences?

I've checked www.graflex.org, of course (I knew somebody was thinking why don't

I just do that!), and I did not see a comparison with other cameras.

Plus, I am looking for "your" input -- not graflex.org.

Please let me know what you think about it.

Thanks,

G.

Hey Jan, David and Peter,

thanks for the messages!

If you see the photos they published you may notice the heavy, distinctive use of available light (even in those dark quarters). (I was using a tripod for some of the shots and slow shutter speeds, at about 800 ISO, even for the "grip and grin" shots I got during the award presentations.)

Thanks Debbie, Amy and Conrad! It feels like a great honor. We'll see how it plays out as far as new business, etc.

Conrad, it might be. A lot of magazines -- of all kinds -- are out there trying to sell us one thing or another .. and perhaps plugging in people who might cause us to buy this thing or the other.

In this case, however, I did not have to pay them anything. What's more, I made a bit of change from the show by having my images paid for (by Rangefinder). (It's the May issue, by the way. Starting on page 96, having images up to page 115.)

The way I got to the show, by entering images in competition (for the first time in about 7 years shooting weddings) and making it to the finals. I got a free registration. So, no money out of my pockets ther either ... well, I did have to pay to submit the images!

Hey, thanks Vlad and Conrad.

No fee involved.

As I photograph special events, I took a Nikon I purchased at the show (WPPI) and photographed the ladies night, awards ceremony, etc. I then got in touch with the editor at Rangefinder who asked that I send a CD with the images.

Fortunately, they liked several images and they published them on ... I believe it was May's issue of Rangefinder (it had a cover with a lot of red in it -- I can't find it!) and I got some $$$ for my efforts! (That was good!)

Since I was communicating with them (Skip Cohen and then editor Bill Hurter -- now I see it is Oliver Gettrell) I asked them to check out my site. They did and told me a writer would be calling me for an interview.

And they featured me as member of the month!

It seems like it paid to have captured some nice images of the show and then having contacted them about them (and then having submitted them).

Hey guys,

I am just sharing my personal excitement with you.

I am featured as Member of the Month at Wedding and Portrait Photographers

International (WPPI) August 2007 Photography monthly newsletter!

Please feel free to check out the article at:

http://www.wppionline.com/newsletter/Aug07/member-month.tml

Thanks,

German S.

Hi,

How does one get a press pass or proper accreditation to photograph local

college and professional sports?

I photographed special events for publication in Hollywood and had a lot of

work published there.

Now, I've never held a press pass.

Please advise.

Thanks,

G. Silva

Thanks Bob.

The camera is gone though (for about $104). But it's good to know just in case another one of these pops up!

Thanks again,

German

Hi,

do the B&J Orbits have revolving backs? Are those the type of backs one can

use with a Polaroid back?

With a 150 mm lens, would it be good por portraiture?

please let me know.

Thanks,

German

Hey guys,

thank you so very much! I have a lot of cameras to investigate now. Thanks for all the info and the links.

I am sure I'll continue to check with you with more questions on the cameras you mention though.

Thanks again,

German

Hi,

I am considering getting a 4x5 for portraiture type of work. I cannot spend a

lot of money (or rather I'd like to spend as little as possible!).

I've been looking at the Speed and Crown Graphics but I do not like the fact

that one cannot rotate their backs, if I am not mistaken. (I like the $250 to

$350 range in price though.)

Are there any cameras in this price range (with lenses and all) that one may

use for this purpose that you guys may suggest? Or am I asking for too much?

(I had a Calumet one about a year ago but I sold it -- for about $450 or so,

which was the price I had paid for it. I wish I had not sold it! It had a

rotating back, a Polaroid back, a somewhat long lens -- 210 mm!)

In any case, please let me know if there is anything else out there that may do

the job, or whether I may have to wait for another of those Calumet 4x5s.

Thanks,

German S.

OK. Here's a link to the release:

<a href="http://www.prlog.org/10019890-photographer-move-back-to-southern-california-to-solve-bridal-problems.html">Photographer�s Move Back to Southern California to Solve Bridal Problems</a>

As you know, it's advertising. So, please, do not take offense. Just let me know what you think if you do visit it.

Thanks again,

German