Tag Archives: 4×5

Large Format, Portrait

April 2016 Portraits

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April 2016 had been the most productive month for lotophotos.  Here are some large format portraits done for my visitors this month.

First one is Joseph Wei, a drummer and music producer from Hong Kong.  The photo is taken inside a studio (with multiple flashes) from Kodak 2d 8×10 camera + Fujinon 250mm f6.3 lens + Kodak B/RA x-ray film.

Kodak 2D 8x10 + Fujinon 250mm f6.3 + Kodak B/RA x-ray film
Kodak 2D 8×10 + Fujinon 250mm f6.3 + Kodak B/RA x-ray film

The second one is of Michael Ho taken with Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Expired (1993) Kodak Plus-X Pan 4×5 film.  The Kodak aero ektar lens is always my preferred lens for 4×5 portraits.  I am also happy that the very expired plus-x film still very useable despite metering it at ISO 50 (instead of the stock 125).

Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 + Kodak Plus-X Pan film
Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 + Kodak Plus-X Pan film

The following one is of Richard Fung in deep thought.  Also shot with Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Expired (1993) Kodak Plus-X Pan 4×5 film.

Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 + Kodak Plus-X Pan film
Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 + Kodak Plus-X Pan film

My friend Pouya Ashtiani models for the next shot.   He was enjoying the warm San Francisco weather in this photo shot from Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Kodak Plus-X Pan film.

Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 + Kodak Plus-X Pan film

Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 + Kodak Plus-X Pan film

The last set is from the lovely couple Marko Kudjerski and Yandra Lluch.  These polaroids were taken from Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + one big 1000 LED panel as light source.

Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Fuji FP3000b
Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Fuji FP3000b
Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Fuji FP3000b
Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Fuji FP3000b
Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Fuji FP3000b
Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Fuji FP3000b

Here are the portraits taken from April 2016 and I hope the models are as happy with the images as I was!

 

 

Large Format

Day 4 – Black and white photo challenge

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Day 4 of 5 of black and white photo challenge.  Each day I am trying to post a photo that is taken from a different camera and a different medium.  Today I am back on large format but with a different lens and film from day 1.  This was shot at the Bund in Shanghai, China.  Photo taken with Graflex Speed Graphic + Fujinon 65mm f5.6 lens + Shanghai GP3 film.  Developed with Guan long d76 + Guan long F5 Fix, scanned with Epson Perfection V700. Today i nominate Pouya Ash for the BW photo challenge, in which to post one BW photo per day for 5 days and also nominate someone each day because it’s fun.

The Bund, Shanghai, China
The Bund, Shanghai, China
Large Format, Portrait

Large Format Portrait

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One of the best LF portraits I have taken recently is this one of my mom.  Taken with Graflex Speed Graphic + Buhl 9″ f3.6 lens + Fuji Acros.  Developed in Kodak d76, 20C 11 minutes, first minute agitation, 4 flips every minute.  Fixed with Kodak RapidFix and scanned Epson Perfection V700.

Large format portrait of my mom.
Large format portrait of my mom.
Large Format

Large format trials part one

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Two weeks ago, I took the Graflex Pacemaker Speed Graphic for a spin in the Gold Coast.  It was a bright sunny day and I thought would be perfect to try out the machine with some el cheapo Shanghai film.  Pointing towards the hotel as shown below, I was shooting at f11, 1/50.  From my experience with the Polaroid 800, these Shanghai 4×5 film is light hungry.  Even though it’s rated at iso 100, you have to compensate this by at least one click (shoot this at iso 50).  Most cases, I even have to shoot at iso 25 for low light conditions.  I got the most success when I compensate this by 1.5 clicks.

My view through the ground glass.
My view through the ground glass.

This unit is from 1955 and the ground glass is full of dirt.  Right in the middle of the glass, the fresnel is coming off.  I need to take the ground glass out and have a good cleaning of it and maybe replacing this.  I didn’t have a focusing cloth and I just used my dark bag which worked ok.  It was tough to focus in the 35C weather and the sun shining right at you.  On top of that, you have to bandage your head with the focusing cloth.  I should look at an angled viewfinder!  The Graflok worked perfectly and so did the Grafmatic film holder.

After the shoot, I quickly developed the film at home with my Paterson system 4 tank which came with my Paterson Colourtherm machine.  It was a really hot day and the water was at 28C.  I developed the Shanghai film with Kodak HC110 dilution H in 14mins and Kodak Rapid Fix for another 4mins.  I scanned the photo with my Epson V700.

The developed photo!
The developed photo!

When I looked at the negatives, it was fine.  When I scanned it, I looked at the top part and I was like, it looks a lot more cloudy than it should? It was a bright sunny day.  Looking closely I can see water bubbles!  This was the first time I developed 4×5 with the taco method in the Paterson tank.  The Paterson tank top is slanted, which allowed some movement of the 4×5 while developing.  The AP tank that I used before, the top part was relatively flat and it was fine.  Next time if I am using the Paterson tank, I have to use 900mL of solution rather than 650mL.  It’s these unexpected “boo-boo”s that makes analog film interesting.  The photo really has a vintage feel to it.  I look forward to another shoot soon!

 

Large Format

Graflex Speed Graphic

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After some practice with the Polaroid Land 800, I was at a point of no return.  I finally drown myself in the Large Format world.  After seeing some photos from the Kodak Aero Ektar lens, I have decided to get a Graflex Speed Graphic.  A couple of months ago, I was lucky enough to acquire a 1955 Graflex Speed Graphic from the US.  In the original box of goodies, from the expired pack film inside, it seems like the machine had not been used since 1967.

The machine was in mint condition and was definitely taken care of.  From the warranty card inside, I traced back to the original owner named Charles H Marshall, whom purchased this from McCurry Foto Co in Sacramento, CA.

Prior of receiving this brick, I purchased a Polaroid back which was proven to be super handy for testing out this beast.  When I was back in Toronto early this year, I attended the yearly auction from the Photographic Historical Society of Canada.  There, I picked up three Grafmatic sheet film holder for a great bargain!

When the camera arrived, I was faced with another issue, a super solid tripod for focus and film pack insertion. The Speed Graphic, I weighted it on the scale to be 3kg.  The film back adding another 0.5kg.  The Kodak Aero Ektar lens (which will arrive soon!) coming in at 1.5kg.  This totals to 5kg.  My old Manfrotto tripod can only support 2.5kg and a new tripod has to be purchased before I can go out and shoot!  After some research, Gitzo is out since what I needed cost around $7k HKD.  My beloved Manfrotto was also out since it will cost around $5k HKD.  I am not too kind to my tripods and I can’t justify spending so much on it.  Finally I settled on the Benro C-2570T + B-2 head.  The tripod itself only has three sections and can support up to 12kg.  The B-2 head supports 20kg.  This combination is rock solid and the carbon fiber tripod only weight in at roughly 2kg.

1955 Graflex Speed Graphic in Mint Condition
1955 Graflex Speed Graphic in Mint Condition

I need a cloth for focusing badly in bright outdoors.  I substituted that with my film dark bag for the time being.

Focusing in the bright outdoors!
Focusing in the bright outdoors!

 

Large Format, Polaroid

Polaroid Land 800

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Polaroid Land 800
Polaroid Land 800

Polaroid Land 800 and Shanghai 4×5 film

These cameras were produced from 1957 to 1962. Since the disappearance of roll film in the 90s, this camera had been abandoned as trash since.

I picked up a couple of these units when I was back in Toronto a few months ago. Both were in perfect condition and all the accessories  intact. This camera features an EV lighting system with fixed aperture and shutter speed.

The pairing is as follows:
EV 10 f/8.8 1/12
EV 11 f/8.8 1/25
EV 12 f/8.8 1/50
EV 13 f/8.8 1/100
EV 14 f/12.5 1/100
EV 15 f/17.5 1/100
EV 16 f/25 1/100
EV 17 f/35 1/100

Initially getting these two cameras, I wanted to modify it so that I can use it as a medium format panoramic camera. I wanted to put in a roll of 120 and see if I can get 6×10 or 6×12 shots out of this.

Walking in the camera market in Shanghai prior to my trip back to Toronto, I saw some really cheap Shanghai 100 ISO 4×5 film. Doing medium format for years, I am always itching to move onto large format. So I picked up a box of el cheapo Shanghai 4×5 film and off I went.

Honestly, it’s a pain to insert the 4×5 film into these Polaroid 800 cameras in a dark bag. Basically, I have to do this once for every shot. This work flow is extremely not portable, but hey, reminding myself, it’s large format, it’s not supposed to be that portable.

On this camera, there are two viewfinders, one for focusing and one for framing.  I was impressed with the rangefinder.  It was crisp and accurate and with a maximum aperture of only F8.8, I experienced no focusing issues.

My first two shots with this camera, however, was a disaster. The photos came out totally underexposed. This can be traced back to two mistakes I made. First, I used the Polaroid light meter that came with the cameras. Bad call. Second, reading in the many forums, a lot of people are over exposing this film and shooting it like a ISO 50 film.

The second and third trials got better and basically I needed to overexpose the original settings by about 1.5 EVs.

Polaroid Land 800 and Shanghai 4x5 ISO 100 Film
Polaroid Land 800 and Shanghai 4×5 ISO 100 Film

The details were amazing.  The Polaroid land 800 has a mask with rounded corners.  The exposed area of of the photo is not 4×5 but a bit smaller than that.

My film development process.  All chemical temperature @20C. Water bath one minute.  Guan Long (冠龍) D76 1+1 14 minutes.  Water Stop Rince 3x + 2 mins. Guan Long F-5 Fix 8 mins. Water Rince 3x + 2 mins and Kodak Photoflo.  Scanned with Epson Perfection 4870.

The first experience with the Polaroid Land 800 was quite successful and I finished the whole box of 25 shots in within the first two weeks.

Why Polaroid Land 800? Simple. It’s cheap, readily available, full manual and has no electronic components.