Another couple of firsts

[edG]

This image represents two more firsts for me in my on-going learning of shooting film - actually shooting with a large format camera and then printing the developed negative. Oh by the way, this is a small version - as the original is 10,000+ X 8000+ pixels. The jpeg for the scan of the original print is over 43 megs.

1) This was shot with my 4X5 Cambo Monorail View camera using Ilford HP5 Plus,400 iso sheet film. I then developed the negatives ( I took six shots, only three turned out - two were stuck together in the developing tank and the other was over exposed because I forgot to close the preview shutter).

2) I selected the best neg and loaded into a negative carrier to make my first print on my Omega D2 enlarger. I first exposed a test print with multiple times and then selected the time I felt would be the best. Then I exposed the paper and then developed it ( really amazing watching the image come to life in the developing tray).

Larger Version

[vyeko]

Really amazing tonal range.

[mbrager]

Looking at your camera and reading the account of printing a photo, it seems so complex, but esthetically the whole process is very appealing, in a geeky sort of way. From the links in your post I looked at the Flickr group for Cambo cameras. It seemed like the process allows the production of very large scale high quality prints and there are, surprisingly, many other afficionados around the world. Your photo here is excellent in tone and texture as vyeko pointed out. Thanks for sharing.

[Marko]

You may well inspire me to get back in the darkroom Ed!

Good shadow detail here.

[edG]

vyeko

Really amazing tonal range.

Cheers Vyeko, appreciate the feedback.

mbrager

Looking at your camera and reading the account of printing a photo, it seems so complex, but esthetically the whole process is very appealing, in a geeky sort of way. From the links in your post I looked at the Flickr group for Cambo cameras. It seemed like the process allows the production of very large scale high quality prints and there are, surprisingly, many other afficionados around the world. Your photo here is excellent in tone and texture as vyeko pointed out. Thanks for sharing.

No question, with a 4'' by 5" negative you can produce very large scale images and yes- being able to truly "make" a photo from start to finish has a real appeal. Watching the print develop in the tray is really an amazing feeling. Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoy my digital camera - but it left me wanting to understand how we got to where we are today and to learn the craft of making a photo by hand.

Marko

You may well inspire me to get back in the darkroom Ed!

Good shadow detail here.

Thanks Marko for your kind words of encouragement.