Asher Kelman
OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
As some of you may know, it's our ambition to have a good representation of all branches of photography so that OPFers can observe what is possilbe with different systems. Part of crerativity is the unique ability to be open to different possible ways of things happening. So for me that includes supporting an interest in film as well as digital photography and even combinations! Whatever floats your boat! So, besides Jim Collum, Jack Flesher and Eric Hiss in San Francisco, Will Thmpson here, Eric Deball in Texas and Leonardo in New York, we do not get many images from LF photographers. So we are trying to redress this imbalance. What better place to find enrichment than the folks at the Large Fromat Photography Forum. I needed to test out a Chamonix seome weeks back before ordering one, so I took Hugo Zhang to my favorite location: the Walt Disney Conceret Hall in Los Angeles, (which houses the Los Angeles Philaharmonic led by Essa Peka Salonen).
Well, guys, we did it! I really enjoyed meeting everyone from the LFPForum The location was, of course, the WDCH.
Brian Lowe, Gary Ayala, myself and others have found the WDCH to be a source endless possibilities in composition and effect. See some of their work here .The Frank Gehry masterpiece is takes on a different appearance every few minutes as the light is constantly re-distributed uniquely depending on the mist, clouds, hidden pollution, fog or the position of the sun or moon or stars!
One of the wonders of the event was a walnut 8x20 sheet film camera and tripod made by Jim Ftizgerald based on hardware from an old Kodak D2 8x10. He found the wrecked old caera on eBaY for next to nothing. He essentially rebuilt the whole camera.
He laminated thin strips so he did not need to use a router. This was made in his apartment, not using a workbench or any power tools. The bellows were obviously made new and the rear standard is just the same fittings as the original just wider. The camera was impressive. Jim took a bunch of pictures from early dawn from over Grand Avenue on the top of the parking lot. The sky was misty and the skyline was partly obscured. Later in the day, after breakfast when most everybody else was gone Jim sneaked up to the roof again and shot the WDCH again with the more contrasty but still very special light which was throwing interesting shadows on the steel curves.
The 8x20 film holders he uses are used but slide in well and the system works like a charm. Congrats. "Los", a cinematographer, Leica shooter, was hanging around being very friendly to everyone and was obviously taken with Jim's work.
Los and Jim
Los and Jim
Peeking in at the Chamonix 20x24!
I am looking forward to see the results of the shoot and especially Jim's work since to take pictures early in the morning an uncivilized hour is one thing, but to build the bloody camera, that's passion!
Asher
Well, guys, we did it! I really enjoyed meeting everyone from the LFPForum The location was, of course, the WDCH.
Brian Lowe, Gary Ayala, myself and others have found the WDCH to be a source endless possibilities in composition and effect. See some of their work here .The Frank Gehry masterpiece is takes on a different appearance every few minutes as the light is constantly re-distributed uniquely depending on the mist, clouds, hidden pollution, fog or the position of the sun or moon or stars!
One of the wonders of the event was a walnut 8x20 sheet film camera and tripod made by Jim Ftizgerald based on hardware from an old Kodak D2 8x10. He found the wrecked old caera on eBaY for next to nothing. He essentially rebuilt the whole camera.
He laminated thin strips so he did not need to use a router. This was made in his apartment, not using a workbench or any power tools. The bellows were obviously made new and the rear standard is just the same fittings as the original just wider. The camera was impressive. Jim took a bunch of pictures from early dawn from over Grand Avenue on the top of the parking lot. The sky was misty and the skyline was partly obscured. Later in the day, after breakfast when most everybody else was gone Jim sneaked up to the roof again and shot the WDCH again with the more contrasty but still very special light which was throwing interesting shadows on the steel curves.
The 8x20 film holders he uses are used but slide in well and the system works like a charm. Congrats. "Los", a cinematographer, Leica shooter, was hanging around being very friendly to everyone and was obviously taken with Jim's work.
Los and Jim
Los and Jim
Peeking in at the Chamonix 20x24!
I am looking forward to see the results of the shoot and especially Jim's work since to take pictures early in the morning an uncivilized hour is one thing, but to build the bloody camera, that's passion!
Asher
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