Uncle Jonesy's Cameras Podcast #48: A Handheld Camera for the Large Format Photographer

Wayne's Plaubel Marina 67 and some first prints

Wayne and I each took a bit of a spring break since our last show, and during that time both Wayne and I have enjoyed some productive photographic endeavors. Ironically, our recent photography journeys have crossed path in an interesting way. I, a long time 35mm shooter, have been trying to learn all I can about large format photography and have been shooting a Crown Graphic 4x5 camera. I also have been learning how to print such large negatives. Shooting large format has certainly altered my workflow (as I knew it would), so when I saw that Wayne, a devoted large format shooter for over forty years,  has recently picked up a handheld camera that shoots much smaller negatives, my mind was full of questions. "Does using a handheld camera change the way you approach subject selection, composition technique, exposure, focus, and darkroom work?" "Do you try to print every shot?" "Do you print small or large?"

So, UJC Podcast #48 begins with a discussion over how format effects approach, with Wayne and I each describing how we approach photography when using formats we do not usually use. In addition, Wayne give us a rundown of the Paubel Making 67, a medium format camera that Wayne has been using in preparation for times when he can't use his 4x5 camera. It's definitely a keeper camera!

Next, I relate how I ran into a major roadblock when I first began printing enlargements of the 4x5 negatives I have been making lately. I already knew about diffuser enlargers and how they differed from the condenser enlarger I''ve been using in our community darkroom. However, I didn't know anything about cold light heads, and it turns out that the 4x5 enlarger at our community darkroom has one, and it's a diffuser head to boot! In the show I share what I learned about these light sources and how I found a solution to the problems they can cause.

A diffuser . . .

 . . . and the blue light of cold head mean that 
variable contrast filters will be useless. (The green 
strip is the result of frequency mismatch that happens 
when trying to photograph a fluorescent light.)

Solution:  a condenser head with a
tungsten light source.

Lastly, listener Shaun Nelson, the author of the fine blog, Utah Film Photography, recently asked me if he could send me a book that he had reviewed for the purpose of giving it away. The book was Shooting Film:  Everything you need to know about analogue photography by Ben Hawkins and Liza Kanaeva-Hunsicker. I replied that I would love to get the book into the hands of someone who is just begin a film photography journey, so a few days later the book arrived. I must say that I am very impressed with the effort the authors made to make the book both useful and fun to read. So, Wayne and I want to give this book away to someone who truly needs a book like this, and here is how we are going to do this. 

1. Entries must be submitted by email to unclejonesyscameras@gmail.com

2. Entries must come from newcomers to film photography or . . . 

3. Entries must come from experienced film photographers who already know of someone who could benefit from this book.

4. Entries must explain why they (or a friend who is a film beginner) need this book and what they would like to learn from it.

Wayne and I will consider all the entries and choose the entry that best explains why the book is needed and how it will be used.

Good luck, and here is the link to Shaun's review of the book.

In the show I mention the excellent exhibit of photographs by the well-known American photographer Bruce Davidson at the Jepson Center in Savannah, Georgia. It lasts through May 1, 2022, and it is well worth your time if you can get there. https://www.telfair.org/exhibitions/bruce-davidson-face-to-face/

Until next time, Happy Shooting!