First outing with 4x5": thoughts and a portfolio

[Vieri]

Hello everyone,

After months studying and preparing myself for the move back to analog photography, in early September 2024 my wife and I were ready to hit the road again. This time, after 15 years of doing professional landscape photography with digital cameras, from 35mm to digital backs with tech cameras, I didn’t have one with me. Instead, I was proudly carrying a 4x5” film camera with me, my Arca-Swiss F-line custom.

I wrote an article on my Blog about the experience, sharing my thoughts and a small Portfolio shot in Kent & Sussex, in the UK, which you can find here:

FIRST OUTING WITH 4X5” FILM: THOUGHTS AND A PORTFOLIO

A few photographs here for you to enjoy!

Best regards,

Vieri

 

[AlanLichty]

Outstanding examples of what the 4x5 format offers. I like your B&W processing here and the last shot in particular.

I got use a 4x5 for a summer back in the 1970's and dearly wanted to buy one for landscape work but it was far beyond my pay grade as a graduate student at the time.

 

[JimFox]

First off, awesome work here. All 3 are classic B&W images, great tones and compositions.

What are we seeing in #1? That's like a castle floating out in the middle of a lake?

I will read you article later, I have always enjoyed your writing. It will be an interesting read for sure. And switching to full time film? That takes a leap of faith, well unless one has the talent that you have.

 

[TimMc]

Good luck. Remembering my darkroom time I probably am not brave enough to follow you. But we do have one intrepid soul in our area shooting with maybe an 8x10 view camera and trailering a darkroom hitched to his truck.

 

[Ad Schaafsma]

For the love of classic B&W... You won't find me in a darkroom anymore however. Been there, done that, never again. I'm probably just not old enough .

 

[Vieri]

Outstanding examples of what the 4x5 format offers. I like your B&W processing here and the last shot in particular.

I got use a 4x5 for a summer back in the 1970's and dearly wanted to buy one for landscape work but it was far beyond my pay grade as a graduate student at the time.

Hello Alan, thank you for your comment, truly appreciated! Glad you enjoyed these, and happy you liked 4x5" when you tried back in the day. Part of the fun of going back to LF film today, for me, is that nowadays you can get amazing lenses and cameras in like new condition for very, very affordable money - that is somehow true for most film gear, with some exceptions , but it's much truer for LF (probably due to much lower demand). So, I could experiment with a ton of lenses and cameras, re-selling the ones I decided not to keep, and all without a serious dent in my bank account.

First off, awesome work here. All 3 are classic B&W images, great tones and compositions.

What are we seeing in #1? That's like a castle floating out in the middle of a lake?

I will read you article later, I have always enjoyed your writing. It will be an interesting read for sure. And switching to full time film? That takes a leap of faith, well unless one has the talent that you have.

Hello Jim,

thank you so much for your kind words, so glad you enjoyed them! In #1 what you see is the Grain Battery Tower, a military gun tower in the ocean from the mid-19th century, which is accessible at low tide but looks inspiring at high tide.

Let me know how you enjoyed the article!

Good luck. Remembering my darkroom time I probably am not brave enough to follow you. But we do have one intrepid soul in our area shooting with maybe an 8x10 view camera and trailering a darkroom hitched to his truck.

Hey Tim, thank you, it's been a different experience so far, for sure, but I am loving the journey and the results!

For the love of classic B&W... You won't find me in a darkroom anymore however. Been there, done that, never again. I'm probably just not old enough .

Hey Ad, to each their own, digital is amazing of course and film is a hassle for sure, but I am loving the process and the results - and I am using a hybrid workflow, analog until the negative, then scanning and digital after that, so my darkroom time is limited and for the most part is not dark either (once I loaded the film in my tanks, of course! )

Best regards,

Vieri