Lens and camera choice for a given situation when you're not sure.

[Keith]

In Brisbane there's an old maximum security prison known as 'Boggo Road' ... it was closed down several years ago being a little grim for a modern correctional facility and being well over one hundred years old not to mention the city's urban growth now all around it ... it's time was over!

There is currently an urban development going on around it with the usual yuppified trendy village theme happening 🙄 the prison will be maintained as an historical focal point and possibly converted into something useful at some stage while attempting to maintain some sort of integrity in it's design heritage! (unlikely)

My artist/sculptor friend Adrian was commisioned a while ago to do a public art piece for the area in front of the old jail and we'll be going out there early tomorrow morning to supervise the pouring of the concrete for the foundations of the three scuptures he's created.

On a previous brief visit a few weeks ago for a site inspection I was admiring the general grimness and delapidation of the facility, which is currently securely sealed up, and mentioned to the construction site supervisor (who was overseeing our activities) that I would love to see inside. He asked if I was going to be back when the foundations for the artwork were being poured and said that if I was he could let me in for a very quick look around as he has a set of keys for the main door ... but not to say too much about it because technically he's not supposed to do that sort of thing!

If I do get in my time will be very limited and I wont have much oportunity to faff about with lenses etc so it will be a one camera one lens situation and one very quick roll of 400 black and white film. However ... I can't decide on what will be the best focal length for the restricted window of oportunity I have here. 50mm for the fairly human point of view? ... I always feel that a 50mm lens tends to see what I'm seeing myself ... and I know this place will be god awful inside because I've heard the stories of what it was like before they closed it down ... I want to capture that atmosphere. Or should I go wide to take more in ... but that may cost me intimacy and not convey the misery of the place ... what do you think?

 

[FrankS]

For interiors I think a 50 would be too long. 35mm or 28, IMO.

Cool opportunity!

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I would definitely bring a wide to a place like that, to get the scope of the rooms. And you can always crop!

 

[fixbones]

I second that.
Something wider like 35mm or 28mm

 

[elshaneo]

Go for 28mm or even a 25mm...

 

[nikon_sam]

Maybe a 35mm lens...a little wider than the 50 but not too wide to get in close...
At first I'm thinking medium format, tripod, several lenses and a bunch of film but you won't have that going for ya...more like grab and go...As you see your image just shoot away...

 

[fergus]

Your 35/1.2? If you will get just a few minutes for one roll, you'll be stuck if there's not enough light for a slower lens.

 

[charjohncarter]

The only problem with wide is you get all those converging wall, posts, window frame, door frame, and maybe even bars. If you do go wide then you will want a spirit level to get things right. If you decide to use a 50mm, you have the parallax advantage plus possibly a faster lenses in low light. Another thing you might consider is using bounce flash off the probably low ceilings. You would have to practice this (at home), but I think you have an M8 which is perfect for practice.

 

[FrankS]

How long does it take to change a lens?

 

[robinsonphotography]

35 or 28, whichever you have a faster one of in case it's dark in there. 50 is fantastic, but it's just imposible to keep stepping backwards sometimes, but usually very easy to move a few feet closer.

 

[Al Kaplan]

I'd consider using a high speed B&W recording film, grainy as hell, souped in Rodinol or perhaps even Dektol, to accentuate the grain and contrast. Try shooting some tests with the combo first, in similar conditions. Go w-i-d-e and let the angles get crazy. Make it look like a hell hole!

 

[35mmdelux]

28mm minimally, possibly 21mm.

 

[Keith]

How long does it take to change a lens?

Is that a trick question Frank ... ?

... like how many photographers does it take to change a lens? (answer ... depends how often they check the classifieds on RFF!) 😀

 

[FrankS]

Hi Keith. I guess it was a leading question. Take a fast wide angle lens, 28 or 35mm, whatever you have, and then a really wide lens in your pocket to use if appropriate. No need to limit yourself to one lens, unless you are one of those "less choice equals less compromise" types. 😉

 

[Bob Michaels]

<snip>However ... I can't decide on what will be the best focal length for the restricted window of oportunity I have here. 50mm for the fairly human point of view? ... I always feel that a 50mm lens tends to see what I'm seeing myself ... and I know this place will be god awful inside because I've heard the stories of what it was like before they closed it down ... I want to capture that atmosphere. Or should I go wide to take more in ... but that may cost me intimacy and not convey the misery of the place ... what do you think?

Keith: this is an easy one. Take the camera body, lens, and film you are most comfortable with. What works for everyone else in the world will have no bearing on what will work for you. You need equipment that fits the way your eyes see. Follow your initial gut instincts.

 

[Keith]

I was thinking OM-1 ... which gives me a choice of 24 28 or 35mm lenses ... though I really liked the suggestion of the 35mm 1.2 Nokton as it's such a great lens so I might have to resort to a rangefinder! (gulp)

Maybe my R4A (which I haven't used in months 😱) with the 35mm Nokton and my 25mm 2.8 Zeiss Biogon in my pocket for a quick change. The Nokton could be very useful for some close shots of doors, locks, bars etc at f1.2 with out of focus backgrounds ... and the Zeiss is a Zeiss! 😛

I like Al's idea of having the shots pretty grainy and dirty ... that could be a little tricky though as the only 400 film I currently have is Neopan which is sort of known for it's lack of grain!

 

[gavinlg]

Keith - that sounds like an awesome opportunity. If it were me, I'd be taking my 5d + 17-40mm. In your situation, I'd take the OM1 and some wides. I'd personally go as wide as possible.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Keith, have you tried developimg the Neopan in Dektol? Play around with developing at 85f in Dektol, then putting it in some 55f stop? You might not get "grain" but the reticulation should look cool.

 

[back alley]

i'm with frank, take a wide and and stick a 50 in your pocket.
i would also take the m8 so you can do a quick check on the outcome.

 

[Keith]

If I'm going to use a 35mm lens at all I think it will have to be with the OM-1 and Zuiko f2. I put the Nokton on the R4A and had a quick look through the viewfinder then realised it only focuses down to .7 of a meter ... the Zuiko focuses down to .3 so if I want to get some close ups of locks and cell bars etc with OOF backgrounds it's no competition ... the SLR combo wins hands down. I figure I'll put the 35mm Zuiko on the camera initially and have the 24 f2.8 and 50mm f1.2 or f1.4 in my Domke shoulder bag.

There should actually be room in the Domke for a spare OM body loaded with film but considering how easy it is to reload an OM that would probably be overkill ... so maybe just an extra roll of film! 🙂