A day In 'West End' ... (going street with large format)

Keith, great series, and good to see you in front of the lens for a change. I'm guessing that there was no question of a stealthy approach, and that the camera itself provided the opening for a few conversations too. How did people react to that antique? Did you load it up with the HP5?
 
Thanks for sharing Keith. I really like the first two. The ones with the folks mugging it up less so, but I'd say the set hangs together nicely. I imagine the LF rig is a good conversation starter!
 
It's on my "must visit" list for September when I''ll be across the ditch.
 
Very good work, Keith. You should go back regularly and add to this collection. I see a show with these as very likely.
 
Great Great Great!

Did you do the developing and printing yourself? (I never came further than 6x9 cm roll film, but have still two cameras that can shoot slide film, though never used them not knowing where to get film and how to develope it)

Further it seems that the ultimate focus point in most shots is a little behind your subject, is it perhaps a matter of calibrating the rangefinder?
 
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Ron (Netherlands) said:
Great Great Great!

Did you do the developing and printing yourself? (I never came further than 6x9 cm roll film, but have still two cameras that can shoot slide film, though never used them not knowing where to get film and how to develope it)

Further it seems that the ultimate focus point in most shots is a little behind your subject, is it perhaps a matter of calibrating the rangefinder?
Click to expand...




That's interesting you should say that because after seeing the results I set the camera up on a tripod and checked the calibration of the rangefinder with a loupe on the ground glass very carefully because I had the same suspicion. However it was spot on so it was obviously me ... but I'm not sure why!

Going from focusing the rangefinder with it's tiny viewing window to using the viewfinder and recomposing is a fairly pondorus action with this camera and the only thing I can think is that I was unconsciously moving forward slightly during the process occasionally! The other possibilty is that because the rangfinder patch itself is not as good as a Leica screwmount it requires a fairly sharp contrast edge to get precise focus. Sometimes where I would have prefered to focus was difficult so I'd choose an alternate area less ideal assuming the depth of field would cover it. Not much depth of field with 4x5 at f4.7 though I've discovered! :p

Thanks heaps to all for the positive comments about this series ... I really appreciate the reaction. Since this series of shots I've been back several more times and have now connected with this indigenous group of street people at a whole different level. I've spent many hours with them just talking and listening (not photographing) and now know most of them as friends and they've taught me a lot about themselves and their unique culture and why they live the way they do. On my last visit the other day I bought up the subject of my photographic aspirations and they've agreed to let me photograph them as I see fit in whatever state they happen to be in on the day. This was very important for me as I've developed a tremendous amount of respect for them and had no desire to cross any boundaries that may have caused them any offence or grief!

This level of confidence and trust they now have in me is a real privilege and I have no desire to abuse it so 'gently gently' as they say! :)
 
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Nice shots, but the focus is a bit tough (I can certainly understand the challenge with that camera). I think you're really onto something here though.....
 
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