My Ermanox Journey

You may need to put more than one layer of manila card under that Mohair. That is how I adjusted how tightly it seals the light trap area in my glass plate holders.
 
Nokton48 said:
You may need to put more than one layer of manila card under that Mohair. That is how I adjusted how tightly it seals the light trap area in my glass plate holders.
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Hey there Dan - I tried some 4-ply mat board and it seems to work fine. I’ll let you know if it was a successful fix!
 
Vince Lupo said:
As an aside, I’ve also been corresponding with Peter Göllner, who is the author of a very comprehensive book on Ernemann and the ‘Ernemann expert’ with whom the Dresden Technical museum consults. I asked him if he knew of anyone else who is shooting with their Ermanox, and he didn’t know of anyone else (including himself). “The collectors really only enjoy the appearance and possession of this beautiful piece”, according the Peter.

So it looks like I’m it :)
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Funny feeling, isn't it? Somewhere between satisfaction and "Am I nuts?". I haven't checked in a year or two, but the last time I looked I was still the only person who'd put images on Flickr taken with a Purma Speed - though that's a much simpler beast than your Ermanox!
 
Yes, you probably are nuts, and if I may take the liberty of speaking for others here at RFF, we're glad you are! Same for you, Vince. Both of you, keep up the good work and let your freak flags fly.
 
Not sure what I did, but I actually don't half-mind the grain from this roll of Rerapan 100. It still fogged though (noticeable in upper part of the first shot) and I have a feeling that light might be coming in along the bottom edge of the roll film back. I shall investigate!

Very happy with the sharpness in these images - and guesstimate focusing too!


Culps Hill5 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


Culps Hill6 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
 
Your Ermanoxi photos are looking great, Vince! A lovely bit of kit.

I've got to get moving on more work with the Mamiya Press 23 and direct positive paper negs. I think I'll convert the bathroom to a quick temporary darkroom and cut all the paper I have to size so that the tedium is reduced to just loading the film holders for the next batches of experiments. :D

G
 
Godfrey said:
Your Ermanox photos are looking great, Vince! A lovely bit of kit.
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Many thanks Godfrey - it seems to be giving the 907x a bit of competition!

I put some adhesive foam strips along the bottom edges of the roll film back, so I’m hoping that might solve the fogging film problem. My temporary fix for the light leaking around the edges of the shutter curtains is to simply replace the dark slide after every shot (unless I’m shooting one picture right after the other). Not as big a deal as I thought and it seems to be helping. If I can get this fixed once and for all, I think the roll film back will prove to be a valuable addition to this camera kit.

The other thing that I’m doing with this setup is trying to only take one picture per scene. Since the glass plates are singles (and $2.50 a shot) and the roll film only has eight exposures, I can’t be bracketing exposures or trying multiples of the same scene, so I’m trying to get it right with one shot. Can still be a challenge for me even after all these years.
 
Vince Lupo said:
...
The other thing that I’m doing with this setup is trying to only take one picture per scene. Since the glass plates are singles (and $2.50 a shot) and the roll film only has eight exposures, I can’t be bracketing exposures or trying multiples of the same scene, so I’m trying to get it right with one shot. Can still be a challenge for me even after all these years.
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Indeed it is... I have the similar challenge with Polaroid SX-70 and 600 integral film cameras. 8 shots in a pack, $23@ pack on average. You become very selective about what you frame/when you press the button at that price. It sharpens you up, knowing that you have a limited amount of recording media to work with, and that it costs a bunch to use it.

I like the challenge. :D

G
 
The portraits are simple, straightforward and stunning.
The 'period' clothing, the place adding to the depth of your images!
Going 'slow' with slow film 12ASA/ISO, slow speeds that actually capture better facial expressions (i luv 1/8th, 1/15th) uncoated lens, grain the substance of film, make for a look in a word, "charm".
I was using my Rollei after a long time film O.D 2004 and now wonder what i have? Met a photographer who owns Rollie and his question was "Is it worth it?" I said truly "No! But it's not about that!".
Go forth Ermanox and tilt at windmills! It's the journey!
 
Vince Lupo said:
As long as my wife continues to tolerate me, I will maintain my present level of freaky-ness :)


Culps Hill4 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
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Ha, that makes two of us! And I love this shot!

I still have several rolls of Rerapan 100 in the fridge. They've been there long enough that I remember I didn't like what they'd started doing, but not what that was... I may have to shoot a roll in something full frame (the Purma Speed is about 25mm x 25mm!), and see what it is doing now.
 
Many thanks guys for all the encouragement -- I'm determined to make this work and for the Ermanox to become one of my 'regular use' cameras. Just need to get a few more bugs worked out.

Another shot of Rick and Randee and Ruby -- think I like this one better.


Rick and Randee and Ruby3 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
 
Again, the portraits are wonderful! It's interesting to see what happens in a photographer's style and approach to the subject when all the superfluous equipment gets stripped away, or is just not available. I was looking this morning at a collection of daguerreotype portraits by the early team of Southworth & Hayes. Magnificent work, done with the most primitive of cameras under the most difficult of circumstances (sound familiar, Vince?), and nevertheless some of the most striking portraiture in the history of the medium. Things have certainly changed since then, technologically, but I don't know that they have improved. I'm not suggesting you give up the digital Leicas, but it will be interesting to see where the Ermanox journey takes you. Perhaps less will prove to be much, much more.
 
I appreciate your thoughts and and agree that less can oftentimes be so much more. I’m determined to stick with it.

And oh BTW - I gave up my digital Leicas last year. It’s digital Hasselblad now :)
 
Vince your portraits are always exceptional. And you find such great subjects to shoot. I'm guessing this was a civil war reenactment at Gettysburg?

The images have a softer look than the Mapping the West stuff done with the M9, but makes pictures like this especially look more "vintage."

The other evening I was going to ask you to talk about how you work with your subjects and get such good images, but after listening to you talk for a while I realized I didn't need to. You're a natural with people.
 
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