Bigger and Better? Perhaps....

I recently acquired a Wisner 4X5 Technical Field Camera. This means I am now experimenting with large format film photography. Oh my!

This is an entirely new set of skills to me. My camera is basically a box where the lens is separated from the film plane by leather bellows. The camera can be adjusted in the front and back: front rise, tilt, swing, and shift; back rise, swing, and tilt. This means that perspective lines can be adjusted before exposing the film.

There are many challenges aside from simply setting up the camera, adjusting the movements, and figuring out the exposure of the film (and reciprocity failure - another topic entirely). The image is composed on a ground glass plate on the back surface of the camera. You can only see the image when the glass is shaded, so I have to attach a dark cloth to cover my head in order to see the it. The image presented is also upside down and backwards.

Here are some of my first images from this wonderful camera.

Slate Run Historical Farm: Wisner 4X5 Technical Field Camera, Ilford HP+ film. Photo by Andi Wolfe ©2015 - all rights reserved

Slate Run Metro Park: Wisner 4X5 Technical Field Camera, Ilford HP+ film. Photo by Andi Wolfe ©2015 - all rights reserved

Slate Run Historical Farm: Wisner 4X5 Technical Field Camera, Ilford HP+ film. Photo by Andi Wolfe ©2015 - all rights reserved

Slate Run Historical Farm: Wisner 4X5 Technical Field Camera, Ilford HP+ film. Photo by Andi Wolfe ©2015 - all rights reserved

Inniswood Metro Park: Wisner 4X5 Technical Field Camera, Ilford FP4 film. Photo by Andi Wolfe ©2015 - all rights reserved