Large Format Camera Photography

Large Format Cameras Demystified

See what excited photographers from the early 1800's when the only shutter you had was your hat and the flash was a tray of gunpowder.  Learn about the advances that have been made with modern cameras and how the camera is used to this day.  A fun hands-on day where we will cover it all up to the moment digital backs were put on view cameras.

Requirements: 

For students who have knowledge of conventional cameras and feel they are up to the challenge of: correcting perspective, focus distribution, distorting images and racking your soft focus to full effect.

Equipment & Supplies Provided: 4 x 5 studio or folding 'field' 4 x 5, lenses, light meter.  

Students are encouraged to bring their own cameras if desired.

Class Activities:

• We will spend the day with Sinar P, Sinar C or Sinar F or a Toyo 45 F field camera or we highly encourage you to feel free to bring in your own view cameras and accessories.
• Terms covered during the course: front standard, rear standard, yaw, swing, tilt, rise and fall, bellows, Copal and Compur shutters, Super Angulon, wide angle, telephoto, close up/macro lenses, rail extensions, monorail, wide angle 'bag bellows, extension bellows, reflex viewer, fresnel, ground glass, zeroing a camera, Grafmatic backs, bellows factor, modern lenses, cable release, leaf shutters, antique brass lenses, & of course apertures & shutter speeds, perspective control & distortion and how to load a film holder.  
• We'll teach you how to properly set-up & use your camera movements.
• Mounting a shutter into a lens board or switch shutters & lens element.​
• Metering and understanding "bellows factor".