New Gear : Focusing Cloth For My 4x5 Camera

For this month’s blog I thought I’d share some “new gear” that my wife Barbara handmade for me, she is such the avid quilter, made me a 42x71 focusing cloth [dark cloth] to use with my Toya GII 4x5 camera. All I needed to do was to select the fabric.

I already knew I wanted a black out cloth for the inner or under side of the cloth, preferably black. now the outer portion could be anything I wanted it to be, So I settled on a black base with small orange polka dots, colors more in line of what my logo represented.

The focusing cloth works as intended, I cover myself and the rear ground glass and focus on my subject, its a must have asset for getting critical focus on my 4x5 camera, especially for my portrait work. and a huge thank you to my loving wife for making it for me

New/Old Gear: Toyo 45G II Large Format Camera

Well, I just added a new addition to my gear box; the Toyo 45G II 4X5 large format camera. I had always entertained the idea of buying a large format for years, within the past month I started looking at the Sinar F and P series, the Horseman 450 series and lastly the Toyo G series. All amazing cameras, the Toyo G II won in the end, Price and durability were key points in my purchase. Some other key points included:

> Rubberized knobs,

> Metal construction

> Super bright etched fresnel ground glass [ can’t wait to get a lens for it ] 

> Revolving non vigneting film back

> Geared fine focus. 

> Geared front and rear with fluid axis level

> Independent locks on all movements; front and rear standards, shift, swing and focus knobs

These are just a few of the stand out features that caught my eye. 

Next I will be ordering some Ilford HP5+ Film from one of my favorite camera stores; B&H PHOTO in New York. Then next on the list is too research some lenses for the type of work I plan to use the GII for, mainly portraiture. I have 3 brands in mind; Schneider, Rodenstock , and Nikkor W series, something in the 180mm and 210mm focal lengths.

I can already see that I am going to have lots of fun with this large format camera.

Until next time.

Test: Pocket Light Meter App For iPhone X Pt 1 of 2

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So recently I purchased another photography app for my Apple iPhone X; The Pocket Light Meter Nuwaste studios ($10.99). Since I always have my phone with me, I thought it would be a great companion for my gear since I have been known to forget my traditional light meter at home from time to time, 

Right out of the gate I noticed setting the ISO, shutter speed and aperture were a breeze on this app. it handled much like my old Minolta spot meter, the downside of the app version is it can’t take 2 separate readings for a combined exposure as in the Minolta spot meter had done. The other thing I noticed was comparing light readings between the app and my traditional light meter fell between a 3rd of a stop for the most part, not a deal breaker, but noted throughout these tests.

I am running some test paired with my Sekonic L-358 meter. Part 2 of this blog will have the final images from these test. As for the gear I will be using;  Mamiya RZ67 Pro camera with a Mamiya RZ67 Pro II 6x7 film back, Mamiya Sekor C 50mm f/4.5 lens and Ilford HP5 + 120 film.

I hope to have my film ready to process in the next week or so, and part 2 of this blog written shortly there.

The Thousand Year Flood: 2016

Shot with my LG G5 Smartphone: My Rolleiflex MX series TLR and the film I shot on my dresser, it would be a month or so till I was able to send it out to be developed.

Shot with a LG G5 Smartphone: Part of the Greenbrier golf course in White Sulphur Springs (right) It had gotten worse as I drove on route 60.

Shot with an LG G5 Smartphone: Center of town, the river had breached the barriers to the right and was pouring into the neighborhoods, the area behind the tree line (right) fared far worse since it sat much lower. The road directly in front of me is the one I needed to take to get home, Howard creek had already breached the barriers along the road, and the lower lying area just on the other side of the tree on the right, 23 homes were destroyed and 6 lives were lost.

Shot with my Roleiflex 6x6 TLR: Section of road at route 60 and 92.

Shot with my Rolleiflex 6x6 TLR:Several vehicles were washed away downstream and found themselves in the park.

Shot with my Rolleiflex 6x6 TLR:The area where many homes were destroyed, I found this bicycle that someone had stood back up, it was the only thing still intact.

Shot with LG G5 Smartphone: this image was taken in 2017 atop the bridge of Howards Creek, I thought I'd include it to show just how high the creek had risen.