Arizona Treks

Finally for all the B&W film developed and scanned. There are several B&W 4X5 images I wish to print.

I want to go through the photos and talk about them over the next several posts. But today I have some general observations to talk about.

The photo above was taken at Bodie, that was the last day of photographing, we started home the following morning

I shot with digital cameras, 35mm rangefinder, and large format during the course of the trip. We were in a wide variety of situations. Urban, tourist, rural, isolated, crowds, architecture, landscapes, seascapes, wildlife, etc. It was the first time I really had the opportunity to watch in a wide variety of circumstances. I watched which camera I selected and tried to understand why. The rangefinder was easy. Small, unabtrusive, easy to carry. I chose it in the city, in crowds, when I wanted good B&W but 4X5 was impractical, and when I was unsure of the opportunities. The digital was selected as a point and shoot, when I wanted reasonable quality color with a wide range of lenses, when I wanted digital files for the blog, when I wanted a little more than the 35mm was able to deliver in terms of flexibility (mstly due to lenses). The 4X5 was chosen when it was practical to carry it or when the highest possible quality was needed, or when I was looking for satisfaction. There is something satisfying about shooting LF.

I was faced with several situations that were totally new to me. Crowds, city, boats, islands, lighthouses, etc. I noticed that I tended to take the rangefinder for the first encounter. Sometimes the 5D but mostly the rangefinder. In those situations, observations were the primary thing. I tried to learn how to see there. Once I was seeing a bit, I would take some photos, in most cases, just a few. In the cases where I was able to return to the situation later, it was much easier to slip into that mode the second time and more photos were taken then. The main case was in San Francisco. I tend to shy away from large cities, they simply have nothing I want there. But the crowds around fisherman's wharf were something I got used to. But it helps to learn to shoot in a variety of situations. It can actually help you see other situations with new vision.

One of the things that has happened on every extended trip we have taken, is the light does not cooperate. There is a thick overcast, or there are no clouds at all. This is something that when you are traveling and have a limited time in a location, you must learn to overcome. The thick overcast is flat, but I tend to do things that do not require shadows, some close-ups and as I learned on this trip, street scenes do well with flat light. At mid-day when all the clouds are hiding, strong, harsh light. When you have 8 stops of range for any landscape or architectural work. Do macro and close-ups. You can use a diffuser to soften the shadows or even shade the shot altogether and then do a + development to add some glow to it. Find things you can do in the less than perfect, even the horrible light situations you will find. But remember, the light will improve, usually the day you leave the area.

At one time we would have a very general idea where we were going. Today we are going to Yosemite and going to take this road there. Along the way we would stop and shoot whenever something grabbed us. There were nice things about that approach. It is very free and some very good photography happens through serendipity.  There have been times when every stop is planned and we drive to here and shoot, then we drive there and shoot.  This is also good because you have a clue what to expect and are probably prepared for it, as much as your experience allows anyway.  I have gotten some very good photos on the rigidly planned trips.  Usually not as many photographs, but at least as many good ones.  The approach we usually employ is more of a flexible approach.  we have plans, but allow ourselves to modify them on the fly.  One such trip was the redwoods excursion from Eureka.  We started out to drive the Avenue of the Giants.  On the way Mary found another scenic drive and we decided to take it first.  We found the lost coast, a wonderful church on a hill, and a much better redwood grove than along the avenue as well as a couple of hours of beach-combing.  Of course, the original trip was going to take about 4 hours.  We started at 9:30 and got to the avenue around 5:00.  So the plans for the day were totally thrown off, but we found several things that the normal traveller would not find.  We like to use all 3 approaches during a tip it makes it more enjoyable and give a wider variety of photographs.

One of the most interesting things that happens frequently is meeting interesting people.  I met several photographers on this trip, some well known, some not so much but interesting people.  Some non-photographers as well.  It is common for someone to approach me when they see me using the 4X5.  The dark-cloth over my head, fussing over the camera, etc.  I always try to be courteous to those people and spend time talking with them, answering their questions and if they wish, let them look in the camera.  Occasionally we run into photographers who are not friendly, even jerks.  Then there are the people who have very expensive digital medium format equipment.  I am talking $30,000 and up.  In every case meeting those people they seem very interested in justifying the cost of the equipment.  My opinion is that digital, film, small, medium, and large format are all viable medium.  Each is different than the others and has it's own strengths and weaknesses.  It is not a contest, each different format/medium has a place.  But these people seem to be driven to convince you their equipment matches anything else available.  Even equal to a 4X5 B&W negative.  I guess they need to justify the expenditure, but I love shooting all formats, especially LF.  It is okay that someone else enjoys digital, or 35mm, or even the $30K digital cameras.  We are all individuals and each have our own way.

That's about all I have to say in general.  Tomorrow I will begin going through some of the photos form the trip.

The photo below is a reshoot of one I did a year and a half ago with the 5D. It never worked in color so I made it B&W and did a lot of manipulation on it. But this is so much better in so many ways. I am excited to print it.