Entries by John D (4)
Seasons Greetings...
Seasons Greetings to all of you...
May you always ride an easy-walking horse,
compose underneath a light-sealed dark cloth,
enough light for your f2.5 bokeh,
sleep 'neath a rain-tight roof,
and eat high on the hog every day of the year.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
HAPPY 2008
John D. esq
Driebergen - Netherlands
A Classic Portrait revisited...
A rule exists that says doing head/shoulder portraits with a standard focal length (Diagonal of the used film format) should not be tried or done. Working with the AeroEktar/SG combo lately, I've come to learn this is just a rule to be ignored!
What really matters is your intention and motivation to capture the "soul" in a portrait. While doing a series on a model together with Leo, I decided to try it with my 8x10 on Polaroid. In the midst of the session, something inside me told me the time was now...! The model was ready and accustomed to the lights and... the photographers. I did setup the Wisner TF 810 and loaded the cassettes with Polaroid 809/804. You all might know, doing a portrait with a viewcamera is a tiny bit different, compared to shooting with an Eos 5D or even a Hasselblad V.
FYI: The lens used was a Doctar 300mm/f5.6 , Aperture halfway f5.6 and f8 (Bellows draw 1 stop), the distance well under 1 meter.
Actually technical details are not that important or relevant, the magic goes beyond! "When you use a camera, not as a machine but as an extension of your heart, you become one with your subject."
Moreover, I never make a photograph, I ask for a photograph!
Resume: "In his ordo est ordinem non servare"
Regards,
John D.
Driebergen-R, Netherlands


Aero Ektar 7 In f/2.5
Accidently erased my earlier post, showing the extreme narrow DOf at 60cm.
well here it is again.
If you want to know more about the Aero Ektar, please visit the Site as a guest.
www.johndesq.com/graflex
Regards,
JohnD
Thijske...My MainCoon View
THE FIRST CONVERTIBLE LENS TO BE OFFERED IN MODERN TIMES It is now possible to buy a fine modern convertible lens set. On a par with and following the tradition which started with the famous Protar made by Carl Zeiss, the Wisner Plasmat is a series of convertible lens sets which may be used in combination or singly to form different focal lengths of wide-field double- or long focus single-cell lenses. These "Convertible Plasmats" are grouped into four sets, complete with shutter and cell case and engraved brass table of f:stops. Each set is suitable for the standard formats of 4x5 (focal lengths of 152mm to 450), 5x7 (182mm to 500mm) and 8x10 (227mm to 600mm) and consists of five, five or four cells, respectively. Each set is capable of forming eight or more practical focal lengths in their respective ranges, resulting from the combination or single use of the various cells in each set, affording considerable savings in weight and expense.
An example what can be done if you have patience and perseverance...
(If you don't mind to burn a few polaroid sheets :-) )
"Thijske" , my MainCoon by JD on Polaroid type 54 , Linhof Super Technika V.
Driebergen- The Netherlands