These videos are fantastic! I am just starting my architectural photography journey and these lessons are shedding light on so many things I’ve never considered.
lessons the day: "B&W is contemplative" and "B&W is great for control of contemporary intrusions". Well said Steven. If I can may a recommendation: NIK Silver Efex Pro is absolutely fantastic for B&W conversion with old school red, yellow, orange filters from the good 'ol B&W film days, local contrast control - superb stuff
Thanks, Beno. I checked out this product and it is definitely worth consideration, especially if you are interested in recreating the look of traditional film. If offers sophisticated controls and they do offer a free trial.
Thanks for your note. Glad the videos and the book are helping with your work. Right now, the cost (and subsequent price) of publishing the book in hard copy is prohibitive. But please feel free to print any part of it for your own use.
You mention black and white photographers with view cameras. I know that you said you wouldn't go back to a film on a bet, but do you have any advice on someone starting out with a 4x5 camera shooting architecture as a hobby?
Several suggestions for 4x5: (1) Purchase a true view camera with a moveable rear standard. Most “field” cameras have a fixed rear standard, which is limiting. Check out Acra Swiss or Sinar. Great quality cameras. The Arca Swiss, in particular, has very precise movements and gearing. (2) A 90mm lens will do most of what you would need for architecture. A 65mm is good for much wider views, including spacious interiors. You will need a soft bellows rather than an accordion bellows for the 65mm. (I only used a soft bellows for all my lenses.) A 120mm or a 150mm would be nice for landscape and details, but not necessary. (3) I will get arguments about this, but when I used film holders I shot only Tungsten-based 4x5 film. I used an 85B filter for daylight situations; took it off for tungsten-based shots. I carried a variety of 85 filters for those in-between lighting situations. That way, I only had to carry one kind of film. If you plan to scan your chromes and convert to b/w when desired, you won’t need to shoot b/w. However, if b/w is your preferred medium, there are lots of options. TRI-X 320 is a good film with which to start. Lots of flexibility. Minimal grain, given its relatively high ASA. (4) 4x5 film may still come in preloaded “quickload” sheets. FUJIFILM was my preferred brand. You need a polaroid holder or a “quickload" holder to use these. I haven’t checked to see if these are still made. If so, they are a huge time (and weight!) saver over standard film holders; and, you can easily carry daylight, tungsten and b/w film. (5) A rock-steady tripod. View cameras are like box kites. (6) Before you purchase, you might check out the many websites and chatrooms hosted by intrepid 4x5 film users. They may have other suggestions.
@@stevenbrookephotography Hey thanks so much for the kind response. I already have half of what you're suggesting. A Calumet Monorail which is missing a bag bellows and rear rise and fall (it has all other movements). It looks like I need another camera with bag bellows which doesn't look to be too expensive if you know where to look. I might keep the Calumet for longer lenses and get another camera just for 90mm and shorter with a bag bellows. I just picked up a 90mm lens that will cover 5x7, my previous 90mm barely covered 4x5 so wasn't nearly as useful as I thought it would be. That's an interesting idea with the tungsten film, although they don't make it anymore. For 4x5 there's only Kodak Ektachrome 100 if you want to shoot transparency and at that you can only get 10 sheet boxes. If you shoot color negative you've got Kodak Ektar 100, Kodak Porta 160, and Kodak Portra 400, unless you want to go for the Chinese knockoff stuff which may turn into the only option eventually. For Black and White you've got a lot more to choose from Kodak and Illford, there's even X-ray film (dirt cheap, not archival at all) and infrared. I have a Polaroid holder and some readyload stuff. The New 55 Project resleaves it but it gets expensive. You can even send them your own 4x5 film for them to resleave. I also have a Graphmatic holder as well as the full sized 4x5 peel apart film holder and a roll film holder that does 6x7 127 film and that opens up a lot of emulsions and more speeds of film as well but then the 90mm lens isn't nearly as effective. I bought a sturdy tripod and Manfrotto geared head over 10 years ago for doing real estate and it does work for 4x5 but a stronger one would be better. I don't think any of the Entrepids can do bag bellows or rear rise and fall.
These videos are fantastic! I am just starting my architectural photography journey and these lessons are shedding light on so many things I’ve never considered.
Excellent vidéo. Thank you.
lessons the day: "B&W is contemplative" and "B&W is great for control of contemporary intrusions". Well said Steven. If I can may a recommendation: NIK Silver Efex Pro is absolutely fantastic for B&W conversion with old school red, yellow, orange filters from the good 'ol B&W film days, local contrast control - superb stuff
Thanks, Beno. I checked out this product and it is definitely worth consideration, especially if you are interested in recreating the look of traditional film. If offers sophisticated controls and they do offer a free trial.
just wonderful, thank you Steven
Thank you Steven. I always gain great deal from you skills and experience
Another great video Steven. I'm still working with B&W film but also shoot digital.
Thanks for your note, Shawn. I visited a friend's darkroom several weeks ago and was overcome with nostalgia. The lab smells will do that to you.
Invaluable advice. Thanks!
Book ordered!! 🙏🏼 I do wish there were a paperback option.
We are working on that right now and I will let everyone know when it's available. Thanks for your patience.
Another great video
Thanks for your continuing videos. Much appreciated. And I do have a copy of your book.
Thank you for your support!
thank you Steven, your videos are very instructive. I've bought a copy of your ebook. If you ever publish a hardcover version, i'd buy that too.
Thanks for your note. Glad the videos and the book are helping with your work. Right now, the cost (and subsequent price) of publishing the book in hard copy is prohibitive. But please feel free to print any part of it for your own use.
Excellent work
You mention black and white photographers with view cameras. I know that you said you wouldn't go back to a film on a bet, but do you have any advice on someone starting out with a 4x5 camera shooting architecture as a hobby?
Several suggestions for 4x5:
(1) Purchase a true view camera with a moveable rear standard. Most “field” cameras have a fixed rear standard, which is limiting. Check out Acra Swiss or Sinar. Great quality cameras. The Arca Swiss, in particular, has very precise movements and gearing.
(2) A 90mm lens will do most of what you would need for architecture. A 65mm is good for much wider views, including spacious interiors. You will need a soft bellows rather than an accordion bellows for the 65mm. (I only used a soft bellows for all my lenses.) A 120mm or a 150mm would be nice for landscape and details, but not necessary.
(3) I will get arguments about this, but when I used film holders I shot only Tungsten-based 4x5 film. I used an 85B filter for daylight situations; took it off for tungsten-based shots. I carried a variety of 85 filters for those in-between lighting situations. That way, I only had to carry one kind of film. If you plan to scan your chromes and convert to b/w when desired, you won’t need to shoot b/w. However, if b/w is your preferred medium, there are lots of options. TRI-X 320 is a good film with which to start. Lots of flexibility. Minimal grain, given its relatively high ASA.
(4) 4x5 film may still come in preloaded “quickload” sheets. FUJIFILM was my preferred brand. You need a polaroid holder or a “quickload" holder to use these. I haven’t checked to see if these are still made. If so, they are a huge time (and weight!) saver over standard film holders; and, you can easily carry daylight, tungsten and b/w film.
(5) A rock-steady tripod. View cameras are like box kites.
(6) Before you purchase, you might check out the many websites and chatrooms hosted by intrepid 4x5 film users. They may have other suggestions.
@@stevenbrookephotography Hey thanks so much for the kind response.
I already have half of what you're suggesting. A Calumet Monorail which is missing a bag bellows and rear rise and fall (it has all other movements). It looks like I need another camera with bag bellows which doesn't look to be too expensive if you know where to look. I might keep the Calumet for longer lenses and get another camera just for 90mm and shorter with a bag bellows.
I just picked up a 90mm lens that will cover 5x7, my previous 90mm barely covered 4x5 so wasn't nearly as useful as I thought it would be.
That's an interesting idea with the tungsten film, although they don't make it anymore. For 4x5 there's only Kodak Ektachrome 100 if you want to shoot transparency and at that you can only get 10 sheet boxes. If you shoot color negative you've got Kodak Ektar 100, Kodak Porta 160, and Kodak Portra 400, unless you want to go for the Chinese knockoff stuff which may turn into the only option eventually. For Black and White you've got a lot more to choose from Kodak and Illford, there's even X-ray film (dirt cheap, not archival at all) and infrared.
I have a Polaroid holder and some readyload stuff. The New 55 Project resleaves it but it gets expensive. You can even send them your own 4x5 film for them to resleave. I also have a Graphmatic holder as well as the full sized 4x5 peel apart film holder and a roll film holder that does 6x7 127 film and that opens up a lot of emulsions and more speeds of film as well but then the 90mm lens isn't nearly as effective.
I bought a sturdy tripod and Manfrotto geared head over 10 years ago for doing real estate and it does work for 4x5 but a stronger one would be better.
I don't think any of the Entrepids can do bag bellows or rear rise and fall.