6x6

Hello!

the last posting included some square hints.

I would never go so far to say that these photos are master pieces of a recently unknown genius ;-)  But I do say, that I like what I see and that I think it's absolutely worth continuing in this direction:

medium format, preferably b/w, medium grain film (400ASA)

Speaking of worth: one photo costs 3 EUR. (includes film, developing, contact printing 6x6cm and scan)

Since film is still around, and the costs are no deal-breaker, I decided to give it a try and borrowed a medium format Rolleiflex from a generous friend for a weekend.

It is a privilege to be able to try a camera hands-on and I can only recommend it. Now I know: the camera I want to buy must not weight more than 3 pounds. :-)

Undecided focus - things you end up, being an unexperieced medium format photographer.

Over the past years, I have been trying to create the look of a 400ASA b/w with the SIGMA picture software, which comes with the DP2. The programme is said to produce excellent monochrome pictures, imitating the grain of analogue film. Truth is: the programme does add specks and spots, only those disturbances look nothing like the grain of a film. In the end you end up with a poor imitation of film.

And I am not even talking about the image quality, the size of the negative etc.

 Many manufacturers shut down their companies over the past years. The camera I am am going to buy is most likely to be a used, maybe even vintage camera. Lucky me, I have many shops at my hands in Vienna, specialised in vintage cameras.

Except for the one photo with the two chimneys all photos have been taken with the camera in my hands, me looking down onto a focusing screen. The focusing screen shows a mirrored image of the picture you want to take. Slowly moving the camera into the right position does something to your brains, left side/right side thinking ...   

Obviously not the best motive to focus on with a manual focus: the fidgety squirrel

Now that I have returned the camera, I find myself thinking about many possible motives, stories and projects I would like to cover with the 6x6cm format/80mm lens (80mm medium format approx. equates 50mm for small pictures)

Not long ago I did feel absolutely comfortable with my wide angle lens and the small film format. Wide angle always adds a certain drama to any motive. And of course you cover more of the surroundings using a wide angle. 

My angle has changed. 

All above photos have been taken with a 80mm lens (equals 50mm small film).

Locations in the 13th district in Vienna, including the Lainzer Tiergarten, maybe you remember this.

Hoefully the tiny b/w label in the right is going to grow in 2015.

Have a nice weekend!

Paula