[LargeFormat] The Evening at Ten

[rstein]

Dear Gregor, Karl, Philip, Joe, Guy, Clive, Uncle Tom Cobley and Al,

    Thank you for the interest you show. It does one good to know that
somewhere in the world there are others who should also be locked up. The
saga continues.

    The lens is mounted. The rotating lensboard proved to be 5-ply of a
particularly vile grade, but as it is not going to used to deliver
NASA-specification focusing accuracy, I shall leave it as is. The flange
went on with the 6 woodscrews and the lens rotated into position smoothly.
The Chinese optics may be actually quite good, but they share the same feel
as some of the earlier Soviet lenses - good glass and slightly rough
barrels. The inscribed numbers and the feel of the clickstops are adequate.

    Lo! The Seagull focusses! I lit up a test subject with the modelling
lights of the strobes and draped 2 metres of black velveteen over the
supports at the back and crawled into the operator's position. The image is
quite bright in there - indeed our old TV at home was a smaller screen!
There is coverage right out to the edges and the swings and tilts run to
their stops with no loss of image. The system is obviously designed to work
together. All the film holders have been tried on the rails and a couple
will need a little easing. I am pleased to report that there is a detent
holder under the bottom edge of the back aperture that locks the film holder
into registration positively. It might be bent brass in a wooden slot, but
it is there.

    In the absence so far of a film to clap in the back, I had a little
practise with the rubber bulb in one hand and the transmitter for my 4i
radio link in the other. To see if I could coordinate the open shutter and
the flash. Should be a doddle - the best Packard speed is likely to be about
1/25 and if I'm stopped down to f.22 or f.32 the effect of reduced modelling
lights as ghost should not be a trouble.

    Now as to participation at reenactment events - well, you have to
remeber this is very heavy and very big and as they have abolished slavery I
would have to carry it myself. I do admire the wet-platers who do the ACW
and western circuit in the USA, but I have no desire to sit in a tent full
of ether fumes coating glass plates. I do take the World's Rattiest Nagaoka
to various historical fairs and encampments here in Australia and sell or
give away the results to those who participate in costume and spirit but the
recording medium is FP4 or RC monochrome paper and the results generally are
enlarged rather than contacted. The idea of a travelling studio in a large
van with a large format field camera and a loose itinerary of camps and
fairs is actually appealing, but would need some form of return to make it
viable. The iother idea of the period studio in the historic town or
recreated district is, of course, common - but no less appealing if there is
an opportunity. What a pity that every geek with a digital and Photoshop
thinks he can make historical images just by the right mask and tint. Takes
away a great deal of the impetus for the public to present and pose. I guess
the real drawcard is the stock of costumes, props, and "historic" experience
one could provide in addition to the final print.

    What do I drink? As Andy Capp said - any given thing. At present there
is a hepatic minefield in the liquor cabinet comprised of all the dregs from
a couple of years of cocktail parties that were held for my social club.
When I bought the booze I thought people would drink whiskey, gin, rum, and
brandy. Apparently not. They drank blue Curacao, butterscotch schnapps, and
things with little umbrellas in the top - leaving me with a large supply of
hard liquor. I have been struggling manfully with this ever since......

    And lastly, I did explore the idea of lofting the new Shen Hao up in the
air for a Nadar-like view of the neighborhood. Apparently the only thing
that will lift it is made by Boeing and the USAF needs all their stock. It
was suggested that instead of lifting the camera it might be cheaper to
lower the town.

    Uncle Dick