[LargeFormat] Headline: Little Camera Guy Intimidated by New Toy

[Les Newcomer]

Let's walk before we run.  Leave the spot meter attachment in your wife's
care until the first box of film has been spent.  Leave the palm pilot with
your offspring.


You've had 30 years of composition so I won't tell you what makes a good
photo.  Bellows factor doesn't come into play unless your up close, so for
now shoot stuff at least 12ft away


set the camera on the tripod, aim it at your subject. for now use non movin=
g
things, fences, buildings, landscapes, etc.


open the lens.  a Caltar Ii should be new enoguh to be in a copal shutter
and have a plastic triangular lever to open and close the lens.

Look AT the ground glass, not through it.  Wiggle the front and rear
standard until something shows up. fine focus with the proper knobs.
Lock everything down.

Now come out from under the darkcloth, coat, or whatever. around to the sid=
e

close the lens. Carefully insert a film holder.  Then move to the subject,
point the white plastic dome of the Lunapro at the camera,  adjust the
settings, pull the darkslide, cock the shutter and


FIRE!

now put the darkslide back in before you turn it around and do another.

It's simple.

> From: Alan Davenport <w7apd@attbi.com>
> Reply-To: largeformat@f32.net
> Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 18:54:07 -0700
> To: largeformat@f32.net
> Subject: [LargeFormat] Headline:  Little Camera Guy Intimidated by New To=
y
>=20
> I'm a reasonable capable photographer (I think) with about 30 years of
> experience in 35mm and medium format.  Recently, I made the decision
> to take the LF leap.  I received the camera today, a Calumet 540 with
> 150mm Caltar-II N lens.  Now, it's been an awfully long time since I felt
> intimidated by a camera, but I will confess to some trepidation at this t=
ime.
> Just looking at it and trying to mentally work through the process of tak=
ing
> a photo, I'm seeing more ways to mess up than I imagined possible until
> today.
>=20
> I've got a half dozen holders (Riteway & Fidelity) and an unopened box
> of slightly outdated Velvia (one of my 35mm standbys.)  Already got a
> Bogen 3401 and a Luna Pro F with the 15=B0/7=B0 spot attachment, so I guess
> I have the essentials.  I think. (hope)
>=20
> I've been reading everything I can find, got AA's "The Camera" next to my
> bed, got Vade Mecum installed on my Palm Pilot, still got to figure out h=
ow
> to use that program.... I understand about bellows factors and filter fac=
tors,
> but never had to apply them when my camera was metering through all the
> goodies and making most of those decisions.  I soon expect to be looking
> for uses for trashed 4x5 film (punch holes in it, glue it to a stick, use=
 as
> a fly swatter?)
>=20
> I'm guessing the place to begin is with as little complicating factors as
> possible, i.e., no movements for at least the first shot or two...
>=20
> What have I missed?
>=20
>=20
>=20
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