[LargeFormat] Re: Shooting LF in below freezing conditions

[Dave Hornford]

Gavin,

I have had no issue with film speed as temperature changes. Depending on where you are going & where you normally shoot be very aware of light colour (if you shoot colour). Most wildernesses is up higher with more UV, and most cold winter locations have lower sun. You may find yourself thinking about the abrupt transition from golden AM to deep blue back to golden PM.

If you shoot 4x5 I strongly recommend either Kodak Readyholder or Fuji Quickload film. Nothing beats the weight/volume savings and convenience when LF gear gets added ontop of living gear. Particularly in the winter, which is also overloaded. I've reloaded film holders using my sleeping bag as a changing bag and do not recommend it (just amazing how attractive a film holder is to loose down). I wouldn't want to think about loading holders at -20.

On your 6-day will you have a pulk? One advantage of the winter is the ability to pull what you have to carry in the summer. One piece of advice I forgot, I added a small whisk brush as part of an on-going effort to keep the LF kit clearer than the operator & environment.

As long as you are aware of frost it isn't a problem. I have thought about adding a snorkel, but that may be too weird.

I have only taken my LF overnight a few times. I haven't found a packing method that really works for me. Also, I'm usually out solo, with my children, or a buddy going over brand-new ground quickish for photography.

If you haven't take your Horseman out overnight I'd suggest doing it before a 6-day jaunt. I mean to take my Sinar about 8x more often than I actually do it.

Regards Dave

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: Gavin Hubbard <ghub005@xtra.co.nz>
Reply-To: largeformat@f32.net
Date:  Fri, 25 Apr 2003 13:31:33 +1200

>Dave Hornford said:
>
>>Gavin,
>>
>>Although Uncle Dick enjoyed his formative years in a land that has winter,
>>all the time spent in a tin darkroom extension on the sunny side (north) of
>>has induced heat stress.
>>
>>I shoot my Sinar A outdoors in all year on the Canadian prairies and in the
>>Rockies. There are a wide range of cold issues. Based on my extensive 2
>>seasons of experience I humbly offer the following notes.
>>
><snip>
>
>Hi Dave
>
>Thank-you very much for your long and considered response to my question. I
>didn't realise that I had overlooked so many things. Your notes about
>fogging the ground glass concern me a little so (although it will add more
>weight) I'm going to take a reflex binocular viewer.
>
>Because I intend to go deep into the mountains on a six day expedition,
>I've decided to spend some time in a commercial freezer to test and
>fine-tune my equipment and procedures. I'm also going to spend a day or two
>walking around with my LF kit so I can determine what I really need and
>what I can leave behind (there will be no pack animals or porters where I'm
>going).
>
>One thing I'd like to know is whether I need to make any compensation for
>my film. In other words, will it have the same exposure rate and profile at
>-20C ?
>
>Regards,
>
>Gavin
>
>
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