Video: On Location with a Big A** Film Camera
- Jesse Jacques
- Mar 29, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: May 29
As the title implies, I had a photo shoot on location with my large format 4x5 camera for a client who needed both portraits and detailed shots. Usually, my setup is smaller than shown in the video, but to accommodate the client's needs, I added an extension rail to the camera. I arrived at the venue about 2 hours early (š), giving me some time to record the preparation process. I enjoy working with well-made mechanical things, and as you see in the video, not one piece of that entire setup was electronic. It's incredible the type of unmatched quality and aesthetics it can produce. If you're wondering what kind of film I used that day, it was actually Kodak Ektachrome slide film. Despite the windy conditions, they actually worked well with the shoot, adding a dynamic touch to the images.
Fun Fact: You'll often hear me talk about knowing how to work with light, and this is a perfect example to showcase one aspect of what I mean. For the camera I'm setting up in the video, light has to travel further to reach the film because the camera setup with the extension rail is longer than usual. As a result, I had to account for that when setting my exposure before taking a picture. Since film cameras lack a built-in computer to recommend exposure compensation, we rely on mathematics and prior testing. This is achieved through a formula known as the bellows compensation factor, which provides a basis for determining the additional light needed to expose the film properly. The formula is as follows:
Exposure Factor = (bellows extension / focal length)^2
Bellows extension refers to the distance between the lens and the film plane, while focal length is the distance from the lens to the point where light converges to form a sharp image (ex.- if you're using a 250mm lens, 250mm would be your focal length).
Think about watering a garden with a hose. When you stand close to a plant, the water from the hose is more focused and concentrated on that specific area. However, as you move further away from the plant, the water from the hose spreads out, covering a larger area but with less intensity.
In photography, when the lens is farther from the film, the light has to travel a longer distance and becomes less concentrated on the film, similar to the water from the hose. This can result in an underexposed image. To correct this, photographers use the bellows compensation technique, which involves adjusting the camera settings to allow more light to reach the film, ensuring the image is properly exposed. Photographers employ the technique when the bellows extension is significantly greater than the lens's focal length of the lens. Of course, other factors, such as concept, aesthetics, etc., will influence this, but those would be intentional choices.
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