Subjects of Wonder

Portfolio 2: Some subjects have such an intrinsic quality to them and provoke such a strong interest for me that I am almost compelled to attempt an image. At such times I think the skill of the photographer is in finding a way of letting the subject do the talking.

'Holding Out'

View cameras are not easy for macro work. They are hard to focus, cumbersome to move and getting the exposure right and compensating for 'bellows factor' needs some serious thought.

However it is massively rewarding. Under the dark cloth you go into a world of your own. Time seems to fly by outside but you are in a place that is timeless.

The beauty of a macro image projected on a ground glass screen is something you don't understand until you have experienced it. I didn't really want to stop making this image - it looked so wonderfull under the cloth.

Fortunately good printing makes it equally enjoyable later on. Large format film has a dimensionality, almost 3d like quality on images like this green fern that I have yet to experience with digital. Maybe someday, but for now give me LF and film every time.

Technical Details - Linhof Technikardan, 240mm lens, no filtration. Velvia 100. Scanned with an Epson V700.

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