Large format photography is either an unshakable
passion, or a dream one has to fulfill, at least once.
It was the latter reason when a friend, who also
uses classic film cameras, brought his Graflex 4x5 Crown Graphic camera to take
photos of the Baltimore Harbor from a boat.
I never owned or used large format cameras. As a
street photographer, these cameras are like carrying a Sherman tank upon my
shoulder and pointing its canon to people! But on this trip, I wanted to see
what a 135mm f4.7 Xenar lens can do.
Ray
Lewis, Ravens Football player and esteemed Baltimore
citizen. His portrait is on a huge container side. Only from the 500 yards or
so distance in the water can one appreciate the beauty of this work. I decided
to find an angle that includes the metal structures around it.
Michael
Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all times. He is
known as “The Baltimore Bullet” and this larger than life image of him swimming
makes the harbor waters seem plain and calm.
Well, there is no comparison in the quality of the
output between a 35mm and a large format film. But if one considers the tiny
size of a Leica IIIF to that of the Graflex, the flexibility in capturing the
moment becomes of importance.
What I am not sure is the real benefit of using
medium format film and camera compared to a large format. With a good lens and diligent
darkroom work, medium format can yield amazing quality as well.
But… the shock factor of getting out of a boat with
a Graflex 4x5 on your shoulder is unsurpassed!
June 24, 2018
©Vahé A. Kazandjian, 2018
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