Anyone crazy enough to attempt...

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If this query is interpreted as a Wangism then I apologize in advance. But I'm in an elated (strange) mood tonight.

So to finish off the query.

Anyone crazy enough to attempt... to do street photography WEEGEE style???

Y'know... with a Speed Graphic and a huge flash? I've just recently had the chance to buy a junker (but working and light-tight) Speed Graphic for $200 CDN. Though I'd try it out on my new endeavor but I'm afraid that some subjects might pop-a-cap in my a$$ when I whip out the monster.

Diversions... diversions.

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), March 07, 2002

Answers

John: I did what you are discussing 30 years ago in high school. I used a Speed Graphic, 75 Super Angulon and a 70mm back for shooting football with. It can be fun.

Are you interested in purchasing a Heiland flash with mounting clips to fit your new toy? I have a 2 cell and a 3 cell version, along with a couple of reflectors, 200 M2 flashbulbs and about 30 assorted 11B and 22B bulbs. Please e-mail if you are interested.

P.S. Have fun, and post some of your creations.

-- Mark A. Johnson (logical1@catholic.org), March 07, 2002.


Where would you whip it out from?

People will spot from a mile away, but the novelty factor might mean that you might actually get away with it. Besides, if you use no flash (quite feasible in broad daylight with high speed film) the wire frame viewfinder and the handgrip release, no one will be aware of your clicking. The leaf shutter is pretty much inaudible in street situations.

There is a guy called Mark Nowaczynski (sp?) who does this with a Linhof in Toronto. He has posted a few times to the LUSENET large format forum, where you might ask the same question.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), March 08, 2002.


You need to find a twin for it, John. Then, make a new vest harness out of chain mail and kevlar, and hit the streets with pride and safety. ;-)

Remember, the guy who photographed the Hindenburg got several shots off in the 10 seconds or so it took to completely burn. Not bad for a 4x5.

Although a touch less convenient than the Leica, you might actually be able to pull it off by keeping the camera up in shooting position longer. The shutters are very quiet, and with normal street noise the subject may never be aware that you took a shot. Go full 4x5, though, not roll film, to take full advantage of the format. Large format makes a nice complement to a Leica, or versa vicea.

-- Ralph Barker (rbarker@pacbell.net), March 08, 2002.


Try also the Q&A forum on www.graflex.org the incomparable Speed Graphic camera resource.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), March 08, 2002.

John,

I have done this a number of times, and offer a little advice. Get a few Graphmatics. You can usually find them on eBay. They hold six sheets of 4x5 in the space of about 1.5 normal holders, and you crank a new one in place for each exposure. Can be done in a couple seconds at most. They work great. Second, make sure your rangefinder is aligned with your lens (I know--that is an obvious bit of advice-sorry), and finally, I bought a little polastic flash shoe holder at a photos store and attached it with a screw to the top of the camera. Then a Vivitar 283 style flash (that is all you need, really) sits right there. If you want, instead of or along with the Graphmatic, get a Polaroid back and shoot Type 55 P/N film. It is wonderful stuff, and with a flash you can easily handle the Polaroid exposure speed of 50 (the negative's speed). And it gives you a decent, slightly hot, print to give you subject for a release. Plus it will attact a crowd.

Good shooting! Charles

-- charles mason (c.mason@uaf.edu), March 09, 2002.



John:

I do this on occasion and it's lots of fun! The nostalgia of the old Graphics usually make your subjects warm up to you, (my experience in a small midwestern town). I am a big fan of Weegee and his work. One of his books has his shooting tips in the back. I think he shot at 1/100 and F/16 pre-focussed at ten feet. He always used a flash, day or night, but most of his shots were at night.

-- Ben Hughes (ben@hughesbros.com), March 09, 2002.


John Brownlow at pinkheadedbug.com/portfolios/htrevisited/index.html has done a few SP shots using a Rollieflex TLR and flash. Not a Graflex, but almost as conspicuous!

-- Andrew Nemeth (azn@nemeng.com), March 09, 2002.

I think John has also virtually cornered the market in Graphmatic backs.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), March 09, 2002.

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