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Honda S2000

© John H. Siskin

Honda S2000

Uploaded: January 16, 2007

Description

This is taken with an old Graphix SLR, a 4X5 camera with through the lens viewing. The lens is a modern Fujinon soft focus, at about f8. The film is Polaroid positive negative. Lot of fun to make this image.

Comments

M.Christine Duncan November 27, 2008

Okay... sounds alot more fun than just pushing that single button on top of my D40, lol. I wish more of the older equipment was available... and someone locally to teach you how to USE it! Sounds like a fascinating process John! #1042364

M.Christine Duncan November 27, 2008

P.S... having said that, we all know there's more to it than just clicking a button, lol... but still.. #6816659

John H. Siskin November 27, 2008

Hi Christine,
Photography is a language, it enables us to communicate with each other. We may want to communicate emotions, or specifications for a spark plug. Our tools are part of the syntax we use to communicate. Before Fox Talbot communication by image required drawing a picture, relatively crude. Each tool we use opens new doors, creatively, because it expands our syntax. This camera lens combination offered a special way to use the soft focus lens. These lenses were made for about a hundred years because they treated the highlight differently than the midtones and shadows. While you can probably create a similar effect with Photoshop, there is much to be said for doing it with the lens. One thing to be said is that you can see it when you shoot it. This seeing is what made this combination of lens and camera so powerful. Most 4X5 cameras place the film holder in front of the ground glass so that you can’t see the image at the moment of shooting. This old Graflex had single lens viewing, so you could see and shoot, great with the soft focus lens. I modified the film holder on the camera to hold modern film holders and I had a special lens mount made. I used Polaroid pos/neg film with the camera, which creates the unusual frame around the edge of the image. The image is a copy of a contact print made on silver paper. Toned with selenium.

I build and modify cameras to extend my vision. I am usually inspired by capabilities of a lens, but not always. These cameras are tools for me. I don’t make things for the joy of building, though others do. I teach others because I want to help them extend the breadth of the language that they use to communicate. This is why I particularly teach lighting, since it extends the syntax of photography more than any other tool. Thanks, John Siskin
#6816747

Sherry McClead November 28, 2008

Cool shot John... did you get to drive the car??? Is it as much fun as looks like it is???

Sherrybear :} #6819430

John H. Siskin November 28, 2008

Hi Sherry,
No I didn’t get to drive the car. I expect it is a lot of fun. I sure did enjoy shooting it. Thanks, John
#6820250

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