Hill Farming

Today in class we learned about using a large format camera and how to develop and print with large format film. There were so many steps! I think the hardest part about using a large format camera is loading the film into the camera. You have to do everything either in complete darkness or with your hand inside a light sealed bag. You have to feel the edges of the film as your loading it and the texture as well so you know which side goes where and if the films emulsion side is in the right place, which would be ok except you can’t touch the emulsion side too much or you’ll ruin the film. Loading one slide (that’s just one photograph!) takes nearly 5 minutes. And taking the photograph itself took me just under half an hour. I suppose it’s a good thing because it make you really think about the photograph your going to take. But really I couldn’t use this method. I like to take images of things that are fleeting (Cartier-Bresson anyone?). But for architectural things I think large format would be quite nice. You could get such large prints at Metroprint! Our tutor showed us how to print as well, but because the film is so expensive I think its best to leave large printing to the professionals at Metroprint!