I was invited by The Barberville Pioneer Settlement to participate in their Celebration of Old Florida event by demonstrating the traditions of photography. I enjoy these events because it allows me to talk about the 4 x 5 large format view camera and the use of film/analog in today's digital-dominating technology.
I set up the 4 x 5 and made a few selected photographs of passers-by using the film camera exclusively. Not once did I use a digital camera and show the subjects the resulting image on the camera's preview screen. It didn't pre-visualize the composition using the digital camera — it was all or nothing with the 4 x 5.
What made this event and photo opportunity so memorable, besides meeting a diverse crowd interested in history, was that I decided to create images a little different than my usual approach. Typically, I utilize an environmental portrait approach to create photographs of people. I show the surroundings as they relate to the individual. I was curious to see if I could create meaningful images by focusing on faces.
To do so, I would need to change my lens and work close to the subject's face. This isn't easy to do because the 4 x 5 is intimidating, even when working at a distance. Have a large camera only a few inches from the subject's face feels like a major personal space violation.
I also needed to address the issue of depth-of-field at that close of a distance — there wasn't much. I had to carefully focus on the eyes and hope the subjects remained very still.
By expanding my curiosity to change lenses, it changed my perspective. As all people do, I get comfortable with what I know best, even when there may be a better way. Changing perspectives leads to creativity and thinking something different and that can make all the difference.
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