Antique Alternative Process - Learning Modern Lessons

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Thanksgiving. I had the opportunity to do a few sessions this weekend with my large-format 8x10 camera. I love making portraits with this camera because it is entirely manual, a very different experience from the modern camera I use daily. As a photographer, I have to think about and decide on every aspect of the image creation process, I only have film holders for ten shots. For example, I must use a measuring tape to calculate bellows draw. Every time I change the camera position and then change focus, I need to recalculate the image exposed using a formula where I have to know the distance between the lens and film plane. While I deal with these decisions, I also need to pay special attention to my subject. The entire process is slow and deliberate. When I'm in the zone, it's like a meditation. While I certainly gained practice with the technical aspects of portrait making, I gained more practice in connecting with my subjects, helping them be at ease in front of the camera, and guiding them to a great image. Remember, I only have ten shots ready for the session.

You can learn more about my paper negative portrait project by looking at the images gallery here.