Monday, April 1, 2013

Composition, and cold weather

Several years ago I was intrigued by the long winter shadows at the historic Graue Mill, in Oak Brook Illinois. http://www.grauemill.org

I put a wide angle lens on a Hasselblad - the old 40mm C Distagon. A dark orange filter was placed up front, to enhance contrast. There was some Ilford HP5 film rolling around in my collection, so I loaded it up and drove to the mill.


Hasselblad 40 C Distagon
Click for larger view


It was brutally cold. After each exposure, the lens would stop down, but did not return to its wide open f4 aperture. I had to manually open it up in order to compose the rest of the images.

The equivalent view of this lens in 35mm terms, is in the range of 25mm. With a very few steps, the image composition changed radically.


Click for larger view


Click for larger view


Click for larger view

Batteries can also be problematic in cold weather. I've used a motorized Hasselblad a few times, and the internal battery failed quickly when used during a 15 degree day. I rigged up a small 6 volt lead-acid battery, kept it in a pocket inside my coat, and ran a wire to the camera. This worked well. Always carry extra batteries.

The Graue Mill is a favorite location of mine for photography. There are scenic trails through the adjoining natural area, and numerous events are held throughout the year.

No comments:

Post a Comment