One large format camera in a backpack on a road trip can take up a lot of cargo space but two packs full of gear would be prohibitive on the family vacation. So with some judicious packing and selection of bare essentials I manage to pack the 5×12 and its 3 holders, the 4×5 in […]

Its starting to warm up around here and that always makes me restless to get out and photograph something. Also the new camera, the Chamonix 5×12, needed to be tested in a familiar location. But before I could go anywhere with this almost ULF camera I needed something to carry it in. I had an […]

It has been a long while since I posted and I have been house bound due to the Chinese Covid-19 so have not been out shooting or even experimenting much in the darkroom. I have not even had a chance to take out my new 5×12 camera due to weather and other priorities. We are […]

My 2020 Christmas present to myself. Chamonix made 3 5×12 cameras this year, and I got one of them. The image above shows the size of the 5×12 vs my Chamonix 45N2 that I usually hike and shoot with. I have mounted a temporary Sinar to Technica lensboard adapter on it until I can get […]

I have been taking pictures for over 35 years and one of the best pieces of gear I ever bought was a Manfrotto 3021BN aluminum tripod. It served me well when I was younger and didn’t mind the weight. I had pared it with the Gittos MH3000 Ball head modified with a video QR system. […]

I have already written about the Atlas backpack I purchased earlier and I am still breaking it in. But I added to my gear list this month for somethings I have been wanting. First up a HUGE Schneider Symmar 300/500 f5.6 convertible lens. This lens is almost as big as my 100-400 Canon lens and […]

Without gear no pictures are taken. So this is a bit of free advertising and appreciation for all the companies I use to go on my Sunday Morning Adventures in Photography. Getting there: #AudiUSA, #Keen Hiking boots, #Orvis clothing, #Gatorade The bag: #AtlasAdventure pack In the bag: #ChamonixCamera, #SchneiderKreuznach & #Fujinon Lenses, #Sekonic LightMeter, #B+W […]

Like the Pointer Sisters “I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it, I’m about to lose control and I think I like it. ”   I purchased a new hiking backpack for my 4×5 gear. A couple of weeks ago, I went on a 2.5 mile hike,  and my old frameless pack was extremely uncomfortable […]

After having some failures with Pyrocat HD I decided it was time to order the chemicals directly and make my own. So I went to the Pyrocat HD website and got the list but then I noticed this formula with Metol and fewer ingredients. Further research indicates it has similar properties to HD but with […]

Over the years there have been countless articles about gadgets and gear for small format cameras and a few for large format users. The simplicity of a field camera often keeps us away from gadgets,  especially electronic ones. So I am going to start my list of things I use in the field that help […]