[Largeformat] Re: introduction

[wd1346@airmail.net]

From: wd1346@airmail.net

 Also, does
>anyone regularly use Polaroid 59 as a preview for E100S
>transparencies? Would love to hear your impressions of these
>two used in combination.
>

Doug, as a practical tool, polaroid is used in every studio in the country.
For  table top work I use polaroid 55pn to get exposure, check composition
(If I am shooting 4x5) and to check for the depth of field.  Polaroid 55pn
comes with a negative that you can fix and print if you wish.  But the
negative can be on the spot checked to see if your focus is holding up as
you wish.  What you see is what you get.  It will be real close to your
exposure for film (I use EPP).  You may have to open up or close down 1/3
of a stop from the polariod exposure depending on how your lab runs the
film.  Bracket the first time and then you will be real close from then on.

The problem with polaroid 59 is that it is color and the color is never
right on.  Clients always look at it as if it is and you have to go through
a porky pig a-deep-a-deep-a-deep explaining that the film will be much
richer in color.  Usually the exposure for the film is the same as the
exposure for the polaroid 59 in my studio.

Oh btw.  I shoot a four sheet bracket on all pro jobs.  I shoot two sheets
in the middle of my exposure and one sheet each 1/3 up and down.  When
processing I put the two 'middle' exposures in a seperate box and run one
and hold the other.

There are several reasons for this:

First I get an "insurance sheet" should something go amiss in processing or
if my exposure (god forbid) should not be within my bracket I can adjust
(no one wants to reshoot).  But also if all is okay it gives you an extra
copy of the image.  I have had clients call about twice a year saying they
have lost their film and do I have a copy.  I always say "sure I do...that
will be x amount of dollars...thank you very much"  Actually I haven't
charged them yet but they think you are pretty on top of it and you have
just saved their ass so you make points.

Usually the processor will 'tag' the middle sheet he processes for you with
a number or letter so he can identify which box holds the copy.  I have
used many processors over the years and in different cities and none of
them had any problem with doing this.  It is pretty much accepted practice
with the pros in Chicago.

Bill Debold