Week 28
George Hare Improved Field Camera
Normally I get a camera, chuck in a roll - develop and scan
– assess then repeat in the hope of improving and learning something along the
way. Well this week is a little different and honestly a lot earlier than we intended!
We don't normally plan but Russell part purchased this old girl some weeks ago with an
idea to research, tweak and repair its case then test before deciding if it was
going on the shelf. When he first got it there was no makers name to help
identify it. A lengthy trawl of the tinternet revealed it as THE GEORGE HARE
IMPROVED FIELD CAMERA. Built between 1890 and 1899, a large format bellows
plate camera made of wood, brass and leather. The compur shutter on the front
probably replaced the original curtain shutter, its housing being in the box
now replaced with the more traditional type on a front plate of wood which
doesn't quite match the quality of the rest of the body. The lens is brass with
no name or size on it but I guess 4 inches-ish or 100mm in new money. It came
with 5 double sided glass plate carriers now neatly set up with black tin sheet
film cassettes for 4 ¾ x 6 ½ inch in size.
The film size presented a problem, had it been 4x5 or 8x10
then buying a pack would have been ok as it would get used up eventually but
the odd size might not raise its head again for a good while. There was however
a pack of film in the case! It was Ortho and expired in the 1950s! Yes 65 years
ago, this could be problematic but hey, worth a shot. I took the pack and a
holder home to attempt a load. A quick google told me Ortho film could be
loaded under safe light conditions which was a bonus, being able to see what I
was doing. Next day back to Russells and we went out to shoot it. We took the
nice wooden tripod and I set about taking my first LF pictures. I did
everything I thought I should, focusing under a makeshift black sheet I stole
from wifelys fabric stock using loupe, making notes on EVERYTHING! Loaded
carrier, pulled back dark slide…pop! Done, repeat, I thought it went well.
Straight home to develop. Now, I had tested some film off cuts prior and there
was some fogging. After a chat with film gurus Erik and Craig a suggestion of
using paper developer to cut back the fog and add contrast was offered as an
option so I gave it a go, again under safe light meaning I could watch it
unfold! Unfold it did… very quickly…too quickly! They went very dark. I would
normally scan here but I can't at this size so straight to contact print, and
they printed OK!
Process proved I got 2 holders and loaded 4 new sheets, this
is where it gets sketchy, I came down with a virus, I spent 3 hours over those
4 shots dodging rain and feeling increasingly awful, the final shot was a real
effort to concentrate. The following days were somewhat blurry but I developed
the first one in a more diluted version of the first but that was way too weak
so I went for plan B, a 1:15 Rodinal mix which I found I could control by eye
and ended up with 3 fairly good negs. I was at this point suffering fevers lost
voice etc. and had no drive whatsoever. Last night, Sunday, I knocked out some
feeble prints and viewing this morning I am compelled to do them again tonight.
Hopefully when you read this there will be 5, maybe 6 reasonable scanned prints
to see below.
For a first foray into LF on a strange 130 yr. old camera
with much expired film I think I did ok. I learned a great deal and had fun to
start but sadly fate dealt me a curve ball and spoilt it a bit. Using the Ortho
film under safe light conditions was a highlight, a rare chance to watch the
whole process unfold. Then going straight to print allows me the fun of saying
for the first time – I made a photograph!
Update – a heavy waste basket and several hours later it is
clear that my skills, read lack of! Just are not ready for these difficult
negatives. I am not disappointed, I am lucky to get images from 65 year old
film left in a loft. Strangely the 2 first dark images printed best.
