Large Format Camera

During lessons we have been looking at large format film cameras - the sort that Cecil Beaton and co. would have used.
In the first lesson, we used photographic paper to take the photos, so that we could get used to using the cameras and experience the time it would have taken for the original photographers. Cutting it down to fit the slide, then using the enlargers to invert the image onto another piece of paper.

In the second lesson we used actual film, and took images properly in the studio, using and changing the lighting.

Taking photo's using a large format camera was much calmer than using digital. It was in entirely different experience, involving a lot more patience and thoughtful planning, which I tend to ignore when using digital

When developing the images, we discovered that some of the film may have been put in the wrong way, so out of 4 photos only one had been successful. We borrowed a negative from the other group, which was really 'thin' (most of the emulation had gone, very little contrast between light and dark) and took a very long time to get a good image from it.