THE MAMMOTH CAMERA

Late in November of 2001 we were fortunate to negotiate ownership of a truly LARGE camera.  We purchased a used 16x20 view camera system.  .  . complete with five film holders, 100 sheets of Tri-X and custom made carrying cases. We made a mad dash to get the camera ready for our upcoming three and one half week trip to California.  .  .  We seem to spend nearly every December traveling and photographing.

Here we are with the mammoth.  .  .

We had to find a lens for this camera, since nothing we had would cover this large a piece of film.  .  . so the search was on.  We ended up with a real nice 30" Red Dot Artar that was custom fitted with a modern Copal shutter by S.K. Grimes.  We had the camera and lens on our doorstep the day before Thanksgiving (We were leaving on December 7th).  We had a couple of weeks to get everything tested and ready for the road.

J.B. with a 16x20 negative.  .  .

The next problem was the tripod.  .  . or should I say the tripod head!  I have one large wooden surveyor's tripod that is more than adequate, but the largest head that Bogen makes is only rated at something like 36 pounds.  .  . The camera alone weighs 38 pounds.  .  . not including the lens and film holder! Even the large Majestic Gear Head is only rated at 35 pounds. The only game in town is Ries.  .  . they make a beefed-up "A" model tripod and head with a capacity of 65 pounds.  .  . the tripod was on our door step a few days after the Thanksgiving weekend.  .  . This tripod and head tips the scales at 21 pounds!

J.B. & 16x20.  .  . White Sands, New Mexico

I loaded the film holders with printing paper and performed my usual light leak test.  The holders were carried out into the back yard and paraded around for about five minutes each.  .  . turning the holders in every direction in full sun.  Next the camera is set up and each holder is loaded into the camera and a long metered exposure is made on each sheet of paper.  Then the paper is processed and checked for any sign of light leaks.  .  . all was fine!.  .  . After a few mechanical modifications and adjustments.  .  . we were ready!

.  .  . Death Valley

It took both of us to set up this beast.  .  . Susan was leery to use it.  .  . She stuck to her 8x10.  She did have to help set the thing up and get it loaded back into the van.  I made four images, a total of eight 16x20 negatives, on the trip.  .  . two are just excellent and will be in our next exhibition.  .  .

.  .  . Yosemite Valley with two feet of snow

As far as the mammoth camera is concerned.  .  . well let me just say, I wouldn't be without it!  Here are a couple of finished images.  .  .

DISCOVERY VIEW, YOSEMITE VALLEY






DEATH VALLEY

BTW:   Let me just get up on my soap box and say that this digital thing just can't begin to convey what a REAL image from a REAL negative looks and feels like.  .  . To understand, you will just have to come and see the photos.  .  . once you see for yourself just how beautiful a contact print can be, I believe you will think twice before you join the "IN-CROWD" with their battle cry, "I'm selling my dark room, I'm going digital!

THINK ABOUT IT!!!