Woody Point Jetty - Redcliffe Peninsula.

[alexn]

Linhof Kardan Super Color ST
Rodenstock 75mm F/4.5
Velvia 50. (home developed)

This is from memory a 12 minute exposure taken maybe 20 minutes after sunset.

[Maris]

Crikey, 617 is a tough format. A horizon line straight through the middle where theory says it should not go. A picture with things on the left but nothing to look at in the right hand half. This should not work. But it does! It still rewards looking.

[alexn]

Thanks Maris. Yes the composition is unconventional at best, however I was trying to balance the lights in the sky against the dark blues in the water and couldnt figure out where felt best on the night so I thought, well, Just go with it in the center.... As for the balancing left to right, well the jetty was where I wanted it, I figured the brightness to the right (West) was enough to balance the composition. The Jetty weighs in heavier than the western setting sun but without the light in the West, the jetty would fade into the shadows anyway...

It was one of those "Do I or Don't I Expose this slide?" moments.. I figured it cant hurt... When I pulled it out of the drum when I developed it I instantly thought "Winner!"

[jars121]

That's a great result Alex! How do you meter for a 12 minute exposure? Is it more of a 'guess and check' arrangement? By the way, if you're in Sydney and you want to try out a 617 before you buy, you're welcome to take my Fuji out for a spin.

[alexn]

For metering, i meter the brightest spot in the scene where i want detail, then dial my pretax spot in to that ev reading, add 2.3 stops to place the bright area squarely in the top end of the film. My meter indicated this would require 3.6 minutes exposure. I then added 1.5 stops for reciprocity and a little more for good luck and falling light levels, fired the shutter and hoped it would work out.. I am usually pretty accurate down to12 - 15minutes exposure on velvia 50. Past that the reciprocity gets haywire and i tend to under expose a bit. I took a shot recently where the meter indicated 12 mins were needed. With reciprocity that would be a 54 ~ 63 min exposure. I cut it short at 42 mins as the sun was rising and light levels had risen dramatically. When i developed the film the slide looks maybe 1.5 stops too dark.. Its a dark art but important starting to get the feel for it..

I would love to have a play of i get down to Sydney.. I should hopefully have a 617 in a few weeks anyway i think.. Gotta clear it with the wife...