Graflex.org

[pv17vv]

Back then when the press gang used Graphics, how did they use them ?
Am I right assuming it was a lot of experience plus a few settings ?
Always the same film, pre-set focus, small aperture for decent DOF, bulb in pan, speed chosen accordingly.
Then compose and press trigger.
And if necessary retouching guy/gal is there for.
Opinions, please.

Georges

[1banjo]

hey pv17vv
for a lot, it was all pre-set, some of them it was all ways used a flash bulbs even in mid-day out in the open sun to get read of dark shadows on faces (now days fill flash not full flash)

for some it was sunny 16 rule & sunny 16 really works good for the most part BUT
shadows on the face

AND for some they would take light meter reading every hour or so & adjust as need

as far as DOF if they are in close up for a press protrait shot adjust for NO DOF, but most
of the old press gays that I have around it was f8 to f16 at 125th focus at 12' on tri-x 400
with or with out flash bulbs & for a 135mm at 12' is f8 thats 10.5' to 14' or f16 thats 9' to 18' and for news thats where its at

1banjo

[glennfromwy]

I use my Speeds and other cameras as point & shoots regularly. Best advise is to consult a depth of field chart for the lens focal length you're using. For example, I did a shoot this summer,where I set the focus at 20 feet and aperture at f:11. I shot the whole set around these settings. Everything came out nicely, though f:16 may have been better. The hyperfocal setting will be the distance at the selected apeture that will just reach infinity at that aperture. Everything should come out reasonably sharp, from infinity to half the hyperfocal distance. I hope I'm explaining it in an understandable fashion. It really isn't hard to do. Weegee did his night beat shots with only two settings and a bag full of bulbs.
_________________
Glenn

"Wyoming - Where everybody is somebody else's weirdo"

[pv17vv]

Thanks for the replies.