Free lensing for moody photographs -- what, how and why?

[@tedphillips2951]

You are an artist with the brain of a engineer & it produces great results!

[@ShootOnFilm]

Thanks than yeah, I love both the engineering and the artistic parts!

[@TheRobertpainter]

“Miserable day so I take some miserable pictures…” Too funny! Your satire is enjoyable.

[@jaydigshistory36]

Your position in how photography doesn't have to be perfect is so refreshing Ari. Yet with it you still are making art. It's so awesome!

[@ShootOnFilm]

Thanks thanks!! Perfect is boring 😊

[@steffenbjoern]

"Nothing is more relative than quality", the core statement of Robert M. Pirsig in his book "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance" "And nothing is more boring than perfection" is, what I think when looking at nowadays perfectly designed AI-supported pictures of our digital generation. In my blog, I personally refer to Miro and other Artists who made clear statements to fight perfection in arts: bjoernensartwork.blogspot.com/2017/01/perfektion-bilderlose-gedanken.html

[@lukb.2608]

really great work Ari & never stop to be curios!

[@ShootOnFilm]

Thanks thanks 😊

[@thecherishedlife]

This was an amazing video, I really enjoyed watching it. Thank you so much!

[@virginiatavarez4199]

can you please make a video with mirrorless cameras or provide me with any suggestions with attachments or using it for black and white cameras.

[@robhosailor]

Hehe, You're the one showing how to get intentional light leaks in an image, and I'm worried that my camera is broken and the back cover is leaking and letting in parasitic light. Hehe. But again, I see inspiring material here, I once tested macro without macro tubes, holding a lens from another camera in my hand, and it's also nice to use, for example, an Industar-22 lens turned back to front (held in my hand, of course) with a Praktica or Exakta SLR . Best regards.

[@fbraakman]

You never cease to amaze me! Awesome discussion.

[@ShootOnFilm]

Thanks thanks

[@tedcrosby9361]

I really like the way the winter trees are blurred. I get this effect with my pinhole camera, but thanks to your video I now have another technique I can use. Great stuff, thanks.

[@ShootOnFilm]

Great to hear! Pinholing is also awesome!

[@rbrowning8088]

Great video. I'm inspired to give it a try !!! ...rb

[@ShootOnFilm]

Go for it!

[@wcrofford]

I had the same thoughts before you mentioned it; similar to very old photography. I have a Konica T3 however the only medium format is my Olympic tlr, so I need the find an inexpensive medium lens. Thanks, good inspiration.

[@ShootOnFilm]

Thanks for watching!

[@todoterreno2282]

Sweet results and nice introduction into your techniques. I'd cut the glove at the wrist and use the sleeve as "macro bellows". Your Graflex SLR might accept a tilt and shift front standard from another 4x5 camera for that beautiful look, just for the DIY fun and to avoid light leaks.

[@ShootOnFilm]

I don’t think it’s easy to modify this slr Graflex to take a lens board. Everything is possible but it is really built as a one unit 😊

[@blossombaytalks]

What a wonderful video. I’m going to give this technique a try 🎉

[@arijaaksi]

It’s a lot of fun!

[@hoggif]

Picture perfect is easy rabbit to chase. Not that long ago I framed image with my 90mm Schneider and switched to pinhole plate on my 4x5. I like the style of pinhole photo more than the reference photo I took with the optic. Sure, Schneider is way sharper but I liked (and wanted) the pinhole style instead. (fixed camera on tripod) Better is not always better.

[@ShootOnFilm]

So true!!!

[@thewildgoose7467]

Very Cool. I'll try this on film over the next few days, but being an impatient sod I felt I'd have to try something right after seeing this video. So I had an idea... I got my APSC Fuji mirrorless digital and an old Nikkor 50mm, and guess what.....it works! None of my medium format cameras are SLR but I do have a medium format digital, so it will be fun to try that with one of my large format lenses too.

[@ShootOnFilm]

Excellent!! A very good and creative use of digital!

[@kmcsmart]

Great ideas and very well explained. You could also use your m42 lenses on other 35mm cameras as long as you choose a camera body with a shorter flange distance than m42. You don’t always need a medium format lens. A Konica AR mount has a flange distance of 40.5mm and your m42 lens has a flange distance of roughly 45.5mm so that gives you 5mm to play around with. It would be a very cheap way for someone to try this technique. I bought a Graflex RB series B after your first video on free lensing. What an amazingly versatile camera. Thanks for that hot tip.

[@ShootOnFilm]

Thanks!!! You are absolutely right. Finding the right lens is not trivial, but you can just go and try different version!

[@steffenbjoern]

Oh yes! What a great idea! How about taping the bayonet of the camera with black electricians isolation tape in order to prevent scratching the lens? And... ... if you loose one of your gloves: How about cutting the upper part away, stuffing a cut out rim of a round plastic container to the lower part to keep it always wide open and then put the lens into the place, the palm of your hand used to be in? Wouldn't that be an approach to control the light leaks?

[@ShootOnFilm]

Both excellent ideas. However, I want some light leaks. They are part of this process 😊

[@stephenm103]

Interesting idea(s) - have never heard of this approach before but results reminded me of a technique some wedding photog's were using back in the day where they'd apply a thin layer of vaseline to outer circumference of their front element (they'd have a neutral filter attached, of course). Seeing your examples I am excited about what is possible w/my candid portraiture. . . . As I'm listening to this and considering my options, while I can't use the Hasselblad body - I THINK I CAN use my Hasselblad lenses on my Nikon SLR (?). And, also thinking about what I could fabricate to manage light leaks - some kind of home-made bellows like gadget should not be too difficult! Hey - it's raining outside and I think you just gave me an excuse to dump all the gear out on the floor and play!! HAHA My wife is gonna think I slipped a cog - she's right!! Cheers and (as always) thank you so much for the conversation and ideas.

[@ShootOnFilm]

Awesome. Yeah, Hasselblad lenses should be fine!

[@ScottLaceyMN]

Thank you for your very refreshing video. I can't wait to give it a try.

[@ShootOnFilm]

Thanks thanks! Yeah -- go for it :-)

[@bernardkealey6449]

So pleased you brought out the big SLR! I was griping slightly when u said it couldn’t be done on view camera, thinking you were saying couldn’t be done on Large Format at all… Oh me of little faith. (Love the gum boots too!)

[@ShootOnFilm]

As long as it is an SLR the size won’t matter :-)

[@DentalEquipmentRepairChannel]

Greetings from Michigan, USA. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos. I am enjoying large format x-ray film photography. Your ideas have been very helpful in my exploration of the hobby.

[@ShootOnFilm]

Great to hear! Large format x-ray is a cool combo!

[@paullacotta5645]

Very beautiful photos Ari. They are painterly. You made pictures that are photographic equivalent of watercolor.❤️👍

[@ShootOnFilm]

Thanks!! I like that comparison!

[@brekbenson2180]

To infinity and beyond!

[@ShootOnFilm]

Indeed, Buzz!

[@jimphilpott902]

Your work reminds me of the landscape series taken by Sally Mann where mood is more important than sharp focus. Keep experimenting! Even your yellow boots create a mood, more light than dark! Your videos are informative and fun.

[@chriscard6544]

Sally Mann is my new 'mentor'

[@ShootOnFilm]

She is very talented!!! I love those boots. Easy on/off 😊

[@Brackcycle]

Next stop Large format View Camera with leaky bellows!!!

[@ShootOnFilm]

😊 leaks are always good.

[@Brackcycle]

@@ShootOnFilm that's good because most of my bellows cameras have them!

[@petervanorsouw]

Hi Ari I have noticed that you are not concerned with sharp fine grain clear pictures. A 35mm SLR can oblige either way, sharp fine grain and or soft grainy results. I know that that is nothing new to you. I've tried the other formats and find that 35mm is so versatile. I'm so glad that you have finally found a use for this great format. 👍

[@tumaprints]

Always fun, entertaining and educational, brother! Thank you for sharing your ideas and photographs with all of us!! We didn't get our typical Minnesota snow this year, at least not yet (it IS Minnesota, ya never know), so I do not have any good snow shots this season. I love seeing your processes and how you tweak them, experimenting and having fun!! It is inspiring. (BTW I am working on a couple videos to show my cameras, and I promise this time it won't be 3 minutes of slideshow...LOL.

[@ShootOnFilm]

Glad you enjoyed it! And yes, please, show us your works!!

[@genegoranov5865]

Thank you for your adventurous spirit, Ari. I started to return to my 35, and what a beautiful thing to suggest just in time :).

[@ShootOnFilm]

Excellent. I shoot very little with my 35 but this is a lot of fun!

[@ejorbe]

So with free lensing you do have to go “to infinity and beyond!” Knowing myself I have a feeling I would scratch or drop something. It is interesting to see the technique and outcome, but I think I will stay in the atmosphere of confined lensing haha. Thanks for an informative and great video!!

[@ShootOnFilm]

Thanks for watching, though 😊

[@iansimpson9351]

Very interesting, I have heard of it before but never seen such a detailed explanation. I assume if the lens you are using has forcing capability you set it to infinity. What about aperture, do you do it wide open or vary the aperture as you would shooting normally.

[@ShootOnFilm]

Aperture can be changed in most lenses. This time I shot wide open as I wanted to play with a narrow depth of field.

[@heinzhagenbucher4714]

Hello to you Ari. Oh, I love the output of this arty style. Well done, and maybe one day I'll try it too. Wish you a lovely Sunday

[@ShootOnFilm]

You too!! Thanks for watching!

[@danncorbit3623]

My Canon and Nikon 35mm cameras would 'work', but I feel like medium format or larger is needed for this technique. All my medium format cameras are TLR cameras. My 4x5 large format cameras would work, but with the cost per sheet, I'm a coward to try it. I guess I an going to have to get a medium format SLR. Hard to find one that's reasonable. I wonder if a Holga or Diana would work.

[@danncorbit3623]

An idea occurs to me that I may want to try. I could make a bag bellows for my 4x5 lenses and use them with a holga. That way I can get tilt/shift in arbitrary measure. I could also make bags with sluts in them that open a little when I Bunch it up. A diagonal slit, three spiral slits at 120degrees, etc. Might be fun and it would only cost me a holga price. A longer lens like my 300mm would give me tons of movement.

[@ShootOnFilm]

You cannot use a Holga if you want free lensing. Stationary tilt/shift is possible with a ground glass, but for free lensing you really need a SLR camera - one with a moving mirror and focusing through the lens. Kiev 60 or 88 are cheap medium format slr cameras

[@gregneymeyer5220]

Very interesting and informative. But, truth be told, no matter what I do, most of my pictures look like these. lolol Basically, I embarrass my poor camera.

[@ShootOnFilm]

Ha haa!! But hey, you can use your iPhone to take them boring pictures. 😊

[@gregneymeyer5220]

Well, I tried free lensing with my I phone. Gotta get a new phone now. lololol@@ShootOnFilm

[@ggaffrey8573]

Ari, the content of several of your latest videos would make great content specific zines.

[@ggaffrey8573]

Also, love the boots

[@ShootOnFilm]

That is a good idea 😊

[@BerndFischer-n7f]

👍that's the stuff we need👍

[@ShootOnFilm]

😊

[@chriscard6544]

you are awesome bro

[@ShootOnFilm]

Thank you so much 😀

[@theblackandwhitefilmproject]

😎😎😎

[@ShootOnFilm]

👍👍👍👍