Getting Started with the Intrepid 4x5 Mk5 - 2022 Fall Photo Series Ep 1

For this year's Fall Photo Series, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to get better acquainted with the Intrepid 4x5 MK5! Deciding to limit myself to one camera and one film type, I packed my bag with sheets of my favourite colour film, Kodak Ektar 100, to see if I like it as much as I do in 35mm or 120.
Fall is one of my favourite times of the year to photograph in the woods, and taking the Intrepid along was a wonderful way to be able to re-visit my usual sites and subjects, while making them feel like I was seeing them through fresh eyes. Although I've captured many of these subjects before on medium format film, I'm enjoying the process of exploring them further in my large format film photography journey.
I'm incredibly lucky to be able to call these woods "my backyard", and to have the chance to get to know them so well, and photograph them as the years go by.
I really hope you enjoy watching this series as much as I did filming it! As always, feel free to stop by my Instagram page @jesshobbsphoto to get a closer look at some of the images in today's video!
Thanks for watching!
#filmphotography #largeformat #intrepid #kodak #landscapephotography

[@jimbob049]

Welcome to the world of large format. Nicely done.

[@allys537]

Those Photos are glorious in their detail, I really need to get an intrepid.

[@sarahstellino1954]

Love this so much! Thanks for sharing your large format journey!

[@JessHobbs]

Thank you so much, Sarah, I really appreciate that!! You've actually been a huge source of inspiration for me to get into LF, so thank you for that! And thanks for watching! ❤️

[@erichstocker8358]

Always nice to get to view a Jess Hobbs' video! I see you are still using Matt's Reveni Lab spotmeter with the battery attachment. A great piece of Canadian photo gear!!!

[@JessHobbs]

Aww, that's so sweet, thank you! And yes, I love that little spot meter! It's even better with the battery attachment! I'm actually planning out a video to talk about it, I have so many things to say! Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@carbonejack]

Beautiful images.

[@SinaFarhat]

Lovely! I haven't seen nice colours since late oktober/ mid November so its nice to be reminded of what nice colours look like!

[@JessHobbs]

Thank you, I appreciate that! I know, right?! I miss the fall, it's always nice to look back on it when the world (at least my part of it) is covered in snow. I'm happy to hear that other people enjoy it as much as I do! Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@marike1100]

Beautiful images. It’s amazing how affordable the Intrepid is. I bought a Chamonix 45N back in the day and I don’t remember it being particularly affordable. ;) Glad I found your channel, enjoy.

[@bernardkelly235]

Really nice work, that first photo especially.

[@JessHobbs]

Thansk you so much, I really appreciate that! The location of the first shot is a wonderful spot, I'll be visiting it again and again, I just love those rocks! Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@MARKLINMAN1]

Love this, just got my Chamonix 45-F2 and can’t wait to get out there with it, first time large format for me, I shoot with my Hassy 501CM most of the time. I look forward to your videos all the time.

[@tearoha.hohaia]

Beautiful images from beautiful surrounds, Jess. Tino ataahua. Ngā mihi - Te Aroha.

[@JessHobbs]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that! Mihi mo te matakitaki (I used Google translate, I hope that's the right way to say thank you for watching!)! ❤️

[@Eclectachrome]

wow that film is SO beautiful!! large format is so impressive the level of detail is stunning, looks almost 3D. Thanks for the video Jess, was very enjoyable to watch!

[@donsusedphoto]

Well, done. Lovely video. Great natural color.

[@JessHobbs]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that! This is why I love shooting Ektar in the fall, the two really go hand in hand! Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@Olivia-lj7qn]

Gorgeous colours and textures in these shots!

[@JessHobbs]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that! And thanks for watching! ❤️

[@discojelly]

Your videos are awesome!! I am so glad I found your channel!!

[@JessHobbs]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that! I enjoy filming these videos, so it's really nice to hear that they are being enjoyed! Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@CynthiaDerrick]

Fantastic! Beautiful shots 😍

[@JessHobbs]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that! And thanks for watching! ❤️

[@oudviola]

Nice work, indeed a great tree. I don't take out my Wista 4x5 often, but when I do, it makes my Bronica 6x7 medium format feel like a point-and-shoot! One trick, you can leave the dark slide in a little bit, to reduce possible light leaks through the slot. Either leave in and track your holders to avoid double exposure, or flip and put back quickly to minimize time slot is exposed.

[@JessHobbs]

Ha ha, yeah, my RB67 seems like a faster camera these days! I've always loved those 6x7 negatives, but seeing my favourite trees on 4x5 has been a game-changer for me. Thanks for the tip! Luckily my holders are actually in tip top shape, but that's a really good trick to keep in mind! Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@anzaeria]

Those images are beautiful with the Fall colours. The largest film I have shot is 6 x 7cm. Though looking at your photos is something else. The clarity and detail really leap off my computer monitor. As much as I would like to shoot colour 4 x 5 film, I'll have to settle on B&W. The cost of colour sheet film here in Australia is insane.

[@chrissybabyist]

Fantastic shots!

[@JessHobbs]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that! And thanks so much for watching! ❤

[@edlinton5119]

Great video, I like your trees. Fall color goes by so fast! I use the same film holders with my Toyo 45A. I’ve not seen any light leaks at the dark slide opening, but don’t store film in them for long, it will get fogged.

[@JessHobbs]

Thank you so much! And yes, fall colour goes by so fast! Thanks for the tip! So far so good, but I do have a tendency to forget film in cameras for a while, so I will make sure I always use up all my sheets, and that I store them properly until I develop them! Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@hambrick03]

Love all your videos! Of all the photographer KZbinrs, I get more excited when you drop a new video. Thank you for putting out quality videos, I know it takes a lot of time and effort!

[@JessHobbs]

Omg, you have no idea how much this means to me! Thank you so much for the kind words, it makes my heart feel warm and fuzzy! I love creating videos, but I especially love telling a story. So while I will probably never be the most prolific KZbinr, I do enjoy taking my time and putting out videos that I pour my heart and soul into. It's wonderful to know that people appreciate the effort! Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@DaisyEye]

I love your videos! Do you still shoot 4x5? If so please show more videos on this. Have you considers the 8x10?

[@andyvan5692]

great video, but at the start, one tip, BEFORE you take the darkslide out, TEST the shutter (it tests for the position of the shutter lever{focus lever} to ensure the shutter is CLOSED before the slide is removed) this helps stop you 'frying' a sheet, as you don't realise the shutter is open, until you hit the release cable (or try to... it won't move, for obvious reasons); also it tests, on some shutters whether you are in Timed mode (NORMAL operating condition, like 1/125th); or in B mode, where you press and the shutter closes as soon as pressure is removed; or in Time exposure mode, like a Toggle switch (HINT, this is a good way of remembering t's action, 1 push to OPEN, 1 push to CLOSE; t stands for Toggle). I say this, as on some shutters, Linhof old style esp. so , this mode is selected by an easy to move slider, separate to the shutter speed selector, and can easily be knocked while adjusting front standard movements, or their respective locking knobs.

[@chilecayenne]

Hello Jess, always great to see you again! Your videos are always so well put together, good music, video, editing...and of course you resultant images! I'm toying with the idea of getting that latest Intrepid 4x5 myself. Do you develop your own film? Do you scan your own negatives? If so, it would be interesting to see your processes for "after" you take an image...to see what you do in post. Also, do you print and frame a lot of your images? Anyway...great to see you again...hope all is well! CC

[@JessHobbs]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate the kind words! So, when I shoot b&w, I do my own developing and scanning at home. I'm not yet set up for developing my own colour stuff yet, so those I send off to a lab in Montreal. Sometimes I do have them scanned for me if I'm pressed for time, but like these images, most of the time I scan myself. For these negatives I used my Epson v700, and then did small adjustments in LR. Honestly, my post-processing is very minimal. I do my best to get a good scan right away, and then I make small adjustments to get the scanning "haze" off. Sometimes I'll colour correct if there's a cast, but most of the time I don't need to. Thanks for watching, and feel free to ask any other questions you have! ❤️

[@philipdahl9001]

Nice video, beautiful images! I started shooting with an Intrepid MK4 a couple of years ago and found it to be very addictive, my other cameras are feeling neglected 😉. I think that learning the process of using a field camera makes a person a better photographer with any camera.

[@JessHobbs]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that! Shooting with the Intrepid is SO addictive! Luckily so far I have been able to share the love with my other cameras, ha ha! I do hope that the LF process helps make me a better photographer in general, I'm always striving to learn something new and improve on my skills! Thanks for watching! ❤

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Amazing results! I love going back to my favourite spots with a new camera/lens/film/developer it might be familiar yet different at the same time!

[@JessHobbs]

Thanks Alex! Exactly, familiar and different at the same time! That's one of my favourite things about photography is that all we really need to do is change things up every once in a while, and out inspiration to photograph our favourite spots is always there. Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@paradiseburns2600]

Hi Jess, what lens are you using on your 4x5? I love the focal length

[@097847t]

Hi Jess, do you develop/scan your 4x5 at home? If not, what lab do you use? Great shots :)

[@JessHobbs]

Thanks, I really appreciate that! So, when I shoot b&w, I do all my own developing/scanning/processing at home. For colour, I'm not quite set up yet, so I have them developed, and occasionally scanned, at Borealis Photo Lab in Montreal. These particular images I scanned myself on my Epson v700, and then processed lightly in LR. Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@stefaanverlinde9726]

Thanks! very beautiful shots !

[@JessHobbs]

Thanks you so much, I really appreciate that! And thanks for watching! ❤

[@andrewfrost8866]

Missed you.

[@JessHobbs]

Aww, thank you, that's so sweet! And thanks for watching! ❤

[@Mike_On_Film]

How on earth are you focusing and composing without using a dark cloth??

[@JessHobbs]

Ha ha, I had a "dark cloth" with me, I just didn't show it, I was too embarrassed! I had ordered a proper one, but it got delayed in the delivery, so I didn't have it yet. All I had around the house was an old dark coloured tablecloth, so I would frame and focus off-camera. Now my real dark cloth has arrived, so I'll have something better to use that's also a bit more photogenic! Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@Mike_On_Film]

@@JessHobbs ok lol I thought maybe you knew something that I didn't. I was like "how?!"

[@JessHobbs]

@Mike_On_Film ha ha, nope, no fancy tricks here, just shame! I'm really looking forward to using my new dark cloth though, the tablecloth kept slipping and it was driving me nuts!