Shooting 8x10" Delta 100 B&W Film at Rocky Fork Gorge - Large Format Friday: Field Work

Today I'm heading South again exploring more of the beautiful landscape Ohio's slice of Appalachia has to offer. The preserve that hosts all of these fine features is Rocky Fork Gorge, also known as the Highlands Nature Sanctuary. While some parts of the preserve are handled by the State of Ohio, the bulk of the restoration work is done by Arc of Appalachia:
arcofappalachi...
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#largeformat #filmphotography #ilford #blackandwhite
00:00 Intro

[@mattdayphoto]

Oh man, they’re gonna cherish that photo you shot of them, I’m sure. So rad, Mat!

[@MatMarrash]

They were so cool man, can't wait for them to see the contact prints!

[@joerainbow4173]

That’s a great thing to do, you can see the appreciation in their faces. Enjoyed it.

[@tim78723]

I am a bit late to the party, I just found your channel. I used to own a Custom B&W / Color photo lab, and I ran a couple before that, back in the '80s & '90s. (Digital was just coming around when I had to close my lab, too many big dogs in the fight.) I am just now getting back into film shooting again after a 15-year hiatus. I even fought auto-focus cameras, you can imaging the hard time I had coming to digital. I only shot on some little point-and-shoot cameras for a long time, I got a Nikon digital camera only about 3 years ago. I'm so excited to see you young pups out shooting on film and even the large format cameras. Fantastic shots, I can't wait for my processing chemicals to come in, along with the developer tube & reels. I love the large format platform, thanks for the videos. Great work. I love the work you do!

[@MatMarrash]

Tim thank you so much for the comment and we're excited to have you back in the world of film photography! One of the best parts about film is it will be just like riding a bicycle, it will all click once the tools are in place. Cheers and happy shooting!

[@jiml989]

Another great video. I was born and raised in northern Ohio and had no idea such the great places you have show cased even existed. Look forward to next Friday.

[@MatMarrash]

Thanks Jim! Never started appreciating my own back yard in Ohio until forcing myself to do a project on preserves in the state. Now there's lots to appreciate. :)

[@SeriinHD]

Really lovely video! As always. The portrait was really special.

[@MatMarrash]

Thank you very much!

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

It's always fun when folks come over and recognize your equipment. Had that a few times with the Crown Graphic, but it's my Rolleiflex TLR that gets the most attention.

[@MichaelZieschang]

What a location. Love the S-curve of the rocks at the end.

[@TheMrfoxguy]

This gorge is really something this area used to be a tourist attraction called the 7 caves but was shut down rumor has it that there was once a gangster hiding out in one of the caves back in the prohibition era in that area

[@mattdayphoto]

Best part of Friday mornings. ❤️

[@MatMarrash]

Cheaper than a cup of coffee with approximately 99% less caffeine!

[@EdwardMartinsPhotography]

Mat, I bring color 4x5 film with me but never shoot it, only shooting black and white. Do I need therapy, or is that normal?

[@MatMarrash]

Edward if it is something chronic, I think maybe we'd be able to go together and get a group discount! Color is something I keep telling myself I need to shoot more of, and then it barely ever happens.

[@LarryManiccia]

Nice of you to take the portrait of that couple Mat. I always love to talk with people about photography when I get the chance which unfortunately is not too often. Thanks for introducing me to some spots I had never heard about prior to your vlogs. I will be sure to check out these great locations in the future.

[@johnmartin8526]

Excellent episode excellent images and great explanations. I particularly loved the anti-gravity stream.....

[@brineb58]

Another great video!!! Yes, unexposed film is sad!!!

[@JM603]

You have an excellent channel. It's going to go places. I love watching the content, its relaxing and easy to watch. You have a lot of patience to setup each shot for the walk by shots lol I admire the production value!

[@MatMarrash]

Thank you so much! The "Field Work" series are my favorite to make and I try to show folks what I'd be doing/experiencing if the cameras were off.

[@JM603]

@@MatMarrash they are thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks :-)

[@JeremyOClair]

Clever reverse b-roll clips of the water fall. Lol.

[@chilecayenne]

Hi Mat, Well, here I sit evacuated from New Orleans due to Hurricane Ida. I’m a long way from home, it’s been a long week and a long day. I needed my Large Format Friday Fix!,! Thanks for brightening my day, have a GREAT holiday weekend…see ya next week! CC

[@MatMarrash]

Oh my gosh! I'm glad you're safe from Ida and hoping you'll be be able to get back home soon!

[@jerryjzy]

Your hair!

[@MatMarrash]

Don't worry, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled big hair in no time!

[@markfohl2167]

Another great show, thanks! Comment: did you shoot this this week, 9/1? I'm surprised the water is low with all the rain we had, especially in the south. Suggestion: when you're carrying your camera on the tripod, put a lens cap on the lens. The only thing I saw when you were walking was the glass, and it was exposed to danger!

[@MatMarrash]

Believe it or not Mark, this was on the morning of 9/2. Buckets of rain didn't make a dent in the incredibly dry Summer it's been down there.

[@bernardkelly235]

Lovely excursion. Really liked the one of the falls. When you say standard and wide, though, could you just mention the focal lengths, too? I know most of us should be able to make an educated guess, but ....

[@MatMarrash]

Good call Bernard, always a good thing to bring first-timers to the channel up to speed!

[@brycepinson8641]

This is within driving range for me! I'll have to check it out. I probably would have walked right by the shot at 10:56, thinking that sun coming in would be too harsh. But it works really well here and draws your eye into the scene. Thanks for these videos and keep up the good work!

[@MatMarrash]

Thanks Bryce and yes please, check out this preserve. There's so much more to it not seen in the episode and it's all beautiful!

[@analogwisdom]

LFF makes life worth living!

[@kiddeq]

Hey, Mat, a question on the portrait - what zone do you place skin for a backlit scene?

[@MatMarrash]

I placed the skin on Zone VI which resulted in a little "thicker" negative than normal, but had plenty of shadow details for a good contact print on grade 2.

[@samehfahmi2068]

I'm really really loving the wide stuff, Mat!!!

[@MatMarrash]

Thanks Sameh! My back wishes it knew what lenses I'd end up shooting before hauling all of them in the field.

[@johngreenwood9361]

What are you doing with that old accordion??! hahaha Another great video, enjoyed it

[@MatMarrash]

If this camera gets any squeakier it will start making music! >__

[@tseumd58]

Awesome 👏🏻

[@extremelydave]

I think you made a couple very happy....that was cool.... What I wonder is how much you would hyperventilate going to Yosemite or the Redwoods with your camera. I know you work with what you have (and your real job IS in Ohio...) but you need to take a serious vacation out west. I for one would LOVE to see what you come up with.....especially if you had some color film! Keep clickin'!!!!

[@MatMarrash]

Dave I still need to make my pilgrimage out West with LF, can't wait to see it all!

[@extremelydave]

@@MatMarrash When you DO make it out west, make it a point to go to several place - the foothills of the Sierras in California, the foothills of the Rockies in Colorado and go to Zion and Bryce Canyon. If you want to get more adventurous, bring a person to haul your goodies around or bring a smaller camera (Like a Mamiya 645). That is unless you really ARE a masochist.....

[@MichaelLloyd]

I think meeting that couple was a bonus. I'd have done the same thing. I loved the shots that you got on this trip. I never knew Ohio to be like this. I've only been to the far east, right on the Ohio river (Wellsville). I drove home by travelling west through the middle of Ohio on the interstate but it was right in the middle of a blizzard so I wasn't exactly paying attention to the scenery. It's a beautiful state from what I see on your channel. Well worth visiting. I'm headed home (to TX from NW NM) tomorrow and I'll take all of the film gear with me. I've got a day and half of personal business to do and then 4 days in Big Bend National Park. That's been my go to place for over a decade but most of what I shot there was digital and night (you can see your shadow, albeit dim, by the light of the Milky Way there). I have taken the 4x5 back to Cattail Falls but really haven't shot much there other than that. 1/2 a roll of Acros 100 at the Hot Springs (right on the Rio Grande. Mexico is a short walk from there) and a few sheets of 4x5 at the most. It's going to be hard to get to everything I want to photograph but I'm looking forward to the trip, included the back roads I'm going to take thru NM when I come back

[@MatMarrash]

Having lived a vast majority of my life in Ohio, I used to feel the same way about the sights. It wasn't until the mid-2010's when I started to explore my own backyard with the LF camera. Though I've only been to NM a couple of times, the landscape and light out there was fantastic to behold! Being able to see a heavy storm in the distance was a very, very cool experience.

[@MichaelLloyd]

@@MatMarrash If you ever head west again let me know and I'll send you my Google Earth pins. Death Valley, surprisingly, was amazing. The first time that I went there was to Michael Gordon workshop to learn to use a 4x5. The second trip was one of the best that I've taken. Week 1 was just me being a tourist. Week 2 was with Michael as a guide. He drove and cooked. 100% camping. No tent. It probably doesn't sound like it but it was great. When you wakeup and the racetrack is a few minutes away... that's a good thing... He asked what I want to see and I told him to pick all of the places that he loves to go but can't take a customer for whatever reason or that he hasn't seen yet. The only bummer was that he had switched to digital. After trekking with him in the back country for a week I understood why. We were all over the park, hiking dunes. Hiking canyons to see petroglyphs and old locations that native Americans had used. Normally I am by myself or with a select few people when I photograph but I wouldn't trade the DV experience for anything.

[@camerachica73]

Weird question - would you mind weighing your tripod legs and head please? I'd love to know because because my tripod is wooden and the whole thing feels very weighty, but I realise I need the stability for an LF camera and you appear to effortlessly charge around hiking trails like it's no big deal!

[@MatMarrash]

The Induro CT414 comes in at 6.5 lbs. and the Majestic head comes in at 8.5 lbs. On the trails I was slinging 15 lbs. of tripod, 12 lbs. of film holders, and just shy of 40 lbs. of 8x10 gear. LF has always been my workout plan!

[@camerachica73]

@@MatMarrash Thanks and yes I always think photographers should budget in an osteopath!

[@jasonnicholas4336]

I’m commenting from Australia where we are upside down from you but I’m just wondering how waterfalls flow upwards in Ohio?

[@MatMarrash]

Not sure what happened in the edit to get this, but it's kinda cool!

[@jasonnicholas4336]

Ah, no, I just realised what happened. You are shooting with a large format camera and the image itself is inverted. Actually, to get viewers used to this, you should just post your videos upside down. :)

[@N556ND]

Loved the portrait!

[@MatMarrash]

Fingers crossed they like the prints!

[@oudviola]

Great images! What is a "standard" lens in 8x10?

[@MatMarrash]

Hey Mark on 8x10 that's generally in the 300-360mm range, mine's a Schneider G-Claron 355mm.

[@oudviola]

@@MatMarrash Thanks!

[@mathieubauwens9759]

Cool, back to the field

[@patefermente]

I’m really happy with how you explained your use of swinging and refocusing your front standard at the waterfall. It’s explained in books, websites, and the like, but this video really made its use clearer and useful. Happy shooting Matt!

[@mattbechberger3298]

I always watch and cross my fingers that your Reveni Labs Spot Meter is still serving you well and keeping your Sekonic on the shelf!

[@MatMarrash]

The Reveni only takes a backseat when I'm working strobes, otherwise I'm using the free real estate for more glass! Thanks for making my kit more efficient Matt!

[@stuartbaines2843]

Great images once again 👍 Topped off with an Excellent portrait!

[@photo5555]

I usually do a very good job, Mat, I am delighted with the quality of the photos, best regards :)

[@MattWeddis]

I love the portrait. I always aim to get a portrait of at least one stranger when I take the 4x5 out on a hike. I see it as a small, added bonus.

[@MatMarrash]

Thanks Matt! That impromptu session was the cherry on top of an already great hike and shoot.

[@bruceharvey6428]

This was terrific, Mat, very well done indeed. Wonderful compositions, and those tones are glorious.

[@MatMarrash]

Thanks Bruce, it was an exciting hike and the photos were a nice bonus!

[@c.augustin]

Mat, you have a special talent - there's often not much going on in your videos (by today's "standards", that is ;-)), but it never gets boring and I usually follow them to the very end. Your pace is perfect for LF photography, it feels like being with you on the trail. It makes me want to go shooting (has to wait some more hours, but it is actually going to happen today and tomorrow).

[@MatMarrash]

Thank you Christian, I appreciate you taking notice of the deliberately slower pace. It's all a part of the LF way of life. While making flashy, tightly edited videos would be fun, it wouldn't be authentic to what this type of photography has to offer. Cheers and happy shooting!

[@richardstollar4291]

I haven't been out with my 8x10 much yet (mainly because I need a good rucksack to carry it in) but often find people wanting to ask about my 4x5 - seems there are more people like Roy and Mary out there than you might expect and I'm sure they'll appreciate the portrait. Great shots as always and inspirational.

[@MatMarrash]

Richard thanks for the comment. When you're searching out a bag for 8x10, make sure there's good support for the shoulders, chest, and back. My first 8x10 bag didn't distribute weight properly and it almost cost me my back.

[@ChillMusicRingo]

Wow! Mat and Matt! I love both.

[@anthonyritchie696]

Hi Mat, Thanks for another LFF, Rushed home from my evening shift at the service station to find the notification as always it makes my week. Thanks mate

[@MatMarrash]

Glad to hear this helped you wind-down from a long day. LF is always my escape, even if it means getting up too early.

[@anthonyritchie696]

@@MatMarrash Always my escape.. So much want a large format camera. But I need to get some more hours at the grind :)

[@tomthacker4490]

Beautiful area. Our family used to go to 7 Caves when I was a kid. Haven’t been down there in 50 years, but I think I may have to go back sometime soon.

[@MatMarrash]

The Arc of Appalachia folks are doing good work and are taking care of many attractions in the Southern Ohio region. Already a noticeable difference from when I first visited back in 2017.

[@philipu150]

Nice hike, Matt. I especially liked your first image and that of the falls, or trickles. Your explanation of the small amount of swing needed will help many coming on board LF; frustration due to "a tilt too far" can consume lots of time and become exasperating. Don't ask me how I know.

[@MatMarrash]

Thanks Philip! If there's a tip I share on the channel, it's either from a mountain of my own mistakes or suggestions from experienced viewers!

[@ChristopherMay]

It's always an enjoyable part of my Friday when I get to hit the virtual trail with you on LFF. Nice stuff as always, Matt.

[@tariqtareyy1370]

Beautiful work, Mat!

[@dongxu2059]

Man now you have just started a new series : LFF: Field Portrait Work

[@MatMarrash]

Now I'm going to have to start bringing extra holders, just in case!

[@pathpounder1]

What a great surprise to bump into fellow printers

[@MatMarrash]

It was a very pleasant surprise, long live film!

[@kenklontz1945]

Your idea of timing finding a subject is great 😎

[@MatMarrash]

There's a wee bit of planning, but having been to many of these places a few times before helps. :)