29.6.2011 von Mike N..

(larger) - View from Hambach Castle - Linhof TK 4×5@240mm, Fuji Provia 100F

Back in 1832, Germany still was in particularism, people had a vision of national unity. They hosted a festival at Hambach Castle. Around 20 till 30 thousand people demanded unity, freedom and democracy. At this festival the combination of black, red and gold appeared on lots of flags. It was a symbol of a democratic movement for a united Germany. And so it got the foundation for the national colors of Germany and finally the foundation for Germany’s the modern flag.

However, apart from the festival’s progressive spirit, members probably also just got excited by the tremendous view. It must have been similar to the one you see on the picture

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23.6.2011 von Mike N..

(larger) Linhof TK 4×5@240mm, Kodak E100G

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(larger) Linhof TK 4×5@120mm, Provia 100F

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The photos above are slide film out of my Linhof large format camera. They are my first tryouts using this format and I like them very much :). Taking pictures with large format equipment is as if the entire history of photography would pass you by when you click the trigger. A large format camera itself is a simple construction with only a few components. There is a front-standard with the lens and the back-standard with the film-holder. And in between a bellows. That’s it. But the construction allows several tilting and shifting between lens and film level and so no other camera could be more flexible than a large format one. Obviously it takes some time to take just a single a picture. At least 10 minutes or often more before you took all the adjustments. But then the pliant whir of the shutter is the highlight before packing the camera again.

The other point is the anticipation about how the pictures will look like after having them processed. Processing slide film is the most ambitious craft in developing film. I process them myself and it takes about one till two hours getting them from the chemistry to the peg to drying. Then again one or two hours until they are dry. But then it is a real joy watching the 4×5 inch large slides on the light table

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