[metropolis4]

Alright, so those wind turbine picks I posted? well they're being used for an exhibit out here and the plan is to blow the pic up to about 8 feet x 8 feet

Problem is I can't get enough resolution from my D90 to make a good image that size. So I'm trying to figure out how to do it. I don't know if it would be worth renting a D3s or not... it doesn't seem to me that I would get that much more resolution to make it work for such a huge image. So I'm thinking of renting some medium format film equipment and trying it out.

The problem is I only have one shot at this. The final image has to be to the printer next week, so I've only got this one weekend to get a shot that is gonna work, or I'm gonna lose this job.

The other problem is I have no experience with medium format, and I'm nervous using film as I won't be able to process and print myself. I'll have to use a print shop.

So what can you tell me about using medium format? What would be a good film to get for a landscape type shot like those? Is medium format my best bet for a huge square image like this, or would I be better off using 35mm film or large format?


Here's a link to the equipment that is going to be available to me. I really don't know a whole lot about the differences between Hasselblad, Mamiyah and Pentax when it comes to this type of gear.

http://www.camren.com/camera/index.html

[Rainer.]

Have you thought of stitching together a panorama yet? You have to be really careful about how you shoot, and expose every image the same with the same focus point, but I think at least 5 rows and 5 columns of images all stitched together in Photoshop might do the trick. For something absolutely that huge, though, large format is probably the correct format to be using. Medium format is only around 4x as big as 35mm, which at that size, won't give an appreciable improvement in quality.

[metropolis4]

I hadn't thought of that... I think my plan is to try using medium format film, and doing the mosaic and I'll see which works best.

I talked to the guy at the print shop and he said he thinks a transparancy from a medium format negative will give what he needs to make a good print (he's an old film guy).

I thought a little about large format, but I don't know if I have any good options for having large format film processed and developed out here. I also think Velvia is going to be nice for this pic as the person commissioning this job likes really bold colors and I don't know if I can get Velvia in a 4x5...

[Rainer.]

If you want to use medium format, it'll work at least. I have the feeling the end product might be pretty grainy, but if you're really careful with the exposure, and your film tech says go for it, then go for it.

They do make Velvia in 4x5, I've seen it at the store. Specialty film development is hard to come by these days. It's really a shame.

[metropolis4]

I decided to go with medium format, so I've got a Hassleblad 500 CM for the weekend.

One more question: Is metering any different for this camera than it is for my D90? I just realized my light meter is in storage so I think my only option is going to be to use my D90 as a light meter.

I looked around and couldn't find an option for processing 4x5 film, so medium format seems like the best bet. I picked up a few rolls of Velvia 100F which I was told at the store has a finer grain than the 100. I'm also tempted to pick up a roll of Ektar 100 as I've heard it scans very well.

[Rainer.]

The metering should be the same, but you want to be careful with the Velvia, bracket it for sure, it needs a really great exposure to scan well.

[metropolis4]

Just wanted to say the picture came out beautiful! I went out with a Hasselblad 500CM, 60mm and 120mm lenses and three rolls of Velvia. The weather didn't cooperate at all, but that turned out to be a good thing in the end. The transparancy scanned beautifully and ultimately the curator was thrilled with the final image.

It was a lot of fun shooting medium format. I may need to find a way to save up some money and get one of those cameras for myself

[Rainer.]

Awesome! Any way to see these?


...pics or it didn't happen?

[metropolis4]

Well, you can come to the grand opening of the new wing of the Sterling History Museum on August 1

I want to scan these and get them on the computer, but the printer still has my transparencies. Once I get them back I'll put something up

[Rainer.]

Sweet. Looking forward to it.