In this 'throw away age' it's easy to be blasé about photography, oh I'll delete that on the pc later or make all other tweaks! Or (as in my case) take 20 photos for every one shot to get the exposure right and so on. I can also be done in a fraction of the time! How long does it take you to set up?
I am amazed at the quality of your images and think all the 'faults' give so much character to each shot!
How many cameras do you have?
I'll watch along here with interest
I'm pleased that you like the quality of the images....there are without doubt far superior ones on here from other film/LF photographers doing this 52 challenge but for me it is about being able to use these beautiful cameras even with their age and faults and to obtain "reasonable" results.
How long does it take to set up?......
To be honest I've never timed myself but it can be time consuming!
Here is how a typical outing would go:
Having no darkroom, I am dependant upon a changing bag to load film etc. Even though it is fairly large it can still be interesting with a box of film, plate holders etc in there.Even more so if using quarter plate film in a half plate holder as I have to mess with adaptors as well as the sheet film holders.
From there it is off to the chosen spot then the following procedure followed:
Unpack and open up the camera.
Attach tripod legs ( wooden) to the camera base one at a time.
Open the aperture lens fully open.
Position camera for the shot, composing and focusing the subject in the ground glass screen on the rear of the camera whilst having a darkcloth over my head. ( This is when you often get someone asking a load of questions or requesting your services to take a snapshot photo of them with their camera! lol)
Stop down the aperture. ( at this point the image can often no longer be seen clearly in the ground glass)
Cover the lens ( usually with it's original lens cap)
Carefully insert the darkslide holder containing the film into the rear standard of the camera ensuring the camera doesn't move!!!
Metering the light and calculating exposure time.
If necessary covering the bellows with a dark cloth ( as in the case of the Lancaster Instantograph to eliminate light entry through the holes)
Opening the darkslide holder ( again ensuring the camera does not move)
Removal of the lens cover for the desired exposure time to expose the film without making the camera move.
Replace the lens cover,
Close dark slide.
Pack all the gear away ( if only taking the one shot)
Head home feeling content and hope that any light leakage is minimal so that the shot comes out as intended.
Obviously there is developing and scanning time to be added to all this too. ( I carefully fold the sheet film into "tacos" and develop them in patterson tanks.)
Most of this procedure is the norm for LF photographers I think but perhaps a little easier for some depending upon their cameras/ equipment.
Using very old gear, as already said does invlove a lot of patience.
Generally I have to take long exposures as these cameras either don't have shutters or they have very fragile curtain shutters that cannot be used.
How many cameras?.....I actually don't know...Too many my mrs says ranging from these wooden/brass ones through box cameras, folders, rangefinders, subminiatures, instamatics, slrs and of course digital!
I'll have to do a count or better still photograph them altogether ....Reckon I'll need my 10-20mm for that shot! lol