Chester-County-PA

4x5 for 365 project (365/365) - THE END

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A cabin typical of those used by George Washington's Revolutionary Army Soldiers during their encampment on the grounds of what is now the Valley Forge National Historic Site in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

This image concludes my 4x5 for 365 daily project for 2014.  The project's goals were to force myself to shoot as much as possible in as many different settings and situations as possible with the 4x5 large format camera in order to learn the mechanics and the science behind this type of photography to the point where it becomes second nature.  I think the project has served those goals well.  Looking back over the project output I have no regrets though I do wish I could have included more portraiture in the mix of images.  2015 sets the stage for new challenges including the addition of a 5x7 camera to the mix and hopefully spending more time with some of the cameras that had to take a back seat to the 4x5 gear during 2014.  I want to thank those who took the time to favorite photos on flickr and like photos on Facebook and comment during the project.  The support of viewers has made it easier to continue in times of self doubt.  I also have to thank my Wife for her never ending support in not only this 365 project but in all my photographic endeavors, I really couldn't ask for a more loving and supportive woman to share my life with.

Technical details:
Sakai Toyo 5x7" large format metal field camera with 4x5" film back.
150mm Caltar-S II F 5.6 lens in Copal BT shutter.
Ilford FP4+ B&W film, shot at ISO 125.
Exposure was 1/15th second at F32.
Developed in Ilford DD-X 1+4 dilution for 6 minutes and 50 seconds @ 20 degrees Celsius using a Beseler 8x10 print drum placed on Unicolor Uniroller 352 auto-reversing rotary base.
4x5" negative scanned with Epson V600.
Cropped to desired size in post.

4x5 for 365 project (364/365)

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The side door at Defender's Gate in Valley Forge, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  Defender's Gate is a part of the Washington Memorial Chapel but it's located 1/4 mile away from the chapel.  When constructed in the Spring of 1911, Defender's Gate was to be a second complex of buildings at the chapel cemetery's entrance mirroring the architectural style of the chapel complex and dedicated to those who had defended the Union in various conflicts. The structure would consist of a porter's lodge and a waiting room linked by an arch honoring Abraham Lincoln. It was hoped that veterans of the Civil War, many of whom were still alive, would donate funds for the arch. The porter's lodge was quickly built, and on the fiftieth anniversary of Lincoln's first call for volunteers the first stone was laid for the Lincoln Arch.  The complex was never completed, and the lodge section looks rather strange today, facing sideways along Route 23 without its arch and adjoining building.  The column you see on the right was to support the arch that was never built.  One day left in this year long project !

Technical details:
Sakai Toyo 5x7" large format metal field camera with 4x5" film back.
150mm Caltar-S II F 5.6 lens in Copal BT shutter.
Ilford FP4+ B&W film, shot at ISO 125.
Exposure was 1/4 second at F22.
Developed in Ilford DD-X 1+4 dilution for 6 minutes and 50 seconds @ 20 degrees Celsius using a Beseler 8x10 print drum placed on Unicolor Uniroller 352 auto-reversing rotary base.
4x5" negative scanned with Epson V600.

4x5 for 365 project (363/365)

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Located inside the outer courtyard of the Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, this bronze statue is called "Sacrifice and Devotion" and is also known as "Heckscher Memorial" and "Grieving Mothers".  It was created in 1914 by Bela Lyon Pratt as a commissioned by Stevens Heckscher to honor Henrietta Armitt Heckscher, who died during child birth in 1912. Weathering through the years and the wrath of pigeons have taken their toll on the statue but it is still a very moving piece of memorial art well worth seeing.  Two days left in this year long project !

Technical details:
Sakai Toyo 5x7" large format metal field camera with 4x5" film back.
150mm Caltar-S II F 5.6 lens in Copal BT shutter.
Ilford FP4+ B&W film, shot at ISO 125.
Exposure was 1/2 second at F22.
Developed in Ilford DD-X 1+4 dilution for 6 minutes and 50 seconds @ 20 degrees Celsius using a Beseler 8x10 print drum placed on Unicolor Uniroller 352 auto-reversing rotary base.
4x5" negative scanned with Epson V600.

4x5 for 365 project (362/365)

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A Revolutionary War era canon sits atop a hill near the Muhlenberg encampment at Valley Forge National Historic Site in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Three days left in this year long project !

Technical details:
Sakai Toyo 5x7" large format metal field camera with 4x5" film back.
150mm Caltar-S II F 5.6 lens in Copal BT shutter.
Ilford FP4+ B&W film, shot at ISO 125.
Exposure was 1/30th second at F32.
Developed in Ilford DD-X 1+4 dilution for 6 minutes and 50 seconds @ 20 degrees Celsius using a Beseler 8x10 print drum placed on Unicolor Uniroller 352 auto-reversing rotary base.
4x5" negative scanned with Epson V600.

4x5 for 365 project (339/365)

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Another Sunflower shot from back in August at the Please Wash Me Car Wash in Elverson, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  I went for a shallower depth of field on this one with the advantage of being able to then use a slightly higher shutter speed to try and counteract some of the swaying of the flowers in the wind.  

Technical details:
Sakai Toyo 5x7" large format metal field camera with 4x5" film back.
150mm Caltar-S II F 5.6 lens in Copal BT shutter.
Circular polarizing filter on lens.  
Kodak Ektar 100 color negative film shot at ISO 100.
1/30th second at F16.
Developed using Unicolor C-41 color developing kit and Beseler 8x10 color print drum placed on Unicolor Uniroller 352 auto-reversing rotary base.   
4x5" negative scanned with Epson V600.

4x5 for 365 project (333/365)

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Sunflowers and bees back on an August day in a sunflower field at the Please Wash Me Car Wash in Elverson, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  I normally save up a bunch of color film that needs developing and then head to the darkroom to do all the developing in one or two big batches to minimize chemical costs.  Doing things this way often leads to "rediscovering" photos you forgot you shot many months ago or, like this one, bringing Summer color into a very cold, drab late November day.

Technical details:
Sakai Toyo 5x7" large format metal field camera with 4x5" film back.
150mm Caltar-S II F 5.6 lens in Copal BT shutter.
Circular polarizing filter on lens.  
Kodak Ektar 100 color negative film shot at ISO 100.
1/15th second at F32.
Developed using Unicolor C-41 color developing kit and Beseler 8x10 color print drum placed on Unicolor Uniroller 352 auto-reversing rotary base.   
4x5" negative scanned with Epson V600.
Cropped to desired size in post.

4x5 for 365 project (305/365)

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A side view of some of the recreations of cabins used by George Washington's guard forces at Valley Forge National Historic Site in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Technical details:
Sakai Toyo 5x7" large format metal field camera with 4x5" film back.
150mm Caltar-S II F 5.6 lens in Copal BT shutter.
Yellow-Green filter on lens.
Kodak Ektascan BR/A single-sided X-Ray film shot at ISO 100.
Exposure was 1/15th second at F32.
Developed in Rodinal/Adox Adonal 1:150 dilution for 7 minutes @ 20 degrees Celsius in Mod54 daylight developing tank.  
4x5" negative scanned with Epson V600. 

4x5 for 365 project (289/365)

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The rear platform and tracks of the train station at Valley Forge National Historic Site in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The station was built in 1911 by the Reading Railroad and served as an arrival point for visitors to the National Historic Park until the 1950s.  It was restored in 2009 and serves as a museum and visitor's center for Washington's headquarters located nearby.

Technical details:
Sakai Toyo 5x7" large format metal field camera with 4x5" film back.
150mm Caltar-S II F 5.6 lens in Copal BT shutter.
Yellow-Green filter on lens.
Kodak Ektascan BR/A single-sided X-Ray film shot at ISO 100.
Exposure was 2 seconds at F45.
Developed in Rodinal/Adox Adonal 1:150 dilution for 7 minutes @ 20 degrees Celsius in Mod54 daylight developing tank.  
4x5" negative scanned with Epson V600.  
Scan was cropped to desired size in post.

4x5 for 365 project (287/365)

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Recreations of cabins used by George Washington's guard forces at Valley Forge National Historic Site in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Technical details:
Sakai Toyo 5x7" large format metal field camera with 4x5" film back.
150mm Caltar-S II F 5.6 lens in Copal BT shutter.
Yellow-Green filter on lens.
Kodak Ektascan BR/A single-sided X-Ray film shot at ISO 100.
Exposure was 1/15th second at F32.
Developed in Rodinal/Adox Adonal 1:150 dilution for 7 minutes @ 20 degrees Celsius in Mod54 daylight developing tank.  
4x5" negative scanned with Epson V600.

4x5 for 365 project (228/365)

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A 4x5 pinhole shot of the sunflower field at the Please Wash Me Car Wash in Elverson, Pennsylvania.  

Technical details:
Leonardo 38mm 4x5" pinhole camera.
Arista EDU Ultra 200 (re-branded Fomapan) B&W Negative Film, shot at ISO 160.
4 seconds @ (about) F140. Metered with Pinhole Assist app on iPhone.
Developed in Rodinal/Adox Adonal 1:50 dilution for 9 1/2 minutes @ 20 degrees Celsius in Mod54 daylight developing tank.  
Negative scanned with Epson V600.

4x5 for 365 project (220/365)

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Sunflower childhood (pre-bloom) in Elverson, Pennsylvania.

Technical details:
Sakai Toyo 5x7 large format metal field camera with 4x5 film back.
Fujinon-W 210mm F5.6 lens in Copal B shutter.
Green filter on lens to lighten foliage.
Ilford Delta 100+ B&W Negative Film, shot at ISO 100.
1/4 at F32.
Developed in Kodak Xtol 1+2 dilution in Mod54 daylight development tank. 13 minutes @ 20 degrees Celsius.
Negative scanned with Epson V600. Cropped to desired size in post.

4x5 for 365 project (219/365)

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A bug crawls on the back leaves of a sunflower in Elverson, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  It was a bumper crop for this particular sunflower field.  I also shot four slices of Kodak Ektar 100 color film in this sunflower field and I'll be developing those soon.  

Technical details:
Sakai Toyo 5x7 large format metal field camera with 4x5 film back.
Fujinon-W 210mm F5.6 lens in Copal B shutter.
Ilford Delta 100+ B&W Negative Film, shot at ISO 100.
1/30 at F22.
Developed in Kodak Xtol 1+2 dilution in Mod54 daylight development tank. 13 minutes @ 20 degrees Celsius.
Negative scanned with Epson V600. Cropped to about half the original negative size in post.