Valley-Forge-NHS

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 (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 (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 (284/365)

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A lone cannon is dwarfed by a huge tree on a hillside near the Muhlenberg encampment area at Valley Forge National Historic Site in Chester County, 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.
Yellow-Green filter on lens.
Kodak Ektascan BR/A single-sided X-Ray film shot at ISO 100.
Exposure was 1/8th 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 (66/365)

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Another of the character rich trees that surround the Muhlenberg Brigade encampment area at the Valley Forge National Historic Site.  Winter offers a time when all the branches can show off their unique bends and twists for all the world to see. 

Camera: Homemade 4x5 wooden and brass pinhole camera. 0.4mm diameter laser cut pinhole, 90mm focal length giving F225 aperture.  

Lens: None.

Film: Fuji Super HR-T 30 medium speed green sensitive X-Ray film.  Purchased as 8x10" sheets and cut down to 4x5".  Film rated at 100 ISO.  

Exposure: 8 seconds.

Development: Self Developed film in Rodinal (Adox Adinol) 1:100 in three reel Paterson Universal Tank using Mod54 six sheet 4x5 insert.  7 1/2 minutes @ 20 degrees Celsius with minimal inversions. Kodak indicator stop bath. Ilford Rapid Fixer. Photo-Flo. Hung to dry. 

Scanning: Negative scanned with Epson V600 in two scans and merged back together in PhotoShop since the V600 doesn't natively support 4x5 scans in one pass. Lightly textured, toned and edges burned in Photoshop CS5.

4x5 for 365 project (64/365)

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A stone sculpted face protrudes from the inside of the United States Memorial Arch, located at the intersection of Outerline Drive and Gulph Road within the Valley Forge National Historic Site.  The arch was erected to commemorate the arrival of General George Washington and his Continental Army into Valley Forge.

Camera: Homemade 4x5 wooden and brass pinhole camera. 0.4mm diameter laser cut pinhole, 90mm focal length giving F225 aperture.  

Lens: None.

Film: Fuji Super HR-T 30 medium speed green sensitive X-Ray film.  Purchased as 8x10" sheets and cut down to 4x5".  Film rated at 100 ISO.  

Exposure: 12 seconds.

Development: Self Developed film in Rodinal (Adox Adinol) 1:100 in three reel Paterson Universal Tank using Mod54 six sheet 4x5 insert.  7 1/2 minutes @ 20 degrees Celsius with minimal inversions. Kodak indicator stop bath. Ilford Rapid Fixer. Photo-Flo. Hung to dry. 

Scanning: Negative scanned with Epson V600 in two scans and merged back together in PhotoShop since the V600 doesn't natively support 4x5 scans in one pass. 

4x5 for 365 project (58/365)

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A cabin on the site of a brigade encampment led by General Peter Muhlenberg during the long, hard Winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge.  Created at Valley Forge National Historic Site with a homemade wooden 4x5 large format pinhole camera. 

Camera: Homemade 4x5 wooden and brass pinhole camera. 0.4mm diameter laser cut pinhole, 90mm focal length giving F225 aperture.  

Lens: None.

Film: Fuji Super HR-T 30 medium speed green sensitive X-Ray film.  Purchased as 8x10" sheets and cut down to 4x5".  Film rated at 100 ISO.  

Exposure: 12 seconds.

Development: Self Developed film in Rodinal (Adox Adinol) 1:100 in three reel Paterson Universal Tank using Mod54 six sheet 4x5 insert.  7 1/2 minutes @ 20 degrees Celsius with minimal inversions. Kodak indicator stop bath. Ilford Rapid Fixer. Photo-Flo. Hung to dry. 

Scanning: Negative scanned with Epson V600 in two scans and merged back together in PhotoShop since the V600 doesn't natively support 4x5 scans in one pass. Cropped in Lightroom 4.