The 5x4 Photographic & Darkroom Experience

MPP 5x4inch Monorail Camera with 150mm Lens- Pic Neale james

Welcome.

I would like to introduce you to my two-day photographic and traditional darkroom experience which is about slowing down and taking real and considered time with your photography. Using large format 5x4 cameras and tradition photographic darkroom processes I will demonstrate to you a way of seeing and creating a photographic print which is deliberately slow, considered and hopefully more meaningful for you.

Over the course of two days I will help to guide you through what I consider to be a wonderful photographic process of calm reflection, observation, emotional experience and making just one B&W silver gelatin print.

This experience is all about the process, journey and intent of photography and the physical photograph itself. It’s intended to be a calm quiet and gentle experience, leaving the busy and hectic world of speed, automation and computers aside, just for a while.

DAY ONE

Morning

  • Early morning arrival and meet up with introduction to the 5x4 Experience with coffee/tea and cake.

  • Introduction to the 5x4 cameras, lenses, light meters and tripods.

  • Load film.

Mid Morning to Late Afternoon - In the Landscape ( To include Picnic lunch and refreshments).

  • Time to walk, talk and think as well as discover the picture “you see'“.

  • Analysing, seeing and feeling the scene. Pre Visualisation

  • Finding the picture within the frame.

  • Lens Choice.

  • Setting up and constructing the picture using the 5x4 camera with movements.

  • Evaluating the light and finding the correct exposure.

  • Making Notes.

  • Making just one 5x4 exposure.

Late Afternoon - Back to the Studio

  • Debrief and discussion about the days experience with coffee/tea and cake in the studio.

  • Depart to your hotel for a break & time to rest.

Early to Mid Evening.

I’ll collect you from your hotel for a restaurant supper of your choice in Newbury where we can chat about the day you’ve had and the concepts and ideas of slow considered photography.

DAY TWO

Morning

  • Arrive early at the darkroom for a introduction into the days events, obviously with coffee/tea and cake.

  • Darkroom tour.

  • Darkroom processing and printing introduction.

  • Process and dry your sheet of 5x4 film

  • 5x4 negative bagging, cataloging, numbering.

Mid Morning to Late Afternoon (including light lunch and refreshments).

  • Setting up the darkroom.

  • Chemical Mixing.

  • Making a contact print.

  • Evaluating your negative.

  • Making a 16x2inch silver gelatin print

  • Annotation and presentation.

Late Afternoon

  • Discussion and debrief

  • Presentation

  • Depart.

Note:

Guests - This is a one to one experience and guests must be over 21 years of age as well as being physically mobile and able to walk a few mile over light to medium terrain. Some previous photographic experience would be preferable but is not essential.

Availability - Dates for the experience are arranged through mutual availability throughout the year.

Fee. £485 (inc VAT) all inclusive. With the exception of your hotel accommodation and ancillaries, travel to and from the 5x4 Experience and your personal needs, everything including shared meals and refreshments is covered by the overall fee. All travel withing the experience will be provided.

Location - The experience will be based in and around Newbury, Berkshire UK.

If this appeals to you or if you have any questions then please get in touch and let’s have a chat.

Wishing you fair light and full frames

Giles