John Haynes / June 11th, 2009 / Photo Journal
PHOTO JOURNAL: John Haynes #13

Digital cameras seem to make the world go ’round these days, but John Haynes shares his love of 4×5 film cameras and the process he used to capture this image of skater Dereck Larsen. If you like the look of this, be sure to check out John’s “Diana Summer” BLADE LIFE article. — ONE

I have a love for 4×5 cameras. A view camera is the most simple of any camera, as it’s essentially a lens that projects an image on to a focal plane on the rear of the camera. It is a leaf shutter, meaning the shutter is part of the lens as opposed to a focal plane shutter that we have on many medium format, SLR and DSLR cameras. When the spot that Dereck Larsen is switch 360ing was described to me, I visualized the shot on 4×5 film before anything else. I have a lot of experience with this camera as we use them frequently in my work as a photo assistant and product photographer, and I photographed a story for Be-Mag a few years ago of skate shots all on 4×5 film.

For this shot, I used a 100 mm lens (pretty wide for the format), at f/16 @ 1/500th of a second. It was cloudy with direct diffused light (boner) from high camera left and I used a 400 watt second strobe low and 3/4 backlight as fill/kick light. A view camera allows you to actually shift the focal plane by swinging and/or tilting the lens; a processed called schienfluging. I did not write down the actual tilts or swings, but it was something like swing 10 degrees counter clock wise, tilt forward 7 degrees (the best way to see how this affects the focal plane is to look at the cars in the background, notice cars to the right of the frame are sharp while the farther left you go the softer they get.) The big black vignette is from my lens being crap and not able to cover the entire sheet of film, it is quite literally the edge of the lens coverage. I shot Polaroid type 55 for tests and the exposure was made on Illford HP5 plus 400 speed film. — John Haynes

Discussion / PHOTO JOURNAL: John Haynes #13

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • nick korompilas - June 12th, 2009

    nice one John! I can’t even imagine focusing with an LF… seems very complicated especially with the tilt shift. love it as always, dope trick too!

  • Fergie - June 13th, 2009

    John Haynes needs to get @ some real skaters. Im not saying I dont like your work. Actually, you take some great shots John! My only problem is that the skaters who really matter to our livlehood and sustenance are being ousted because of ignorance.

    Do a little homework, John. Next time, figure out which skaters really matter and make a difference, John. I mean come on, why dont you ever make it out to Brooklyn where everyday I see real men repping their hood. Not to say the skaters you choose to shoot are not real, its just that lately it seems like all these kids are moving away from home with hope of making it big as the next Haffey or Stockwell, then they fail, come bak to Minnesota and you take photos of them.

    That is my opinion. Every person deserves the right to voice their opinion. Joe Navron, the owner of FRSH sent me an email and a sticker pack because I told him about my dilemma and he could relate. How ironic.

  • AP 3 - June 13th, 2009

    If you really want to learn the tricks of the tour pros you have to have rolled for at least 10 years. Without 10 years of blade knowledge you have no business in the blade game. That is why Im so harsh in my criticisms. The real skaters are not being promoted(what ever happened to Mike French or Aaron Feinberg?) Brad Magnuson. Who are you John Haynes and why aren’t you PUTTING IN A LITTLE MORE EFFORT TO SHOWCASE TALENT.

  • je - June 13th, 2009

    Ha ha ha these last two comments are so far off-base and uninformed it’s funny. So much is wrong with each statement that I can’t figure out where to begin!

  • John Haynes - June 15th, 2009

    1. I live in minnesota, so i generally shoot people i skate with everyday

    2. Mike French and Aaron Feinberg, listed together. Just making sure.

    3. Amazing.

  • Blake Cohen - June 15th, 2009

    lulz

  • Johnny O - June 15th, 2009

    great photo John! Im planning on buying a 4×5 camera from my old school.

  • Cody LaPlant - June 16th, 2009

    More 4×5 and MF,John! good stuff

  • Mike Fuck it French - June 20th, 2010

    I have family in Minnesota and AP3 you understand cause you skate… John Haynes you take pics of real mutherfuckers like us! Eat a dick get a grip and AP hit me up when I roll back to Mn in July seems like theres alot of people that dont know whats goin on in the world let alone skating. Im gunna Taig Kris That red headed paparazzi fuck from the top ropes! Hahahha naw its whatever but yeah thanks for the flattery tho pimp! Mike French 480 259 0665 get at me if you come to AZ il teach you how to party bus limo chaos style and I still pimp on inlines Minnesota!! Fuck a revolution and James Michael Jackson Johnson! Eat a kids dick……. I dont need to rep a shop that doesnt even give you reason to rep em let alone a benefit like um I dont know maybe a phone call sayin hey thanks for the 5 years of workin for free and were dropping you!!! p.s. Website will be back up in a month

  • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2024 Molotov Media, LLC,
    Subscribe | Retail Locations | Advertising | Distribution | Contact Us