The First Dance
Water’s Edge, Westbrook, CT. 120 Ilford Delta 3200 film in a Yashica 635 (thank you, Jill!)
I’m trying some new things these days; you’ll find that to be a theme over the coming weeks, since there are plenty of changes going on in my life. Photographically-speaking, I had a chance to try out some medium format film. I have been after one 6×6 camera for a while for a specific project I have in mind. I know I could use a camera I have, compose in 4×6 and then crop to 6×6, but if at all possible I prefer to work in a native format. It makes composition much more accurate, at least for me. Thanks to my friend Jill Harrison, she of the film- (and other things) obsessed For the Love of Brooklyn blog, I had the loan of a Yashica 635 TLR. Interestingly it can also take 35mm film, but that’s not why I wanted it. So what to do, what to do? I had to try it out immediately! I first went down to the Brooklyn Heights promenade with some Tri-X 400 loaded. There I met up with another friend, Barry Yanowitz, who talked me through handling a TLR a bit. I think I got some good stuff, but I definitely also made a few unintentional errors like double exposure, neglecting to focus, etc. I haven’t developed that roll yet though. My next opportunity to use the Yashica would be at the upcoming weekend.
I balked; we were going to a wedding. How would I be able to use a TLR in that environment with its slow process, the dim to non-existent light, and the fact I generally don’t bring a camera to a wedding? “Wait, what? You don’t bring a camera to a wedding?” No, normally I don’t because: 1) The couple have paid for a very good photographer so that they and their guests can get on with enjoying themselves, and I intend to do that! 2) I don’t want to get in the way of said photographer. 3) I don’t want to have to worry about my camera if I leave it at the table to go dancing, or when I’m a little…under-the-influence, shall we say. However, in this case there was an exception. Dave and Sara had originally asked me to bring my camera just to make sure someone photographed Dave’s reaction when he saw Sara for the first time coming down the aisle. That had me planning, gearing up, and thinking about angles, location, etc. When they decided they were going to do a formal “first-look moment” with their photographer, instead all my preparatory juices, the adrenalines, etc., had nowhere else to go. So, with the pressure off, I decided it would be a fantastic idea to take just the Yashica 635, for only my second time using it. Ha! I got my hands on a few rolls of 120 Kodak Tri-X 400 and Ilford Delta 3200 at Adorama, surmising I’d need film that can “see” in the dark–and off we went!
Man, was it a battle. The whole process of metering the light (using the pocket light meter app on my iPhone), finding the right aperture and shutter speed, cocking the shutter, then pressing the shutter button took longer than most of the moments I wanted to photograph. But the best way to learn is to set yourself a challenge, and I had certainly done so. I started to find a few quieter, slower moments to get myself into the swing of things, but sometimes I just had to go for it, like this one. As Dave and Sara ended their first dance I dashed back to my seat to grab the camera. I couldn’t easily find a way through the crowd, so I pulled a chair over and stood on it. I went through the whole process above as quickly as I could, trusting instinct more now than anything. I pressed the shutter. I couldn’t be sure I had anything, let alone the peak moment, so I carried on through the rest of the wedding, taking photos here and there. When I got the developed film back from LTI Lightside there were plenty of underexposed photographs that I could see, even before I scanned them, wouldn’t come out. But when I got to this one I sat back and sighed. Here it was, a perfect moment and a perfect reminder of the day. It was worth the battle to get this one photograph. It would still be worth it if all the rest of the photographs on the three rolls of Delta 3200 and two rolls of Tri-X 400 were crappy. Sometimes all you need is one moment in time to bring the memories flooding back. I can’t wait to wrestle with this camera some more.
Too bad there’s only a “Like” button here. I want to click the “Really, Really Love” button. Even if this is all you got, Ed, you damn well got it. I’d make a large print of this and hang it someplace (after giving one to Dave and Sarah).
Thanks Mark, really appreciate it and I might just do that!
You nailed it Ed.Great story, and that’s a great, classic image. Agree with everything Mark said above.
Thanks Charlene!
Excellent! The square format and the the grainy b&w work perfectly with this moment. I know what you mean about all the preparation it takes to get a shot of on a TLR, I remember struggling with my Rolleicord at first. But keep working with it, a lot of it will become instinct.
Thanks Barry, it’s great when your pre-vision matches the output eh. I was very happy with the result as you can tell. I’ll definitely keep working at it.
Fantastic picture. It took a good deal of planning and wonderful instincts to capture Sara and Dave’s special moment. Thank you for taking the picture and for sharing it for all to see.
Jo Ann Bussman
Sara’s Mom
Jo Ann, it was a pleasure to be there and see all the love. They are great friends of ours. I’m very happy I was able to make a photograph that even partially put that into vision. congratulations to you!
Ed – I’m breaking my no technology on honeymoon rule, skimming Facebook I saw a lot of generous comments and some nice shots of our wedding from many different people, but this picture is simply magnificent and blew me away. Reading the back story only adds to it, truly an amazing picture. Thanks for capturing the moment in a way few people could and for trying your new toy at our wedding. It worked!! Great stuff
Dave, put that BB away and enjoy Africa mate! Nevertheless, very happy you could see this and like it. Congrats again to you two. We’re looking forward to hearing all about the honeymoon on your return.
This is a great photo. So many people obsess over sharpness and dof and all that nonsense and miss the main ingredient of a wonderful image – emotion. You could not infuse this shot with any more joy and celebration if you tried. And the story of its creation is a great reminder to sometimes challenge ourselves and let go of ‘control’ to see what magic might result. You are a real magician.
I’m not sure how I missed this post, but I am truly so happy for you. If there’s one thing I could bottle up and sell, it would be the magic of that feeling when you capture something special and the satisfaction / joy thereafter. This is it!
This shot is so wonderful, and Barry is right — the more you shoot, the more natural it becomes. This format suits you and I know you’ll rise to the challenge. I also feel like the obstacles you outline above — the metering, the messing around with camera settings — those will come in time, or you learn how to sort of ignore them and just go with your gut.
Indeed, that’s part of why I like film photography so so much — it allows you to forgive yourself the imperfections and embrace spontaneity in a different way than digital does.
Wonderful, Ed. I can’t wait to see more.