Give us your great ideas for themes for our weekly photowalks!!!

It can be an adjective such as shiny or purple, or something abstract such as cat-like or mumified …….

The camera bug is easy to catch, especially in the world of film where classic cameras can be picked up for next to nothing. I admit initially I was infected, but despite buying 7 cameras and throwing 2 away, I’m pleased to report I’m over the worst of it! It was relatively early into my camera fest that I considered buying a medium format camera motivated by their ability to take big square photos, use cool old school fat film, and also joining the fraternity of medium format shooters at Imperial! This article will hopefully tell you enough about medium format to join in on any of our ‘square’ conversations in the Thursday meet-ups and help anyone who’s debating dropping some dough on one of these bad boys.
So, for those not in the know, medium format refers to the format of the film. We have 3 main sizes of photographic film available:

Now a lot of articles will say that medium format is for the more serious photographer shooting studio work, commercial outdoor work, and for those who require bigger prints. After all, the cameras are often more difficult to operate, heavier to cart around, and can be much more expensive. Personally I say pish to all that; the draw of the camera is the feel of the photos it creates, as well as the novelty.

My experience has been with the twin lens reflex camera (TLR depicted above). I saw another member fumbling with a queer double lensed box and I immediately fell in love with the beautiful way you view the image not through a viewfinder but down on a plate at waist level where you can see the image framed as if it were a 3D print. You carefully load the film in a fiddly old fashioned routine involving transferring spools and threading paper; you view the photo to be, and really concentrate on composition. Finally you consider lighting, and remember that through the viewfinder everything looks back to front and take care to select the correct shutter speed and aperture. Wow this is becoming complicated, but all this drama and care ensures that you and your photo are committed together and because you only get 12 shots per roll, you really savour this routine with your beloved box. Developing is a little trickier due to the films tendency to curl and the lack of a perforated edge; however the method is the same. But you must let the results speak for themselves; these big negatives allow a greater dynamic range (that is difference between whites and blacks) and cause the grain to appear smaller, smoother and seem to emit a quality as a result. Some of the older models also allow a function which I’ve grown to love and hate – double exposure! If you forget to wind your camera after a shot you end up taking a photo one atop the other, a rather interesting, confusing technique which can produce stunning shots.

I say shooting medium format can be vastly different from shooting 35mm. Different aspect ratios, particularly the square, enable different compositions which can be reminiscent of the Polaroid, unusual, casual, simplistic and in my opinion slightly more nostalgic than the 6:9 of the 35mm. Furthermore, shooting from the waist gives a completely different perspective on the action, and can allow a more natural response due to the camera being out of the subjects face. 35mm is certainly more convenient, quick, discreet; you certainly don’t get as many stares, and you get 36 shots – ideal for the travelling photographer, or quick snaps on the street or at a party. For the photographer who loves the act of taking a photo, and is naturally more reserved with the shutter (after all it is quality not quantity that counts) medium format is a must! The cameras can be more basic and so demand a little more patience, for example a lot of medium format camera don’t have a light meter and therefore a handheld light meter can be pretty useful, but don’t be put off – it doesn’t take long to get a feel for it, and shooting full manual is a great way to learn the ins and outs of photography.

Medium format cameras come in many shapes and sizes, the twin lens which I describe above, SLR’s, rangefinders, and the older folding types which are completely portable and can offer incredibly sharp optics, or lomo type lightleaks, either way you probably won’t have to ask your subjects to smile! A good consumer camera will cost from around £40 to £150, my box cost me £50 (Ricohflex Dia), Holga’s and Diana’s for the lomo lovers will put you out around £25. The film itself is slightly cheaper than its 35mm counterpart, but considering the area of film is roughly the same it works out fairly at around £2.50-£3.50 per roll.

For anyone who wishes to try the format, Photosoc have an excellent twin lens reflex, and 2 amazing medium format SLRs available to borrow. Feel free to come to the weekly Photosoc meetings to learn more.

A TED talk from Jonathan Klein, co-founder and CEO of Getty Images, talks about how photographs do more than just document history. They make it.

“The truth is that we know that the images themselves don’t change the world, but we’re also aware that, since the beginning of photography, images have provoked reactions in people, and those reactions have caused change to happen.”

(more…)

While you are all on holiday why not take some pictures of what you consider to be the spirit of the holiday? It could be snow (if you’re lucky), friends, family or even just your home that you get to go back to.

Upload the pictures to our Flickr Group and tag them with “PhotosocChristmas” and we will judge the best photographs and present a prize to the winner in the new year.

Get snapping!

Well this is the end of another term (the first one for all you freshers!) and so this will be the last newsletter until the new year. I hope you have all enjoyed yourselves this term and that you have enjoyed taking part in the Photosoc activities. We will be putting on many more events next term so I hope to see you all then!

Merry Christmas to you all and have a wonderful new year!

Jonathan Kim – Photosoc Chair

Photoshop Workshop

Next Monday (30th) at 1pm Andreea will be holding a Photoshop Workshop in the Felix offices (West Basement in Beit). The Felix team have kindly let us use their array of Mac computers so that anyone who attends will be able to edit their photographs for themselves under the talented eye of Andreea! There are only 8 places available for this workshop so anyone who wants to come along please email us with“Photoshop” in the subject and we will reserve you a place. Again this will be on a first come first serve basis.

Exhibition Committee

Every year the PhotoSoc hold an exhibition in theBlyth Gallery. It’s a chance for our members to have their pictures professionally exhibited in a public gallery and every year we let a new group of people have a go at organsing it.

You get to set the theme, plan out how the pictures will be exhibited and have the satisfaction of seeing yourfinal work. If you are interested in being on the exhibition committee then email us and we will organise a meeting to let you know what you need to do.

Event Photography

Are you interested in event photography? As you can see the Photo society gets asked to cover a lot of events both in Imperial and out. If you are interested and willing to cover events such as dinners and concerts in a more professional role then please email us with your name, number and a small selection of your photographs (linked or attached to the email).

Tip of the Week

Experiment with slow shutter speeds to show movement in your photographs.

What’s on in London

The World Press Photo’s annual exhibition is going to be held in the Royal Festival Hall in the South Bank Centre from the 27th of November. Its usually very good and free so I recommend that all of you go and check it out!

Also while you are there why not visit the Cologne Christmas Market. Its on till the 23rd December and it has all the German food you will ever need!