I was going through some of my old photography stuff from college and I came across several binders full of my old 4×5 negatives. It was crazy thinking back on a time when all I shot was 4×5 sheet film. I miss those days. Actually starting do work professionally in a time when digital was really making it’s push was a interesting time. I remember when I bought my first DSLR, a Canon 20D, and it costing me about 3k. That was for an 8.3 megapixel camera. Now, most consumer point and shoots put that to shame.
I think one of the things I miss most about shooting my 4×5 is the zen mindset you go into when you’re setting up and composing. Your breathing slows and your mind goes into a state where all you are thinking about is the image. It’s crazy. When you shoot a bunch of 4×5, or any camera that lacks a mirror, you start seeing the world from an inverted perspective. It’s super unique and allows you to kind of separate yourself from the world for a brief period of time. It’s magic.
This is a shot I took while killing time at a T.I.P.P.A. photography competition in Dallas.
This is a shot I took on the 4th of July at my Aunt and Uncle’s lake house. My uncles makes his own fireworks!
This is from my final 4×5 project where I documented the interiors of parking garages. People look at you a special way when you’re wandering around in dark parking garages with a 4×5.
Finally, here’s another from the same series. I was playing around with double exposures at the time. I was getting all artsy for sure.
