Hi everybody,

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am SO glad I bought my Graflex!

My girlfriend and I attended a Studebaker/Hudson/Packard car show over the weekend. I thought it would only be fitting to photograph such stately, classic cars with my Graflex, all being of the vintage or thereabouts.

I got quite a few looks as folks passed by. One fellow even said, "Hey, is that a Graflex?" When I nodded and grinned, he said, "Okay. Carry on."

Another man came up to me and asked about the Graflex, saying that his father-in-law had used a camera much like that in his photography business in Winston-Salem, NC years ago.

I'll bet if I'd had on a fedora and a 3-piece suit, some of the folks would've thought I walked straight out of 1939! (except for the Polaroid shots I was taking...)

Anyway, here below are two shots of mine from the day, both Polaroid Type 72 (ASA 400) film, slightly expired.



This is a pre-WWII Hudson, a "Super Six" I believe.



And above is a 1953 MG model YB sedan. Why was this car at a Studebaker meet? Well, a club of British car owners happened by the event, which was held at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC. The Studebaker folks were so thrilled to see them that they invited the MGs, Austin-Healeys, and Triumphs to line up, too!

--Micah in NC

Glad to see that you're spreading the love of Graflex. Nice job on the pictures! They turned out great. I don't feel right shooting my Graflex without the Fedora .

Very nice, I esspecially like the light tones expressed in the shot of the MG.
This reminds me I need to go take some shots of my frind's '55 chevy before he puts it together...

Thanks folks!

I appreciate the kind comments. The look of this film just blows me away! Try as I might, I couldn't quite get my scans to look like the original Polaroids.

The pics above are as close as I could get in Photoshop.

There is a brilliance on the originals which just makes the cars gleam!

Here's to large format, Graflexes, and Polaroids!

--Micah in NC

EDIT: The pictures were shot using the "Sunny f/16" Rule since it was such a nice, bright day. I metered the dark areas of the Hudson's shaded fender with my (working!) vintage Weston Master II light meter, to make sure I'd get the low tones; however, I think I still used f/16 at 1/400.

Also, the MG shot was taken with a Wratten #25 filter--exposure was compensated for filter by using f/8 at 1/200 second, giving 3 stops more exposure. Sky seems same in both filtered and unfiltered shots, though.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Micah in NC on 2004-04-20 11:36 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-12-25 11:43 ]</font>

Either that or the flagpole---gotta be able to locate that buggy in the snow.

Quote:

On 2004-04-20 20:49, 45PSS wrote: Is that the radio antena sticking up from the left rear roof area of the Hudson?

Heh heh,

No. That's a power pole. My composition leaves a bit to be desired, but I was lucky to get a shot of it without bunches of people in it, with all the folks milling around. I had to wait several minutes to get a shot even that good. (And it isn't great, but I like it...)

--Micah in NC

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Micah in NC on 2004-04-21 08:16 ]</font>

Hey, Micah, don't get me wrong, I think both those shots are terrific! I have no experience with Polaroid, and am very impressed with the tonal range and clarity that I see there.

The pole coming up out of the car is not a distraction for me, since the car itself is so beautiful. You should see all the people shots I took where the heads are impaled!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Henry on 2004-04-21 13:54 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-12-25 11:43 ]</font>

Quote:

On 2004-04-21 18:29, 45PSS wrote: Was the one to the left of the Hudson sail boat a '50 or '51? P.S. I would have used 1/2 stop less exposure, and considered using a power line filter.

Alas, I didn't take notes, so I can't say for sure what year the car to the left is. (Shame on me, I should've gotten the facts...I'm a reporter! But to my credit, I was off duty at the time.)

Ahem...yeah...one of those "power line filters" would've come in handy that day.

Thanks,
Micah in NC

P.S. The car behind the Hudson is a Triumph (TR3?) and the car to the left of the MG is an Austin-Healey.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Micah in NC on 2004-04-22 07:23 ]</font>

The car to the left of the pre-WWII Hudson looks like the four-door '52 or '53 Hudson Hornet. Hudson and Nash merged in 1954 to become American Motors.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-12-25 11:44 ]</font>

Hey,

Henry is correct. I remember now...it's a 1953 Hudson Hornet with "Dual Power" or something like that (two carbs).

I remember seeing the vanity plate location on the front bearing a 1953 tag and the hood was up, showing that wonderful dual carburetor setup!

That was probably a fast ride in its day! You gotta love old American iron...

--Micah in NC

It's always amazing how the big cameras get the attention.
At a recent WW II re-enactment there was a National Geographic film crew. I had a perfect 'Capa kit' (a pair of Contax II and a Rolleiflex Automat I), and my buddy had a pair of Leica IIIb w/SCNOO triggerwinders. and wartime LTM Zeiss lenses. The media types RAN to the guy with the Anny. Speed Graphic. Go figure.
Top
(who has a Mini and an Anny. 4x5 and will have to start schlepping them.

Quote:

On 2004-04-23 12:04, Micah in NC wrote: Henry is correct. I remember now...it's a 1953 Hudson Hornet with "Dual Power" or something like that (two carbs).

"Twin-H Power". Two carbs on top of a 308-cubic-inch straight-six. It was fast; they won the majority of NASCAR races in '51, '52, and '53, beating the Oldsmobiles, which had V8s! Here's a racing Hornet* at a modern concours event.

(Yes, I know way too much about these things. No, I don't own one, but I would if I had money; alas, I'm a poor college student.)

*random image from the web, not by me -- thanks, Google!