Fred Picker - Photographing In the Landscape

[Ian-Barber]

 

[martin-f5]

love it!

 

[Alan9940]

Since there have been a couple items about Fred Picker popping up over the past couple days, I thought you all might enjoy a short story...

On a beautiful and sunny, but very cold, winter day I was out-n-about cruzin-fer-snaps (as Fred would say) with my 10x8 camera. I came upon a scene and as I pulled the car over to the side of the road, I noticed another photographer working just along the other side of the road; I didn't even notice the "Zone6" license plate on the other car! It was Fred. I waiting patiently as he finished up, then I setup my camera a little further down from his spot and slightly over an embankment (which was tricky given the snowy conditions.) Fred strolled over and, after a brief chat, he asked me, "What exposure are you planning to use?" That was just like Fred...he always wanted you to determine exposure without the light meter first, then use the it to check your guess. In his opinion, it was always better to learn about light. I said, "On a day like this?" Fred, in his usual pithy way, said, "YES, on a day just like this!"

35 years later it still makes me smile just writing that short story.

 

[David M]

This is an excellent recounting of the way photographs are made in the field, with the kind of thoughts, the successive steps and the relatively simple individual decisions that we must make. Text-books seem to imply a much smoother and more assured process.
I have one small tip that might be helpful. Drape the darkcloth over the camera when carrying it over the shoulder. You can bunch up the ends to make the same sort of padding that Mr Picker gets from putting the cloth over his shoulder, but the lens is now protected from overhanging branches or worse. When the cable release unscrews itself, as it will, it will fall at your feet when you place the camera, and not be left behind in some anonymous patch of mud that you passed ten minutes ago.
Some photographers have red cable releases that are easier to spot on the ground, but I've not found a supplier.

 

[Ian-Barber]

When the cable release unscrews itself, as it will, it will now fall at your feet when you place the camera, and not be left behind in some anonymous patch of mud that you passed ten minutes ago.

Its not only me this happens to then

I liked the belt he was wearing that houses his meter and dark-slides

 

[David M]

What impressed me was the way he parked in the entry to an occupied farm (see the moving beasts through the low window) and strolled all over without a whisper of "Git orf moy laand." He left his boot open too. And this is the country of the NRA. Have we been misled?
I get obsessive about cable releases and sometimes discover that I have stowed away several spares in different nooks of my bag.

 

[mpirie]

I liked the belt he was wearing that houses his meter and dark-slides

It looked like a carpenters tool belt.

 

[Joanna Carter]

What impressed me was the way he parked in the entry to an occupied farm (see the moving beasts through the low window) and strolled all over without a whisper of "Git orf moy laand." He left his boot open too. And this is the country of the NRA. Have we been misled?

We find we are able to do much the same here in France. As long as you are courteous (includes being able to speak French ), people seem quite happy for us to make photos on their land. Maybe it's something to do with the concept of "patrimoine" or heritage; something that is important here and possibly also in the US, even though they don't have quite as much of it.

Of course, the other thing we come across here is the abundance of derelict buildings, both stone houses and industrial building. A few years ago, before we moved over here full time, we stopped at a (still functioning) site near La Rochelle, where there was a massive structure of several concrete silos built as one unit. We stopped, wandered around the site looking for someone to ask permission without any harassement and, when we did find the reception office, the reply was "normally, no problem but the security had gone home for the day but, if we wanted to come back tomorrow, they would be glad to help us".

Unfortunately, we had to catch the ferry back home the next day and so missed out but, hey, now we don't have to catch the ferry to get home, we'll have to find the time to return.

And, we might not have the NRA here but the local "chasse" (hunt) can be dangerous after a few bottles of wine

 

[Alan9940]

I liked the belt he was wearing that houses his meter and dark-slides

I have one; it's very convenient. Actually, the intended use is to have film holders in both left/right pockets and a small notepad in a center pocket. There's even a slot to put your pencil! But, nothing stopping you from putting film holders in one pocket and a light meter in the other...I've done this many times. But, a concern here is that the light meter can fall out...not good! So, I typically keep my light meter in a Zone VI belt holster. Can you tell, yet, that I probably spent too much money with Zone VI?

 

[Alan9940]

What impressed me was the way he parked in the entry to an occupied farm (see the moving beasts through the low window) and strolled all over without a whisper of "Git orf moy laand." He left his boot open too. And this is the country of the NRA.

Well...ya see...Vermont is something all together different! When I moved there in 1982, I quipped to my family and friends that we left the country. No concerns leaving your boot open, car unlocked; heck, you can leave it running, if doing something fairly quick. Nobody bothers anything there. I would move back in a heartbeat, if the dang property taxes weren't so high!

 

[Ian-Barber]

I have one; it's very convenient. Actually, the intended use is to have film holders in both left/right pockets and a small notepad in a center pocket.

Some one commented above that it looks like a carpenter belt, would you agree.

 

[alexmuir]

Either Lowepro or Tamarac make a modular belt system to hold camera accessories. I’m not sure if it would suit LF equipment, but it is a good idea. I have a Domke waistcoat which I sometimes use. It can hold 4x5 film holders and various other pieces of equipment.
Alex


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Alan9940]

Some one commented above that it looks like a carpenter belt, would you agree.

Kinda like that, but much less bulky. I'd attach a pic of it, but, right now, everything in the darkroom has been moved and/or covered because we're getting new A/C units next week.

 

[Alan9940]

Either Lowepro or Tamarac make a modular belt system to hold camera accessories. I’m not sure if it would suit LF equipment, but it is a good idea. I have a Domke waistcoat which I sometimes use. It can hold 4x5 film holders and various other pieces of equipment.

There is these, too:

https://www.stonephotogear.com/filmstorage

The field cases look very similar to the ones I bought from photobackpacker years ago. Very convenient for carrying multiple holders into the field and you can hang it from the tripod!

 

[David M]

There are small picnic cool bags, designed to take six cans, that hold five or six 5x4 dark slides very conveniently and can be put to other uses. They have shoulder straps rather than belts.