Starting large format journey with a e & t underwood field camera

[chandrastudios]

im starting my large format photography from this really old camera from birmingham.

im starting out shooting with paper then slowly move on to negs and maybe even glass plates.

im seeking for advice of do's and don'ts so if anyone of you have any suggestions for me let me know.

 

[Kino]

Take your time, it's not a race. A good day for me is 4 to 6 exposures IF that much.

Make yourself a check list of steps to follow when shooting and follow it.

You will make mistakes; it's not the end of the World, keep going.

Have fun!

 

[KinoGrafx]

Shooting good paper negs actually takes more skill than shooting film (they’re very contrasty) so if you can nail that, you’re all set!

 

[koraks]

Shooting good paper negs actually takes more skill than shooting film (they’re very contrasty) so if you can nail that, you’re all set!

I agree; I'd start out with film because it's generally easier to get an acceptable image.
However, paper negatives can work well for learning the basics of inserting sheets into the holders etc since you can work under safelight. Then again, you could practice with a scrap sheet of film or even a sheet of thick paper or thin plastic in daylight to accomplish the same.

im seeking for advice of do's and don'ts

Get started, burn materials, learn from the mistakes you'll make. Practice will get you there. I'd recommend starting with a still life setup in your home so you can leave the camera set up as you try different iterations of the same shot to get the result you're after. Set the thing up, shoot a sheet, process it, evaluate the outcome, adjust the camera & lighting, do another sheet, etc.

 

[Ian Grant]

Welcome, I have an Underwood "Albion" Quarter plate tailboard camera, but I need to make new bellows.

Back in 1977 I was shown around my chemical supplier's premises in Birmingham. Ninian Hogg took me to a room full of photo chemicals, mentioning the premises had been wood workshops. There were old belt driven pulley wheels in the ceilings, the place was like a rabbit warren, originally 3 adjacent buildings so the floors weren't quite the same level, a lot of steps. Years later I realised it had been the T & H Underwood factory in Granville Street, demolished in the 1980s.

Can you post some pictures of the camera.

Ian

 

[chandrastudios]

Welcome, I have an Underwood "Albion" Quarter plate tailboard camera, but I need to make new bellows.

Back in 1977 I was shown around my chemical supplier's premises in Birmingham. Ninian Hogg took me to a room full of photo chemicals, mentioning the premises had been wood workshops. There were old belt driven pulley wheels in the ceilings, the place was like a rabbit warren, originally 3 adjacent buildings so the floors weren't quite the same level, a lot of steps. Years later I realised it had been the T & H Underwood factory in Granville Street, demolished in the 1980s.

Can you post some pictures of the came

Take your time, it's not a race. A good day for me is 4 to 6 exposures IF that much.

Make yourself a check list of steps to follow when shooting and follow it.

You will make mistakes; it's not the end of the World, keep going.

Have fun!

thanks

 

[chandrastudios]

Shooting good paper negs actually takes more skill than shooting film (they’re very contrasty) so if you can nail that, you’re all set!

good to know

 

[chandrastudios]

I agree; I'd start out with film because it's generally easier to get an acceptable image.
However, paper negatives can work well for learning the basics of inserting sheets into the holders etc since you can work under safelight. Then again, you could practice with a scrap sheet of film or even a sheet of thick paper or thin plastic in daylight to accomplish the same.



Get started, burn materials, learn from the mistakes you'll make. Practice will get you there. I'd recommend starting with a still life setup in your home so you can leave the camera set up as you try different iterations of the same shot to get the result you're after. Set the thing up, shoot a sheet, process it, evaluate the outcome, adjust the camera & lighting, do another sheet, etc.

good idea

 

[chandrastudios]

Welcome, I have an Underwood "Albion" Quarter plate tailboard camera, but I need to make new bellows.

Back in 1977 I was shown around my chemical supplier's premises in Birmingham. Ninian Hogg took me to a room full of photo chemicals, mentioning the premises had been wood workshops. There were old belt driven pulley wheels in the ceilings, the place was like a rabbit warren, originally 3 adjacent buildings so the floors weren't quite the same level, a lot of steps. Years later I realised it had been the T & H Underwood factory in Granville Street, demolished in the 1980s.

Can you post some pictures of the camera.

Ian

sure i can upload some here

 

[Nitroplait]

I think starting with film makes it easier to learn. I don’t know the prices where you live, but foma’s 4x5 is less than 1 euro pr sheet in my part of the world. Sometimes you can find X-ray film for less, although I haven’t tried, others seems to enjoy it.

 

[Ian Grant]

sure i can upload some here

Most here won't know what E & T Underwood cameras look like. They were quite a large manufacturer but only for a short time, Edward's brother died in the mid 1890s, I think 94. The factory was 3 stories and two rooms deep, there must have been steam power.

I worked in Birmingham for nearly 30 years, and many buildings in the industrial areas were quadrangles and would have had a steam engine in the centre to power machine tools. Birmingham was not heavy industry, rather the more intricate light industry finished good, a Jewellery quarter, a Gun quarter, and everything between those extremes. Raw materials came from the Black Country and Staffordshire, big coal and iron producers.

Birmingham camera manufacturers in the late1800s and earl 1900s made cameras distinctively different to those from London and Manchester, etc, part of this was the locally produced brass fittings. There was also innovation. The first autofocus LF enlarger, by that I mean focus remained corrected as you increased column height, Lancaster.

Ian

 

[chandrastudios]

Welcome, I have an Underwood "Albion" Quarter plate tailboard camera, but I need to make new bellows.

Back in 1977 I was shown around my chemical supplier's premises in Birmingham. Ninian Hogg took me to a room full of photo chemicals, mentioning the premises had been wood workshops. There were old belt driven pulley wheels in the ceilings, the place was like a rabbit warren, originally 3 adjacent buildings so the floors weren't quite the same level, a lot of steps. Years later I realised it had been the T & H Underwood factory in Granville Street, demolished in the 1980s.

Can you post some pictures of the camera.

Ian

 

[chandrastudios]

Most here won't know what E & T Underwood cameras look like. They were quite a large manufacturer but only for a short time, Edward's brother died in the mid 1890s, I think 94. The factory was 3 stories and two rooms deep, there must have been steam power.

I worked in Birmingham for nearly 30 years, and many buildings in the industrial areas were quadrangles and would have had a steam engine in the centre to power machine tools. Birmingham was not heavy industry, rather the more intricate light industry finished good, a Jewellery quarter, a Gun quarter, and everything between those extremes. Raw materials came from the Black Country and Staffordshire, big coal and iron producers.

Birmingham camera manufacturers in the late1800s and earl 1900s made cameras distinctively different to those from London and Manchester, etc, part of this was the locally produced brass fittings. There was also innovation. The first autofocus LF enlarger, by that I mean focus remained corrected as you increased column height, Lancaster.

Ian

thanks for sharing, you don't really find much information on this camera on the internet.

 

[chandrastudios]

I think starting with film makes it easier to learn. I don’t know the prices where you live, but foma’s 4x5 is less than 1 euro pr sheet in my part of the world. Sometimes you can find X-ray film for less, although I haven’t tried, others seems to enjoy it.

where i live, no films are available. i have to source it from elsewhere which is not very easy.

 

[Ian Grant]

From the 1898 BJP Almanac. Your camera has a Thornton Pickard shutter on the lens board, it may be an Instanto.

Ian

 

[chandrastudios]

View attachment 396808

From the 1898 BJP Almanac. Your camera has a Thornton Pickard shutter on the lens board, it may be an Instanto.

View attachment 396812

Ian

yea, the lens doesnt look the same but the body seems like it. this is so cool thanks!