Dear Friends,
When I was back working I took the opportunity to bring back a medium format camera to the trip. The Alpa is a close as you get today to shooting with a 4x5 plate camera, which was my camera of choice before the world went digital. I like that it slows me down. I take a more studied picture with it. As it does not have a mirror system to check focus and composition, you have to measure the distance between the subject and yourself. You are shooting at slow shutter speeds as the medium format lens are relatively slow and the digital backs work best at low iso. These factors mean that you need your subject’s full cooperation.
These first portraits that I took in Mrauk U really play up to the strengths of medium format photography, as they are slower, more intimate portraits.
I took this photo almost immediately after yesterday’s portrait. I wanted to take a second shot but the lady on the right let me know in no uncertain terms that the wood was heavy and that she was off.
Very quickly after that, I took photos of a boy and girl fetching water, five boys out playing with two old tires, and then a monk off for breakfast. As I was shooting these one after another everyone was waiting around the camera so my last photo here was everyone together which I’ll show you tomorrow.
