I had a more positive experience with a 4x5 view camera in Houston, over 20
years ago. Boy, we're aging ourselves. I was attending Rice University and
had a photography class and assignment. I was going to do the skyline of
Houston, with the Pennzoil building in the forefront. Unfortunately, where I
needed to stand was occupied by the Convention center.
Not being bashful, I carried my equipment in and found the main office and
explained my project. I asked if I could shoot from their roof -- fully
expecting them to laugh me out of the building.
Quite the contrary. They had a security guard escort me to the roof and
stay with me for as long as I wanted -- over an hour -- making as many shots
as I wanted. My guess is their insurance company would never allow it
today.
The results were, for my, just wonderful. Got a good grade on that
assignment, especially after I told the story. I think I got extra credit
for being too stupid to think that I couldn't do what I did.
I must admit, working with a 4x5 Ilford negative was incredible. The
university had the darkroom of your dreams. Open 24 hours (We all had keys).
Fresh chemicals always in the trays -- 16x20 trays -- Sodium vapor lighting,
as bright as day almost. Must have been 20 enlargers in a huge room. What
I wouldn't give for a setup like that.
Tom
> My most interesting experience with the long arm of the law while doing
some
> photography, occurred a little over thirty years ago and I assume the
outcome
> would be quite different today. Houston had just completed a beautiful
new
> airport with many interesting architectural features/shapes and I was a
> photography student at Sam Houston State University. For one of my
> assignments I packed up a 4X5 view camera and headed to the airport. It
> wasn't until I had done my exterior shots and moved inside that security
> caught up with me. I had the camera set up in one of the passage ways
> leading to the gates and I got the old proverbial tap on the shoulder
while
> having my head stuck under a big piece of black cloth trying to get the
thing
> focused. They took me and the camera down to security and after a little
> searching through my gear and asking a few questions they decided it would
be
> OK for me to continue with the project. The assignment turned out great.
In
> today's environment I doubt that I would have gotten much past the front
door
> before being sent packing. Unfortunate in a way and at some level a
little
> reassuring. Bill Barber
>
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