Spoke To Jock

I had a telephone talk with Jock Sturges tonight, he gave me his phone number in France and I called him as he was on the road, the talk was only 20 minutes. He gave me lots more tech help and has taught me many things about his type of large format photography and especially about how to use a Kodak Masterview 8x10 properly. Highlights from the short talk tonight:

Backgrounds are very important, there are 3 types of grounds (backgrounds)

- distracting
- just there
- jewels

The jewel backgrounds help you to focus on the subject.

Instead of using a loupe to focus you can use 3x power glasses with a bifocal in one eye, you close the other eye and you can focus using the bifocal from a distance of 8inches allowing you to see the entire ground glass at the same time.

(I think I got that right, have to check with my friend Larry Louie who is an Optometrist).


Get the biggest carbon fiber tripod (Gitzo) you can with the center crank. The center crank is very important for quick subtle adjustments.

Silicone spray the back of the camera to allow smoother entry and exit of the film holders.

They no longer make 8x10 Tri-x, HP5 is a fine film get used to it, it's all you have.

Never focus with the rear standard as it changes shape (only use the rear standard when your pointing down to correct for leg distortion). Focus the Masterview with the front standard that is slightly tightened (not to tight or to loose), you can accomplish focus in one movement not 3.

Use a gold 6 foot reflector for b/w and the white side in sunlight, use a silver reflector for color work but be-careful as it can blind people.

Reflectors from 15 feet and farther are tough, the goal is to make everything look as natural as possible.

Use diffusers to help soften bright sunlight (like a soft box).

Do not pose a subject, accept them to make the right choices, let them find something natural on their own then say "Don't move" and make your picture.

Often the best pictures happen after the session is over, keep some film for that and watch what they do after you say "Thanks were done", often they will do the best things and give you the most natural poses when they think everything is over.

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*Note these might not be exact quotes as I was frantically taking notes as we talked, thou I think they are true to what was said"

Thanks Jock for all your help.