One of my all time favourite photographers, Paul Strand used a Graflex. I love Strand's portraiture. I knew he used a 5x7 Graflex that he cropped on the ground glass to 5x6 (his preferred format size) but in one of these photos he is also using what looks to me like a 4x5 Graflex. I found one link that says he also used a 8x10 Graflex.
I keep reading and hearing how great these camera's are for portraiture, maybe I stumbled onto something here. If I can do good handheld 4x5 portraits, buying this camera could turn out great. I might be able to use this camera through out Asia. Strand traveled the world with his 5x7 Graflex, why can't I do Asia with my 4x5? Will see how it goes, but I am definitely more and more excited, after researching Graflex's history, operation and seeing the pictures made with them.
Here are some links to a Strand retrospective:
http://photographytoday.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=471
Paul Strand Modern Master Of Photography, Exhibition Trailer
Update: found this on photo.net, thanks Mark.
Mark Sampson, Sep 29, 2003; 08:25 a.m.
Paul Strand used a 5x7 Home Portrait Graflex. He masked the film gate and ground glass down to about 5x6" to achieve his idea of perfect image proportions.
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| 5x7 Graflex Home Portrait SLR, 1912-1942 |
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| Paul Strand with Graflex, 5x7? |
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| Paul Strand with Graflex |
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| Paul Strand with Graflex, 5x7? |
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| Paul Strand with 4x5 or smaller Graflex |
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| Portrait by Paul Strand |
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| Strand's 5x7 Graflex with Goerz Dagor lens |
