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<
Product
Resources < Large
Format, Part 1
Introduction
to Large Format, Part II
Contents
- Movements
introduction
- Basic
Swing and Tilt Operations
- 1.
Rise and Fall
- 2.
Shift
- 3.
Swing
- 4.
Tilt
- Verticle
Perspective Control
- Horizontal
Perpective Control
- Vertical
Image Placement
- Horizontal
Image Placement
- Depth-of-Field
Control
The principal
features that set view cameras apart from all nonadjustable cameras
are the cameras movements. In a nonadjustable camera, the relationship
of the lens to the film plane is fixed and permanent; other than
switching from one lens focal length to another, or changing your
camera position, fixed cameras offer you little actual control
over image manipulation.
A view camera,
on the other hand, allows you to change virtually every aspect
of the lens/film relationship, including: lens-to-film distance,
vertical and horizontal displacement, and angular relationship.
Because of this flexibility, you have almost limitless control
over the ground glass image. You can enhance, change or exaggerate
image size, shape, sharpness, depth of field, and apparent perspective.
In addition, you can shift the placement of the main subject within
the borders of the ground glass without having to move the camera,
allowing you to fine-tune composition even after the camera position
has been established.
The following
basic movements are possible in actual use:
1.
Rise and Fall
These terms refer to moving the lens and/or film upward or down
ward while keeping the lens and film planes perpendicular to each
other. Upward movement is called rise, downward movement is called
fall. The effect remains almost identical regardless of whether
it is the lens or film holder that is moved. However, it must
be remembered that when the film holder is moved, the image moves
in the opposite direction as when the lens is moved. (This is
also true for all other movements.)
2.
Shift
 "Shift"
(sometimes also called "slide") is movement of the lens and/or
film horizontally while keeping the lens axis and film plane perpendicular
to each other. It is used to move the subject area laterally.
3.
Swing
 Swing
means slanting the lens and/or film holder to the left or right.
Unlike with rise, fall and shift, the lens axis and film plane
are no longer perpendicular to each other. Swing is used to correct
or deliberately exagerate distortions in the (horizontal) linear
perspective.
4.
Tilt
 Tilt
means slanting the lens and/or film holder upward or downward.
In other words, "tilt" does for vertical lines what "swing" does
for horizontal lines. Swing and tilt are used to change the depth
of field to match the subject, or to compensate perspective lines
for correct image size. Since each of these basic movements can
be performed by moving the front and/or back of the camera, there
are 16 possible patterns using the four movements. In actual work,
a combination of two or more of these movements is often used
to obtain the proper effect for each photograph.
Useful when
photographing buildings from a low angle.
If the camera
is pointing upward. . .  and the subject looks like this on the ground glass (converging
vertical lines). . .  remember, the
image will be upside down.
- 1. Tilt
camera back parallel to the face of the subject to correct perspective.
- 2. Tilt
camera front parallel to the back to correct sharpness.
Refocus if necessary and . . . 
The subject will look like this. The perspective is corrected.
Useful in
architectural, still life and product photography.
 If
the camera is pointing at a slight angle to the subject. . . (top
view)
 And
the subject looks like this on the ground glass (converging horizontal
lines). . .
- 1. Swing
the camera back parallel to the face of the subject to correct
perspective.
- 2. Swing
the front parallel to back to correct sharpness.
- Re-focus
if necessary and . . .
 The
subject will look like this. The perspective is corrected.
Improves composition,
eliminates reflections.
 If
the subject looks like this on the ground glass...
 ...or
like this...
Use the front rise or fall or the back rise and fall, and . .
.
 The
subject will look like this, properly composed.
The Horizontal
Image Placement is used for the same purposes as Vertical Image
Placement.
 If
the subject looks like this on the ground-glass...
 ...or
like this...
 Use
the front lateral shift or the back lateral shift, and . . .
 The
subject will look like this, properly composed.
To control
depth of field with the camera.
To achieve maximum depth-of-field from the front of the subject
to the back. . .
Tilt front of the camera forward, and stop down as necessary to
achieve desired effect. The swings are used to control depth of
field on the left to right subject plane. The swings and tilts
on the back of the camera can also be used to control depth-of-field.
Continue
to Part III
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