Your response caused me to look up the specs of flashbulbs of the day.
The GE #5 or Sylvnia Press 25 had guide numbers of 200 feet at ASA 100.
That's about the same as two T45s.
<http://www.graflex.org/flash/technical.html>
Chuck Norcutt
Ken Norton wrote:
> Dr Flash wrote:
>> Aunt Annie's wedding dinner photo really is amazing on many levels.
>> There is no way the DOF could be so great on a large format camera
>> unless the camera was capable of tilt or swing. Also, given the small
>> apertures of a large camera, the slow speed of film of the day and no
>> apparent subject motion I would have to assume that flash was used.
>
> First of all, I believe that the photograph is consistant with a quality 4x5
> camera of the time. 8x10 was certainly used, but almost exclusively for
> contact-prints. 4x5, even on the films of the day, was capable of
> tremendous detail and smoothness. The edge-to-edge sharpness indicates a
> reasonable aperture and a tilted lens to increase the DoF.
>
>> However, I can't find much indication of that in the shadows although
>> there certainly is some (see, especially, the lower left corner).
>> Another amazing point is that I can't find anyone blinking. I can find
>> a few women not looking at the camera who may have their eyes closed but
>> no one looking at the camera whose eyes are not open. Makes me wish I
>> could talk to that photographer.
>
> I'm stewing on the lighting too. It looks barebulb, but there are telltails
> of flash-powder. In the 100% view, you can see the lady's arm/hand move.
> She may have flinched during the exposure, but this may be the clue that it
> was flash-powder, because the duration of the flash lighting would have been
> extensive.
>
> No eyes closed? I'm more inclined to believe the photo was touched-up.
> (Editing didn't begin with Photoshop).
>
> Regardless, it is an amazing photograph and one which I'm not so sure I'd
> have a clue how to replicate today and achieve the same level of quality.
>
> AG
>
>
> ken@xxxxxxxxxxx
> http://www.zone-10.com
>
>
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