"15 reps at 3 sec. each." Three sets should keep those shoulder muscles ready… Hello, Wow! That girl in the photo, must have had weight training and under those sleeves is a full on bicep/tricep powerful set of arms and muscular shoulders. Or, the instant lifting and pulling the trigger was captured by another photographer, as the large camera came down instantly. The girls we knew, even the college age, coach’s assistant, sporty type girl at our school ground activities was athletic, had defined muscles and a nice body. Although she could swing a bat and hit the far reaches of the playground with the baseball, she was not one that could have lifted the large Graflex camera… yikes! Our dad had an old Graflex camera with a hard shell case that neatly fit the equipment. It was a heavy case when fully loaded with film, camera, flash, light meter and lens shades. “Cannon shot” flash bulbs were the best!!! One press of a button and it shot across the room... but, the just used flash bulb is/was very hot! The full case was too heavy at times and he had the two brothers carry some photo stuff in our hands, as he took photos or carried the loaded case. Little stuff, like the separate light meter and film cartridges. Each package of film only held 5 or ten shots and when finished, someone had to hold it for safety. Then a new cartridge was put in for more photos. If one ever sees an old photo of photographers with these large format cameras, their jacket pockets are packed with new cartridges and one side are the used ones. Safe keeping…mode. But, we tried to hold the Graflex Camera up to point and shoot a nice photo. Yikes, even with two arms, it was too heavy for us. So, if our dad allowed us to take photos using his cameras in one of our family vacations or just a visit to a coastal park, the trusty tripod was always set up. Our dad could hold the Graflex Camera up and see through the viewfinder, adjust the camera, slide out the film safety tab and then shoot the photo. Then it was pull out the film cannister, insert a new cannister, pull out the tab and get ready for the next photo. This seems like what is/was a simple thing. For our dad, it was. He lugged that Graflex Camera all over our road trips, vacations and camping locations. But, if he wanted a photo of our mom and dad together, the tripod had to be set up. It was nothing to hit the extended trigger cord button and follow the film cannister procedures. It was just that either one of the young sons could not hold up the camera while taking a photo. It was not until junior high school growth spurt that allowed me to actually hold the camera up to my eye and take photos when I could. But, still, our dad had his ways with the large camera. Did he ever think of getting a smaller normal size 35mm Rangefinder camera that we all could point and shoot with ease? Or at least one of two Kodak Brownie cameras that were the rage for most families during that time period of the late 40s through the mid 60s? Jnaki It would have been simple for a 35mm Rangefinder Camera as it was small and easily slung over our necks or shoulders. By the mid 60s the Single Lens Reflex Cameras were developed for the general public and took off with a bang… But, our dad had his little stand up dark room all set up for his large format Graflex Camera (plus film) and was a hard headed old dad during those early camera times. At least during the mid 50s, he got a simple point and shoot 16mm movie camera for his needs and we could use it easily. I “went to town” using the little movie camera almost every weekend. Kudos to my dad for carrying around that huge 4x5 camera around to all family events, beach day events and on our numerous road trips along the coastal motels, campgrounds and resorts later on. He told me he wanted to bring the camera to my high school football games, but I told him that was a little overboard. YRMV Note: I went to a camera store to get a larger format camera. I already had a 2.25 x 2.25 twin lens camera with interchangeable lenses. But, I wanted a larger format camera to make perfect 8 x 10 photos, color and B/W. So, I found a nice Pentax 6x7 format camera that looked like the big brother to my Asahi Pentax 35mm camera. The negatives (film) were now sized to develop into a perfect 8x10 photos, without losing or cropping any outside items in the prints. But the camera was surprisingly large. In handling it, it was like shooting with my normal 35mm Pentax, as far as grip and access to the shutter button. I walked around the camera shop carrying the camera, swinging it up to my face to shoot a photo or two and continue back to the counter. By the time I got back to the counter, it was tiring for my arms. The camera was definitely heavier and it took a toll on my arms, despite being 20 something-30 something physically fit adult. Ha! so, I stayed with my twin lens reflex camera and got a side pistol grip to allow me to do moving action shots with a flick of the trigger. YRMV Comparison photo:
The Jalopy Journal
