“RNP the Blog”

As most of you that read this blog know my father Larry Nicholson was a photographer. I use the word was because he really doesn’t shoot anymore. In fact he really hasn’t shot much since Ronald Regan was in office. Most of my memories of my dad with a camera involve him behind a video camera as he made the move away from still photography and into video production during my childhood.

Over the past few years my dad (with some heavy encouragement from my mom) has passed on some of his still cameras to me. One camera I have always loved but never thought he would part with was his “8 x 10″ Deardorff. Much to my surprise my Dad showed up at my house a couple weeks ago with the Deardorff in tow. Thanks Pop!

I would describe the camera as a beautiful beast. The camera is made out of mahogany wood and it is big. Because of its size It is a camera that challenges you and demands commitment from you which is a good thing. Its’ functionality or lack of it absolutely forces you to slow down and think your way through a photograph. It is the exact opposite of digital in many ways (and in my opinion almost all of these ways are positive). By design you are forced to think in terms of quality of shooting versus quantity. No doubt digital is great for its’ speed, immediate feedback, encouragement of experimentation, but for me at least there is still something about film that feels real.

My dad’s Deardorff hasn’t been used in years, I doubt it has been used in my lifetime (36 years if you are counting at home) and yet I was still able to take it out and capture a quality image with it. I don’t forsee my Nikon DSLR being in the same boat 30 years from now. If was still able to capture an image would any software exist that would allow me to process and print that image?

Despite all the positive aspects to the camera it definitely has it share of negatives. Working with a “8 x 10″ viewfinder is an amazing experience but lugging around the camera and setting it up to make an exposure require a strong back and ample patience. I think my friend Ajay had the best description of working with an “8 x 10″ camera when he said, “It is like dancing with a polar bear.”

I had been looking for an opportunity to dance with my polar bear and my brother Jeffrey (another Nicholson photographer) told me he was heading out to his see one of his assistant’s horses last week.  When he mentioned that the directions included turning right at a sign that says “Fresh Eggs” I thought it might be just the place to take the Deardorff for a test drive.

The property did not disappoint and I was able to make two “quick” exposures during our short time there. Just happened to catch Shawn Nash while we there who has been one of my brother’s best friends for many years. Shawn is the real deal, done stunt work for many movies and television shows and was a great subject for this first dance.

In what amounted to a glorified camera test I have to say I am quite pleased with the results. I plan to get the beast again soon…stay tuned.