5 Frames… Of Polaroid Originals on an old Burke & James Orbit 4×5 camera and Ilex Paragon Anastigmat lens

5 Frames… Of Polaroid Originals on an old Burke & James Orbit 4×5 camera and Ilex Paragon Anastigmat lens – by Nathan Acevedo

April 2020. I purchased my first 4×5 camera, an old Burke & James Orbit 4×5. Learning to use it was immensely fun and rewarding. I noticed an almost immediate change in how I approach my image-making. Roll forward six months and in October 2020 I find myself with a surplus of Polaroid Originals 600 and I-Type film. This is odd, as I am not usually a Polaroid, or Instant, photographer.

So I searched for a fun way to use the film, aside from the original intentions. Lo and behold I found a way to combine the instant with what is almost the furthest from instant there is: that Burke & James Orbit 4×5 camera.

More specifically:

• The old Burke & James Orbit 4×5
• An Ilex Paragon Anastigmat f/4.5 EF 7 1/2” lens
• The film – Polaroid Originals 600 Color
• A Polaroid OneStep CloseUp to “develop” the film

Off we go.

Frame 1 – The classic mirror LF selfie

…did not go well – the focus was off, the lighting was poor. The Polaroid camera I used to develop the image only ejected the frame halfway and I had to pull it out manually. Had a drink and waited til morning to try again.

Frame 2 – Much better

Made sure the Polaroid sat perfectly flat in the 4×5 film holder. Added some light, nailed my focus. Polaroid camera for developing the frame worked as it should.

Frame 3 – To the patio garden!

Set up some cacti and succulents. Took the meter reading, focused, loaded the Polaroid frame into the Orbit. Breathe slowly. Take the shot. Then realize, post-development, that I had loaded the Polaroid frame backwards. Cool.

Frame 4 – It’s OK!

This is what it’s all about, isn’t it? Let’s slow down and try again. I did not slow down. I rushed during the reload and forgot to bring my aperture back to shooting value after checking my focus. Five to six stops overexposed. Realized post-development. Cool.

Frame 5 – …

• I double-checked it all:
• The Polaroid frame is flat.
• The Polaroid frame has the correct orientation.
• The 4×5 film holder is loaded correctly.
• My focus is correct.
• The light hasn’t changed but I take another metering anyway.
• My shutter speed is correct.
• The aperture is correctly set.
• I do a couple of test shutter fires before removing the dark slide. Fires perfectly.
• Take a breath. Take the shot.
• Remove and load Polaroid frame into Polaroid camera. It rolls it out as it should.

The image is under exposed, or rather it looks exactly as it should because I didn’t use a fill light, though I do love the end result regardless. Rationalizing my love of this frame, in order to not try again, also goes off perfectly.

I was in need of a small project to kick my creative flow out of the dam it hit. This helped immensely and I will absolutely be continuing the practice.

At least til the film runs out.

~ Nathan