During our time at the cabin on Mashuyak Dan introduced me to our Mimiya medium format camera, “Elke” (named after Dan’s mom, whose camera it was at one time). I’d say that this was the next (fourth) milestone on my journey of photographic aesthetics. The past two years I’ve been so caught up in the digital medium, that I had forgotten the beauty of film. Now, granted, we haven’t developed any of the rolls yet, and for all I know they could all be crap; but, I’ve got a feeling they won’t be.

This camera is a little older - from the 70s. I've seen the new Mimiyas, and they're awesome, but there is something totally charming about the boxy design of vintage we have, like the Volvos of the same era. There is something undeniably pleasing about looking down the large viewfinder and using the pop-up magnifying glass to examine every detail of what’s in the frame and to ensure it’s in focus. There is something absolutely satisfying about the precision of the movement of the focus, shutter speed and aperture dials, not to mention the subtle but concise “click” of the shutter. (Below: Dan films with the Bolex that is yet to be named, while Elke waits.)

Medium format demands your attention and time in order for you to choose a subject and to compose your shot. You must have an accurate reading from your light metre and adjust the speed and aperture accordingly. Because there are only twelve shots in a roll of film and developing is very expensive there is no reward for distraction or haste.

What makes medium format so great, you ask? Simple: its size (6cm square) is much larger than 35mm. When you are dealing with large subjects, like the stunning cliffs, rocks, ice, snow, and water that comprise the landscapes we saw around Mashuyak, this will translate into vividness of colour and sharpness of the image when it is printed. And, when you print it, you could blow it up to be a HUGE wall sized poster and not loose one iota of clarity. And thinking about single shots of these vast expanses and massive ancient rocks printed and placed alone on a wall made me increasingly giddy with each photograph I composed and shot.

After this, going back to shooting with my little Canon digital camera and seeing what I wanted to be wicked images become pixilated on Photoshop before my eyes makes me feel sick. I don't deny that the digital medium has its place; but compared to medium format, it seems like a bit of a joke. (Dan, Elke and I: good friends after Mashuyak)