Well back in the ’80s I settled on my main camera format when I purchased a 5×7 Deardorff. For me the slightly panoramic aspect ratio of 5×7 versus that of 4×5 or 8×10 has clearly influenced my imagery.  I was fortunate back in 2007 to acquire one of the finest designed Ultra Large Format cameras made by Dick Phillips.  The panoramic 7×17″ provided me with a new and rewarding way to “see” the landscape and was a perfect compliment to the 5″x7″ (this becomes important later in the story).  I learned to see in a very panoramic way, “Mr. Phillips” has rewarded me with many fine images.  In spite of its sleek design, a single camera system, backpack and film holders weighing in @ 40 odd pounds simply became less practical as I grew into my later 60s.  Little did I know when I purchased the pristine camera from a good friend, (Michael) 13 years ago the camera brand itself would develop a cult following, even copied by a present-day view camera manufacturer.  Dick Phillips embraced that as the highest form of compliment.  

    Quite by coincidence, a fine photographer and good friend, Stuart from Scotland told me of the resale market for my camera was at an all-time high.  I reached out to the dealer in the UK who seemed to have a connection to buyers who saw tremendous value in the Phillips camera that I owned.  Indeed, when the broker in the UK saw pictures of my camera and Lotus film holders he knew his client in China would be very interested in my camera.  This initial interest ramped up at the end of August last year. 

Phillips 7×17 camera, Hartford Graffiti Park

   My good friend and videographer Peter Dylag setup this image of me and my boys at Hartford Graffiti Park in September.  However, the overseas interest in my camera stalled through the Holiday season. I grew less interested in parting with the camera even though I had not done much photography with the 7×17, making only 5 or 6 images in all of 2019.  Not long after the New Year the dealer in the UK indicated his client in China was ready and had his eye on having my camera for their Chinese New Year at the end of January. 

  I received the funds on good faith from the dealer on Monday January 13th. I told him I would ship the camera before the weekend.  I realized I had very little time left with Mr. Phillips. I prepared the camera and holders for shipment and planned to be out each of the next three mornings to make my last few 7×17 images. Apart from work, all of my focus during the next 4 days was to make negatives with the 7×17.  I went so far as to tell work, “I’ll be in sometime in the mornings” over the next 4 days.  The final 4 days with Mr. Phillips yielded 3 images, seen below, clockwise from the bottom left. 

Last 4 Days, 1/14 – 1/17/2020

  Weather conditions cooperated perfectly, Tuesday morning was a foggy morning so I headed for the Rocky Hill Meadows.  I arrived early on 1/14/20 to scout out a composition and decided on the following image.  The next day’s images follow and on Friday 1/17/20 I sent Mr. Phillips off to make imagery in China.

RH Meadows, Foggy, 1/14/2020

RH Meadows, Sunny, 1/15/2020

Baldwin Bridge, Rainy, 1/16/2020

   I’ve always wanted to weave the following into one of my Blogs, and a short version seems appropriate here.  On all my photo trips where air travel is involved, I read the book, Art and Fear. One of the biggest take-aways from this book is found in an example shared by a college art professor who split the class in half.  One half of the class was charged with making only one supreme work of art while the other half of the class is encouraged to make as much art as possible within the given amount of time allowed for the project.  Invariably the best work came from those whose charge was to make as much art as possible.  I can see a similarity here in these last three images I made before sending off my 7×17 to lands unknown.  Each image by itself is worthy of becoming part of a body of work. I’m very fortunate to have these final 3 images in the 7×17 format as I miss the camera and it’s potential already.  

   To bring this story full circle, my 7×17 camera was the very first of only 25 cameras made by Dick Phillips in the 7×17″ format.  My friend Michael is the photographer who pursued Phillips to make a limited production run in the 7×17″ format.  My Phillips 7×17 is now making imagery in China, nevertheless, I knew I would miss that perspective but not the weight.  I thought about the 5×12″ format, which is essentially an identical perspective and still a very respectable contact print to hold and enjoy. There are several modern-day view camera designers making the 5×12″ format.  My research revealed some were making the 5×12″ format and 5×7″ format together in one camera but required an undue amount of disassembly and then reassembly in the field with different bellows and rear standards.  That scenario was not an option from my viewpoint.  I reached out to the Chamonix View Camera (Phillips design) who once made a run of 5×12″ cameras but were no longer in production.  Hugo Zhang, the president of Chamonix told me they could make their 5×12″ format camera for me but could not integrate a 5×7″ back into the same camera.  My interest was only lukewarm as I still wanted to enlarge negatives I make from the 5×7″ format.  Low and behold, Mr. Zhang reached out to me a week or so later and told me the designers and production people could produce a camera in both the 5×12″ format with a 5×7″ reducing back sharing the same bellows.  That is essentially how my 5×7″ Deardorff is designed to share a 4×5″ reducing back.  That was the turning point.  I ordered the camera, much like the camera you see here.

Jim Galli’s 5×14″ Chamonix camera

  My Phillips 7×17 and Deardorff 5×7 combined weigh was over 25 lbs. I clearly was not interested in another two camera setup even if the weight was reduced. The new 5×12″ camera with 5×7″ reducing back weighs under 10 lbs !!  While my physical abilities maybe declining, my passion for film and wet process photography is as strong as it ever was.  Everything we do is about making adjustments and I am very thankful the folks at Chamonix View Camera made some adjustments to their 5×12″ camera.  I find their willingness to design and adapt to one photographer’s request quite extraordinary !!

   The gracious folks at Chamonix View Cameras have offered a discount on the 5×12″ camera when 3 or more cameras are ordered before production begins in April of this year.  There are two cameras presently under deposit, if someone is interested the next order will trigger a $200.00 price reduction for all, $300.00 if 5 or more cameras are ordered.