B - 17

49 B-17

In October of 2019 I went to see this B-17 south of Memphis. They had scheduled flights for people paying to buzz the Mid-South, but I just wanted to get there early and get some photos of the airplane on the ground. I brought my 1937 Carl Zeiss Jena TESSAR 10.5cm f3.5 a lens that was contemporary with the airplane. I got this lens after I read the autobiography of Margaret Bourke-White, I wanted a lens similar to what she used.

While I believe there is some connection between the vintage lens and the vintage subject, I am not able to explain that connection. I am currently attempting to make that link and understand it. Why would a 1937 lens be connected to a 1940s subject?

As a matter of fact, the photo above was made with my modern 35mm Zeiss. I had the older 105mm lens on a tripod and I had to stand far back from the bomber to get it all in frame. The sunrise through the window was the highlight, but not really why I was there and why I thought this was a good subject. I recognize that the modern lens made a good photo, in fact, this photo was the monthly category winner in November of 2019 at the Memphis Camera Club.

I am afraid that what I have to say is that the connection of lens to the subject is not very clear if it exists at all. This B-17 is an attempt of mine to help learn that connection and attempt to explain it. I certainly need more experience to make this relationship and to explain it.

What I have are a variety of old lenses. If I make the assumption that a subject should be photographed with a lens that does not post-date its existence, I believe that is my starting point. What I mean is that this B-17, likely built in the early 1940's would benefit in some way by being photographed by a lens contemporary to it.

When I used the modern 35mm lens, I was taking a photo of the vintage airplane, but when I used the 1937 Carl Zeiss lens, I was making a vintage connection photograph.

As I explore the photos I made with the older lens, I can tell you I did not shoot into the sun because I have found that uncoated lenses lose color range. They seem to haze or fog.

I took photos of the sunrise reflection on the plexiglass nose. I set the tripod with the sun to my back and I didn't even try to get the sunrise behind the plane. I should read more about the 1930s technique and see if I can get more clues.

2019 B-17: https://www.flickr.com/gp/timmwheat/ZTX8w0

Photo by Tim Wheat.

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Photo of the B-17, made with my Carl Zeiss Jena, 10.5 cm