from the hasselblad super wide camera

brooklyn bridge, new york city

padlocks left by lovers on brooklyn bridge, new york city

the prestigious swedish company hasselblad built a fixed lens camera around a great german lens -- the zeiss biogon 38.   it became the lightest medium format camera that hasselblad has ever built.  initially, it was made for military surveillance, landscape and architectural photography.  but its sharpness and the phenomenally low distortion made it a photographer's dream camera even if it is not the easiest camera to use.  and, you can't put any other lens to it since it is a fixed lens camera.  and it also has no batteries.  focusing is by estimation.  one also estimates lens opening and speed.  it is so easy to go wrong with the camera!  and though it is old and, some say, obsolete, it is expensive!!!   years ago, i came across bill brandt's portraits that were taken with the super wide camera (SWC).   they were simply gorgeous.  then a friend, a professional portrait photographer, just happened to show an SWC that he was willing to part with at friendly terms. (he was planning to buy a new big bike.)  it was lust at first sight!  as gollum put it, "we wants it, we needs it.  must have the precious!"  and this blog contains the photos i have taken with the camera i just had to have.

portraits from the hasselblad 903 swc:

tito balti

ninang angge

mama

bing

gracie

cousin ermie