About

The zenithal photography of architectural subjects is a genre that I have been dealing with for many years, refining my technique and knowledge over time, initially with traditional 35mm reflex cameras and then, since 2008, with a photographic device designed and built specifically for zenithal shots, equipped with a 12mm / 5.6 Voigtlaender Ultra Wide Heliar rectilinear wide-angle lens with M39 screw coupling and with a viewing angle of approximately 128°, mounted using a special adapter -without frame elements- on Sinar-Copal leaf shutter.

The entire circle of the image projected by the optic (diameter about 50mm) is thus collected by the sensitive material contained in a Hasselbald 120 film holder, generating photographs with a wider overview than that which could be observed with the naked eye. The system is completed by a suitably modified Topcon survey instrument basis, a Starrett #98-4” toric level for correct leveling and a remote-controlled remote release actuator. For the exposure, obviously manual, I use a Quantum CalcuLight-XP reflected light meter.

When needed, I use a studio flash with a modified reflector to achieve the barebulb effect, and also, alternatively, a 150W LED illuminator with adjustable intensity. In these cases I use a Minolta Flash Meter for exposure. At the end of 2015 I equipped the film loader with a USB endoscope to check the correct advancement of the frames via my smartphone. In early 2018, I replaced the lens mount with a Leica M bayonet, again using the M39 screw mount 12mm / 5.6 ultra wide angle Heliar lens, using a Leitz adapter.