Rethymnon harbour in Crete #1 Canvas Print

This is one of the most remarkable photos I have ever taken. Not because the the air was so clear, the sea so blue and calm and the reflections so perfect, not because it makes almost the ideal postcard image of a Greek island city - it is Rethymnon, on Crete - what is remarkable is that the photo was taken with one of the most primitive cameras I have ever used.
The Beier Beirax is a folding camera that was made in Germany from 1936. Mine seems to be a particularly early model, as it has a loop of metal to wind the film forward (like the 1920s Welta Gloria) rather than a fancy Bakelite knob which was standard for the model. The lens, however, a Ludwig Victar generally appeared on later pre-war models.
The subject is selected by looking through a metal frame on top of the camera, so precision is not possible, and focusing is done by guessing the distance and turning the ring on the front of the lens to the desired distance.
The Prontor shutter is not capable of very fast sp...

PLEASE NOTE: Any watermark that is displayed will not appear on purchased prints. Paul is a professional art, travel, nature and food photographer working with both high-end digital and medium and large format film. He went into photography after a 30-year career in journalism in the UK and Middle East.