Smart Phone Screens Are Closer to the Ground Glass Than We Realize

It’s just missing the upside down and backwards part.

“Agave Garden — Oaxaca City” — Image by Author

The view above is what we might see on our smart phone screens.

Near the beginning of the 20th century, black and white film and large format view cameras, became the popular tools of the working photographer. They are still popular and well used by today’s photographic artists.

The interesting thing about these cameras is the image on the ground glass appears upside down and backwards. This is due to physics. When light goes through the lens, the resulting image is reversed.

This unique feature is part of the allure of large format photography.

These cameras also require the user to get under a dark cloth, which is placed over the photographer’s head, and the ground glass on the back of the camera.

By blocking out all light, except what comes through the lens, the photographer is able to view the projected image. Sharp focus can then be achieved by adjusting the camera’s controls.

Same image as it would appear on the ground glass. — Image by Author