Can my Pentacon Six do the Buena Vista Panorama in Vermont?

I know, I know … at one point I was gung-ho on achieving a super-panoramic stitched shot by capturing several consecutive photographs on one roll of 120 film. I named the project Buena Vista Panorama, based on an anecdote my Grandma Betty told me. She and my Aunt Elaine were traveling on a European trip, and while they visited Italy, the tour guide spoke very little English, and neither my grandmother nor my aunt could speak Italian. However, the three of them were able to agree that if there was something spectacular on the Italian tour, the tour guide would simply say, “Buena Vista Panorama,” and everybody would nod in agreement.

Last year, I tried some Buena Vista Panorama shots while on a covered bridge photo tour in Vermont. And I thought the photos were okay … but I knew I could do better. Unfortunately, between that photo shoot and today, my beloved Rolleiflex Automat MX camera bit the dust. Which is why I’m now shooting medium format film with my Pentacon Six TL camera.

With that in mind, I returned to Arlington, Vermont and hoped for a decent photo shoot at the Arlington Green Covered Bridge site. I did capture a panorama of this covered bridge last year, and yes, I blogged about the experience.

Another “Buena Vista Panorama” attempt in Bennington County

This time, I wanted more than just the covered bridge at Arlington Green. I wanted the bridge AND the neighboring church.

This would be an epic photo.

I arrived on a warm Sunday afternoon. Plenty of sunshine and natural light in the area.

Unfortunately, before I could put together this epic panorama … I had to wait.

Not for some Italian tour guide to shout “Buena Vista Panorama” at me.

No, I had to wait because a whole bunch of people parked their cars right in front of the church – right in the pivot point of my panoramic photo. And the last thing I need – when I’m trying to capture a timeless panoramic shot – is an assortment of pickup trucks and Teslas in the middle of the frame.

So I decided to turn this trip into another test photo. I’ll get the covered bridge and the church on another trip. But for now, let’s see if I can stitch together four photos with the Pentacon Six TL – using my Carl Zeiss Jene Flektogon 65mm f/4 lens on the chassis, with a pack of Kodak Portra 400 in the box.

Of course, when you’re setting up your tripod to get this shot, you have to make sure your pivot point is level. I want a level bridge, not a funhouse bridge.

So let’s see what I can do with this. Four shots, left to right.

Okay. I need to crop out the swimmer, I need to crop out the inner tube carrier, and I have to make an exposure adjustment on one of the frames. A little adjustment here, a little adjustment there …

And maybe this will work. Fingers crossed. Here we go.

Sweet. I’m so close right now. That bridge is nice and bright red against the dark green leaves. I wonder what this would look like in October when the foliage kicks in.

Or maybe I can get the bridge WITH the church that’s currently behind me and currently out of frame.

If I can get the covered bridge AND the church …

Then THAT would be the true Buena Vista Panorama.

I’m so close right now.

I know I can get it.