Your cocktail host asks, "What is Large Format?" & your reply is...

[Heroique]

It's Saturday evening – you're at an enjoyable cocktail party.

It's a private home (not a bar), a civilized crowd (not too many), still early (not too late), tasteful music (probably late-1950's Miles Davis), and excellent drinks (no Budweiser).

Call it a place of intelligence, wit, and brevity.

"Someone just told me you're a large format photographer," the friendly host remarks. (That means nearby guests are now turning their ears in your direction, and there's a new silence.) "Can you explain what 'large format' means?" the host asks.

What would you say? And how long would it take you to say it?

In these times, would you start with some apologetic humor, or a few simple facts?

Please share your first few remarks – and help the rest of us prepare for such a critical moment. ;^)

[Ari]

Heroique, it appears you lead a very different life than I do.

[Heroique]

This has actually happened, and lucky me, there was an AA print on the wall to help out.

But I think my enthusiasm got the best of me, and I went on too long...

Hope I do better "next time"!

[Mark Sawyer]

Philosophically, I'd explain it as a gourmet approach to photography in a fast-food world. The large format photographer tends to spend more time, money, and effort making fewer photographs, and often enjoys the history, process, equipment, and of course, the outcome. It is, simply, a different approach.

Technically, I suppose I could explain a little about the "format size that defines this photography, but that seems simplistic.

And if they proffered that large format seemed a useless anachronism in the digital world, I'd have a few more of those excellent cocktails and vomit on their shoes.

[Vaughn]

I would say, "I am sorry, but modesty and social etiquette prevents me from discussing this in a mixed group."

[Peter Lewin]

"One of those old cameras you see in Western movies where the photographer puts his head under a dark cloth."

If they ask "Why do you use it?" then it becomes a longer discussion.

[Heroique]

I would say, "I am sorry, but modesty and social etiquette prevents me from discussing this in a mixed group."

Sounds like a tactful way to avoid launching into Scheimpflug positions!

I'd probably start with film size, and see if further interest justified a (very) brief mention of perspective control. (Perhaps a quick example about keeping tall trees straight.)

I think Peter's "under the darkcloth" is a very helpful image, and Mark's strategy about "more time/fewer photos" would win some appreciation for our cause.

[gleaf]

Loved the fellow I worked with who's first answer to a technical question was always the simple question...
"Is it bigger than a bread box"... no matte if your answer was yes or no he would nod sagely and
say he knew what you were talking about then.

Hmm new thread to avoid a hi jacking.

[Patrick13]

Winston Churchill: "Large format is merely my way of keeping as much gear between me and you as possible, madam."

Ernest Hemingway: "Large format is wrestling with a primal beast, bending it to your will to tear images screaming from its bowels."

Plato: "You are under a dark cloth hiding from sight all but a sheet ground glass, on the other side is a lens to capture the fiery visions of reality. All you see are shadows of what is on the other side and never reality itself."

Mark Twain: "Go to 35mm for the climate, go to large format for the company."

Me: "I'm obviously over-compensating for something."

Depends on the crowd

[jnantz]

"One of those old cameras you see in Western movies where the photographer puts his head under a dark cloth."

If they ask "Why do you use it?" then it becomes a longer discussion.

pretty much what i would say .. as well as instead of using rolls of film like a 35mm camera it makes negatives
" this big " ( making a large rectangle with my hands )