My brother has had a crown graphic for years and I never did anything with it until I started seeing lf images and reading this forum. Now I'm well on my way down the slippery slope, making my camera, bought two lenses and now I think I'm interested in a darkroom. I doubt I would be doing this if it weren't for the information and people on this forum. Thanks to all who share your knowledge and experience.
I bought the camera, got it home and was amazed to find that I had no idea how to use the thing let alone close it once I had it open, In fact I couldn't even see anything when I stuck my nose up against the ground glass. The internet and especially this site has been fantastic. The knowledge of the psrtisipants and their willingness to share their knowledge is beyond belief, thanks.
I should add that I've met a number of them in person too, thanks to the internet, and they have been uniformly helpful.
>has the internet lead to a revitalization of large format photography?
No. At least not as an artistic medium. It's not that the internet isn't beneficial, it's just that it hasn't had a significant impact on LF photography as an artform.
That said, I'm thankful there are newsgroups where I can post technical questions and get helpful responses. LF forums have saved me a ton of time and effort I would have otherwise spent trying to work through pretty mundane problems on my own. I can invest the time and effort saved in making prints, which is how I prefer to spend my time.
I think the internet, specifically this site and photo.net, we're definetly a factor in me getting more involved in LF. They weren't what started it though; I already had been shooting when I eventually started using the photo.net forums, and then once I started using the schools 4x5 cameras I came to this site for help.
I think what is most helpful is in buying stuff. With 35mm, you can pretty much just stick with, say, whatever cannon manufactures, and it's gonna be all good. It will all work, and all cover the format of course. Some lenses will be nicer than others, but you generally know that, for example, the 28-80 f/3.5-4.5 isn't going to be as sharp as the 50/1.4 or 80/1.8.
With LF though, you can use any lens ever made in the history of the world. From the nicest new ultra-megar-XL to the most ancient dusty myuelleiare rapide proto-stigmatte.
So that's when I used this forum the most - when trying to figure out what exactly to get. I also check it fairly often just to see what people are up to, any techniques or idea. Really though, I have all the equipment and film I need, I should be shooting rather than typing on here!
Yes, but you're getting a biased sample by asking on the internet.
Place a questionairre in the national paper of your choice to get a real answer for your question.
What are you getting at, Graeme?
Oh, one more downside of the digital revolution... more snapshooters are calling themselves photograhers.
ABSOLUTELY!!
I am fortunate that I have a few camera stores in the area that carry LF equipment, film, and accressories, but I bet there are many areas across the US and the world that do not have these resources.
And not only have the internet forum revitalized LF, but the digital age as a whole has done a great deal for it. Equipmet can be purchased at reasonable prices through e-bay, keh, mpex, adorama, badger graphics, etc. Web sites have a huge amount of information available. Film can be scanned and printed without need for a darkroom. Film libraries can be organized on your computer. Scenes can be previewed and lighting tested with a digital camera. Digital scanning backs are available, and may someday be reasonably priced.
The only bad thing for LF that the digital revolution has done is that the film business has been shaken up. The outlook for film companies like Ilford, forte, agfa, kodak, and fuji is questionable. Development for new emultions has been minimalized. And pro labs are declining.
I hope for everyones sake that the renewed interest in LF photography will help keep film alive!
"well certainly the same could be proposed for many things, especialy dare i say it ...porn?"
You likely got that one backward. Porn might have made the internet.
One thing the net has done is drive up the prices on some things. Anybody want to wager those G-clarons wouldn't be selling for 1/2 the money if it wasn't for the net? Or any of the rare cameras nobody has ever seen outside of a picture on the web.
If over the next six months people here started talking about how wonderfull and cheap some lens/camera is in six months it won't be cheap anymore.
I am sure it has been a mixed blessing for some manufacturers and service providers. More people find you (good) and more people compare notes on how you treated them (could be not-so-good).
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks