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Thread: Was there a sign for you that you weren't (or were) a LF photographer?

  1. #31
    MIke Sherck's Avatar
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    Re: Was there a sign for you that you weren't (or were) a LF photographer?

    I spent a lot of years trying to get the kind of landscape prints I wanted from 35mm and a wide variety of materials, including spending a lot of time with Tech Pan film. The first time I looked through a ground glass I knew that this was something I had to know more about and the first time I fixed perspective with camera movements, I knew this was for me.

    That said, I have a Rolleiflex New Standard dating from 1939 which I dearly, dearly love and my dream 35mm camera, a Maxxum 800si, which thanks to digital I was finally able to afford a few years ago. In fact, the local astronomy club's star party is this weekend (I'm just home to shower and change clothes,) and I'm taking the Minolta back to the party with me to grab some "telescope porn" portraits.

    Mike
    Politically, aerodynamically, and fashionably incorrect.

  2. #32

    Join Date
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    Re: Was there a sign for you that you weren't (or were) a LF photographer?

    Doesn't look like you're getting many answers that are responsive to your question. Maybe a large format photography forum isn't the best place to ask people why they aren't large format photographers.
    Brian Ellis
    Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
    a mile away and you'll have their shoes.

  3. #33

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    Re: Was there a sign for you that you weren't (or were) a LF photographer?

    Quote Originally Posted by Brian Ellis View Post
    Doesn't look like you're getting many answers that are responsive to your question. Maybe a large format photography forum isn't the best place to ask people why they aren't large format photographers.
    I was waiting for that.... (smiling smiley)
    One man's Mede is another man's Persian.

  4. #34
    Unwitting Thread Killer Ari's Avatar
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    Re: Was there a sign for you that you weren't (or were) a LF photographer?

    Yes...and no.
    I just keep going because I don't know what else to do; when I'm in the mood, I'll take the 4x5 or digi or MF, depending on what there is to shoot.
    If you use LF only a few times a year, don't get discouraged about it, because that's exactly how many times you need to use it.

  5. #35

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    Re: Was there a sign for you that you weren't (or were) a LF photographer?

    Quote Originally Posted by Brian Ellis View Post
    Doesn't look like you're getting many answers that are responsive to your question. Maybe a large format photography forum isn't the best place to ask people why they aren't large format photographers.
    +++++

  6. #36

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    Re: Was there a sign for you that you weren't (or were) a LF photographer?

    I usually bring along my medium format camera, wherever I go. After developing and scanning/printing I often think - should have taken that in LF because of sharpness, resolution, perspective control, etc. I then take along one of my large formats and revisit the same locations.

  7. #37
    (Shrek)
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    Re: Was there a sign for you that you weren't (or were) a LF photographer?

    I don't consider myself a 'large format photographer'. Never mind that I just spent 2 days with a Deardorff.

    I make it a point of taking photos with every camera that passes through my hands, though I've so far shunned most consumer-grade Kodak gear and things like 110 and Disc formats. Not that I plan on never taking photos with a Disc camera, I actually have the film ready to go; I'm just not sure my lab will be able to process it. Going out of my comfort zone, away from my 'preferred' gear, has been a revelation to me. I want to be able to create an image with whatever tools just happen to be at hand. The tool, the situation, guides the process; but if I look, there is always a photo lurking somewhere.

  8. #38
    Analog Photographer Kimberly Anderson's Avatar
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    May 2009
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    Re: Was there a sign for you that you weren't (or were) a LF photographer?

    This is the sign that I *am* a large-format photographer.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    All of the huge amount of work, expense, pain-in-the-butt factor, mistakes, successes, challenges, home-made equipment, internal self-doubt and questioning from outside observers all disappears when I see large contact prints in the wash that make me just giggle like a school girl and smile. It is ALL worth it and it becomes crystal clear when I'm looking at the finished print in the wash that all of the trouble that I suffered through was me deciding that I wanted to...and NEEDED to...use a big camera. These are 8x20 prints that will be part of an exhibit I am having in June of this year. All of the work is film based from Great Salt Lake that has never been exhibited before.

  9. #39

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    Hi,

    I can only second what was said here before. It is neither a batch of honor, nor a achievement. If you prefer working in other formats what so ever, by all means do it. It is not about the tools we use, well for me sometimes it is not even about the image I taker, more often than not it is the whole process that has me under it's spell.
    A successful day out shooting is for me a day I had fun doing what I love, if it's awarded with nice image that is great, if not, I hopefully learned something, but for sure I enjoyed my time.
    The reason for me to shoot LF is actually a lot about the absolute need to slow down. Not going out with 5 rolls of film and spray and pray. The need to think about your image and the vision behind it you which to convey and it feels much more organic to me. I feel in total control of what I am doing, it is more direct and closer to me. In the end you are the only one who can decide if this is the right experience for you and there is no judgement in preferring a different format. Don't sweat it, do whatyourhearttells you is right. There is absolutelyzeroneed for justification either way.

    Dennis

  10. #40

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    Re: Was there a sign for you that you weren't (or were) a LF photographer?

    Quote Originally Posted by rince View Post
    Hi,

    I can only second what was said here before. It is neither a batch of honor, nor a achievement. If you prefer working in other formats what so ever, by all means do it. It is not about the tools we use, well for me sometimes it is not even about the image I taker, more often than not it is the whole process that has me under it's spell.
    A successful day out shooting is for me a day I had fun doing what I love, if it's awarded with nice image that is great, if not, I hopefully learned something, but for sure I enjoyed my time.
    The reason for me to shoot LF is actually a lot about the absolute need to slow down. Not going out with 5 rolls of film and spray and pray. The need to think about your image and the vision behind it you which to convey and it feels much more organic to me. I feel in total control of what I am doing, it is more direct and closer to me. In the end you are the only one who can decide if this is the right experience for you and there is no judgement in preferring a different format. Don't sweat it, do whatyourhearttells you is right. There is absolutelyzeroneed for justification either way.

    Dennis
    Luv it...spray and pray! That sums me up. Well, maybe not that much praying nowadays. LF photogs seem more serious from what I can see.

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