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View Full Version : Which lens use Jock Sturges



Sabine Brenner
31-May-2005, 02:26
Hello,

can anybody tell me which lens (producer, length) take Jock Sturges for his lovely portraits?
I think his camera is a 8x10 Deardorff (with front-swing?).

Thank you very much,

greetings from gemany,

Sabine Brenner

Henry Friedman
31-May-2005, 06:15
If your goal is to produce work that looks like his, take care. Use of the same camera/lens/film/etc will not guarantee results that look like Jock Sturges or anyone else. Find your own path.

John Kasaian
31-May-2005, 06:56
Sabine,

Henry's correct. I believe Sturges shoots an 8x10 Deardorff. I don't recall the lens, but I'm thinking its a Commercial Ektar(14"?)---I could be wrong but its a great lens for that kind of "look."

Michael Jones
31-May-2005, 07:02
I believe he uses a 250mm Wide Field Ektar.

Mike

Anthony Windsor
31-May-2005, 07:08
The welfare state is self-propagating. Socialism installed by default, by destroying industry.

tim atherton
31-May-2005, 07:44
I know at times (his Irish schoolchildren portraits) he has used a metal Kodak Master 8x10 and a Fujinon 250mm 6.7 lens - which, among other things, would certainly help give the lovely look his portraits have. I also recall he shoots hundreds and hundreds of sheets of film over a summers work.

I think he also uses a Nikkor-M 300 f9. I believe he used a number of different lenses in the past - the 250mm WF Ektar in some of his earlier work for example.

If you hunt the archives here, you'll find threads on his printing too.

tim atherton
31-May-2005, 07:45
"If your goal is to produce work that looks like his, take care. Use of the same camera/lens/film/etc will not guarantee results that look like Jock Sturges or anyone else. Find your own path."

it least it makes a change from all the Ansel Adams/Edward Weston clones... :-)

Donald Brewster
31-May-2005, 08:42
He is/was a long time user of a 8x10" Metal Kodak Master View Camera and 10" WF and 14" Commercial Ektar, at least in the book notes and photos I've seen. Lots of hand held reflectors.

David A. Goldfarb
31-May-2005, 10:46
"it least it makes a change from all the Ansel Adams/Edward Weston clones... :-)"

That's the problem. Ansel tried a 14" Commercial Ektar once, but when he got back to the darkroom and processed the sheets, he'd discovered that all the rock formations looked like nude teenagers. Sturges did indeed have a 10" WF Ektar in his collection, but he only used it once or twice and then set it aside upon discovering that all his portrait subjects and figure studies came out looking like Half Dome.

Paddy Quinn
31-May-2005, 10:57
"That's the problem. Ansel tried a 14" Commercial Ektar once, but when he got back to the darkroom and processed the sheets, he'd discovered that all the rock formations looked like nude teenagers. Sturges did indeed have a 10" WF Ektar in his collection, but he only used it once or twice and then set it aside upon discovering that all his portrait subjects and figure studies came out looking like Half Dome."

More likely that well known Scottish mountain formation "Maiden's Paps" ( in Roxburghshire, now the Borders among others)

paulr
31-May-2005, 11:24
The lens doesn't matter. Just put one of your nude teenagers in a gass mask, and all bases will be covered.

Michael Jones
31-May-2005, 12:13
Looks like everyone had a relaxing weekend.

Mike

Jay Lnch
31-May-2005, 12:27
I was lucky enough to attend a week long workshop with Jock a few years ago. He only uses one lens and camera. An 8x10 Kodak MasterView and a Rodenstock 240mm f/5.6 Apo-Sironar-S Lens (I belive he did use a Fujinon 250mm 6.7 lens at one time)

If you have the time I think he is giving a workshop in Mexico this year.

jay

QT Luong
31-May-2005, 15:57
The camera pictured on the jacket of "Jock Sturges" looks like a Kodak Master View to me.

Christian Olivet
31-May-2005, 21:59
Seems to me a valid question. You want a smooth look, go for a lens that achieves that, shoot more open than closed, use neg film, and the most important thing, chose the softest lighting you can find.
He shoots in France at the beach, most times, after the sun has set. Beautiful light, beautiful models, beautiful prints, meaninful career.

John Kasaian
31-May-2005, 23:44
David A. Goldfarb:

LOL! Well put!

tim atherton
7-Jun-2005, 16:36
here you go - you can buy the camera and lens!

(legit?)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15248&item=7521995828&rd=1

Will Strain
7-Jun-2005, 17:05
In the Q&A section he claims that he is Jock. That's pretty cool one way or the other.