Who is shooting 20x24 film nowadays?

[Torontoamateur]

I am searching for contemporary 20x24 film photographers. I have found very few. Who is shooting 20x24 film now?

[Tin Can]

some prefer privacy

[Torontoamateur]

I guess bur some would like to display their efforts. I ask because I am seriously considering purchasing a 20x24 and need their advice. SO please do not hijack this thread with your wanting to stifle my question with the first response,

[Torontoamateur]

some prefer privacy

So you want to stifle my search? You are not friendly. I ask you to please not highjack my question.

[Oren Grad]

IIRC our own Monty McCutchen shoots as large as 20x24, though not sure how much of that is film vs wet plate. Why not ask him?

EDIT: A Google search on "largeformatphotography.info/forum 20x24" will pick up threads here where that size has come up.

[Tin Can]

not a hijack, a suggestion

you are making orders

no thread is private

maybe I am shooting 20 X 24...


So you want to stifle my search? You are not friendly. I ask you to please not highjack my question.

[tgtaylor]

I am searching for contemporary 20x24 film photographers. I have found very few. Who is shooting 20x24 film now?

Tracy Storer on this forum shoots 20x24.

[Monty McCutchen]

As Oren kindly states I shoot 20 x 24. I shoot equal parts film for pt/pd, pt/pd gumovers and wet plate collodion (alumitypes and ambrotypes and the occasional glass negative). I’m a quiet but consistent 20 x24 evangelical. I love the format. Love everything about it. The difficulty. The cumbersome hassle. The overcoming. The lack of logic. The uselessness of it all. But they are my windmills I’m chasing and a person needs something useless in their life that is theirs and theirs alone to chase—outcome guaranteed or not. There are plenty of reasons not to do 20 x 24–ignore them and jump in if you have the desire. The ground glass is a world to get lost in that invites magical visits. Process gains equal footing to product with the 20 x 24 format. Portraits become true collaborations with your sitter as they become connected to the event and to their role in the outcome. Still Life’s take on the attributes of intimate landscapes, landscapes an entry into other worlds. You have to turn yourself over to the format which allows for a certain feeling of lost time but when you get in a rhythm the results are truly sublime. I say go for it detractors be damned.

[Monty McCutchen]

I’d be happy to answer specific questions here or off line if you prefer.

[Greg]

The only 20x24 I have ever shot was with a pinhole camera in a studio setting. But at one time I was shooting 14x17 and 11x14. Big difference I found was that with the 14x17, I pretty much (if not all the time) only shot from the side of my VW Van. Also the 14x17 required using 2 tripods. Main tripod (large Ries or Linhof HD) under the camera's body and a second lighter one essentially under the lens (Goerz Double Anastigmat). I'm sure it would have been the same if I were shooting with a 20x24. With the 11x14 I wasn't confined from shooting essentially by the side of the van. Also got away with using only one tripod under the 11x14. During one summer this translated into producing dozens of 11x14 negatives rather than only I think it was 3 14x17s. Finally just sold the 14x17 outfit. Would be informative to view videos of photographers shooting 20x24 on YouTube before acquiring a 20x24.

[Torontoamateur]

I shall Let me think of pertinent questions .

[bob carnie]

I’d be happy to answer specific questions here or off line if you prefer.

Could you dispel the rumours that any photo taken of you and your camera are optical illusions and in reality you post a 4 x 5 camera and do not reveal that you are 48 inches in height.?

[bob carnie]

I shall Let me think of pertinent questions .

I am in Toronto and actually have sample prints of Montys hanging in my space if you want to drop by someday and see a print.

[Monty McCutchen]

It’s true. Bob and I are close friends. The friendship has at its core a love for photography. The fact that I feel like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when standing next to him is purely coincidental.

Monty

[FrancisF]

I have been shooting 20 x 24 film for some time now. I started by building one out of foam board and duct tape - to my surprise it worked. I then ordered the parts for one from Filip Harbert in Prauge which I have been using for studio work since it has a 90 inch bellows. For field work I have one made by Richard Ritter. I use various expired films and the new film I use is Ilford.

I contact print and have been reluctant to post the work because it just does not look the same in small digital files from my iphone. Here is an example. I am glad to answer any questions, except "why do you shoot 20x24?" I do not have a good answer but I just keep doing it.

[Torontoamateur]

I am in Toronto and actually have sample prints of Montys hanging in my space if you want to drop by someday and see a print.

Thank You I will when the government allows us to meet

[Thom Bennett]

The best explanation of why anyone would use ULF:

"Love everything about it. The difficulty. The cumbersome hassle. The overcoming. The lack of logic. The uselessness of it all. But they are my windmills I’m chasing and a person needs something useless in their life that is theirs and theirs alone to chase—outcome guaranteed or not."

Thanks for that Monty! I'll remind myself of this when I am crying over yet another ULF screw up.

[Cameron Cornell]

212498

[Tin Can]

Size does matter

[hirudin]

I have a store of 20x24 TMax 400 that's waiting for a camera... I hope the OP doesn't mind me asking as part of this thread: I'm interested to know if anyone has experience shooting 20X24 Adox CHS 100 II film and what their impressions of this film is.

-Jesse-

[Carl J]

I have been shooting 20 x 24 film for some time now. I started by building one out of foam board and duct tape - to my surprise it worked. I then ordered the parts for one from Filip Harbert in Prauge which I have been using for studio work since it has a 90 inch bellows. For field work I have one made by Richard Ritter. I use various expired films and the new film I use is Ilford.

I contact print and have been reluctant to post the work because it just does not look the same in small digital files from my iphone. Here is an example. I am glad to answer any questions, except "why do you shoot 20x24?" I do not have a good answer but I just keep doing it.

That's a great answer, Francis. Didn't know you had a the studio camera as well, maybe you could post a picture (if you haven't already).

[Andrew O'Neill]

When I win big on the lottery, I'll move up from 14x17 to 20x24 :D

[FrancisF]

212607

Carl, here is a sample. I am still trying to sort out uploads here.

Thanks
Francis

[FrancisF]

212608

Another sample from my studio work

[Monty McCutchen]

Francis

Both of those are very nice. Great work.

Monty

[FrancisF]

Monty,

Thanks for the note.

Francis

[BLATT LAB]

I have good experience with 20x24 CHS II. The price is really good but the quality is also really nice. I pay less per sheet then for Portra 400 8x10. But I would also buy it if it would be more expensive. I shoot mostly TriX for b/w and when I want something slower I use CHS II. I really hope they get their Machines for Medium Format running again soon.

[36cm2]

I agree, what a wonderful description. Makes me want to pick up a 20x24 camera, jump on a horse and ride to La Mancha - for the landscapes of course.

As Oren kindly states I shoot 20 x 24. I shoot equal parts film for pt/pd, pt/pd gumovers and wet plate collodion (alumitypes and ambrotypes and the occasional glass negative). I’m a quiet but consistent 20 x24 evangelical. I love the format. Love everything about it. The difficulty. The cumbersome hassle. The overcoming. The lack of logic. The uselessness of it all. But they are my windmills I’m chasing and a person needs something useless in their life that is theirs and theirs alone to chase—outcome guaranteed or not. There are plenty of reasons not to do 20 x 24–ignore them and jump in if you have the desire. The ground glass is a world to get lost in that invites magical visits. Process gains equal footing to product with the 20 x 24 format. Portraits become true collaborations with your sitter as they become connected to the event and to their role in the outcome. Still Life’s take on the attributes of intimate landscapes, landscapes an entry into other worlds. You have to turn yourself over to the format which allows for a certain feeling of lost time but when you get in a rhythm the results are truly sublime. I say go for it detractors be damned.

[Carl J]

Francis

Both of those are very nice. Great work.

Monty


Francis, seconded, nice work. Thanks for posting.

[Carl J]

Meanwhile, over on Keith Canham's Facebook there's a post from the beginning of Feb. 2021 that he's ordered 40 boxes of 20x24 Portra 400 (all pre-sold).

[doublezero]

Hello ,


from the beginning of Feb. 2021 that he's ordered 40 boxes of 20x24 Portra 400 (all pre-sold).


How many photographs for these 40 boxes ?

Best regards

[MAubrey]

Hello ,


from the beginning of Feb. 2021 that he's ordered 40 boxes of 20x24 Portra 400 (all pre-sold).


How many photographs for these 40 boxes ?

Best regards
10 sheets, so not a huge number.

[Mark Sampson]

Hmmm. Given the undoubted effort and cost of shooting 20x24, one would hope for a higher percentage of successful photographs than when using smaller formats.
I admire anyone willing to tackle ULF, and to be sure big contact prints are beautiful things. But i'm going to stay with 4x5... 38 years into it and it's still a challenge.

[Carl J]

10 sheets, so not a huge number.

Still, that's a lot of boxes, and for the effort and cost involved how many photographers. Would love to know.

[Tin Can]

Maybe one

[Carl J]

Yes, was thinking the same. 20x24 studio portraits? Alternative to 20x24 Polaroids.

[Torontoamateur]

Now Illford has released their ULF order for this year. I am so tempted to break the piggy bank and go for the 20x24. But man on man what a huge investment. Upwards of $20,000 to get into the game. Has anyone done this?

[Tin Can]

There is a member here, maybe more

I prefer they self identify

[Michael Wellman]

I have a 14x17 camera from Richard Ritter that I got last year and loving it. I have to confess that it has me thinking about a 20x24. God help me.

Another resource for you would be the Facebook group 'Ultra Large Format Photography'. Some nice people there from around the world

[Tracy Storer]

I shot Polaroid 20"x24" for many years, and built a back to take "standard" 20x24 double sided film holders for Bergger and Ilford sheet film. I am currently without a working 20x24 camera but have a slowly growing stack of parts for when I have time again for personal projects. I sold the Wisner holders I used to have in favor of Chamonix ones, and have a bunch of HP5+ waiting for me.

[Phil Hudson]

Lotus 20x24 set up for some "socially distanced" lockdown portraits early last year. I used paper negatives hence needing the lights up so close.

[joho]

I seek some information 20x 24 paper negs __ I am in the process of making a 20x24 in camera. with the prototype [made of card board] is was magic the ground glass at 20x24, a total new experience.
I am all ears.

[joho]

Is ok to ask ?? I am seek some information 20x 24 paper negs __ there is experience at the 13x18cm. size would this be a starter for 20x24inch??

[Tracy Storer]

Your experience with 13cmx18cm should inform you well. The one thing that surprises people the most when moving up to much larger formats (especially for near subjects) is the bellows extension factor that comes hand in hand with increased subject magnification.


I seek some information 20x 24 paper negs __ I am in the process of making a 20x24 in camera. with the prototype [made of card board] is was magic the ground glass at 20x24, a total new experience.
I am all ears.

[Greg]

I am seek some information 20x 24 paper negs

When I started shooting 14x17, I started out shooting paper negatives. With the camera tilted slightly down, I had serious problems with the paper sagging. Not so with film. I had tried using double sided adhesive tape in the film holders but then had problems with the paper adhering to the adhesive to the point of destroying the paper negatives. Then used the adhesive side of several post-it-notes to hold the paper in place. Post-it-notes were held in place by double sided adhesive tape. Also single weight (SW) paper produced better negatives than double (DW) paper. FYI: Outdated SW paper worked just fine for me.

[Willie]

Could you dispel the rumours that any photo taken of you and your camera are optical illusions and in reality you post a 4 x 5 camera and do not reveal that you are 48 inches in height.?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyuq2HKCHRE

Be careful Bob...

[joho]

I will keep my mind on the paper sagging.
by default I had only used dw 13x18 but rc, for negs. and after some first trails did not bothered with dw papers.
SW -DW never came to mind off-hand- thanks ..

[joho]

I was at a surprise that with the lens used [30cm. Heliar] at f/4,5 .
a test the lens to film plan distance was only 38cm.and an image of 49x38cm.

[joho]

I was at a surprise that with the lens used [30cm. Heliar] at f/4,5 .
a test the lens to film plan distance was only 38cm.and an image of 49x38cm.
if there is an att, see photo ??

[Drew Bedo]

I am searching for contemporary 20x24 film photographers. I have found very few. Who is shooting 20x24 film now?


I have not read every page of this thread, just the first few posts, the ones dealing with privacy and so on. . . .so this may now be off-topic:

But one way to research this question from the OP would be to go to the ULF "show your camera" thread and search for 20x24. Then contact those members who feel comfortable with publically showing their cameras. That shouldn't offend anybody I'd think.

BTW: My largest format is 8x10. And I am slowly aging-out of being able to work with that.

[Alec]

Hi everybody!

I shoot 20x24 film!

https://www.jeser.fr/en/

[Two23]

I have not read every page of this thread, just the first few posts, the ones dealing with privacy and so on. . . .so this may now be off-topic:

But one way to research this question from the OP would be to go to the ULF "show your camera" thread and search for 20x24. Then contact those members who feel comfortable with publically showing their cameras. That shouldn't offend anybody I'd think.


I've been curious why someone would not talk about whatever format they use.


Kent in SD

[Torontoamateur]

I've been curious why someone would not talk about whatever format they use.


Kent in SD

Maybe this format has a secret ?

[Tin Can]

I can think of a few reasons

My concern is how narrowly focused this thread is

Some ULF users have larger or slightly smaller formats

We used to have a member who shot 30X40, he pulled his wonderful images offline, right after I mentioned I was examining them ON flickr with a projector on a screen. I really liked them, as they were huge.. 10 years ago...I was not downloading them!

He made wonderful portraits of modern real people, using antique gear

http://historiccamera.com/cgi-bin/librarium2/pm.cgi?action=app_display&app=datasheet&app_id=456

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/art/antique-elegance-the-mammoth-cameras-of-luther-gerlach/article_55e15755-641b-5ddf-83e5-94ffb649a691.html


I've been curious why someone would not talk about whatever format they use.


Kent in SD

[goamules]

Maybe this format has a secret ?
No, it's just that one or two members feel the need to reply to each and every post, every day, every week. It's become their personal "answer everything" space. As members have gotten tired of it, they've moved on, leaving just those few to answer even more. It became a spiral of decline.

[Tin Can]

Thank you sir, may I have another…



No, it's just that one or two members feel the need to reply to each and every post, every day, every week. It's become their personal "answer everything" space. As members have gotten tired of it, they've moved on, leaving just those few to answer even more. It became a spiral of decline.

[MAubrey]

We've all seen this video by now, right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2XBu0WjeK4

[Dave Wooten]

I will be shooting 20x24 this coming spring 2023, waiting for latest film order to arrive . Moving up from 14x17, also a great format.

[Alec]

I will be shooting 20x24 this coming spring 2023, waiting for latest film order to arrive . Moving up from 14x17, also a great format.

Good luck! 20x24 is a great size for contact printing.

[bob carnie]

I will be shooting 20x24 this coming spring 2023, waiting for latest film order to arrive . Moving up from 14x17, also a great format.

Hi Vindaloo Dave

A friend of mine who is moving his shop right next door is from Vegas and has all his equipment there. I will be coming down with him to help load all his stuff on a truck to go back to Toronto.

I will keep you in the loop and maybe we can visit and maybe the 20 x24 is up and running. Never been to Vegas for a visit and its probably going to be sometime in the next 6 months.

Bob

[Dave Wooten]

Wow! Keep in touch, for sure! For "The Bob" it will be up and running!

[Andrew O'Neill]

I don't but would if I could... Having too much fun with 14x17. But... my number comes up in Lotto Max!!

[slcdarkroom]

I'm shooting 20"x24" RA-4 Reversal portraits with an old process camera that I rescued last year. Had some great success lately. Need to get a film holder ordered/built next. I'm using an old vacuum back that came with the camera to hold the paper currently.

Best portrait I've done so far. 610mm F6 Aero Ektar
246813 246814 246815246816

[r.e.]

Chuck Close on making 20x24 Polaroids (Vanity Fair video, 2014):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVREFVLxhNo


From the NY Times, updated yesterday... This will be the first significant show of Close's work since 2016:

Gallery Shows Last Works by Chuck Close. Will it Repair a Reputation?
The artist’s longtime gallerist, Arne Glimcher, has organized an exhibition of the artist’s final portraits at Pace, opening Feb. 22.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/12/arts/design/chuck-close-pace-gallery-arne-glimcher.html

[Duolab123]

I'm shooting 20"x24" RA-4 Reversal portraits with an old process camera that I rescued last year. Had some great success lately. Need to get a film holder ordered/built next. I'm using an old vacuum back that came with the camera to hold the paper currently.

Best portrait I've done so far. 610mm F6 Aero Ektar
246813 246814 246815246816

Good job. My friend has a "baby" 16x20 Robertson process camera. Lots of fun. I always thought it would make an amazing enlarger. I'm not sure what will happen to the thing. Sits pretty much unused

[bob carnie]

I'm shooting 20"x24" RA-4 Reversal portraits with an old process camera that I rescued last year. Had some great success lately. Need to get a film holder ordered/built next. I'm using an old vacuum back that came with the camera to hold the paper currently.

Best portrait I've done so far. 610mm F6 Aero Ektar
246813 246814 246815246816

This is pretty cool , very well done

[Jim Andrada]

I guess if one wants to shoot 20 x 24 the year 2024 is the time to do it.

[John Layton]

Yeah...and all of us 11x14 (and smaller) folks - we're just stuck in the past...we're history! :rolleyes:

[FrancisF]

I guess if one wants to shoot 20 x 24 the year 2024 is the time to do it.

Yes ! This is the year of ULF ! Check out the Facebook page "20x24"

It celebrates the history of ULF and current practices

[Jim Andrada]

I'd love to try ULF - 20 x 24 in particular, maybe 12 x 20 as a second choice. but since I now drive a power wheelchair, even FF digital is physically hard to handle.

Just realized that those of us in UK have to wait for 2420 to roll around.

[slcdarkroom]

This is pretty cool , very well done

Thanks! Taken quite a bit to get to this point. Pretty happy with my results so far. Each shot is a learning experience.