Favorite ULF photographers

[Michael Wellman]

I was talking wit someone the other day about favorite photographers. I realized in our discussion most of the photographers we talked about were LF photographers but not many ULF photographers were mentioned (Michael Smith was one). Now that I am in the rank of ULF I am curious to know who are your favorite ULF photographers? Historically and present day?

[Richard Wasserman]

For me it's decidedly Carleton Watkins

[peter schrager]

Michael Wellman!

[Roger Thoms]

Dick Arentz And Jim Fitzgerald are two of my favorites.

Roger

[Hugo Zhang]

Julia Margaret Cameron
Kenro Izu

[Oren Grad]

Shimon and Lindemann had some serious fun with their 12x20:

https://11pt5z46nuudt9qxx2knwgff-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/0415_ShimonLindemann_SelfGardenDusk1998.jpg

Alas, Julie Lindemann passed away back in 2015. John Shimon continues to hold the faculty position that they shared at Lawrence University in Wisconsin.

EDIT: Yes, that's a 5x7 Gowlandflex that John is waving around.

[Drew Wiley]

Watkins was perhaps the most brilliant ever in that category, in terms of compositional skill - well ahead of his time. His competitor Muybridge also did some amazing things (so did his defense lawyer!!!). I love Julia Cameron's prints, but never thought of her as truly ULF; wonder just how large she did shoot? Vittoria Sella was the champion when it comes to sheer effort and danger; much of his work was downright stunning too. Oldies but goodies.

[diversey]

Clyde Butcher also uses 11x14 and 12x20 ULF cameras for his work.

[Hugo Zhang]

Julia's first camera was a 10x12 and later on she used a 12x15 camera.

[Peter Galea]

Just saw this today:
Terry Gruber, very impressive.
https://petapixel.com/banquet-camera/

[Roger Thoms]

Lois Conner is another favorite of mine. https://www.loisconner.net/

Roger

[Michael Wellman]

WOW! This is fantastic. Someone actually using a banquet camera as a banquet camera. $3500 for a sitting fee? I may have to look into this field. LOL

Just saw this today:
Terry Gruber, very impressive.
https://petapixel.com/banquet-camera/

[Michael Wellman]

You're too kind Peter.

Michael Wellman!

[diversey]

A nice article, very impressive!


Just saw this today:
Terry Gruber, very impressive.
https://petapixel.com/banquet-camera/

[Tin Can]

Peta Pixel missed 360 cameras

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirkut_(camera)

I really wanted a Cirkut but when one came up FS

I was short

[bdkphoto]

Just saw this today:
Terry Gruber, very impressive.
https://petapixel.com/banquet-camera/

Terry's an old colleague -great to see his name again. He's at the top of the heap for weddings and events - he was always jetting off to amazing places to shoot.

[G Benaim]

Michael Smith and Lois Conner.

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Dick Arentz And Jim Fitzgerald are two of my favorites.

Roger

Roger, so nice of you to say. Thanks.

[John Layton]

Likewise here...D.A. and J.F.!

[Tin Can]

anybody that shot glass plate before

Iron Horses

[Don Ciccone]

Surprised no one mentioned Kenro Izu. He makes (or made) brilliant platinum/palladium prints using a 14 x 20 camera.

[ic-racer]

I was going to say Massimo Vitali and Clyde Butcher.
The art collection where I work displays a number of Vitali's works but apparently the descriptions are misleading, leading me to believe the 20x24 prints were made with a 20x24 camera. Some research I just did indicates he used 8x10 for the beach pictures.
So, to answer the original question, I don't know many (outside of this forum).

[Michael Wellman]

These are great. Some of these photographers I have heard of but the Japanese photographers I had not. Any others? I know there has to be

[FrancisF]

All those mentioned so far are masters. There are a few more I know of that would be of this caliber.

Denis Manarchy http://www.manarchy.com/
Check the "Big Camera" link. He shot on a UltraULF camera he built. The camera just is not big, the Tri-X negatives are makes are of unprecedented size. He built this just to do portraits - some of these he has reproduced as 2 stories. I think he is in this league not merely because are of a certain size but for the beauty of the images. These are portraits of the highest order.

Vera Lutter

Andreas Gursky has to be noted here too. I think he uses a variety of equipment and digitally manipulates his work. But the aesthetic of his work is large - clearly ultra large

In addition to these luminaries, it seems that the field is attracting new adherence. So clearly more great work is coming.

[Carl J]

I've long been an admirer of Jennifer Trausch's work with the 20x24 Polaroid camera on the road. Her series "The South" is a gem. Wish she had been able to do more.

https://sniteartmuseum.nd.edu/assets/134886/touching_ground_jennifer_trausch_online.pdf

20x24 studio featured artist: https://20x24studio.com/?p=363

Behind the scenes: https://20x24studio.com/?page_id=403

“I chose an atypical way of working with the 20 x 24, eschewing control and extreme detail for highly selective focus and long exposures that are loose and gestural. As the project progressed, the images took on more and more of the dark, surreal nature of the South, both wondrous and strange. My survey is a slow, steady discovery of this feeling, experienced and articulated through all of the palpable sensations surrounding it.”
– Jennifer Trausch (2009)

[Carl J]

Shimon and Lindemann had some serious fun with their 12x20:

https://11pt5z46nuudt9qxx2knwgff-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/0415_ShimonLindemann_SelfGardenDusk1998.jpg

Alas, Julie Lindemann passed away back in 2015. John Shimon continues to hold the faculty position that they shared at Lawrence University in Wisconsin.

EDIT: Yes, that's a 5x7 Gowlandflex that John is waving around.

Didn't realize she had passed away (although it was clear she was struggling with health issues). Haven't managed to keep up. Yes, love their 12x20 portraits.

[Michael Wellman]

Jennifer's work is fantastic. Thanks for sharing.


I've long been an admirer of Jennifer Trausch's work with the 20x24 Polaroid camera on the road. Her series "The South" is a gem. Wish she had been able to do more.

https://sniteartmuseum.nd.edu/assets/134886/touching_ground_jennifer_trausch_online.pdf

20x24 studio featured artist: https://20x24studio.com/?p=363

Behind the scenes: https://20x24studio.com/?page_id=403

“I chose an atypical way of working with the 20 x 24, eschewing control and extreme detail for highly selective focus and long exposures that are loose and gestural. As the project progressed, the images took on more and more of the dark, surreal nature of the South, both wondrous and strange. My survey is a slow, steady discovery of this feeling, experienced and articulated through all of the palpable sensations surrounding it.”
– Jennifer Trausch (2009)