News Photography on 4x5

[Michael Ting]

I remember a while back ago seeing a news/documentary photographer shooting with 4x5. I can't remember his name, or find the link that leads to his work. Anybody has any pointers?

Thanks.

[Ciaran Brennan]

You might be thinking of David Burnett. Here's a link to a NY Times article on him:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/08/technology/circuits/08schiesel.html?ex=1152504000&en=b68ced4dcfa36eeb&ei=5070

[Frank Petronio]

Since then dozens if not more news and sports photographers have started copying Burnett's lead with using Holga, Aero Ektars on Speed Graphics, Pinholes and Rolleiflexes. If you visit the Sportshooter forums for example, you can often find a nice Aeero/Speed rig for sale from some frustrated dSLR pro who is giving up on 4x5.

It is a bit of a trend and magazines buy the photos if they are topical. But it may also be getting saturated. Regardless, used well it has a great look.

And this fella is wonderfully obsessive about the Aero/Speed thing:

http://www.johndesq.com/graflex/index.html

Poke around his URL, he has a lot of interesting things there.

[steve simmons]

Burnett covered the 2004 campaign with a 4x5 speed graphic. His work was fesatured in Time, Newsweek and View Camera did an article on him in the Sept/Oct 04 issue.

steve simmons

[Jim Noel]

In my youth, and actually up until probably the early 60's, or later, it was unusual to see a news photographer using any camera other than a 4x5 Speed Graphic. Occasionally you might see someone using a 4x5 or 5x7 Graflex, or perhaps a 4x5 B&J or other emulator of the Graphics.

[Capocheny]

Michael,

Here's his website:

http://www.davidburnett.com/portfolio.html

Cheers

[Michael Ting]

Thanks for the links everyone. It is David Burnett indeed.

[Mark Sampson]

The current Nat'l Geo has a story on Hurricane Katrina devastation by Mr. Burnett. Looks like he's still usng the Graphic or something even funkier.