Just sharing some photographs

[Matthew Cordery]

Hey all,
Some of you may remember that I sold all my LF gear. Well, I've gotten around to scanning some of the negatives that I've had lying around, processed them in Lightroom and Photoshop (and even printed them to 16x20). Since I've always been inspired and awed by the work of others here, I thought I'd try to give back a little. Without fear, critique is welcomed since few have seen any of these except as negatives held up to light bulbs.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/mcordery/SHQ9b3vw7ZI/AAAAAAAAAD0/TSabcqLwbT4/s800/wave_rock_1_small.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/mcordery/SHQ9cDgMU5I/AAAAAAAAAD8/PI3wRL_UBLk/s800/bamboo_garden_small.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/mcordery/SHQ9cg8EQYI/AAAAAAAAAEE/TLa_0-V3l9Q/s800/bryce_1_small.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/mcordery/SHQ9dNNW9UI/AAAAAAAAAEM/PtBxy4EZ5cw/s800/butterfly_leaves_small.jpg

[Matthew Cordery]

http://lh5.ggpht.com/mcordery/SHQ9dTqngXI/AAAAAAAAAEU/nuLLPj8-nM0/s800/dv_dunes_small.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/mcordery/SHQ9diAkdeI/AAAAAAAAAEc/sDHDhdhXGMg/s800/embryo_small.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/mcordery/SHQ9dh2UhtI/AAAAAAAAAEk/CgWOIHWwb7s/s800/eureka_dunes_1_small.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/mcordery/SHQ9d6hFtMI/AAAAAAAAAEs/xXF4nNq39SU/s800/eureka_dunes_2_small.jpg

[Matthew Cordery]

http://lh6.ggpht.com/mcordery/SHQ9eOWVx5I/AAAAAAAAAE0/50xgCocMCec/s800/eureka_dunes_3_small.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/mcordery/SHQ9ebHZy0I/AAAAAAAAAE8/8Ex7JMZhdcI/s800/hawaii_ferns_small.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/mcordery/SHQ9epeCuWI/AAAAAAAAAFE/0YOpn6fYAS0/s800/redwood_fungi_small.jpg

[Kirk Gittings]

And you sold your large format equipment because??????

[Matthew Cordery]

And you sold your large format equipment because??????

I still have camera gear, just wasn't inspired anymore to lug a boat anchor of a camera around anymore I guess. Other reasons as well.

[BarryS]

Matthew--you have some really nice work here. How much inspiration does a guy need when his work looks that good? :)

[domenico Foschi]

Matthew, you performed self-mutilation by selling your LF gear.
Beautiful work.

[Daniel_Buck]

looks great! Thanks for sharing! I hope you get back into it :)

[Greg Lockrey]

Reminds me of the scene in "Quigley Down Under" where Quigley just shot three guys with a handgun and says, "I didn't say I didn't know how to use a pistol, I just said that I don't prefer to use one". You need to get to the gym and build yourself up for large format cameras. These are some of the best images I've seen here. ;) ;)

[Walter Calahan]

Down right beautiful images, regardless of what format you're shooting.

Keep doing what you are doing, and wait for the light-weight LF boat anchor gear of the future. Grin.

[jb7]

Fabulous images, would like to comment individually, but too many-
Hopefully, you'll find yourself in the camera chandler again before too long...

j

[Charles Carstensen]

Now, to spring for a high end digital MF (like in Hasselblad) and continue onward in photographing the landscape. Good eye.

[MenacingTourist]

Thanks for sharing...and putting most of us to shame. Very inspiring work.

Alan.

[Matthew Cordery]

Thanks for sharing...and putting most of us to shame. Very inspiring work.

Alan.

That's not true. There's a lot of talent here.

[jenn wilson]

shots 1, 5 and 8 are my favorites. you have such an eye for texture.

thank you so much for sharing them all.

[john borrelli]

Two comments: beautiful work and 4x5 Tachihara with 150mm lens

[Josh Z.]

Very nice work. I'll offer some comments if you are looking for them:

I like #1 even though I live in Arizona and have seen that shot quite a bit. Impressive.

The sepia toning really makes #2; is that bamboo?

#3 is a bit bland, but if those rolling clouds were a bit darker I think it would work very well.

#4 is just excellent.

#5 is excellent. That dark shadow really adds depth and brings out the texture contrasted with the flat background.

Not a big fan of #6, but then I think it would work better as a larger print. Not sure what I'm looking at.

#7, 8 and 9 have great texture; each on their own is nice, but as a series, excellent.

I really like #10, but #11 is by far my favorite. Wow.


Very nice work. I often am discouraged with lugging LF around as well. My solution is to stay motivated by carrying smaller cameras with me most of the time, and then bring out the LF when I have the time, am in the mood and my equipment fits the situation. Calling myself a LF photographer and always lugging it around turned out to be a disaster as too many times I felt I had gone out with the specific goal of making a LF image, and when the results didn't match my effort I was very discouraged. Instead I now try to do more photographic "playing" with the smaller formats, and bring out the large format when I get to know an area and have a composition in mind.

I'll admit that recently all week long I had the option of using a Nikon D300, an F5, a Mamiya 645, and an Arca 4x5. I turned to the D300 first and the Arca second and I do feel a bit guilty. That D300 is so fun to use that it should be criminal.

[MIke Sherck]

I still have camera gear, just wasn't inspired anymore to lug a boat anchor of a camera around anymore I guess.

A lesson I had drummed into me at a much earlier age: success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Although I suppose that if it isn't paying the bills at least the percentages feel much different!

Mike

[Joe O'Hara]

Matthew, these are very fine indeed. I hope you can see your way clear to carrying
a field camera and a 90mm f/8 some time in the future.

[Ben Syverson]

You should spring for a Gowland Pocket View... Lighter than a Hassy setup!