Diptychs, Triptychs and Other Multiples [Archive] - Large Format Photography Forum

Vaughn

3-Feb-2010, 13:22

We have a ton of image categories, but I thought one specifically gear towards images made with multiple negatives presented as diptychs (or more) would be fun -- especially since I occasional make them.:D

The first one I would like to share is a rather abstract image. It is of the ceiling of a lava tube at Lava Beds National Monument in NE California. The camera for the top neg was pointed pretty much straight up. Without moving the pod, the camera was pointed lower for the bottom neg.

The scan is of a fairly straight-printed contact print of the two 4x5 negatives, tho I have printed both negs 16x20 and have matted and framed it.

Skull Cave
Lava Beds National Monument
Both negs: f16 at 15 seconds
Gowland PocketView 4x5, Calter II-N 150/5.6
TMax100

Scott Davis

3-Feb-2010, 13:35

Iguazu Falls, from the Argentinian side. 7x15, platinum/palladium.

http://www.theflyingcamera.com/IguazuTriptych.jpg

Vaughn

3-Feb-2010, 14:17

great one, Scott -- the vingetting even works well with the images!

Vaughn

3-Feb-2010, 14:20

Was inspired to dig this one out of the archives after seeing the recent spread in ViewCamera Magazine.

Again in Lava Beds National Monument, CA
Two Type 55 negs

Dan Schmidt

3-Feb-2010, 15:28

karnapidasana (ear pressure pose) , two 5x7s, Pd ( Na2 method)

IanG

3-Feb-2010, 15:51

Jesus Vaugh, don't remind me of my nightmare :D

Back in 94 I was part of a large group show, arts board funded and part of a Photo-Festival, the night before the hanging I visited a a close friend, he was still printing his own work. and badly behind.

I discovered he was supposed to frame & mat cut the main intro board, another photographer had spent 2 months shooting portraits of all the photographed involved. He just didn't have time.

So with one piece of matt board I had to cut 18 or 19 windows in one sheet. Luckily it worked the show was booked for other locations to.

Diptychs, Triptychs are fun, especially when the parts are shot in different weather, times of year etc, that stretches you control of technique. These 2 are a week or so apart.

http://www.apug.org/gallery1/files/2/3/2/8/dipych_new.jpg

Ian

Vaughn

3-Feb-2010, 16:12

Aren't deadlines fun, Ian?!:D

I have cut many multi-holed mats. The most complicated one I have done was for the Art Department's slide display (of faculty and staff work). Only 14 holes -- each hole holds 4 35mm slides (the mat was placed over a light table in the hallway). Really not all that difficult to do -- except for the constant muttering "Don't f**k up, don't f**k up, don't f**k up...":eek:

Nice images, BTW...

Vaughn

h2oman

3-Feb-2010, 16:53

Again in Lava Beds National Monument, CA

To roughly paraphrase you , Vaughn, "Hey, what are you doing in my back yard?" ;)

Vaughn

3-Feb-2010, 17:19

Well, it may not be my backyard, but it is just a house or two over.:D

I have a triptych/panorama of three hort. 5x7's of Lake Abert, Or, that I will have dig out and find a way to digitize (probably will just have to re-photograph it with a digital camera) and share. Pretty amazing country out there!

Took my three boys (and wife) to Lava Beds MN a few Memorial Day weekends ago -- we all had a blast in the lava tubes. Very neat place! One can really get turned around in some of them.

Vaughn

h2oman

3-Feb-2010, 21:05

I'd love to see the Lake Abert shots. I was by there a couple years ago and fired off a few quick digital shots in mid-day, thinking "Man, I need to get back here when there are some good puffy cumulus clouds around!" The large boulders along the east side of the lake have a lot of potential, I think. Cool place.

I was going to make Lava Beds a project, but I've gotten preoccupied with some other things. I guess it's not going anywhere soon!

sly

3-Feb-2010, 22:29

This is my first attempt at this. I've got some more ambitious ones in mind with multiple exposures. critiques welcome.

Crown Graphic, HP5+, printed on Ilford MGWT

Taken at the Morrell Nature Sanctuary

Vaughn

4-Feb-2010, 08:26

An interesting montage, sly. The little bit of creek in the lower image keeps that lower image from just being a tag-along. It increases its importance to the over all piece by tying together the water element to the ferns and trees.

It is an unusual enough presentation that it keeps me wondering if it actually works or not. Might be because of the seemingly lack of balance in the over-all image -- which might be different if I saw the original piece, as scale might be important.

A third image of just ferns (maybe even as a hortizontal), blended in on the left side (and lower) to the bottom image might achieve a better balance. Each of the three images would then have one dominate subject to complete the over-all image (top to bottom: trees, water, then ferns).

It looks to be a challenging project -- I look forward to seeing future images!

Vaughn

Vaughn

4-Feb-2010, 09:05

First attempt to find the Abert Lake triptych failed, but found this one.

Valley Floor, Control Burn
Yosemite National Park

Two 4x10 Platinum/palladium prints
Rephotographed with digital camera

Ray Bidegain

4-Feb-2010, 09:35

I wanted to post a diptych I made in 2008. It is an 10x16 platinum print.

Be well,

Ray Bidegain

Michael Gordon

4-Feb-2010, 10:13

http://www.michael-gordon.com/images/large/Trio_lg.jpg
Joshua tree, Saguaro, and Ocotillo
4x5", Wollensak Verito, Ilford Delta 100

Vaughn

4-Feb-2010, 10:14

Beautiful, Ray! With the subject looking off to the our right, it leaves me wanting a third image to complete the narrative! I'm not saying it needs a third image, but it creates a tension (unfulfilled desire?) that really adds to the piece!

Vaughn

PS...Michael -- lovely stuff! Did you have to work long to determine the sequence of the three images? It looks to me that the plants themselves want to be sequenced one way and the landforms another way...making the choice difficult. But that is probably just be me.

Vaughn

4-Feb-2010, 12:48

Another Type 55 diptych. Taken close together in time and just a little distance in space (both in Indian Canyon, Yosemite NP). The ladder is permanently attached to the canyon wall for servicing the telephone cable going out of Yosemite Valley (following an old native American path into the valley, I believe)

Scanned contact print

sly

4-Feb-2010, 13:36

Vaughn, thanks for your critique. Good points for future efforts.

I really like the one you did in Indian Canyon. That little bit of ladder is so mysterious. The photos play so well into each other, yet are dissimilar. Inspiratational.

Michael Gordon

4-Feb-2010, 15:11

Michael -- lovely stuff! Did you have to work long to determine the sequence of the three images? It looks to me that the plants themselves want to be sequenced one way and the landforms another way...making the choice difficult. But that is probably just be me.

Thanks, Vaughn! Determining the "right" sequence came quickly. And indeed, it's based on the plants, not the landforms, because it's the plants that make the images. Although photographers, curators, and engineers may look for continuity of horizons, no one else cares ;)

Vaughn

4-Feb-2010, 15:51

Thanks, Vaughn! Determining the "right" sequence came quickly. And indeed, it's based on the plants, not the landforms, because it's the plants that make the images. Although photographers, curators, and engineers may look for continuity of horizons, no one else cares ;)

I would have sequenced them differently (but not better) based on a different criteria of eye movement...Saguaro -- Ocotillo -- Joshua tree. But your way has a more solid/stable feeling to it.

I love it when a student with good work asks me for help to sequence a 10 to 15 print portfolio. As an "outsider", I can ignore subject matter and any emotional ties the student might have with the images and just have fun arranging them based on how the eye flows back and forth across all the prints...and unless they were required to have a set number of prints, help the student reconize the stronger and weaker images -- and perhaps dump a print or two that may be bringing the whole portfolio down a notch.

Sly -- Thank you. I have to admit I did not see the diptych until after I processed the negatives, but the thought process was similar for both (the left image has a bit of the telephone cable in the lower left). Sometimes one gets lucky!

Vaughn

Eric Biggerstaff

4-Feb-2010, 16:55

Ok, this thread has done a great job in making me want to go out and explore triptychs this summer!

Thanks for the beautiful work everyone!

Vaughn

4-Feb-2010, 17:21

No problem, Eric -- actually, I just wanted to show off some of my diptychs...;) :D

Vaughn

Richard M. Coda

4-Feb-2010, 18:03

http://www.michael-gordon.com/images/large/Trio_lg.jpg
Joshua tree, Saguaro, and Ocotillo
4x5", Wollensak Verito, Ilford Delta 100

Beautiful

mcfactor

6-Feb-2010, 13:43

2 4x5 negs, efke 50 in pyrocat-hd

Jim Galli

6-Feb-2010, 14:24

An old favorite...

http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com/YosemiteCreek.jpg
yosemite creek

and another...

http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com/EsmBdlndTrptychMid041105.jpg
esmeralda badlands

I took our workshop group here. It's about 40 miles from me.

Jan Pedersen

6-Feb-2010, 19:40

Very inspirational work and such a variety. Wonderful Desert scenes Michael and Jim.

jan

Michael Roberts

6-Feb-2010, 20:16

Very cool, Jim.

Vaughn

6-Feb-2010, 20:50

Very cool, Jim.

Yes...both are wonderful!

sly

24-Feb-2010, 09:17

I had meant to arrange this with the frames overlapping, skewed in different directions to fit, but am not happy with the result. Would be glad of any feedback on this more conventional approach.
Crown graphic, HP5+, Ilford MGWT, thiocarbamide toner.
It's really not big enough, but I don't know how to upload those larger, more viewable shots

sly

24-Feb-2010, 09:31

Here's each photo separately, therefore larger

Vaughn

24-Feb-2010, 09:49

Great work, Sly!

But I have to admit that it works better for me (as seen on a screen) as a triptych, leaving off the right image...as that image is a little too open-ended for its position (my eye wants to travel from left to right, but not return to the rest of the piece.) A disiplined viewer with interest in the work would return to the left image and "read" the piece several times, like a line of poetry -- but most viewers would read left to right, then just move on.

Vaughn

sly

24-Feb-2010, 10:18

Thanks Vaughn. I see now that the right image is weaker. I wouldn't have thought of a viewer moving on rather than re-reading, but I do want to enter these in an upcoming competition, so that's an important point.

Vaughn

24-Feb-2010, 14:07

Watching people looking at work on a wall can be very educational. Some poeple never break stride -- it is eyes to the piece, perhaps eyes to the title card, then on to the next piece. Sort of a walking bobble-head!LOL!

But what I look for is where they do a double-take or slow down -- or even better -- stop, perhaps take a step back for an over-all look and then a step forward for another closer look.

After they move on take note of the piece that caught their attention. It just might be personal connection (they been to the same place before, have an interest in the subject matter, etc), but there might be some quality of composition or tonality that reached out to them. If a lot of people stop at a particular piece, you know there must be something going on with it that is holding them there.

I don't mentally compose in the field to any formula, rule of thirds or golden whatevers, I intuitively create compositions (I do not crop nor burn/dodge) that somehow trap the viewers' eyes with in the image -- keep the viewer's eyes active within the image. I want the viewer to have to make the decision to move on to the next piece -- not make it automatic.

So it was with this bias that I critiqued your piece above.

Vaughn

sly

24-Feb-2010, 14:21

Another multiple I've been working on. I've edited 7 original shots down to 5. Unfortunately the site won't allow 5 uploaded images, and when I tried up loading 2 diptychs and a single, they didn't all line up as the same size (though I had made them all the same # of pixels high.)

I will have to work with this a bit more as the toning for the last image doesn't match the others, but I like the lines and shapes that follow through the images. Feed back and critiques welcome, if you can see enough of the image to comment on it.

Vaughn

24-Feb-2010, 15:06

Works very well!

ROL

24-Feb-2010, 16:46

Brand New Multiple (shot last year) - 2 separate prints (GSP) intended to be shown together (5X7 Arista Pro 125 in PMK Pyro, cropped 2:1):

Reflection & Flow #1, #2
http://www.rangeoflightphotography.com/SamplePix/ReflectionFlow.jpg

A true triptych - 3 GSP mounted together with triple cut mat windows:

Wildcat Falls Triptych
http://www.rangeoflightphotography.com/SamplePix/WildcatFallsTriptych.jpg

Triptych framed and hung:
http://www.rangeoflightphotography.com/WalkROLCFA/WalkROLCFA-8.jpg

sly

25-Nov-2010, 19:53

I entered this triptych in a juried show last summer. It didn't place, but caught the eye of a local doctor. It now graces her office along with 2 more of my LF shots, chosen when she came to pick up the triptych.

David Woods

26-Nov-2010, 19:20

sly

26-Nov-2010, 22:42

Me too!!

jim kitchen

26-Nov-2010, 23:15

Another multiple I've been working on...

Dear Sly,

I like that... :)

Nicely done.

jim k

Vaughn

29-Nov-2010, 18:24

Congrats, Sly. Of course the best thing that can happen is to get the big cash award and sell the piece!

I remember when you first presented this piece as a work-in-progress! (actually was only in Feb -- but that seems so long ago!) It progressed well!

Vaughn

sly

19-Mar-2011, 20:59

Time to revive this thread.

These 2 images were taken a few years ago. Not meant as a diptych when I shot them, but I like the way they work together. Printed as liths and cyanotypes previously. Was printing platinum/pallidium this week and gave it a try.

It's almost time for the fawn lilies to bloom again, so I'll have to get out with the Crown Graphic and take more shots of these lovely little flowers.

madmax12

20-Mar-2011, 06:20

GSX4

26-Mar-2011, 19:43

Here's my contribiution... "Moodswings".. I made 3 wet plates of my daughter in succession...

sly

28-Nov-2011, 11:57

Went November camping for the first time. Only one other site at Rathtrevor was occupied.

Stormclouds over Georgia Strait

jnantz

28-Nov-2011, 13:00

part of a new series of the cove &c near where i live

these are dusty scans for now, but the finals will be printed with the same tone + grit ...
all shot with laverne and a graflex series d ( and roll back )
processed in home brewed ( i roast my own ) sumatranol-c + ansco 130

Vaughn

28-Nov-2011, 13:01

Nice, Sly!

Late Fall camping is wonderful -- the boys and I just did some out in the SoCal desert where it was probably a bit warmer!LOL!

I had forgotten about this thread!

sly

28-Nov-2011, 13:19

Thanks Vaughn. In other years we've camped to the end of October, and we've camped in March. Between a death in the family and Mike being laid up for a good part of the fall, we only had a few days camping all year. We were planning on going the week before, but it snowed. We got chased home by a big wind and rain storm the morning after I took these photos. You just don't want to be under those big fir trees when the branches start falling. We might try again this week, weather permitting.

PViapiano

28-Nov-2011, 14:57

Ebony 45s, Type 55, gum bichromate, enlarged digital negative

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2380/5768522375_2b14153364_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/viapiano/5768522375/)
. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/viapiano/5768522375/) by pviapiano (http://www.flickr.com/people/viapiano/), on Flickr

Fourtoes

28-Nov-2011, 16:44

How about a quadtych? if thats such a word? ok maybe a Polyptych.

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q313/Fourtoes_bucket/JohnB.jpg

13x9 clear glass ambrotype....4 images on the one plate.

clicky link to the blog post (http://fourtoes.co.uk/iblog/?p=3610)

Richard Mahoney

28-Nov-2011, 20:27

The Two Paths

http://camera-antipodea.indica-et-buddhica.com/portfolios/portfolio-two/ashburton-flour-mill-east-one/ashburton-flour-mill-diptych.jpg

Ashburton, New Zealand

4" x 5" Astia 100F, Schneider Super-Symmar HM 150/5.6, both 1/30 s @ f/16

Best,

Richard

Colin Graham

3-Dec-2019, 21:00

Bump for a great thread. Unfortunately some of the posts are dead links now but would love to see more.

http://colinflanarygraham.com/allnightempires/public_html/allnightempires/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/heartoftard.jpg

5x7/Fujinon 180 W

Colin Graham

3-Dec-2019, 21:26

http://www.colinflanarygraham.com/No75/public_html/No75/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/aldertriptych.jpg

4x10 triptych w/ 300mm Xenar/ 183mm Protar V/ 12cm Perigraphe.

Colin Graham

4-Dec-2019, 13:11

http://www.colinflanarygraham.com/No75/public_html/No75/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/kingtide-rialto1.jpg

King tide, Rialto Beach. 5x7/ Fujinon 250 @ f6.7 .

Jim Galli

4-Dec-2019, 13:19

King tide, Rialto Beach. 5x7/ Fujinon 250 @ f6.7 .

Pretty, but I need to know sir, if it was taken from one of the farthest flung reaches of the Atlantic basin?

Colin Graham

5-Dec-2019, 16:07

http://www.colinflanarygraham.com/No75/public_html/No75/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/triline.jpg

Colin Graham

5-Dec-2019, 16:12

Pretty, but I need to know sir, if it was taken from one of the farthest flung reaches of the Atlantic basin?

Rialto Beach? Pacific, the NW Washington Coast near LaPush.

Andrew Tymon

5-Dec-2019, 17:14

http://www.colinflanarygraham.com/No75/public_html/No75/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/aldertriptych.jpg

4x10 triptych w/ 300mm Xenar/ 183mm Protar V/ 12cm Perigraphe.

I love these! I went looking for these the other day on your website. Was hoping you would post them in the tree thread.

Colin Graham

6-Dec-2019, 13:04

Hey thanks Andrew, glad you like it. It was taken at Lake Crescent in Olympic NP by the Storm King ranger station.

Colin Graham

6-Dec-2019, 13:15

http://www.colinflanarygraham.com/No75/public_html/No75/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/burltych.jpg

There are some interesting burls around here. This Hemlock(?) was part of a favorite dog walk but the lot was recently parcelled off for harvesting.

Vaughn

6-Dec-2019, 13:21

A newer image -- Southern Chile -- two 5x7 negatives, platinum/palladium print

and

An older image -- two 4x5 negatives. Tree and Jackie -- Silver gelatin print

Colin Graham

6-Dec-2019, 14:41

A newer image -- Southern Chile -- two 5x7 negatives, platinum/palladium print

That's lovely Vaughn, Chile sound like a great experience.

Colin Graham

7-Dec-2019, 14:21

http://www.colinflanarygraham.com/No75/public_html/No75/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/ShroomDip2.jpg

Colin Graham

8-Dec-2019, 06:21

http://www.colinflanarygraham.com/No75/public_html/No75/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/sextych.jpg

No great shakes sharpness- and contrast-wise, but I'm a sucker for tide sequences. 5x7/Xenar 150 @ f3.5.

Vaughn

8-Dec-2019, 09:04

Another older one -- two 4x5 negs contact printed.

Indian Canyon, Ladder, Yosemite National Park

Andrew Tymon

8-Dec-2019, 09:08

Colin Graham

8-Dec-2019, 11:54

Neither really. Just enjoying the moment.

Colin Graham

12-Dec-2019, 13:48

http://www.colinflanarygraham.com/No75/public_html/No75/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/barnfever11.jpg

Vaughn

12-Dec-2019, 15:38

Neither really. Just enjoying the moment.

Good enough reason, better than most! Thanks!

Colin Graham

15-Dec-2019, 10:53

http://colinflanarygraham.com/allnightempires/public_html/allnightempires/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/tankle.jpg

vphill

16-Jun-2021, 14:51

I thought I would dust this thread off and post a triptych that I tried this last month.

I have been getting to know the work of Barbara Bosworth and her images of champion trees inspired me to give this a try.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51251944200_338184cbcd_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2m5XBqm)

Triptych above Gatlinburg, TN (https://flic.kr/p/2m5XBqm) by Mark Phillips (https://www.flickr.com/photos/vphill/), on Flickr

For those interested this was with a Rodenstock 135mm f/5.6 Apo-Sironar-S on Ilford HP5.

Randy

16-Jun-2021, 15:10

This is wonderful ^ I don't think I have ever seen this thread - count me as inspired.

vphill

6-Jan-2022, 19:11

Another try at a triptych, this time just north of Taos, New Mexico

I got my film mixed up when metering so this HP5 was exposed at ISO 64 (thought it was FP4, whoops). Normal development resulted in some thick and very low contrast negatives. I was actually surprised with what I was able to get.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51804689973_895e44467d_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2mVNztT)Taos Triptych (https://flic.kr/p/2mVNztT) by Mark Phillips (https://www.flickr.com/photos/vphill/), on Flickr