Does "contemplative" best describe the LFer's state of mind?

[Heroique]

I keep coming across this claim about LF work – "it's contemplative," "it's meditative," "it's reflective..."

Like me, you probably notice the claim is related to psychological health or healing, or artistic well-being.

If you agree, don’t be shy, please share what you're "contemplative" about and why.

The tree? The light? The weather? The great outdoors? The math? Your spouse and kids? Your bank account?

I’m also curious if this is the principal reason you're an LFer, or merely one reason.

[Eric Woodbury]

Who writes this stuff?

I can't tell you what it is, only what it's not. It's not this.

--ew--

[Old-N-Feeble]

Umm... like... I dunno... I can't make up my mind.

[Michael R]

Bunch of nonsense to me. I'm as careful and contemplative with 35mm as I am with 4x5.

[gemsinger]

Contemplative refers to imaging something in the mind and concentrating on the subject.

There's a lot to think about while composing, focusing, and correctly exposing a photo with a LF camera.

A hand held auto focus, auto exposing, camera removes the necessity to spend a lot of time contemplating on the shot.

[Jac@stafford.net]

Yah, I know a few LF mavens claim that the format encourages them to work slow.

I use it because I cannot work any faster.
.

[ic-racer]

I don't treat large format much different than the smaller formats. The main difference is presentation. LF enlarges bigger.

[Old-N-Feeble]

I don't treat large format much different than the smaller formats. The main difference is presentation. LF enlarges bigger.

I did that too... but after a few years I couldn't get through a 24 exposure roll in reasonable time... and the quality and control isn't what I wanted. So single sheets became my norm.

[Heroique]

Contemplative refers to imaging something in the mind and concentrating on the subject.

There's a lot to think about while composing, focusing, and correctly exposing a photo with a LF camera.

A hand held auto focus, auto exposing, camera removes the necessity to spend a lot of time contemplating on the shot.

Yes, I think this is a familiar view here. And what's more, often associated with remarks about the LFer's (purportedly) more involved relationship with the landscape, due in part to complex set-up techniques or time-heavy compositional methods, including casual or complex math work.

A related description would be "deliberative" – as in: LF calls for a more "deliberative" approach to photography. I've heard this claim around here more than a number of times, always in a positive sense, sometimes in a patronizing sense. My personal experience helps me understand this view, if not wholly agree with it.

* For comparison, an opposing LF approach would be, say, Weegee's, very spontaneous and handheld – not so deliberative or tripod-based.

[gemsinger]

Weegee (Arthur Felig) was using a hand held press camera, designed for capturing a photo quickly, thus eliminating most of the actions required of a view camera.

"f8 at 125th, and be there".

There are a lot more things to think about (contemplate) when setting up, focusing, and exposing a landscape shot with a view camera.

"Did you remember to close the shutter before removing the dark slide?"

"Did you remember to close down to the proper f stop?"

etc., etc.