Street Photogs who use Medium Format

Are there street photogs of note (besides Jeff;)) (grant?) who use

medium format

film cams? If you know of any, please provide a link or info where

their work can be seen.

Diane Arbus used medium format cameras exclusively.

I bought a Pentacon Six TL as a novelty for the mantle. But wow, a great street camera it turned out to be�

Ellis took my favorite photographer, Diane Arbus. There is a new authorized retrospective of her work out:

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375506209/qid=1080061590/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/103-3375325-6579043

 

Veteran press and Ford White House photographer David Hume Kennerly has a newsih book out called Photo du Jour shot with Mamiya 7 cameras; many images with the awsome 43mm Biogon-design lens (e.g. cover photo):

 

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0292743491.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0292743491/qid=1033447120/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-3375325-6579043?v=glance&n=507846

 

http://www.kennerly.com/new/

I think some of those 60's guys used them, but I can't name names- Callahan maybe? I've heard a lot of the "street" pioneers were fond of the Rollie TLR, which makes sense because it has some of the ergonomic qualities of a rangefinder.

 

I've known a number of people who have tried going to medium format for street work, but they seem to always drift back into 35mm. The bigger gear, the slower lenses, the clumsier interfaces seem to outweigh the higher resolution for most people.

 

I've seen some large-format street work that knocked me out, but I can't think of any medium-format street stuff that has impressed me as having gained anything crucial from the larger negative.

walker evans, lewis hine...but thats prob because of their time....

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its fun to shoot with an old tlr....before digital cams, people didnt really know what u were doing...nowadays people are hip to the idea of lookin down or at their cam, and not through it....heh

<a href="http://www.artsuppliesnow.net/quotTop_Hatsquot_by_Ted_Croner_127642.html">Ted Croner</a>. He did some great work in the '40s with a simple Voigtlander tlr. I haven't been able to find examples on the web other than a couple of posters and book covers. There is a very good selection of his work in the Dec. 2003 issue of "Black & White Magazine".

I guess I don't completely understand why there wouldn't be

someone today doing candid street work using a Mamiya or Fuji

rangefinder. Don't these cameras handle simialarly to a 35mm

RF except for the size (and of course more inconvenient /

frequent film changing)?

me...maybe not "of note" however ;o).....although admittedly it is very infrequent. But do intend on changing that this year.<br><br>

 

On your actual question...although I couldnt find spelled out examples of which pics were mf.....but, I have read that Phillip Lorca DiCorcia & Martin Parr have both used Medium format...plus 35mm. Weegee, although maybe not street per say, definitely documentary though, used a 4x5 graflex.<br><br>

 

In my wandering around NYC its not unusual to see a medium format cam in use. And although, again, maybe not "of note", but not too shabby either, here are at least two people I am aware of that use MF cams....and 35mm....which cam took which pic in the following 2 websites is beyond me however.<br><br><a href="http://dancingmind.net/">Dancing Minds</a> uses a Mamiya 6 and a Hassy Panoramic cam. Me and grant bumped into him in the subway once.<br><br><a href="http://www.nyclondon.com/">nyclondon</a> uses a Paubla Makina(sp?). Errrr.....me, grant, and spirer know him also.....sort of ;o)

I think the reason, at least for me, that more photographers dont use mf for street....at least of those that own one....is becuase of the size and weight.

 

The size makes them easily seen. So, if you, the photographer, are not comfortable yet with being "spotted", it tends to make one very edgey. This I speak from experience. First time I took my Mamiya C220 TLR out to shoot street pics, I was a nervous wreck! Having gotten over that sefl imposed restriction....

 

...the weight. I can deal with about 2 hours with that 220 TLR hung around my neck.........or strap wrapped around my wrist, before it just becomes too much weight. Weighs me down, physically and mentally. Hopefully my latest mf purchase will rid me of that problem....a Rollei TLR......damn thing is lighter than my 35mm slrs.......sheesh!

 

Just my thoughts on the logistics of mf street........tlr wise anyhow. I do like the waist level viewfinder and not loosing the image when the button is pressed though.......those two items are extremely nice for street.

It is a Plaubel Makina... A great camera !

I do a lot of street photography with medium format. You can visit my website http://

afimage.com

The India and Urban Atmosphere portfolios are excusively taken with medium format.

Others are mixed... The difference in quality you cannot see on the screen, but it is HUGE !

I'm sure you'll have a lot of pleasure if you take this path... ;-)

Ray: For me, street photography is about bringing a certain visual observation to everyday life. Usually, one 35mm body and one lens is the most I can have on me without "everyday life" becoming something different. It's like the old "uncertainty principle": at what point does the act of observation change the reality you're observing? Lugging a big dopey camera, or even a camera bag in most circumstances, transforms me from participant to photographer, which is bad for what I'm trying to do. For me it's all about being some dude and then whipping out the camera when necessary.

a mamiya 6 or 7 is a very versatile cam to use for street...tlrs take a little more practice

I'm a participant regardless of the camera, it just happens that way.

I do quite a bit of street photography using my RZ67.

Granted it's not a dainty piece of gear by any stretch...

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A lot not getting 'caught out' when street shooting has more to do with the photographers attitude than with his gear...

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people on the street/crowds can smell a lack of confidence - tenative is not what you want to be when street shooting � they will pick up on it everytime.

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<img src="/photodb/image-display?photo_id=543047&size=md"

height=377 width=471 hspace=10>

 

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Hand held shot with RZ67ProII on 100ASA transparency film

RJ Lam has done some <a href="http://www.luxcamera.co.uk/Ross/Contenu.htm">very nice street work</a> recently with his old Ross Ensign.

well, i think i actually consider photography as part of my everyday life. Although, I tend to chose the cam to bring, to some degree, depending on what I plan on doing besides pics. Very seldom am I without a cam anymore these days.

 

some people cant live without their cell phones, or walkmans.........for me, it's cams

<a href="http://s93887327.onlinehome.us/photos/meyoung.jpg"> I've </a> been using one for a while now.... :)

grant: I am pretty sure walker evens used a large format for his early shots and later he used a Leica M3.

 

I used my Rolleicord Va and a Fuji GW690III rangefinder for street shots, but not as often as my Leicas.

Rich Van Le (www.vanle.com), who posts here from time-to-time. Diego K. uses a Mamiya 6 almost exclusively. And, a lot of Magnum guys both past (just about everyone has had some run-in or other with the Rolleiflex) and present (Chris Steele-Perkins, Peter Marlow, Martin Parr, Harry Gruyaert, to name but a few).

and Koudelka did that project with an XPan although perhaps not exactly "street." I'm starting to love that wide format. A very cool look.

Hi Ray, although not so often as with my M2, I also use my TLR Rolleiflex for Street photography. You can see some samples of my work at:

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http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=293193

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Hope you like it!

"that nyclondon bloke - can shoot ...thanks for the link."

 

But I wish he'd stop copping my shit and find a style of his own ;)

As far as the photographer being visible, I'm not sure how much a bigger camera would matter, at least for me. Why would holding a medium format sized cam to your face appear significantly different to people on the street? Leicas aren't invisible. I'm usually out in the open anyway.

Louis Stettner did excellent street work in NYC and Paris using a Rolleiflex. He has a couple books out and is represented by Benrubi Gallery in NYC. I use both a rolleiflex and a leica for street work;but different types of street work. Nothing works faster than a Leica M for street. However. if your working slow, the Rolleiflex is also a real pleasure. My 2 favorite cameras.