Going for Large Format

[Fotos53]

Hello:

 

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I 've got a large format question, that I would be like to ask of all large format shooters out there in a seeming smaller LF world. Do you think this is a crazy idea or do I need to go straight to the nut house. What I'm thinking is shooting all, or as much as possible in 8x10 and when I have to use 4x5, like it was done years ago. I think that with the world wide web and some good smart marketing, aiming for the market that wants something different, something maybe even old fashioned, there might be enought to make a living. (not great, but enought to live, pay bills, you know live on) Doing it like it was done before in a darkroom, with a camera and using your head. Your ideas and comments are most welcome.

[dan_smith]

What gives you the idea that many of us don't do this? Too much

reading of the digital ads or whatever give one the wrong impression.

Shoot with whatever you are comfortable with. As to 'doing it like it

was done before'... it is still done this way.

[scott walton]

I agree with Dan! Your reading to much "digital" crud. I shoot 4x5 for work everyday. On a personal note, I want to get an 8x10 but that is only

because I want a large negative (original) for platinum printing. There isn't to much call for 8x10 product shooting these days but I wouldn't put the

8x10 away just yet. Also bear in mind, labs are few and far between handling 8x10. If you are doing B/W fine, do your own.

Good luck.

Cheers

[jacque_staskon]

Dear John, it is not the format that matters. It is called subject

matter for a reason. Its the subject that matters.

It does not matter what size the negative is, marketing your work on

the world wide web will only work if your images are good. Make that

great.

All the hype in the world about how you went about making the image

will not sell it.

No one cares if it was made in a 'real' darkroom or with a computer.

Consumers of photographic art buy what they like. Or they buy a name.

ie Weston,Adams, Cunningham,etc.

Large Format photography is not for the faint of heart or for the

quick buck. It takes a lifetime of study, patience and growth. I

have been shooting LF for over 20 years and I do it for fun and

profit, however I am still learning the importance of image.

You might want to think about opening an old tyme portrait studio,

then you can live in the past with today's materials, and make a quick

buck.

Large format photography is the journey not the destination.

[c._w._dean]

There is very little relationship between the film format and the

ability to make money (a living) with it -- the magic does not come

with the gear. Purchasers of photography are attracted by the impact

of the image and little else. Images with marketable impact can be

made with any format--and, sadly, large format is the slowest, least

convenient, and most expensive way to make them!

[garry_edwards2]

I agree with the last comment. I shoot only commissioned commercial

work and normally use either 6x7cm or 5"x4", as appropriate. But

sometimes I have no choice other than to use 35mm, simply because of

a) portability and access

b) availability of superwide or very long lenses.

Cost never comes into it.

i Always end up apologising to the client for using 35mm in these

situations but the response is always the same. The don't care what

format I use, or why, they just want pictures that work for them.

 

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I'm not sure whether there is any point in using anything larger than

5"x4", this is the largest format I have used for many years and so I

do not claim to be an expert, but I can tell you that:

a. Image quality on 5"x4" is always ample for the work I do

b. Top-end digital will produce sharpness every bit as good as

10"x8", and with much better gamma.

 

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Hope this helps.

[doug_paramore]

John: Large format was the thing in studios until about 1970 or so,

as was black and white film. The film was developed and prints were

made for the most part by the studio owner in the case of small

studios. Almost overnight, the change was made to 6x7 and 6x6 with

color film. There was some Hasselblad work being done, but when

Mimaya came out with the 6x7 RB, things really exploded. The quality

was about the same as split 5x7 and there was that wonderful 10 shots

on a roll without going into the darkroom to load film holders. You

can certainly use an 8x10 or 4x5 with sheet film for portraits, but

you will learn to hate it. As the other posters said, it's the image

and not what it was made with. I use 4x5 and some 8x10 for scenic and

nature stuff, but I grab the roll film back when it comes to shooting

people. You can make some money taking black and white portraits, but

you need to know lighting very well. Black and white portraits are

not the absence of color...it is a whole 'nother world. The flat

lighting that one sees so often in color looks like crap with black

and white. However, if you want to have fun and make a little money

with the sheet film, go for it.

 

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regards,