Does large format inhibit your creativity?

[www.graemehird.com]

LF improves my creativity on a base level, because I am forced to

create the image in my mind before I set the camera on the tripod and

attempt to re-create the image on film and paper. Even if I don't

have a camera with me, I now create images of the world about me in

my head and mull them over for future reference. Using the

considered approach with LF has also improved all my other work with

the faster formats. "Does the large format camera actually inhibit

creativity?" No - it improves it for me.

[dk_thompson]

That photo of Ruby shooting Oswald was done by Bob Jackson of the

Dallas Times-herald. The NPPA did a series of commemoritive posters on

their 50th Anniv. a few years back and that was one of them...I got it

in my office, and while I can't say for certain, the framing of the

shot looks to be about 35mm in proportion. The interview that

accompanies has him saying that he got "a couple of subsequent frames"

off before it was all said and done. Apparently his strobe hadn't

recyled fast enough so he missed one shot after that first image...he

also talks about being one of about 4 guys in a press pool

outside the jail cell waiting for Oswald to be transfered...apparently

he pre-focused the shot and was ready for him to come out, but not

ready for what actually happened...I don't know about the account that

Ellis is quoting...in this interview he says he was riding in the

motor escort at the time of the assasination.

 

<p>

 

But I also have an old Graflex poster on the wall from the mid 50's.

It says "The Pages of History Are Pictured By Graflex" and has the

image of the Hindenburg going down in the background....with little

insets of other wire service photos from the days before AP and UPI,

or at least in the infancy of UPI. That same ad lingo could be applied

to Rolleiflexes, Leicas, and then Nikons....personally, I

don't think the format really dictates the end result across the

board, but there's no doubt that the end of the press camera ushered

in a whole new phase of news-photography...

[keith_laban]

Many thanks to you all for your answers.

 

<p>

 

I tend to agree with those of you who said that creativity is

dependant on the individual and not the format. My main concern is

that the large format camera, being the complex and involved beast

that it is could detract from creativity. I also worry that this

complexity leads to using the same practiced formulae time and time

again regardless.

 

<p>

 

My personal mantra is to keep things as simple as possible, with the

minimum of distractions (simplicity for a simple mind?) I work with a

Hasselblad 500 series camera which surely must be one of the simplest

cameras ever made. In many ways I work in a similar manner to many LF

users, very slowly! Often I will spend a long long time considering

different viewpoints, framing and focusing options and that's before

I even put the camera on the tripod. Yes I know you can use masking

frames to aid LF composition, but... combined focusing and framing

options? Is this one reason for the formulaic front to back focus

often seen on LF?

 

<p>

 

Many of you mentioned compromised spontaneity with large format, but

I do feel that this is a separate issue, not necessarily affecting

creativity.

 

<p>

 

In conclusion, I am sure that in the right hands and with an

inventive attitude the LF camera is indeed a very creative tool. I am

very happy with the simplicity of my Hasselblad, allowing me to

concentrate on the image without distraction, though I do admit, that

on occasion, some movements would be helpful.

 

<p>

 

Large format instead of the Hasselblad? .......... No

 

<p>

 

As well as the Hasselblad?........................Time will tell.

 

<p>

 

Thanks again.

 

<p>

 

Keith

[david4]

Contemporary creativity can be found in images that are notable for

the unexpected composition, hues, light or shadow -- be it a Monet or

a representation of what a person sees who is high on methamphetamine.

Ansel, Edward, Brett, Eliot, Sexton, Muench, Dykinga, and Walker are

notable for their exploitation of composition, light and shadows.

Creative artists make something out of nothing. They show something

surprising in the very ordinary. They might choose, for example, the

textured surface of a painted concrete wall with saturated blue hues,

a large intensely red stone among a bed of dull gray pebbles, or

yellow markings conspicuously located on a very black asphalt concrete

pavement, as was done by Ron Lussier's wonderful work at

www.lens

[emile_de_leon9]

The man who photographed Ruby shooting Oswald did a TV show recently

where he explained in detail how he got the shot....he got it with

with a Nikon rangefinder.