Can't get motivated --

[dlabrosse]

Matt,

 

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If getting bothered by people in the mountains is stopping you from

shooting LF then try shooting LF in a place where there are no

humans: the studio.

 

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Illustrative still life and table top photography is ideally suited

to LF and can be very solitary and very, very challenging. For

inspiration try this URL:

 

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http://www.tilt.ca

 

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Dominique Malaterre (cool name :-)) does some very complex work and

was recently profiled in the Jan/Feb 2002 issue of Communication Arts.

 

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Good Luck!

[michael_felber]

Matt

 

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What you said about being noticed. I feel that way about even medium

format. I used to have a Pentax 67 with the wood handle affair. This is

not something you can just carry around like a 35mm and be spontanious

in shooting when something catches your eye without being noticed. Even

a Mamia RB that I also had; by the time you get a prism and handle

trigger on it, everyone thinks your a newsreporter on something.

 

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I'm talking about carrying the camara around in public, not in the

woods. I've always felt that I had to go for the shot I was after

knowing pretty much what I wanted to get. Get in and get out.

 

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The quantity vrs quality issue you have is very much why most of my

shooting is now 35mm. Its a true catch the mood or moment or seen

record thing for me.

 

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Strangely enough I'm a darkroom nut and believe even in 35mm most of

the quality in in the printing. MF for me is important for studio. I'm

no longer a pro but a 2x3 roll gives you a huge quality jump and a good

amount of workflow advantage compromise with the less time and cost vrs

LF.

 

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I would not consider a darkroom w/o 4x5 enlarger. Though I don't

currently have 4x5, I will again. For me its the ultimate for studio.

 

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I plan and gather and set up a still life for days and then I shoot.

Is it spontanious?... Very. Even after all the set up and the planning.

I get goosebumps knowing that with a good frenel reflex view finder I

will be not only be in total control but can come very close to

visualizing the finished print. And, knowing that I always wish I had

loaded more filmholders at discovering yet another variation or

framing. I usually end up with the best shots much different that I

originally planned on. Its great.

 

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So consider the large format for controlled indoor or enclosed outdoor

or available light. Schedule some time. Set it up a still and leave it

up for a while. You'll get new idias each time you come back to it. B/W

will give you a renewed interest if you need more reasons for LF. Or,

try positive transparency printing paper in your film holder. I may

even try 8x10 for contact printing if I can find the time. Keep the

camara!