Jimmy Nelson's "Before they Pass Away" what film?

[thibaud_guerin_williams]

<p>Jimmy Nelson spent time with several tribes around the world and photographed them "Before they Passed Away."<br>

His photos have been re-posted everywhere. http://www.boredpanda.org/vanishing-tribes-before-they-pass-away-jimmy-nelson/<br>

In photos ( http://www.beforethey.com/media/images/_DSC7021_website.jpg ) he is carrying a canon and a large format camera. What film do you think he is probably using to get such deep tones? </p>

[leicaglow]

I think his magic is partly in the post processing of the images. One article says he

uses a 50 year old plate camera. So film choices would pretty much either Fuji or

Kodak.

[lex_jenkins]

<p>I don't see any mention of a specific 4x5 film on his website. He appears to be using mostly Nikon dSLRs and lenses, and a Nikon D3X strap is visible in <a href="http://www.beforethey.com/media/images/PAP_9006.jpg">this photo</a>.</p>

<p>Assuming the posed portraits were shot on 4x5 film, I'm inclined to agree with Michael that it's likely that most of the magic is in digital post processing. Conventional optical contact prints or enlargements from color film don't look like most of those photos. The Gauchos photo looks pretty straightforward, as do a few others. But most appear to have been the result of high resolution scans of the 4x5 film, enhanced with careful toning and subtle vignetting to suit the mood he wants for each.</p>

[john_shriver]

<p>I'd say he's shooting color negative, not slide film. Lots of dynamic range, not high-saturation. But he has taken a lot of control of the color look in post-processing. </p>

[leicaglow]

Plate camera mentioned on his site... http://www.beforethey.com.

[sepanta_parsa]

<p>Here is the answer: "Jimmy used a self-made 5 x 4 technical camera made out of pieces from Linhott, Schneider and Cambo using a 50 ASA kodac color film"</p>