don_harris1 Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 I am a collector of Charles Wesley Gilhousen. His main body of work was done from 1912-1919. He used an 8x10 camera and from what I can gather, did contact prints of very tasteful but sexy portraits of women. They are stunningly beautiful. I am a professional photographer (www.dchphoto.com) yet am new to 8x10; but wondered if anyone else does this type of portraiture with a viewcamera? I am interested in using the old lenses as well. Most of my research leads me to photographers who take mainly landscape, fine art, or "head shot" type photography. I have not seen really anyone who does beautiful and artistic nudes or semi nudes with large format- the way they did 100 years ago. Is anyone doing this? If so, what lenses are being used? What film? Any help would be greatly appreciated.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim_atherton9 Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 Didn't Robert Mapplethorpe use 8x10 for some of his work? You may not care for his homoerotic stuff... but he also did some wonderful female protraits and nudes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neal_shields Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 About a year ago there was a magazine (I think it was American Photo) that had an article on how the Playboy centerfolds were still being shot on 8x10 chromes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don_harris1 Posted February 9, 2004 Author Share Posted February 9, 2004 I'm really not looking for "fashion" type photography or pictures of body parts. The pictures I've posted are what I'm looking for. Maybe no one does it now. 4x5 is ok too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dick roadnight cotswolds Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 I intend to use LF type movements for glamour/nude/batllet/sport/wildlife photography, probably with MF digi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d._kevin_gibson Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 Don, do you mean only the sort of faux romantic painterly look? Otherwise, I'd second Mapplethorpe, among others. There are actually lots and lots of folk shooting nude "very tasteful but sexy portraits of women" out there in at leats 4x5 and some in 8x10. The main problem is, most aren't really done that well that anything draws you to a particular image, and rather like a lot of landscape photogorpahy, much is merely copies of (insert... Weston, Cunnigham or whoever) rather than inspired by and building on the work of.... That is, there is lots of "classic" nudes still being photographed, but little of it does it any better then the best that's already been done. btw - this is one of my all time favourites<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don_harris1 Posted February 9, 2004 Author Share Posted February 9, 2004 I've looked at the Mapplethorpe photographs. I'm not really looking for in your face nudes, glamour, contorted positions, fashion, or body parts. Perhaps it is a fine line. The two photos I posted capture it. I suppose the images I enjoy are of "real moments" however posed they are. An old master background with sometype of "Scene" is nice. I do this type of photography myself but I have not tried it with large format. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christopher_nisperos2 Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 Hi Don, I've done several nudes in 4x5. None yet in 8x10. ISO400 (EI 200) for natural light, ISO400 (EI400) for flash. I've used 135mm and 250mm lenses. The lens you need will be relative to what you want to shoot, and your practical limitations (for example, close-up details? full body shots? How much space will you have?, etc.) The "stunning beauty" you refer to probably has to do with the smooth, sensual visual quality of the model's skin. This is obviously due to the large contact-printed neg, but also comes, in large part, from negative retouching. In my opinion, digital retouching doesn't quite look the same.... it's more "blobbish". Therefore, better start digging up information on this quickly disappearing art (negative retouching) as well! A few words about posing the model, composition and camera placement: it ain't so easy. It helps to use a window card to find your angle and to put a robe on your model while you move things around. A warmed room and a little music help keep the atmosphere relaxed. Lastly, it's wise to COMPLETELY explain to your model the whole sequence of taking a large format photograph, so they'll understand why things are taking so long, or why they shouldn't move AT ALL from the time they pose to the time you trip the shutter. Have fun. Can't wait for you to stun us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enrico__ Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 don, continue your research by looking up Jock Sturges... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d._kevin_gibson Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 this was the sort of Mapplethorpe I was talking about, for example http://www.photography.net/assets/duplicate1/maple005_Hnew.jpg is that what you were looking at? Yes, and of course Jock Sturges - an absolute master, working in 8x10 B&W and colour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_hamley Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 How about Luther Gerlach's work featured in the latest issue of View Camera? Old lenses, big cameras, nice touch. His nudes look very similar to what your describing. Thanks! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christopher_nisperos2 Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 . . . I'd be very interested in finding out which American Photo magazine issue carried the article about Playboy's use of large format for portraiture. (I remember a similar article published somewhere many years ago.. the photographer had an Italian name, I think). This delves into a subject which is a bit away from Don's question, but nonetheless linked: in the continuous use of large format for nude photography �from the early 20th century until now� it's Playboy we have to thank for carrying the flag high for the last 50 or so years! They also deserve credit for carrying true "Hollywood" glamour photography directly from the 1950's to today (LF, spotlights, retouching..all). Don, I realize that you are mainly interested in early 20th century, but don't discount Playboy's posing as mere "girley magazine" stuff, either. We all can learn alot from them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crispin_agnew Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 "Don, I realize that you are mainly interested in early 20th century, but don't discount Playboy's posing as mere "girley magazine" stuff, either. We all can learn alot from them." I thought that's what we did - during our Teens... :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walter_glover Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 Don, I shoot 8x10 nudes in black & white. While I may not pursue the pictorialist idealsof the work you have generously shown neither do I favour the preternatural resolution of many other contemporaries. In fact, most of the studies I have done so far for an on-going project are lit solely by candlelight - often with as many as 200 candles and with them in the shot. I had my time of shooting for the Australian edition of Playboy and loved the engagement of the necessary skills to shoot on 8x10 but gladly those days of commercial bimbodom are long behind me (as is the Aussie edition of Playboy) and I have returned to my role as a left-over hippie in quest of beauty and connection in the organic, the natural. You asked about kit. As I said, candles plus (on rare occasions) a 650 watt focussing spot light (Lowel Fren-L). Depending on whim I use either my Sinar F or Toyo 810M MkII and so far as optics are concerned I have Nikkor-M 450mm and Apo-Symmar 300mm ever close by, but my favoured lens is a Kodak Portrait lensin Ilex No.5 shutter dating from the 1940s. It's ideal aperture is 6.3 so shutter speeds aren't too long on 400 ISO stock. I have tried TMY which is not bad and FP-4 Plus which is a tad 'real' for this stuff but my absolute dream film for nudes is HP5 Plus (in fact for most things, really). I dev it in Rodinal 1+100 and manage to retain detail from the shadowy abyss to the flame of the candle itself with flowing even tones between. This gives me enormous potential for printing however I think conveys my intent best. Like the others I would suggest that Jock Sturges is a fine practitioner. So too is Sally Mann but one not to be overlooked is Ruth Bernhardt. Absolutely exquisite work from the 1930s right up to the 60s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric_boutilier_brown1 Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 I wouldn't use the word sexy to define my work, but since 2001 I have worked predominantly with 8x10 for my outdoor figure work, and much of my indoor work is done with 8x10 as well. Form 1991-2001 I used a 4x5 for much of my work, but in 2001 I stepped up to the larger format for multiple reasons. <p> You can view a sample of my work (not all 8x10) at www.evolvingbeauty.com <p> Eric Boutilier-Brown Moncton, NB, Canada<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papagene Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 Lee Friedlander championed the work of an early New Orleans photographer who photographed the prostitutes of that city. They were all fairly tastefully done. For the life of me, I cannot remember that photographers name. I think it started with a B. I must be getting old! Well, it's actually past my bedtime and I can never remeber to much than anyway. Do a google search on Lee and the info may pop up. Good luck. gene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smieglitz Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 Do a search for Robert Maxwell. I'm not sure of his exact format but I believe he is doing wet-plate collodian and albumen printing with large cameras. Patrick Alt also uses LF and does figure work in nature. I'm on the same page and will soon be doing ULF (11x14 and 8x20) nudes in the landscape as soon as Spring arrives in all its verdant splendor. Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray bidegain Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 I have been making portraits with my 8x10 and printing them in platinum for about 5 years now http://www.rbstudio.com I do not think of them as sexy but there is a beauty to the process that is unique. Ray Bidegain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evan_ayers Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Toyo 8x10, lots of polaroid for test, sometimes for final, else TMax100. Enlarge onto Berger 16x20, then contact onto Platinum. I don't do my pics the way they did 100 years ago. For one, I have a sharper Schneider lens :-) I use Lowell lights, and a digital Pentax light meter. I do leave some color in my images, but this is by desaturating the color polaroid, not by colorizing a B&W the way they did 100 years ago. I like the pastoral and odalisque settings the best, which is definetly old fashioned. No industrial wastelands or punk babes for me :-) What kind of information are you looking for? Nudes in 8x10 are no different than nudes in 35mm, as far as dealing with lighting, sets and proper care and feeding of the model. The _technique_ of 8x10 is different, but that has nothing to do with the subject. Everyone that has ever seen my 8x10 loves getting their picture taken with it. I think it's the size and attention that it requires that makes them feel special. As far as physical beauty goes, my Toyo is quite plain and pratical. If it wasn't such a huge amount of effort, I might even use my 20x24, but the cost in negs would be prohibitive. Evan :-) http://www.PlatinumLegacy.com/Images/Shadows/ProfileShadows.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven_muncy Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 The New Orleans photographer of the early 20th century Storyville area was E.J. Bellocq. He was included by name in the movie "Pretty Baby". The title of the book on which the movie is based is "Storyville". I doubt much much of him was substantiated in the movie. There are several books (may be out of print) of his work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Pardon me while I puke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_banic1 Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Jock Sturges has a large volume of work mostly done on 8 X 10. He has quite an interesting history where he was arrested and received a great deal of free publicity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dai_hunter Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 RE: gene LaFord , feb 09, 2004; 09:59 p.m. Lee Friedlander championed the work of an early New Orleans photographer who photographed the prostitutes of that city. They were all fairly tastefully done. For the life of me, I cannot remember that photographers name. I think it started with a B. I must be getting old!... and RE: Steven Muncy , feb 10, 2004; 02:14 a.m. The New Orleans photographer of the early 20th century Storyville area was E.J. Bellocq.... Ernest J. Bellocq (1873-1949) A remarkable collection of photographs by E.J. Bellocq depicting Storyville prostitutes was published in 1971 under the title Storyville Portraits There may still be copies available see: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0870702521/103-5392218-2682220 You can see a long narrative bio and some of his work here: http://www.corpse.org/issue_10/gallery/bellocq/index.htm Issue 10 - Journal of Letters and Life The Last Days of Ernest J. Bellocq by Rex Rose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_morris Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 The Jan/Feb issue of View Camera magazine features work by Luther Gerlach, who uses large format cameras, vintage lenses, wet plate process, and alternative printing processes. Some of his featured work is stylized nudes, like those you described. I haven't done that kind of photography (can't afford the models), but I too favor 1900 to 1930-era nudes. They should be relatively simple since they are primarily posed, and should allow for the longer exposures needed for 8x10. Some of the vintage portrait lenses might give a soft glow to the prints, but I think older non-coated lenses might serve as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shotz Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 All Playboy centerfolds used to be shot in 8x10. Sexy? Maybe. Did anyone mention Sally Mann? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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