Loved this presentation. At 65 yrs of age, my 1st camera was a 35mm film Argus C3 fully manual range finder. It had an external light meter. I loved using it. Later graduated to Minolta 35mm with an internal light meter, fully manual. It seems that each step of the way to the present DLSR's, shooting an image became quicker, easier, but I had to struggle to slow down, using a tripod to really look at everything to make sure it was a OK shot. I know it doesn't take as long as Tom's large format, but I find slowing down makes photography more enjoyable, even with a DSLR.
Yes, I find that just using a tripod makes you think more about the image and allows you to inspect right out to the edges of the frame just like in large format. It really improves my working process and photography. Thanks for watching and don't forget to watch the next in the series this Sunday.
Wow, this was brilliant! I admire you for your passion and the ability to change with technology, that old camera look fantastic but very complicated and yet you've mastered the new models too. I really enjoyed this video thank you.
I really enjoyed this. I spent many hours in the field waiting for breezes to die down to make exposures with my beloved Wista 54 RW. I had 90, 180 and 240 mm lenses. I shot mainly Fuji Velvia, Provia and Neopan 100 & 400. This took me back. Unfortunately, I had to change my gear for lightweight mirrorless kit after I suffered neck and spinal injury. I still miss the thrill of seeing 5x4 transparencies and negatives on the light box when they came back from the lab.
I really miss the whole large format process, but sadly it's not commercially viable these days. Viewing images on a monitor just doesn't compare to seeing a large format transparency on a light box when you nailed the exposure of a really special scene. I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
I knew it!! I knew by the way you handled the D850 that you had a background in 4x5! ( I think my last comment on this channel was "Why not use 4x5? Your technique is so 4x5 with a D850.") But why not go hybrid -- use the 4x5 as a mega-sensor, scan to digital, and have all the Photoshop options on a gigabyte image with incredible resolution. I started with the D850 but went analogue when I realized film is still very much alive and the amazing detail 4x5 offers. The D850 is no slouch on resolution so certainly it's a contender. Of course carrying 4x5 equipment can be a problem because it is big and heavy compared to 35mm format; there are trade-offs admittedly. But add the element of film "looks" -- Ektar vs Portra, Ektachrome vs Velvia vs Provia -- and I get the film bug bad. I'm sure you have good reason to go all digital as a professional and I look forward to your discussion on this in the next video. Thanks for the intelligent talk.
Thanks Dave, I remember your comment. Though I really enjoy the large format process, for commercial reasons the D850 does an exceptional job. Many clients nowadays don't want the film look. The quality of the D850 sensor allows me to do so much more to the final image and the quality is so good the images can be used for 8x12 foot murals. But a majority of the publishers I deal with don't go any larger that 25 inches long. Thanks for watching and stayed tuned for the next video.
The good old days! The vast majority of people who do photography these days have no idea what you are doing here, but it's so much fun to see how things went in the past and i still know people who photograph like this. You have my respect dragging this who set to the Second Wave, Tom....but I'm sure you were much younger back then ;-)
Hi Henk, yeah I knew most people watching this video wouldn't have used film let alone a large format, but I thought it would be cool to show how I've had to move with technology and the pros and cons of each medium. Yes, thinking back I can't believe I humped that 4x5 5 miles out to The Wave!
I really loved this, and the images you created with that camera. In some ways, it's sad to see them fade from use. I think in the early 1990's our (forensic) lab in Melbourne got a calendar of superb images from a renowned landscape photographer who I think used a rail camera that took 8 x 10 film - but don't trust my memory on that! His blurb said he spent 3 months in the field, 9 months in the darkroom. In that regard it's good to say goodbye to such troglodytic behavior, especially given how nasty some of the chemicals were. As a teen, I purloined my parents' laundry for a darkroom whenever I could. But still, I must confess there was more than a little magic in seeing a print appear gradually.
Michael, seeing an image appear on paper in the darkroom is what intrigued me to get into photography. I'm glad I learned the art of using large format and I would recommend it to inspiring photographers as it gives a technical understanding of perspective, focus, metering and so much more. Thanks for your comment and support.
I love these old cameras. Some of the stalls in Camden Market in London have loads of them and I spend ages just looking at them wondering how they worked. Great video. Thanks.
Ha ha, going under the dark cloth was like shutting the rest of the world out so I could concentrate on the image. I liked the art of the process, but now prefer digital as it opens up so much more possibilities.
Loved this presentation. At 65 yrs of age, my 1st camera was a 35mm film Argus C3 fully manual range finder. It had an external light meter. I loved using it. Later graduated to Minolta 35mm with an internal light meter, fully manual. It seems that each step of the way to the present DLSR's, shooting an image became quicker, easier, but I had to struggle to slow down, using a tripod to really look at everything to make sure it was a OK shot. I know it doesn't take as long as Tom's large format, but I find slowing down makes photography more enjoyable, even with a DSLR.
Yes, I find that just using a tripod makes you think more about the image and allows you to inspect right out to the edges of the frame just like in large format. It really improves my working process and photography. Thanks for watching and don't forget to watch the next in the series this Sunday.
Wow, this was brilliant! I admire you for your passion and the ability to change with technology, that old camera look fantastic but very complicated and yet you've mastered the new models too. I really enjoyed this video thank you.
magnificent. there something special about large format film; that can't be reproduced in digital. long lived film.
So true, thanks for watching!
I really enjoyed this. I spent many hours in the field waiting for breezes to die down to make exposures with my beloved Wista 54 RW. I had 90, 180 and 240 mm lenses. I shot mainly Fuji Velvia, Provia and Neopan 100 & 400. This took me back. Unfortunately, I had to change my gear for lightweight mirrorless kit after I suffered neck and spinal injury. I still miss the thrill of seeing 5x4 transparencies and negatives on the light box when they came back from the lab.
I really miss the whole large format process, but sadly it's not commercially viable these days. Viewing images on a monitor just doesn't compare to seeing a large format transparency on a light box when you nailed the exposure of a really special scene. I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
beautiful photographs with the 4*5
Thank you.
I knew it!! I knew by the way you handled the D850 that you had a background in 4x5! ( I think my last comment on this channel was "Why not use 4x5? Your technique is so 4x5 with a D850.") But why not go hybrid -- use the 4x5 as a mega-sensor, scan to digital, and have all the Photoshop options on a gigabyte image with incredible resolution. I started with the D850 but went analogue when I realized film is still very much alive and the amazing detail 4x5 offers. The D850 is no slouch on resolution so certainly it's a contender. Of course carrying 4x5 equipment can be a problem because it is big and heavy compared to 35mm format; there are trade-offs admittedly. But add the element of film "looks" -- Ektar vs Portra, Ektachrome vs Velvia vs Provia -- and I get the film bug bad. I'm sure you have good reason to go all digital as a professional and I look forward to your discussion on this in the next video. Thanks for the intelligent talk.
Thanks Dave, I remember your comment. Though I really enjoy the large format process, for commercial reasons the D850 does an exceptional job. Many clients nowadays don't want the film look. The quality of the D850 sensor allows me to do so much more to the final image and the quality is so good the images can be used for 8x12 foot murals. But a majority of the publishers I deal with don't go any larger that 25 inches long. Thanks for watching and stayed tuned for the next video.
Stunning images! And great video too. Very nice first lesson of photography. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Glad you enjoyed it!
The good old days! The vast majority of people who do photography these days have no idea what you are doing here, but it's so much fun to see how things went in the past and i still know people who photograph like this. You have my respect dragging this who set to the Second Wave, Tom....but I'm sure you were much younger back then ;-)
Hi Henk, yeah I knew most people watching this video wouldn't have used film let alone a large format, but I thought it would be cool to show how I've had to move with technology and the pros and cons of each medium. Yes, thinking back I can't believe I humped that 4x5 5 miles out to The Wave!
Great !!! Great !!! Great !!!
Thanks so much
I really loved this, and the images you created with that camera. In some ways, it's sad to see them fade from use. I think in the early 1990's our (forensic) lab in Melbourne got a calendar of superb images from a renowned landscape photographer who I think used a rail camera that took 8 x 10 film - but don't trust my memory on that! His blurb said he spent 3 months in the field, 9 months in the darkroom. In that regard it's good to say goodbye to such troglodytic behavior, especially given how nasty some of the chemicals were. As a teen, I purloined my parents' laundry for a darkroom whenever I could. But still, I must confess there was more than a little magic in seeing a print appear gradually.
Michael, seeing an image appear on paper in the darkroom is what intrigued me to get into photography. I'm glad I learned the art of using large format and I would recommend it to inspiring photographers as it gives a technical understanding of perspective, focus, metering and so much more. Thanks for your comment and support.
I love these old cameras. Some of the stalls in Camden Market in London have loads of them and I spend ages just looking at them wondering how they worked. Great video. Thanks.
Thanks for watching!
Looking forward to seeing the final images, really interesting appreciate you sharing this.
Thanks for watching!
Expecting to see the result of the shots. And, surely, things today are much simpler. Thanks for sharing.
Perhaps when I can managed to get them processed somewhere. Glad you enjoyed it Paulo.
I have enjoyed your books, and now your videos. Your photography is inspiring. Please keep sharing.
Thank you! Will do!
Great look back at history. I'm glad we've moved onto digital. And by the way, you look great with that canvas bag over your head. Ha ha.
Ha ha, going under the dark cloth was like shutting the rest of the world out so I could concentrate on the image. I liked the art of the process, but now prefer digital as it opens up so much more possibilities.
Tom should bring/wear the head bag for every workshop
That's dedication!
Thanks!
Stunning images
Thanks!
A very interesting lecture.
Glad you enjoyed it
Next week's video will have just 5mins taking the actual image on site?
You will see each video getting shorter and shorter! Thanks for watching.
When you said “in real time”, I though OMG, we have to sit through film developing and printing … day-long video.
That's for sure. I doubt if the film is any good anyway as it's been in my darkslides for over 10 years!
Get an Alpa man.
Yes, the Alpa was a cool compact 4x5. Looking forward to seeing your shots from Alaska Ed.
And I thought a role of film was risky, when I was young. Because you only got to see the result when it came back from the drug store Ha Ha !!!
Large format is an entirely different way of working, the cost was high but the results were amazing.
I had a film already. That was then not now. Who cares. Also poor sound at the beginning. Skipped the rest of the video. Not going back to film sgain
Thank you for sharing.