[LargeFormat] Why Large Format?

[Pete Caluori]

Greetings,

Guy, I wish I was in your position.  For me, there isn't enough time in the 
day to accomplish all that I wish.  I shoot 35, 120, 4x5 & 8x10, but my 
preferred format is 4x5.

Why you ask, because it's convenient.  It's small enough to pack most 
palces, yet produces the goods.  99.9% of my photography is in the great 
outdoors and unlike some, who want to keep their equipment looking like new, 
I believe in using it.  I try not to abuse it, but I will use it.  That 
includes trying to capture lightning at 14,000 feet while a storm is 
approaching, to photographing in a snowstorm, as well as in sub zero 
(farenheit) weather.

I like photographing landscapes and old delapitated buildings.  Tilts and 
swings are important to maintain perspective and increase depth of field.  
Shifts are used much less frequently, but have come in handy in tight 
quarters.  One coud argue what tight quarters in the outdoors, but consider 
being on a precarious rock outcroping and having something right in front of 
you (a tree, bush, something.)  Shift can help.

Consider all of these things and then realize that a big neg can produce 
grainless 16x20 prints and that's why I prefer the 4x5.  The other formats 
have their place, but when I can (which is 90% of the time) I shoot 4x5.

8x10, now that's a pain.  I love the bigger negative/tranny, but lugging 
that thing around is no casual event.  My 4x5 has traveled many miles on my 
back and I thought I could do the same thing with the 8x10, but I was wrong. 
  I reserve it for one or two mile jaunts from vehicle.

Even if I weren't shooting, I'd still have (and do) lots of work to do in 
the darkroom.

Keep on shooting!

Regards,  Pete

>From: Guy Glorieux <guy.glorieux@sympatico.ca>
>
>This list is strangely quiet.  I wonder what is happening.
>
>So let me take this occasion to raising the question that has been on my
>mind for several months now, actually more or less since I joined the
>group.
>
>Why Large Format?
>
>Outside, it's winter here and nothing in this subfreezing weather
>entices me to take out my old LF gear or even the newly acquired
>pieces.  LF is just too cumbersome for me in the snow and I'm not really
>set up to do portrait or still-life in my workspace at home.
>
>Of course I ask the question "Why Large Format?" outside of the context
>of commercial assignments requiring the use of LF, which may be the
>largest part of your work with large format and which I am not involved
>in.
>
>As for me, I often wonder why I'm attracted to large format
>photography.  There is nothing simple in the world of LF.  The equipment
>is cumbersome, shooting requires a lot of careful advance planning, the
>world is upside down on the focusing screen, there is no depth-of-field
>outside the complexities of Schlempflung, and the list can go on and on
>(not to mention the shear cost of equipement and film).
>
>Yet, there is a unique beauty to LF prints. I saw the work of two LF
>photographers using 11x14 format on the walls of galleries and I just
>could'nt resist.  I had to get into that field.  But I can't claim that
>any of my LF prints have made it to a point where I feel I've
>succeeded.  And all my equipment is just statched away for the winter.
>Sad...
>
>So then, ladies and gentlemen, here is the question:
>
>Why Large Format?
>
>Thanks in advance for your replies (hoping that this is not a topic that
>was beaten to death prior to my joining the group last fall...).
>
>Best,
>
>Guy Glorieux
>(in hibernating state in Montreal, Canada)
>
>
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