His images are seriously inspiring and make me consider (1%) taking out a commercial loan to get medium format and portable studio lights. They're all just Stunning. He has a link on the top right where he goes through his gear list.
Nick Brandt I think made his name on his exceptional close up African photos where he crept up slowly to his subject and used a wide angle lens instead of the traditional telephoto lens for these type of shots. I believe he uses medium format film? I recall that from an interview. He is also seriously inspiring.
Just before anyone says it, Yes, we all know it's the photographer and concept not the gear but it would be foolish to knock gear out of the equation. Would love to see other examples.
Another of my favorites is Andreas Resch. http://www.andreasresch.at/ He used to post here some. His flickr and deviant art pages explain the gear used and sometimes the processing techniques.
p.1 #6 · Exceptional Contemporary Photographers and their Gear
I have two of Nick Brandt's books and think his work is just incredible. I'm still disappointed i wasn't able to make it to Stockholm this new year for his exhibition there...
p.1 #8 · Exceptional Contemporary Photographers and their Gear
15Bit wrote:
I have two of Nick Brandt's books and think his work is just incredible. I'm still disappointed i wasn't able to make it to Stockholm this new year for his exhibition there...
Not to rub it in, but you really should be kicking yourself. The sheer size of the prints made quite an impact, highlighting the unique connection to the subjects the images already convey. Probably Fotografiskas most successful exhibition so far.
p.1 #11 · Exceptional Contemporary Photographers and their Gear
The other thing I've always found interesting about Brandt is that he shoots medium format film, but he then scans it and prints digitally for his final product.
p.1 #12 · Exceptional Contemporary Photographers and their Gear
Yes, he works his shots over extensively in Photoshop, doing the sepia look, adding vignetting, etc. He also does freelensing, which is very obvious in a few of his shots, such as the lion which lifted its head into the breeze.
I absolutely love his work. I have both his books, and some of the photos in there are just breathtakingly beautiful, such as the cover photo from the second book, and the elephant walking through the forest. I don't care much for his ape work though.
p.1 #13 · Exceptional Contemporary Photographers and their Gear
I bought Leica and my pictures didn't look like Sebastiao Selgados.
I bought Mamiya RZ and my pictures didn't look like Annie Leibovitzs.
What am I doing wrong!
People, it's not the gear. Oops, did I think that or say it...
p.1 #14 · Exceptional Contemporary Photographers and their Gear
You need Annie's team of post processing geniuses, JJ.
The animal guy's work looks processed to the moon and back.
It held my interest for 10 seconds though, which is not bad these days. It gives the impression that the images would lose all impact with higher levels of reality, so great is their dependence on processing to get them 'there'.
I dislike the staginess of the L guy, and lose the flash dude, oh sorry its a big part of the schtick. Danny de Vito, really...but then that is commercial photography, all formula. His India stuff pales next to one of our guys work in India, forget his name, Babu I think, shoots Leica R gear.
Art, fantasy art especially, is what you can get away with, and the best of luck to them with the $$$.
p.1 #17 · Exceptional Contemporary Photographers and their Gear
I came across that Nick Brandt book (On This Earth, A Shadow Falls) awhile back and had to have it.
Joey L. has some amazing images under his belt. I don't even want to think of the political and logistical hurdles he must have gone through to get the MF rig AND studio lighting to places like those, then win the trust of the people over.
p.1 #18 · Exceptional Contemporary Photographers and their Gear
Some great images for sure, however, its rather interesting (IHMO) at how post processed and "unnatural" so many of the images people are raving about, guys like Joey L for example.
Nothing wrong with the look at all, I certainly enjoy it, but at the same time, I often see people complaining about "unnatural" looking images, psuedo-HDR, or Topaz look etc.
The very "hyper reality" style of fine detail rendering, saturation and tonal contrast look of a Foveon X3 file, especially when processed a bit, is often blasted in threads as not looking like a "real" photograph, but then it seems so many of these well respected photographers produce works with a similar style to them.
Again, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with the work, I too think Brandt's images are just amazing, but.....
You've got to admit his landscapes detail and tonality looks kind of similar to a DP2M file that many seem to hate
p.1 #19 · Exceptional Contemporary Photographers and their Gear
No offense to anyone, but most of what I've seen posted from the DP2M looks like someone went nuts with the sharpening. The more natural looking shots, look fine. I don't see similarities between anything there and what's in Brandt's book, I would have never even thought about it.
Brandt has some very nice compositions and interesting subjects (IMO) and whatever artistic license he uses I found it pleasing (most of the time)
According to "your taste" (or lack of it), for most other people the first one looks like a 3D render and the second one a washed out boring shot of an elephent from a mile away.
