hardlyboring Offline Upload & Sell: On
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cineski wrote:
As a film shooter, I'm not sure I understand the draw of 4x5 for wedding work. The process (which I have somewhat of an understanding of) seems like it would carry far too many drawbacks to create an image that (in the above example) can be duplicated perfectly with another medium. Even medium format affords more usability than 4x5 and there's nothing in the above shot I couldn't do with my Contax. Not trying to be a downer at all, hardlyboring, I've always wanted to shoot 4x5 but as a wedding photographer, the thought of messing with this just doesn't make sense when it's often hard enough messing with 220 film. Is it about differentiating yourself from the market? I'd love to hear other thoughts on why you do this....Show more →
I also shoot medium format film with a variety of different cameras. For general work throughout the day you are right the MF cameras as well as 35mm film cameras make much more sense. The reason I shoot the 4x5 is because at the end of the day if you took all my cameras away and let me only have one I would be picking the Graflex Super D. It is huge, it is slow, it is a PITA a lot of times but the camera just fits me. It presents a unique shooting experience for both me and my couples. It provides a necessary challenge that forces me to be more thoughtful and decisive. In my opinion if I can create one great photo with the Graflex for my couples it will be worth more than a hundred mediocre ones with my digital cameras.
The 2nd part is the look for the photo. I love love love LF work from the early 1900's. Even with a fast lens on a MF camera you cannot really match the three dimensionality of a fast lens on a LF camera. The imperfections in the camera and lens is what brings the photo to life. The reason why I want to use my LF camera to shoot this type of shot is because I want to slow down and perfect one shot. I don't want 100 different looks with my digital camera while I run around machine gunning. I want to know that I have only a few frames to get the job done.
In the end some people appreciate having shots from this camera. Other people could care less so we do not bother shooting it. I enjoy shooting the camera at weddings and I think that if I am enjoying my work it will turn out better. I just enjoy the challenge it presents. I am a decent photographer and can do most things OK. I do not think we spend to much time trying to worry about differentiating ourselves from the market but for me the Graflex is the one thing that is unique to me.
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