So can I ask why? Is it for large silver contacts? Alt?

I use it to justify all the money I wasted on it.

And because I'm so overtly obsessive about certain prints that only a contact print will do.

And because I want to. (Always the best reason)

Because Florida is flat, my 7X17 panorama camera is appropriate. And Alt processes are challenging.

Big contact prints, silver and albumen.

It also occasionally gets my picture in the paper--

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2006-05-10-photography-survival_x.htm

Certainly the romance of photographing with a really big camera is part of why I work with ULF. And add to that the way the subject matter in the image is rendered in a finished contact print (the physical description of skin, glass, wood, fog, metal etc) is so palpable especially combined with a handmade process like platinum. I was pushed over the edge after seeing some of Carleton Watkins giant 18x22 inch albumen prints of the American west eight years ago.

The process of photographing with LF equipment forces one to slow down and think carefully about the image before, during, and after the act of releasing the shutter. It's diametrically different from the snapshot process.

LF produces large negatives that can be used to produce prints that are grainless and that have a glow and tonality that cannot be matched in prints made from smaller negatives.

It is possible to make prints using alternative processes (such as Pt/Pd) that are radically different from conventional silver prints.

And using a LF camera in the field stimulates fascinating conversations with total strangers.

Because it fits my vision.

Because I prefer contact prints.

It provides a venue....

When one feels all alone and unappreciated, you can set up your ulf in a public place and draw a nice crowd....in no time at all, you will be waxing eloquent. Many will be astounded, amazed, and ask intelligent questions, some converts will come forth, and many will walk away, unenlightened, into the darkness muttering that there is always one complete idiot in every small crowd. If you feel the need, and can afford it, you can actually load up a film holder and fire off a shot; but that is totally unnecessary.

Thanks. I've got plenty of time to flip flop before making a choice

Image quality, perspective control and the ability to fine tune or CONTROL every step in the process.

It is also the only photography as slow as my wife sketches or does water color. A mutual appreciation and enjoyment of visual arts together cuts w-a-y back on the complaint I hear in many ULF marriages, "Why don't we do anything together?"

John Powers

Image quality, perspective control and the ability to fine tune or CONTROL every step in the process.

It is also the only photography as slow as my wife sketches or does water color. A mutual appreciation and enjoyment of visual arts together cuts w-a-y back on the complaint I hear in many ULF marriages, "Why don't we do anything together?"

John Powers

I love it for the same exact reasons. And the last bit, "the complaint I hear in many ULF marriages, "Why don't we do anything together?"", basically sums it all up. ;)

masochistic tendencies. or so the voices in my head tell me.

It is also the only photography as slow as my wife sketches or does water color. A mutual appreciation and enjoyment of visual arts together ... "

Well now, this is interesting! My wife decided this was the "thing to do" a while back. She just bought a "pochade" box http://www.dickblick.com/zz528/03/ and I had to donate a tripod to the effort. We've only been out once, and it was successful, but we'll see ...

Trouble is, I shoot medium format. Is this gonna drive me to sheet film?

masochistic tendencies. or so the voices in my head tell me.

I think you're just over-compensating for something else, but whadda I know? ;)

Because Edward Weston only had an 8x10, so my 11x14 makes me better than him... :rolleyes:

I think you're just over-compensating for something else, but whadda I know? ;)

Funny. Another one of the voices in my head was just saying the same thing.

[QUOTE=David Brown;622081]Well now, this is interesting! My wife decided this was the "thing to do" a while back. She just bought a "pochade" box http://www.dickblick.com/zz528/03/ and I had to donate a tripod to the effort. We've only been out once, and it was successful, but we'll see ...

Trouble is, I shoot medium format. Is this gonna drive me to sheet film?

David,

You got lucky. My dear sweet bought one of those boxes and none of my seven tripods was a correct fit. Not only that but she had to buy their canvas stool for the right height. Did I with umpteen lenses, cameras, and near terminal GAS say a word. NADA! Not one. She is happy, takes half the workshops and gatherings I do, and encourages me in my projects. Not the time to say a bad word. As a boss once said when I was over sales quota and my expense report was a little high, "just the cost of doing business." If I had had the same expenses and been below quota, it would have been time to post my resume.

Yes, unless she is very fast you need to go to sheet film. You will be much too fast with 120 film. I would say you need a 12"x20" at least. I think you may owe me a dinner and drinks for that suggestion.

John

You got lucky. My dear sweet bought one of those boxes and none of my seven tripods was a correct fit. ... Did I with umpteen lenses, cameras, and near terminal GAS say a word. NADA! Not one. She is happy, ... and encourages me in my projects.

Oh, absolutely! The best piece of luck I ever had was marrying an artist!


Yes, unless she is very fast you need to go to sheet film. You will be much too fast with 120 film. I would say you need a 12"x20" at least. I think you may owe me a dinner and drinks for that suggestion.

Sorry John, but I wouldn't be able to afford drinks and dinner for anyone else if I bought a 12x20. I'll just have to borrow Scooter's when he's feeling better about himself ... :D

(I have been "looking" at 4x5's lately! :o )

(I have been "looking" at 4x5's lately! :o )[/QUOTE]

1 1/2 maybe 2 years from the time the 4x5 arrived until the 7x17 with a stop at 810. Always remember that it is your wife who will love it. You are doing it for her.

John

Image quality, perspective control and the ability to fine tune or CONTROL every step in the process.

It is also the only photography as slow as my wife sketches or does water color. A mutual appreciation and enjoyment of visual arts together cuts w-a-y back on the complaint I hear in many ULF marriages, "Why don't we do anything together?"

John Powers

I ask my husband that same question. However, I am the one doing the ULF photography, not him. :confused:

I like the big ground glass, kind of like a canvas...and the tonality and detail of a contact print. They have a 'tactile' quality about them. Plus it's challenging and fun at the same time.

i like making big paper negative contacts.
they are a lot of fun.

A lot of people stop and talk to me. Most of the time, they ask "Is that a Hasselblad? Will it take color pictures?" Then, the pixel gizmo comes out of the pocket and they ask "Why don't you use on of these? Its a lot smaller!"

I have a lot of people who stop and talk to me too. Sometimes the digital question comes up, most of the time though, it doesn't. Sometimes I get asked what I do with my pictures and I am to the point where I want to give a better answer than to say I do nothing with them. I just haven't figured out what to do with them. I shoot for myself or for my own reasons.

Jorge, who many should remember, tried to persuade me to move to ULF, and if I had it would have been to use a Banquet camera 7x17 or a similar format.

What stopped me was a realisation, I'd already gone 10x8 and had planned to contact print but one look at my negatives wanted to enlarge, so found an enlarger. Will I change, will Pigs fly :) but I'll always want to enlarge

Practicalities stopped me in my tracks, I never "Contact Print" and so instead I first bought a 6x17 (cm) camera because it's portable, can be used hand-held.

That doesn't rule out buying and using a ULF camera, but only if I find a good camera with sufficient dark-slides at a reasonable price.

Ian