LF Sightings?

[MurrayMinchin]

Hi there,

How often do meet or see other LF photographers taking photographs?

I've been using 4x5 since 1982 and have never met or seen another LF photographer out photographing. Yep, that's right, zip - nada - zilch - zero. This includes not only when I'm photographing, but also when driving around town, between towns, and on holidays. Not a single one. How 'bout you?

Murray

[rbarker]

FWIW, I see other LFers quite frequently here in (the other) CA.

[Dave Wooten]

That's a good thing Murray...you are probably then shooting some exclusive LF stuff.....I run into them from time to time.....They hang out in death Valley and the Ansel places.....about a year ago General Motors shot some ads out here in the desert and they were using 8 x 10 color...I quite often see commercial photography in progress in the hotel industry usually 4 x 5.....I have however never seen a LF photographer while I am doing my street and alley stuff.

Dave in Vegas

[juan]

I shot LF for about 25-years before I ever saw another LF photographer. I met Doug Howk at a local camera club, and he suggested we form a local LF group. He put posts on several forums a couple of years ago, and since we have organized shoots almost every month. We have had at least a dozen LF photographers participate at various times. Maybe if you post a meet up, other folks will show up.
juan

[Steve Hamley]

Murray,

I live an hour from the Smokies, and in the spring and fall seasons I see quite a few. Maybe 2-3 per day not counting the occasional LF workshop where you get a herd. These sightings include an increasing number of 8x10 shooters ove the past couple of years, but I haven't seen a ULF yet.

Steve

[David A. Goldfarb]

In New York you don't see it every day, but often enough.

There's a guy named Louis (or maybe Lewis) who can be seen around town with his Graphic usually shooting Polaroids at events where people dress up. Here's a photo of him by Helen B--

http://www.apug.org/gallery/showphot...cat=500&page=1

I've seen other LF shooters in Central Park and shooting architecture for what looked like personal work around town, as well as people doing commercial architectural shoots with LF. When I was shooting handheld at the last Greenwich Village Halloween Parade with the Tech V., I saw someone else shooting formal portraits of people in costume with a 4x5" camera, assistants, and portable lighting. Overheard a conversation at a restaurant (this is an essential New York activity) involving a photo student who was doing a street portrait project in 4x5" on Type 55 in Harlem.

[MurrayMinchin]

I shot LF for about 25-years before I ever saw another LF photographer. I met Doug Howk at a local camera club, and he suggested we form a local LF group.
juan

That's a great idea! There is one fellow I know in my town who does 4x5, but we have never hooked up. We obviously use different subject matter or we would bump into each other occasionally. Who knows, maybe there are more on BC's north coast? (Chime in if you're out there!)

I went to one camera club meeting years ago...it was led by a wanna-be politician who had the secretary read minutes from the last meeting, had the treasurer give his report, then they all talked about their zoom lenses. Never went again.

A LF Photographers group though...hmmmm............

Murray

[Daniel Grenier]

I saw a guy with an 8x10.... ohhh... 20 odd years ago? Nothing since! (Incidently, I bought this guy's 480mm Apo Ronar when he got out of 8x10 a few months after that "sighting")

I know they're out there, but never when/where I'm out.

[juan]

Our LF group is perfect to me - no officers, no meetings, no dues. We meet once a month for a shoot somewhere - then those who want have lunch or dinner together. Doug acts as coordinator - we all make suggestions for places to shoot, time of year, etc., and he sends out a calander by email. If one of us is going out shooting at another time, we email the others. Sometimes others show up - sometimes not. It has been a way to have fun, see other equipment first hand, and to share knowledge.
juan

[Loose Gravel]

Use to see them all the time here, because of Brooks School of Photography. I think they've mostly converted to digi-cams. Sometimes I see them in the desert or Yosemite, as Dave said, the Ansel places. In Europe, I never saw them.