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Post by mjwellman on Jun 13, 2022 21:25:25 GMT -6
This is a great question because I have a difficult time coming up with a list of famous or well know ULF photographers. Michael Smith is one of the few ULF photographers who has produced several books on the 8x20 format. Sandy King has used ULF cameras but I'm not aware of any books he's published with those negatives. Today I was made aware of a Japanese photographer by the name of Kozo Miyoshi who works in 16x20 and I believe prints silver gelatin. Dick Arentz used several different ULF camera's for his P&P work but didi he produce any books? Help me out here. Who are the great ULF photographers?
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Post by jmdavis on Jun 16, 2022 8:19:24 GMT -6
I'm not sure that publishing books should necessarily be the prime criteria. But...
Michael Smith, certainly.
Brett Weston worked at times in 11x14. I think that this includes some of the New York and first White Sands Portfolios.
I am impressed by what I have seen of Jim Fitzgerald and Sandy King.
Michael Miley shot some 16x20 wet plates in Lexington VA, I believe that these include the funeral of Lee. I would imagine that there are some dry plates in that size as well. We may never know for sure as they may remain boxed for more decades. Sally Mann did some cataloguing of these when she worked there in the mid-late 70's and there have been several others to print some of the 16x20 plates on paper over the years. But, I think that the really interesting thing about Miley's on the technical side, his B&W and color carbon printing.
Perhaps the case is that a number of photographers use(d) ULF as a tool for their vision. I believe that Michael Smith "saw" in 8x20 and before that in 8x10. I also agree with the idea that the best prints, for me, are contact prints on silver chloride paper. In that case as long as you can get the paper and film, ULF makes sense. I admit that 7x17 and 8x20 are very interesting to me, though I have not dived into either yet.
Mike Davis
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Post by Admin (Tim Layton) on Jun 16, 2022 12:50:12 GMT -6
This is a great question because I have a difficult time coming up with a list of famous or well know ULF photographers. Michael Smith is one of the few ULF photographers who has produced several books on the 8x20 format. Sandy King has used ULF cameras but I'm not aware of any books he's published with those negatives. Today I was made aware of a Japanese photographer by the name of Kozo Miyoshi who works in 16x20 and I believe prints silver gelatin. Dick Arentz used several different ULF camera's for his P&P work but didi he produce any books? Help me out here. Who are the great ULF photographers? I agree Michael. Michael Smith was the real deal and he was definitely committed to his workflows and methods for ULF. Not many guys like Michael left any more. I think it may be up to use to carry the torch forward and keep creating new work with ULF. I have never been more excited about photography in general than I am right now. The 16x20 and 8x20 are my ideal formats and my new projects are literally keeping me up at night, which is a good thing. We are about ready to get things into production, so I will be sharing a lot of new work very soon. Thanks Tim |
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Post by Admin (Tim Layton) on Jun 16, 2022 12:57:34 GMT -6
All really good points and thoughts Mike. I am finding myself caring less and less about panchromatic film for ULF. Almost all of my ULF work now is paper negative or Ortho-Litho film. I have several projects in the works and pan film isn't even in the mix at this point in time. I have my printing times established for the silver chloride contact prints using both Ilford RC MGIV and Ilford WT Semi-Matt paper negatives. I just crank up the lumens on the R40 300 Watt bulb and I have printing times less than 30 seconds and frequently in the 15 to 20-second range. I am doing some new YouTube videos on all of this too. I am exploring these paper negatives for my salt prints right now too. I have dialed in my Ortho-Litho negs for making salt prints, so panchromatic film is really not much of an issue for me and my style moving forward. Handling the Ortho-Litho film is much more sensitive than the paper negatives, so if I can get the paper negs dialed in, I will be very happy. There is the matter of the "missing" 16x20 and 8x20 Shanghai film, but if it does show up, I am sure I will find a use for it somewhere, but just not too worried about it at this time. Thanks Tim I'm not sure that publishing books should necessarily be the prime criteria. But... Michael Smith, certainly. Brett Weston worked at times in 11x14. I think that this includes some of the New York and first White Sands Portfolios. I am impressed by what I have seen of Jim Fitzgerald and Sandy King. Michael Miley shot some 16x20 wet plates in Lexington VA, I believe that these include the funeral of Lee. I would imagine that there are some dry plates in that size as well. We may never know for sure as they may remain boxed for more decades. Sally Mann did some cataloguing of these when she worked there in the mid-late 70's and there have been several others to print some of the 16x20 plates on paper over the years. But, I think that the really interesting thing about Miley's on the technical side, his B&W and color carbon printing. Perhaps the case is that a number of photographers use(d) ULF as a tool for their vision. I believe that Michael Smith "saw" in 8x20 and before that in 8x10. I also agree with the idea that the best prints, for me, are contact prints on silver chloride paper. In that case as long as you can get the paper and film, ULF makes sense. I admit that 7x17 and 8x20 are very interesting to me, though I have not dived into either yet. Mike Davis |
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Post by mjwellman on Jun 16, 2022 20:14:00 GMT -6
Mike,
Good points. I agree with you about books and publishing. For me though that is one of my main exposure to photographers prior to the internet. Unfortunately, I never got to see that many shows or exhibitions. When your are looking at book you really don't have any idea of the size of the negative unless it's a panoramic format. Today it's a little easier to see other works with websites. The problem with websites is that they never do justice for the images. Having seen Jim Fitzgearld's work it is a real shame that you can't get that from the computer screen.
Being fairly new to ULF I realized that I am ignorant of the ULF giants that have come before me which led me to the question. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by Admin (Tim Layton) on Jul 5, 2022 17:36:45 GMT -6
You have an excellent point Michael about seeing the work in person. This is one thing that I am actively working on to change. I have been thinking for a long time about hosting an annual event where ULF photographers can come together and show their work, trade prints possibly, and enjoy the experience. With the world and COVID, it really complicates this unfortunately, but I am not giving up. More to follow on this soon. Mike, Good points. I agree with you about books and publishing. For me though that is one of my main exposure to photographers prior to the internet. Unfortunately, I never got to see that many shows or exhibitions. When your are looking at book you really don't have any idea of the size of the negative unless it's a panoramic format. Today it's a little easier to see other works with websites. The problem with websites is that they never do justice for the images. Having seen Jim Fitzgearld's work it is a real shame that you can't get that from the computer screen. Being fairly new to ULF I realized that I am ignorant of the ULF giants that have come before me which led me to the question. Thanks for sharing. |
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Post by mjwellman on Jul 5, 2022 21:27:33 GMT -6
Having a meetup for ULF photographers is a great idea. I heard that there used to be one in the northeast years ago but faded away when digital came on the scene. With enough notice and being in the right place we could have a good turnout.
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Post by francisf on Aug 17, 2022 21:35:43 GMT -6
Toshio Shibata
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Post by mjwellman on Aug 19, 2022 20:33:27 GMT -6
Thanks for this but do you know much about him? A quick google search showed his work but no talk of what format he is using One that I found is Kenro Izu who shoots on 14x20 format. kenroizu.com/about/profile/ |
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Post by francisf on Aug 23, 2022 20:47:12 GMT -6
Toshio Shibata is a large format landscape photographer but I have not found out anything about his specific equipment. So much of what I understand and see in landscape photography is informed by Ansel Adams. Like many others, his work inspired me to try it. Mr. Shibata is the first landscape photographer I have found who is as much an inspiration and revelation as Mr. Adams. www.lensculture.com/toshio-shibata |
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Post by francisf on Sept 12, 2022 15:36:27 GMT -6
I just got a copy of Toshio Shibata's "Landscape" (second printing 1996). Beautifully printed. I would rather see the actual prints, but for the moment, these images are as close to a print as I expect to see for a while.
There is no information in the book I could find about the details of what format he shoots in, but they seem to be large format - the detail and tone are of the highest quality and his framing is the work of a master.
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Post by apkeedle on Dec 5, 2022 8:30:31 GMT -6
Lois Conner is one of my favourite ULF photographers
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