I am living in Vegas (but am from Oregon and bounce back and forth) working on developing a fine art landscape gallery business and have been doing a lot of mural sized printing and mounting (face mounted to acrylic and back mounted to Di-bond) lately. After going back and forth with Ben Horne (a large format shooter) the last couple weeks I have decided I am going to (and a really big shock to my thinking) add 4x5 and maybe 8x10 to the mix in 2010 for certain types of shots.
I have been experimenting with various stitching with both medium format digital and top DSLR's with very good results. I have worked mainly (but not exclusively) with DSLR's, which I still see as my main tool because of the quick type of fleeting moments I often am after and my overall general shooting style. But for some types of shots I am starting to see a place for LF because of the sheer resolution. So, not a switch, but adding a few new tools. The main reason I am doing this is because of how big I am attempting to print. I currently am printing 30", 40", 50", 60", 70", 80+ inches with the Light-jet on Fuji Flex. I want to market with that "wow factor" (such as how Peter Lik's galleries do so successfully) of huge sizes for display.
Anyways, I have not gotten the camera(s) yet but hope to a little later in the year as finances open up more. I am sure I'll have a TON to learn and a lot of questions at that point. I think I might end up hooking up with some fellow NP'er from the forum for some instruction.
Any suggestions or feedback here is welcomed.
Thank you.
Mark
Posted by Matt Anderson on December 31, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Mark, isn't this photo you posted an iStock image with your photo added ?
I've taken some of my H3D-39 megapixel images to +80" and they hold up ...
Also, RRS makes an L-Bracket that works well with the omni pano pro setup.
There are awesome deals to be had with MF Digital gear that is less than one year old. Check out some of Calumets (and others) pre-owned stock.
Posted by Ken Smith on December 31, 2009 at 9:01 PM
After quick scan of the murals, I was awestruck by the well crafted cordination of paint colors, furniture designs/floor colors...and room size that made for stunning photo presentations. Almost animated look. Best wishes in 2010 with your new venture.
"Mark, isn't this photo you posted an iStock image with your photo added ?
I've taken some of my H3D-39 megapixel images to +80" and they hold up ...
Also, RRS makes an L-Bracket that works well with the omni pano pro setup.
There are awesome deals to be had with MF Digital gear that is less than one year old. Check out some of Calumets (and others) pre-owned stock.
There is no substitute for good digital equipment ..."
Yes that is.
I regularly print and mount (sell) this size and bigger but it is not at all practical to hire a professional interior photographer to get those types of shots. Thus stock...
I too am starting to experiment with the MF backs and am starting to think that they (stitching w them) might be the only more practical way to try to go head to head with FL film.
Thanks for the suggestions here, and I will look into the used MF.
BTW, talked with a guy here in Vegas and looks like I can take a LF class at the community collage that hits on both 4x5 and 8x10 and they have the equipment to use as well (and scanner...) I think I might end up trying that route if I can work out my work schedule.
"After quick scan of the murals, I was awestruck by the well crafted coordination of paint colors, furniture designs/floor colors...and room size that made for stunning photo presentations. Almost animated look. Best wishes in 2010 with your new venture."
That's marketing.
Posted by Matt Anderson on January 1, 2010 at 8:17 PM
Mark,
As a former drum scanner operator, that class would be quite informative. (Assuming your gonna get to oil mount and drum scan the tx's )
I've had the luxury to scan on some of the best drum scanners ever made. I've got one at work right now that was $350,000 new! Even with unlimited access, I personally wouldn't shoot film anymore. The convenance of digital is way too nice. But I don't want to say anything negative about film. There are a ton of positives.
Another option you can look at is LF gear with MF digital back. You would still get all the tilts and shifts of LF, but with certain adapters you slide the DB into place when ready to shoot. You compose just like normal, on the ground glass. There is a substantial crop factor, but with the right lenses, and ground glass mask, you can get exceptional results. There is something quite romantic and fulfilling about slowing down and shooting with LF.
Here is a link to a pdf that illustrates the sliding back adapter plate.
By the way, checkout the specs on the Nikon D3X, compared to a couple of MF DB's. Not too shabby! (see attached screen grab from DXO)
I had a Nikon D3 for a year, and it's an amazing camera.
Last thought, weight.
It's hard to beat something like the 5D2 for it's size-weight performance.
Matt, thanks VERY MUCH for the excellent feedback here!
The guy was telling me about a certain scanner, I'll get back to you about it when I find out what it is. Some new scanner that he said he thinks is as good as drum scanning... I Think I just really just need to try the film for myself since I am doing a ton of printing these days. I know comparisons will teach me a lot.
I'm curious how a 4x5 will compare with a 2 or 3 shot stitch with the 60MP back in the real world of enlargements.
Posted by Cliff Dodge on January 2, 2010 at 2:19 PM
I cant offer any technical advice, other then a pretty cool shot with the inclusion of the couch. Like a think tank shot, or a macro of hair with a perfect place to mount the picture. Nicely done.
Posted by John Williams on January 4, 2010 at 8:35 AM
I just want to browse the gallery and see the prints in person .
Discussion
9 repliesI am living in Vegas (but am from Oregon and bounce back and forth) working on developing a fine art landscape gallery business and have been doing a lot of mural sized printing and mounting (face mounted to acrylic and back mounted to Di-bond) lately. After going back and forth with Ben Horne (a large format shooter) the last couple weeks I have decided I am going to (and a really big shock to my thinking) add 4x5 and maybe 8x10 to the mix in 2010 for certain types of shots.
I have been experimenting with various stitching with both medium format digital and top DSLR's with very good results. I have worked mainly (but not exclusively) with DSLR's, which I still see as my main tool because of the quick type of fleeting moments I often am after and my overall general shooting style. But for some types of shots I am starting to see a place for LF because of the sheer resolution. So, not a switch, but adding a few new tools. The main reason I am doing this is because of how big I am attempting to print. I currently am printing 30", 40", 50", 60", 70", 80+ inches with the Light-jet on Fuji Flex. I want to market with that "wow factor" (such as how Peter Lik's galleries do so successfully) of huge sizes for display.
Anyways, I have not gotten the camera(s) yet but hope to a little later in the year as finances open up more. I am sure I'll have a TON to learn and a lot of questions at that point. I think I might end up hooking up with some fellow NP'er from the forum for some instruction.
Any suggestions or feedback here is welcomed.
Thank you.
Mark
I've taken some of my H3D-39 megapixel images to +80" and they hold up ...
Also, RRS makes an L-Bracket that works well with the omni pano pro setup.
There are awesome deals to be had with MF Digital gear that is less than one year old. Check out some of Calumets (and others) pre-owned stock.
There is no substitute for good digital equipment ...
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/212/499525459_e73b2a3736_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1345/1257955959_e72f7a59ed_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1422/1258811442_9b430164ab_o.jpg
"Mark, isn't this photo you posted an iStock image with your photo added ?
I've taken some of my H3D-39 megapixel images to +80" and they hold up ...
Also, RRS makes an L-Bracket that works well with the omni pano pro setup.
There are awesome deals to be had with MF Digital gear that is less than one year old. Check out some of Calumets (and others) pre-owned stock.
There is no substitute for good digital equipment ..."
Yes that is.
I regularly print and mount (sell) this size and bigger but it is not at all practical to hire a professional interior photographer to get those types of shots. Thus stock...
I too am starting to experiment with the MF backs and am starting to think that they (stitching w them) might be the only more practical way to try to go head to head with FL film.
Thanks for the suggestions here, and I will look into the used MF.
BTW, talked with a guy here in Vegas and looks like I can take a LF class at the community collage that hits on both 4x5 and 8x10 and they have the equipment to use as well (and scanner...) I think I might end up trying that route if I can work out my work schedule.
"After quick scan of the murals, I was awestruck by the well crafted coordination of paint colors, furniture designs/floor colors...and room size that made for stunning photo presentations. Almost animated look. Best wishes in 2010 with your new venture."
That's marketing.
As a former drum scanner operator, that class would be quite informative. (Assuming your gonna get to oil mount and drum scan the tx's )
I've had the luxury to scan on some of the best drum scanners ever made. I've got one at work right now that was $350,000 new! Even with unlimited access, I personally wouldn't shoot film anymore. The convenance of digital is way too nice. But I don't want to say anything negative about film. There are a ton of positives.
Another option you can look at is LF gear with MF digital back. You would still get all the tilts and shifts of LF, but with certain adapters you slide the DB into place when ready to shoot. You compose just like normal, on the ground glass. There is a substantial crop factor, but with the right lenses, and ground glass mask, you can get exceptional results. There is something quite romantic and fulfilling about slowing down and shooting with LF.
Here is a link to a pdf that illustrates the sliding back adapter plate.
http://www.wide-format-printers.org/FLAAR_report_covers/705563_Sliding_Back_adapters_medium_format_digital_photography_large_format_Cambo_4x5.pdf
By the way, checkout the specs on the Nikon D3X, compared to a couple of MF DB's. Not too shabby! (see attached screen grab from DXO)
I had a Nikon D3 for a year, and it's an amazing camera.
Last thought, weight.
It's hard to beat something like the 5D2 for it's size-weight performance.
Cheers.
The guy was telling me about a certain scanner, I'll get back to you about it when I find out what it is. Some new scanner that he said he thinks is as good as drum scanning... I Think I just really just need to try the film for myself since I am doing a ton of printing these days. I know comparisons will teach me a lot.
I'm curious how a 4x5 will compare with a 2 or 3 shot stitch with the 60MP back in the real world of enlargements.
Might have to use a similar idea on my new web site.
Roman