Many people have heard me complain about lugging around the large format gear, a heavy tripod, lots of film holders, and all the extra gear that comes with shooting large format. But I keep on shooting it. So many ask why…so in response to Mat’s blog on the subject. And while it’s complaining, it’s nothing compared to when Mat and I drove around the Cleveland Flats in 2013, and he had the massive Sinar P2 8×10 camera.
So why do I shoot it? Because the results are outstanding, I find that it disciplines me; I can go out with ten sheets of film and come home and have ten good solid images when I’m done. Plus, it helps define my creative vision; you can do so much more with a large format camera, even my simple press camera, from shifting the lens, using a different lens, even films, there’s so much more room to manoeuvre with the large format than even 120 and 35mm. You can push/pull with ease and meter differently. And when it comes down to cost, that doesn’t bother me, because I’m doing something I enjoy!
I have always been a very hands-on person, and a large format gives me that experience; from start to finish, I know that the image I’ve crafted is mine, and there will never be another one like it, even if I go back and reshoot it, there will be differences. But you know, maybe that’s a good thing. Shoot things once, make it right, see everything, and if it’s not right, come back later in a world where everything goes at breakneck speeds and doesn’t show a sign of slowing down, maybe standing there waiting to press the shutter for the moment to be…right. Take the Tree photo I posted; I saw the image one day and didn’t shoot it for another 24 hours. But over that time, I built the image in my mind, deciding how to develop, rate, meter, and compose the scene. And if I didn’t get it the next day, I’d wait until the next and the next until it was just right.
While I’m not trying to convince you to shoot in a large format, and if you get anything out of this, it’s to shoot what you love and not be ashamed of it. Digital/Film, it doesn’t matter, but stop and slow down, and wait for the shot to come to you, that “aha” moment. Be passionate, and be ready to say why you’re passionate. Because if you do what you love, it’ll show in your final product.