Clyde Butcher sums it up why I prefer film

[Mainecoonmaniac]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCN_WQeEKnc

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Ahhhh...

A man who knows exactly what he wants to say, and exactly how to say it on a sheet of photographic paper.



Ken

 

[Alan Gales]

Good ole Clyde. I have a lot of respect for that man!

 

[cougstar]

He says it best.

"If you're gonna do a piece of art, do it right. That's my theory"

 

[DREW WILEY]

But he does digitally print too, so might never get canonized.

 

[CropDusterMan]

Impressive guy. If I could, I'd sell all my digital crap.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

In this day and age

But he does digitally print too, so might never get canonized.

It's really hard not to. Sometimes folks just want a digital print at a lower price point. As long as the buyer knows what he or she is getting.

 

[cougstar]

Hi Drew,

What does he digitally print? His negatives? Where did you see that?

 

[cougstar]

Oh I see, sorry.

I'm assuming you are referring to the offset reproductions of his silver prints he sells. I guess that could be interpreted as digital in a round about way. I do not think he personally prints those on an offset press himself, but I'm sure he oversees the quality of the printer to match his original silver prints.

I guess so did AA for that matter as well as many other artists.

If Clyde Digitally produces his negatives or scans his negatives to print them himself through photoshop to produce a final master digital print I'm unaware of that.

 

[MDR]

To quote Clyde: "Well...I think I'm going to have to admit in a public forum that I'm actually growing old. At 72 years old it has become very difficult for me to carry my large format camera gear any distance. That 60 pound backpack hurts my back if I walk to far. Because of this problem, I've decided to try digital. It's certainly a lot lighter to carry on my back! I love photography, and will NOT be giving up large format photography, it just means I may not be able to use the large format camera as often. The photographs below are taken with the Cambo Artus with a digital 36 megapixel Sony a 7R camera and RZ Mamiya lenses. I manipulate the image on my computer, then print the photographs on an Epson Sylus 4800 or 9800 printer. I use archival Ultrachrome K3 ink and print on archival Harman Hahnemuhle paper. The limited edition photograph is then mounted and matted to current archival standards. I sign and number each image. ." Source: http://www.clydebutchersbigcypressgallery.com/journals/126

So although he mostly uses LF cameras he also uses Digicams. Still is a great photographer and I prefer his analogue work the digital works just seems to lack something still nice but not as nice as his other work

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Maybe Clyde can hire a young assistant to carry is LF gear. I remember assisting a great photographer Tommy in Los Angeles when I was younger. I traded by sweat and my strong back for his knowledge. He didn't have to teach me. Just watching him work was amazing. That's the nature of the arts. Direct knowledge from the master. The finer points can't be learned from a book or the internet. It's an apprenticeship.

 

[DREW WILEY]

I haven't found anyone willing to do that for me yet. I do have a mtn travel companion that has agreed to pack a second's week of food for
me if it's a long outing, but not the camera gear. But I've managed full two weeks load by myself the last two years, and still handle the
steep terrain well.... total miles per day not as impressive as my glory days by any means. This summer think I'll mostly work with a 6x9
roll film back, and just keep a couple 4x5 holders in the pack for the relatively few shots I might want to print bigger than 16x20. But I prefer 8x10 for that kind of thing anyway, and still often shoot 8x10 on dayhikes. The way arthritis is affecting my fingers is a bigger deal. Hope I can get an Esterly Speedmat later this year, since cutting multiple mats on a standard liner cutter is pretty bad on the fingers. But aging sure gets one thinking about the next step. They've got an awful clean used M7 for sale down the street. Hmmm....

 

[cougstar]

Thanks, I was unaware of that. Interesting camera.

 

[adelorenzo]

Clyde has been shooting a lot of digital cameras for the past year (via his Facebook and Instagram feeds). Still making prints in the darkroom though.

 

[CropDusterMan]

I've been watching a bunch of Clyde's videos on Youtube...what an interesting man...seeing his technique in exposing and bringing his work to life
in the darkroom is great fun to watch. These "renaissance men" are such an inspiration to a guy like me who yearns for the simpler times.

 

[DREW WILEY]

As smart and as well paid as these digital electronics engineers are, they still haven't come up with a decent digital darkcloth. My authentic
darkcloth will even keep me and my camera dry if it starts raining. Wonder if they'll come up with an app for that function?