I just got back from the Everglades

[Matt5791]

...and while there I stumbled on Clyde Butcher's gallery.

Now I want to make 5 X 9 FEET prints!!!!

Some truly amazing photographs.

 

[doughowk]

He primarily uses T-max 100 & wide angle lenses for whatever format he happens to be using. His prints are quite impressive, though close inspection does show some blown highlights. His darkroom/gallery in Sarasota would be the envy of even Ansel Adams. Hope you got to meet/talk with him for he is good person.

 

[DWThomas]

The art gallery at a nearby college had an exhibit of Clyde Butcher's work last year, indeed truly awesome stuff to stand in front of. I recall there was an artist's bio sheet that claimed he had adapted a two ton process camera for use as a horizontal enlarger. The optical part seems manageable, it's the handling of sheets of paper that size that leaves me scratching my head -- I guess he must have an assistant (or two or three!).

Dave

 

[fhovie]

I read about him - large table and a sponge to develop and fix. Shoots mostly 8x10 to enlarge

 

[Scott Peters]

I recently visited the gallery in Venice. Just south of Florida. I mentioned that I was a large format black and white photographer and they let me into the darkroom where I spent about 45 minutes with the lab technician. I got a full tour, and watched a print, dodged, burned, enlarged and developed...Very interesting.

So, if you are going, maybe you can ask for a tour. They are super nice there.

I got to see digital printing being done as well. The technician agreed that the digital did not measure up to the analog, but they could sell images at a lower cost and thus offered digital prints. You can see the same prints in the gallery both digital and analog and compare for yourself. I wholeheartedly agree with her, the analog are better for sure. But there is a cost factor.....

She also shared some interesting 'insights' about the work....like....for example, how certain photographers in the old days used to shoot 'from the hip'? Like really no metering, zone or otherwise.....

At any rate, I REALLY got to appreciate the analog efforts to make a print of his. LOT's of dodging and burning. A lot of work goes into the printmaking. Great supersized images...for sure.

 

[Scott Peters]

Also, no sponge or table to develop and fix, but rather HUGE trays, I can't recall, but maybe 6 feet by 6 feet? For really large images they 'roll' the paper through the chemicals.

 

[rjas]

His prints are quite impressive, though close inspection does show some blown highlights. .

i choked on a slim jim laughing and almost died when i read this