Jack Dykinga speaks out in OP

jovo

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Sitting in Barnes and Noble yesterday with no new magazines to peruse other than Outdoor Photographer, a rag I'm not at all keen on, I was startled to read a pro film article. Jack Dykinga and another photographer I was unfamiliar with, were quoted as still very much working with film and not about to 'go digital' anytime soon at the front end of their work at least. This was startling not so much because of what they were doing, but because it was being described in that particular magazine at all. (OP has even editorially answered the charge that their calendar still uses LF images despite their pro digital mania by explaining that there's a large backlog of film images still to be used before a more general switch over to digital ones occurs.) Dykinga was particularly enthusiastic about the unsurpassed quality of large format film (he states that a 4x5 image is the equivalent of 500 megapixels) and the greater certainty he feels about preserving his images in that medium rather than running the risk of losing all in an unanticipated, accidental digital storage crash.

So....I wonder if OP has taken a peek at what's being discussed on this forum and by traditional photographers on other forums and decided to lighten their editorial zeal for digi uber alles. Maybe APUG is making a difference in the world of those who do the bidding of the commercial powers that be. Of course, I could be wrong!
 

David A. Goldfarb

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Whenever they feature landscape photography, it seems to be LF film most of the time. Looks like more of the same, but they're just making it a little more explicit. Thomas Mangelsen, who is also the sort of photographer who appeals to the OP audience, is also outspoken about shooting film at the front end.
 

david b

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Well, being here in Santa Fe and knowing several published, professional well known photographers, I can tell you all of them don't care to go digital in any form. These are primarily large format landscape guys who love the process and have been doing this type of work for years.
 
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eclarke

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Sort of an aside.. With all the bad film news lately, I was at the lab picking up some E6 sheets and the girl said " We have been getting lots of film to process lately." Maybe a little good news. I just sold my entire Canon setup, 3-1Ds/1D series bodies and all the lenses..Back to sheet film..Evan Clarke
 

Eric Rose

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OP will pump whoever or whatever pays their bills thru advertising revenue. Their personal feelings may creep thru everyonce in a while however.
 

Jim Chinn

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There was an article awhile back about William Mangelsen and another well known (except to me!) wildlife photographer and both said they will keep using film as the only medium to get the results they desire.
 

roteague

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Jack has been pretty well outspoken on this issue. He wrote an article/editorial not long ago for Arizona Highways magazine (which has a non-digital policy) covering the same information.

Personally, I thought OP was hypocritcal - put a little picture of the Nikon F6 and a box of Velvia 100 on the front cover to hightlight the article, but so far have refused to do an article covering either product.
 

Aggie

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I talked to Don Kirby today, and was told by him, "The debate is over and digital is the winner." He also said that Jack D. was not an artist and that his opinion of staying analog was not worth anything. You had to listen to people like Huntington Witherall for his assesment of the controversary. Well it just adds to why Don Kirby and I did not get along in a workshop.
 

David A. Goldfarb

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BradS

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roteague said:
Well, let's see ... I know who Jack Dykinga is, but I have no clue who Don Kirby is.
Click to expand...


My sentiments exactly.
 
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jovo

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That's a shame since I've always liked Kirby's work and hoped (actually I 'assumed' which is often a mistake) that, like many really accomplished people I've met, he would turn out to be reasonable and as classy as some of his photographs. Dismissing Dykinga is just plain stupid, and though the debate may be over, the reality clearly indicates that analog continues to be vigorous...just not as prevelant as it used to be. Sad....

btw...what is Witherill's take on this?
 

David A. Goldfarb

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Eric Rose

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Kirby does not suffer fools well. Not saying Aggie is a fool, but the debate as he says is over. Don is like many old sod busters I have meet. Very down to earth, generally quite, but when they have something to say it's right to the point. No sugar coating. Is Dykinga an artist? Well you could ask 10 people that question and get a mirade of answers. Dons' opinion is just that, an opinion based on his concept of what makes an artist.

Check out Don's website. His "art" and mastery of the medium is there for you to decide if his opinion has any merit.
 

Jorge

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David A. Goldfarb said:
Sad indeed. Go to www.huntingtonwitherill.com; click "articles", then "Farewell to the Revolution."
Click to expand...
Not only sad, but them color prints are just awful IMO. All PS and no photography. If this is the future, I am glad to be a Luddite...
 

Peter Schrager

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Les?

Eric-could you please elongate on what Les Mclean has said. Jorge I stand behind you 105% I think there can be a great interface between d and what we do as artists but I'll take the traditional route anytime!
Best, Peter
 

Eric Rose

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peters said:
Eric-could you please elongate on what Les Mclean has said. Jorge I stand behind you 105% I think there can be a great interface between d and what we do as artists but I'll take the traditional route anytime!
Best, Peter
Click to expand...

I'm sure the threads are still there. I don't want to start up the whole dig/an thing all over again. Les uses whatever it takes to produce the art he has in his mind. Whether it utilizes analog or digital or a combination of the two to get there.

I'm not offering any value judgements here, just making an observation.
 

Helen B

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Jorge wrote: "Not only sad, but them color prints are just awful IMO. All PS and no photography."

Once again I find myself in complete agreement with Jorge.

Eric wrote "Witheralls' take on the digital thing is very much like what we heard from Les McLean."

I must say that I don't get the same impression* - but I can only base that comment on what I've got from reading the words of Les and of Huntington Witherill, and from their photographs (or perhaps not-photographs in one case - only my opinion) which tell their own tale.

Best,
Helen
PS *Two different things, of course: Les's take on this, which is his alone to give; and other people's impressions of his take.
 

David A. Goldfarb

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Les can speak for himself, and his postings are here, but my sense was that his position was considerably less polemical than Witherill's. I recall that he said he liked the texture of the paper and the inks he was using as well as some of the controls he had in PhotoShop to do things that were different from what he could do with the traditional methods that he also uses.
 

Eric Rose

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Les and I have shared some fine scotch together and discussed these issues at length. He's a fine gentleman and I value his opinion. Many of which I fully agree with.
 

david b

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I need/want to step up and speak about Don Kirby for a moment.

He is not quite a "good" friend but more than an acquaintance. I see him often at openings here in Santa Fe and have been to his home on numerous occassions, including a private breakfast. We are on a first name basis with each other.

Don says what he feels and is straight to the point. If the work sucks, he will tell you. No sugar coating, as previously stated. But he says it in a polite manner. I respect his opinions and feel his work is some of the best around.

His take, I believe, is that he is too old to switch to digital, as he feels he is very capable of making incredible negs and the prints to go along with them. I agree.

If you are ever in Santa Fe, I encourage you to go to the Verve Photography Gallery to see his work in person. It really is rather stunning.
 

roteague

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david b said:
I need/want to step up and speak about Don Kirby for a moment.
Click to expand...

I don't doubt he is sincere, but I would have to strongly disagree with his statement about Jack Dykinga not being an artist. Jack is a stunning artist in my mind; better than Don, again in my mind. It makes me wonder if Don Kirby is one of those photographers who think that only B&W photographers are true "artists", and those of us who shoot color are mere technicians creating "color calendar art".
 

roteague

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david b said:
I'm lost....you think I am insincere about my statement?
Click to expand...

David, I'm sorry you took it that way. I have no doubt that you are sincere, and that Don is someone you know to be an upstanding photographer.

I'm mainly reacting to his statement about Jack Dykinga not being an "artist". You see, I have heard those same comments about "colorful calendar art" here on APUG and at a workshop I attended earlier this year. There does seem to be some disdain among "some" B&W photographers against those who shoot primarily color.

Again, I did not intend to question your sincerity, and I'm sorry you took it that way.
 
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