LF Sightings?

MurrayMinchin · May 3, 2005

Hi there,

How often do meet or see other LF photographers taking photographs?

I've been using 4x5 since 1982 and have never met or seen another LF photographer out photographing. Yep, that's right, zip - nada - zilch - zero. This includes not only when I'm photographing, but also when driving around town, between towns, and on holidays. Not a single one. How 'bout you?

Murray

rbarker · May 3, 2005

FWIW, I see other LFers quite frequently here in (the other) CA.

Dave Wooten · May 3, 2005

That's a good thing Murray...you are probably then shooting some exclusive LF stuff.....I run into them from time to time.....They hang out in death Valley and the Ansel places.....about a year ago General Motors shot some ads out here in the desert and they were using 8 x 10 color...I quite often see commercial photography in progress in the hotel industry usually 4 x 5.....I have however never seen a LF photographer while I am doing my street and alley stuff.

Dave in Vegas

juan · May 3, 2005

I shot LF for about 25-years before I ever saw another LF photographer. I met Doug Howk at a local camera club, and he suggested we form a local LF group. He put posts on several forums a couple of years ago, and since we have organized shoots almost every month. We have had at least a dozen LF photographers participate at various times. Maybe if you post a meet up, other folks will show up.
juan

Steve Hamley · May 3, 2005

Murray,

I live an hour from the Smokies, and in the spring and fall seasons I see quite a few. Maybe 2-3 per day not counting the occasional LF workshop where you get a herd. These sightings include an increasing number of 8x10 shooters ove the past couple of years, but I haven't seen a ULF yet.

Steve

David A. Goldfarb · May 3, 2005

In New York you don't see it every day, but often enough.

There's a guy named Louis (or maybe Lewis) who can be seen around town with his Graphic usually shooting Polaroids at events where people dress up. Here's a photo of him by Helen B--

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I've seen other LF shooters in Central Park and shooting architecture for what looked like personal work around town, as well as people doing commercial architectural shoots with LF. When I was shooting handheld at the last Greenwich Village Halloween Parade with the Tech V., I saw someone else shooting formal portraits of people in costume with a 4x5" camera, assistants, and portable lighting. Overheard a conversation at a restaurant (this is an essential New York activity) involving a photo student who was doing a street portrait project in 4x5" on Type 55 in Harlem.

MurrayMinchin · May 3, 2005

juan said:
I shot LF for about 25-years before I ever saw another LF photographer. I met Doug Howk at a local camera club, and he suggested we form a local LF group.
juan

That's a great idea! There is one fellow I know in my town who does 4x5, but we have never hooked up. We obviously use different subject matter or we would bump into each other occasionally. Who knows, maybe there are more on BC's north coast? (Chime in if you're out there!)

I went to one camera club meeting years ago...it was led by a wanna-be politician who had the secretary read minutes from the last meeting, had the treasurer give his report, then they all talked about their zoom lenses. Never went again.

A LF Photographers group though...hmmmm............

Murray

Daniel Grenier · May 3, 2005

I saw a guy with an 8x10.... ohhh... 20 odd years ago? Nothing since! (Incidently, I bought this guy's 480mm Apo Ronar when he got out of 8x10 a few months after that "sighting")

I know they're out there, but never when/where I'm out.

juan · May 3, 2005

Our LF group is perfect to me - no officers, no meetings, no dues. We meet once a month for a shoot somewhere - then those who want have lunch or dinner together. Doug acts as coordinator - we all make suggestions for places to shoot, time of year, etc., and he sends out a calander by email. If one of us is going out shooting at another time, we email the others. Sometimes others show up - sometimes not. It has been a way to have fun, see other equipment first hand, and to share knowledge.
juan

Loose Gravel · May 3, 2005

Use to see them all the time here, because of Brooks School of Photography. I think they've mostly converted to digi-cams. Sometimes I see them in the desert or Yosemite, as Dave said, the Ansel places. In Europe, I never saw them.

Dave Wooten · May 3, 2005

Last Summer I was in D.C. photographing the War Memorials and had the 8 x 10 set up just across from the V N Memorial looking through the green space toward the wall and just off the sidewalk.....Lincoln Memorial to my left....

A crowd gathered and I found myself answering questions and waxing eloquent......I have not been satisfied with the photographs made at that time.....

Monophoto · May 3, 2005

Other than the few occasions when I have been involved in a LF workshop, I have never encountered another LF photographer in the wild either around the Saratoga area, on vacation in Maine or Cape Cod, or on our trips to California to visit our son.

There was one close encounter - in Chicago in October, 2001. My wife and I were there for a conference, and were strolling along Upper Michigan Ave (the "million dollar mile") one evening when I saw someone using a LF camera in a women's clothing store.

I know a few guys in my area who use LF, and I've seen some of their work, but for one reason or another we've never gone shooting together.

removed account4 · May 3, 2005

never

Joe Symchyshyn · May 3, 2005

never too...

Konical · May 3, 2005

Good Morning,

Once that I can recall, atop a parking garage in St. Louis. On another occasion, I encountered someone shooting with an RB67.

Konical

matt miller · May 3, 2005

never three

BradS · May 3, 2005

Nope. Nada.

But then, I don't get out much.

Rick Haug · May 3, 2005

Other than a 4x5-using friend that I photograph with on occasions, there have only been two sightings. The first was about twenty years ago in Porcupine Mountains State Park, MI. A fellow there was using an 8x10 at the Lake of the Clouds overlook. And then about fifteen years ago I saw a guy packing up his 4x5 after making a shot in Arches N.P.

colrehogan · May 3, 2005

In the wild, no. I did meet up with Konical a couple of times though and we shot some 4x5.

Jeremy · May 3, 2005

Only time was shooting with Mike (photomc), when he sent me a PM about going out to shoot. Other than that, never.

jimgalli · May 3, 2005

Once. At Dante's View in Death Valley. I tried to begin a friendly conversation but this guy was so superior with his Toyo 4X5 that I quickly gave him all the air he needed.

Dave Wooten · May 3, 2005

Yep, I know what you mean Jim, often times those point and shoot guys have a complex, resulting in a bit of an attitude.

Phillip P. Dimor · May 3, 2005

I've never seen another LF photographer around here. Once I heard a photo store clerk talking about a Toyo 4x5, that was exciting!

There is a store around here, Whaling City Camera. The older gentleman (forgive me, i've forgotten his name) located a 4x5 Crown Graphic for me. He thought I was nuts!

It's ironic too, The Wisner factory is a 10 minute drive down the road from me. It's in Marion, MA. !!

I once saw a guy with a P67 in a mall.. And another guy with a Hassy outfit (he was a jerk, real snobbish..)

Ah well...

John Kasaian · May 3, 2005

Never say never but, well...never!

arigram · May 3, 2005

Here in Crete, I used to see old timers with their large wooden boxes sitting in city squares hoping to catch a passerby or two that wanted his picture taken. That was long time ago though and they have dissappeared atleast ten years now. Now you only see LF cameras sitting in photo store windows like mummies in museum exhbitions.

LF Sightings?

MurrayMinchin

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