Medium Format Masters - Your Favorites

JDW22

Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2013
Messages
119
Location
Mesa, AZ
Format
4x5 Format
This morning I gave some thought to whom I consider to be fine art photographers that use medium format analog cameras as their primary creative tool. Since I am somewhat of a 6x6 devote, I immediately thought of Michael Kenna and Josef Hoflehner. Nick Brandt's work with his Pentax 67II is also inspiring. While they are well known contemporary artists, there are also some lesser known individuals who's work I truly admire. For example, Austin Granger splits his photography between medium and large format film cameras. The work he produces with his Fuji GF670 is truly amazing - https://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/sets/72157633483469003/.

I know Ansel Adams used medium format cameras on occasion; however, I would argue that large format was his platform of choice.

Who are your medium format masters (historic, contemporary, unknown)?

I look forward to your comments and becoming acquainted with the art that currently eludes me.

Jeff
 

MDR

Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2006
Messages
1,402
Location
Austria
Format
Multi Format
Werner Bischof swiss photojournalist who used a Rolleiflex for 90% of his work I prefer him to HCB
Robert Doisneau french photographer who used a Rolleiflex for 90% of his work and another photographer I prefer to HCB
Herb Ritts one of the last great fashion, celeb and nude photographers used a Mamiya RZ 67 with a 150mm lens for 99% of his work
Fritz Henle also know as Mister Rollei started out as photojournalist and later became more of a portrait photographer
Bill Brandt although he started out with LF he later mainly used a Hasselblad
Erich Salomon german photojournalist who was pretty much the first to use MF cameras for serious photojournalism, he was killed in Auschwitz in 1943
Tommy Oshima often uses mf cameras and is quiet good https://www.flickr.com/photos/tommyoshima/sets/
Mario Giacomelli used Kobell Press 6x8 camera for most of his work
Vo An Ninh a vietnamese photojournalist who used a Zeiss Super Ikonta for most of his work
 

rpsawin

Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2002
Messages
524
Location
Orrtanna, PA
Format
Multi Format
Michael Kenna is on top of my list.


Best regards,

Bob
CEO CFO EIEIO, Ret.
 

DannL.

Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2013
Messages
617
Format
Large Format
analoguey said:
Is it me, or does the RZ look quite "compact" there?
Click to expand...

No. I'ld say that's an optical illusion. I understand Annie is 6 ft. tall, which may make the camera look small.
 

benjiboy

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Messages
11,972
Location
U.K.
Format
35mm
Don't forget Richard Avedon, Lillian Bassman, David Bailey, Rankin, Diane Arbus, Margaret Bourke-White.
 

Mainecoonmaniac

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Joined
Dec 10, 2009
Messages
6,297
Format
Multi Format

dpurdy

Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2006
Messages
2,674
Location
Portland OR
Format
8x10 Format
Is there a Master Photographer who wouldn't be a master if he used medium format? Medium format cameras are easy to master. Are there master photographers who have only used medium format? I doubt it. Even Michael Kenna started with 35mm. Are there master photographers who use medium format that wouldn't be master photographers in any other format? Larger formats present a challenge but it is just a learning curve like anything else... and someone to help haul the gear perhaps.
Dennis
 

Sirius Glass

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Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,391
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
Dorothea Lange ==> Hasselblad
 
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Mainecoonmaniac

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Joined
Dec 10, 2009
Messages
6,297
Format
Multi Format
The Rolleiflex is Avedon's favorite camera.
 

chip j

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Joined
Oct 26, 2012
Messages
2,193
Location
NE Ohio
Format
35mm
Who the hell used a Mamiya TLR apart from Paul Strand (I have said system with 6 lenses)
 

Chrismat

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Joined
May 28, 2011
Messages
1,286
Location
Brewer, Maine
Format
Multi Format
Jerry Uelsmann. A lot of his negs are from a Rolleflex, but he does use other medium format cameras.
 

aRolleiBrujo

Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
798
Location
Modesto Ca
Format
Medium Format
any users of that terrific Pentacon Six TL xD
 

Slixtiesix

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Joined
Jul 31, 2006
Messages
1,408
Format
Medium Format
Yes Kenna, and Barry Thornton when it comes to landscape. We also had a thread named "Any great medium format photographers" some time ago, were the names of a lot of famous MF photographers were collected.
 

aRolleiBrujo

Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
798
Location
Modesto Ca
Format
Medium Format
Slixtiesix said:
Yes Kenna, and Barry Thornton when it comes to landscape. We also had a thread named "Any great medium format photographers" some time ago, were the names of a lot of famous MF photographers were collected.
Click to expand...

cool! Thanks for letting me! Next up, to finally start a new batch of 120, most likely it'll be another of those excellent Ilford
20140923_215709 by a.rodriguezpix, on Flickr
 

tnabbott

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Joined
Aug 28, 2010
Messages
623
Location
USA
Format
Medium Format
The interesting question is which contemporary still uses medium format.
 

andrew.roos

Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2011
Messages
572
Location
Durban, Sout
Format
35mm
I believe Pentti Sammallahti uses MF extensively, although not exclusively. He still shoots film and I wholeheartedly recommend his retrospective "Here Far Away" - it's one of the most beautiful monographs in my collection; both the images and the production quality of the book itself.

Sebastiao Salgado used a Pentax 645 for many of the photographs in his books Africa and Genesis (having used 135 for previous publications). I believe he now uses a hybrid process.
 
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